Wonders of the West - Buddhist festival, Biodynamic farming and Monkton Wyld...

The week before last passed pleasantly whilst stewarding at Green Earth Awakening a Buddhafield camp in the Black Down Hills, Somerset  (cue jokes about how hard can it possibly be to steward Buddhist punters at a festival with no bar!) This was a great opportunity to meet people involved in a variety of community, permaculture, environmental and craft projects across the UK. Besides GEA Buddhafield hosts many different camps throughout the year, see www.buddhafield.com for info.

There were many chances to be creative – jewellery making with scrap metal, willow basket weaving, metal forging, felting and knitting. We got stuck in with carving our own spoons at Wayne’s Wood (an unbelievably absorbing and addictive pastime!)

Spooning!

There were workshops aplenty such as yoga, meditation, Buddhism for beginners, drumming and kirtan (which gave Sarah’s harmonium a few airings!). Talks were held on subjects such as ‘the benefits of living in community’, ‘the work that reconnects’ based on the groundbreaking writings of Joanna Macy, various aspects of permaculture including forest gardening and sustainable design systems for growing and living.

We had a quick trip to Dartington in Devon for the launch of the Biodynamic Land Trust shareholder offer. The launch involved a walk on the land and a gathering at the village hall - a short film of the event is on You Tube... http://youtu.be/SADEMM0Kmxs

The trust intends to secure farmland at Week, Dartington for the development of sustainable farming methods. Initially this will be leased to The Apricot Centre (currently based in Manningtree, Essex where Bob works) to establish a farm using permaculture design along with organic and biodynamic methods. The launch event was well attended by locals from the area and there is much support for this venture which will create biodiversity, produce, jobs and a hub for the local community to meet and learn. Shares in the land start from just £100 bringing social, cultural and environmental returns for yourself and future generations through the development of new and innovative farming. For more details see www.biodynamiclandtrust.org.uk

Bob and Sarah McPeg on the lawn at Monkton Wyld Court

We've just completed another two weeks of Wwoofing at Monkton Wyld Court, an education centre for sustainable living in Dorset. It is a striking building in Gothic style but only around 150 years old, set in beautiful countryside and sporting an award winning compost loo with a view and it’s very own licenced pub in a shed in the garden! 

Smallest licenced pub in England!

Volunteers help with the running of the centre and B&B so tasks can include weeding or harvesting fruit and veg, clearing nettles and brambles, bed making, food preparation, wood processing, grass scything, hay making and cow milking to name a few. We learnt lots and it was interesting to be a part of a small community of less than 15 people, a completely different experience to the much larger community at Old Hall where our first Wwoof was. To read more about staying, volunteering or studying at Monkton Wyld Court visit www.monktonwyldcourt.org

 

The McPeg's admire the Dorset countryside...