Volunteer Workday – Coppicing Laburnum, Sunday 13th October

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Michelle
Mature Laburnum in full flower in a hedge at the Trust

Mature Laburnum in full flower in a hedge at the Trust

The next volunteer workday at Dyfed Permaculture Farm Trust will be on Sunday 13th October, 10am until about 4pm.

This month the plan is to coppice some aged laburnum trees to rejuvenate them. The aim is to do the work using hand tools. We have recently received a grant from Environment Wales to purchase tools, so now have some high quality hand tools, such as a cross cut saw and bilhooks, available for volunteers to use.

We will also be looking to make maximum use of the resulting timber eg looking for pieces suitable for use as fence posts.

Workdays are a great way to visit the Trust, meet like minded people, share your skills or learn new ones. There is usually a lively conversation going on throughout the day covering a wide range of topics and, of course, there is the delicious bring and share lunch!

All are welcome to join us. Please bring work gloves and a contribution for lunch.

If you can’t make this workday maybe we will see you at a future one? Workdays are held throughout the year, usually on the second Sunday of every month. Dates and planned activities will be posted here. For more information about workdays or other activities at the Trust please contact us

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All Year Round – Harvest Festival

Posted on September 14, 2013 by Michelle

Our next All Year round celebration will be on 22nd September, 2-5pm at the Dyfed Permaculture Farm Trust.

We will have an apple press for making juice, so bring along any spare apples you may have (and bottles to take the juice home!). We are also planning to make corn dollies, play some cooperative games and have our usual campfire.

All welcome, please contact us for directions.

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Volunteer Workday – Forest Garden and Barn Day

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Michelle

Our next volunteer workday at the Dyfed Permaculture Farm Trust will be Sunday 8th September from 10am. We will be working in (and no doubt chatting about…) the Forest Garden areas that we are establishing along the Trust’s tracks and pathways, as well as carrying out some essential maintenance on our pole barn.

The workday starts at 10am and continues until about 4pm. Please bring food to share and any suitable tools you may have. Thanks to the support of Environment Wales, the Trust is building up a collection of hand tools that will be available to use.

If you are interested in coming along to work and socialise with us and to visit the Trust farm, please contact us for more details and directions.

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Walking Meditation and Quaker Meeting for Worship with Lampeter Friends, August 13th

Posted on August 5, 2013 by Michelle

Lampeter meeting will be visiting the Dyfed Permaculture Farm Trust on Tuesday 13th August, with arrivals between 10.30am -11.00am. 

The plan is for a walking meditation around the land, followed by a short meeting for worship and a shared lunch. After lunch there will be an opportunity for a tour of the farm and gardens.

If you would like to join us, pleasecontact us for details and directions. Children are welcome, but please let us know in good time if you plan to bring children so appropriate arrangements can be made.

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Social Mow and Hand Haymaking Day

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Michelle
Mowing in Cae Mari Jones during the Social Mow

Mowing in Cae Mari Jones during the Social Mow

We had a great time on our Social Mow and Hand Hay Making Day on Sunday. Eight people joined us mowing in Cae Mari Jones, ranging from experienced mowers to complete beginners. People were able to exchange mowing tips, and a couple of people saw the quality of their mowing improve during the morning. When a break was needed there was elderflower cordial, cake and a chance to discuss all matters scything and hay making in the cool shade of the hedge.

Later in the morning, I showed people how we stack hay on racks to save it should the weather turn. One man had seen a similar system in use during his childhood on the Outer Hebrides.

We finished up in the cool of the barn for a delicious shared lunch and lots more enjoyable conversation.

If you would like to join us on a future workday, you would be most welcome. The next one will be on Sunday 8th September. Please contact us for more details.

Having a go a stacking a hay rack

Having a go a stacking a hay rack

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Visit by Dyfed Smallholders Association

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Michelle
The Dyfed Smallholders in the annual vegatable garden.

The Dyfed Smallholders in the annual vegatable garden.

We had a very enjoyable visit from the Dyfed Smallholders Association yesterday, with a productive exchange of knowledge.

Identifying the flowers in the uncut part of the hay meadow. Drying hay can be seen to the right.

Identifying the flowers in the uncut part of the hay meadow. Drying hay can be seen to the right.

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All Year Round – Lammas

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Michelle

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All Year Round – Lammas

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Michelle

The next All Year Round will be on Sunday 28th July, 2pm until 5pm at the Dyfed Permaculture Farm Trust.

This time, we will be going in to the woods to do some “wild art”, using clay and found objects to create faces, patterns, gargoyles on the trees. There may also be a opportunity to do some den building.

The labyrinth is still there from the solstice, so there will be a chance to walk it if you missed out last time. We will have a campfire as usual, and maybe cook some snacks on it if time permits. We ask £2 per child to cover costs, and may be able to give discounts if you are brining several children.

Hope to see you there!

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Next Volunteer Workday – Social Mow and Hand Haymaking Day

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Michelle

Our next volunteer workday will be on Sunday 21st July, the annual Social Mow and Hand Hay Making Day.

Mowers, experienced and novice, will have the chance to mow together in the Trust wildflower meadows, enjoy some scythe / grass / hay related chat and finish up with a bring and share lunch. There will be a small number of scythes available to borrow if you don’t have one but would like to have a go.

We will also be demonstrating some of our hand hay making techniques, including the use of hay racks and a hand baler. Phil will have scythe equipment for sale at lunch time.

Mowing starts from 8am and will continue throughout the morning – join us at whatever time you can make it. Please bring food to share. Contact me if you need directions to the Trust.

For anyone who is interested in hand hay making, Phil and Michelle are currently keeping a daily record of hand hay making on the Trust land at the Scythe Cymru website.

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Summer Wreaths, Lanterns and Labyrinths at Summer Solstice

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Michelle
Some of the candle lanterns we made, from jars decorated with tissue paper and black paper cut-outs

Some of the candle lanterns we made, from jars decorated with tissue paper and black paper cut-outs

The weather looked un-promising but by late afternoon on 21st June the clouds had lifted and the sun peeped out, just in time for the All Year Round Summer Solstice Gathering.

As people arrived we made summer wreaths from willow and hedgerow materials and decorated jars to make candle lanterns. The camp fire was burning with a pot of Pembrokeshire new potatoes boiling on it, in anticipation of the bring and share feast. Bungo had bought his bug hunting kit, and much fun was had searching in various nooks and crannies for bugs to have a closer look at.

Just before supper we walked the Wildflower Labyrinth that had been scythed into the top meadow, pausing to admire the myriad of flowers, especially the orchids – both the purple Common Spotted and the white Greater Butterfly Orchid.

Then we gathered around the campfire to enjoy the bring and share feast. Thank you to all who contributed – it was delicious! The children ran and played while the adults talked around the fire as the evening drew in. The odd light shower did nothing to dampen the spirits.

Then it was time to light the candle lanterns! Despite the best efforts of a gusty wind, we succeeded in placing numerous lanterns along the labyrinth path. We then walked the labyrinth again as dusk fell, enjoying the colourful patterns of the lanterns and the candle light shining through the raindrops on the glass.

Several families camped over, and after a mellow breakfast in the barn it was time to tidy up and go home. It was a lovely way to mark the longest day of the year, and thanks to everyone who came to share it with us.

The next All Year Round event will be to celebrate Lammas. All are welcome to join us. Look out for more details here!

Part of the Wildflower Labyrinth. It is hard to photograph!

Part of the Wildflower Labyrinth. It is hard to photograph!

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