Sustainable Beekeeping Training

Posted on May 4, 2021 by Michelle

Sustainable Beekeeping Training

May 21st, 22nd, 23rd 10 am to 5pm

We are really excited to be hosting a 3 day Sustainable Beekeeping training run by experienced natural beekeeper, Sean Hearn

During the course we will look at beekeeping practice from a holistic perspective and seek to explore what a practice would look like if bee health and bee-centred design were at its core, rather than honey production

The course starts by seeking to understand the honeybee as deeply as possible. This includes basic biology, swarming behaviour and honeybees in the wild. We view this knowledge as an essential starting point on the journey to more sustainable ways of working with bees.

We will also seek to place honeybees in the context of the wider ecology and spend time understanding other types of bee including bumblebees and solitary bees

Then grounded in our understanding of bees we will then look into the craft of sustainably working with bees. This will include sustainable hive design, Warre management throughout the season, swarming, honeybee health and the sustainable harvest of honey, wax and propolis.

We will also spend time observing the beehives at Dyfed Permaculture Farm Trust during the course.

This course is for anyone from beginners to experienced beekeepers who are interested in learning about more sustainable methods of beekeeping. There are 12 places available.

We are asking for £225 for the 3 day course and £180 concession rate and we are more than happy to talk about payment plans to make accessing this course as fair as possible.

To book a place on the course and with any questions please contact naomi.glass@gmail.com.

We will be providing teas and coffees but ask that you bring along your own food for the day and a bee suit if you have one!

Beautiful accommodation is available at nearby Larkhill Tipis and Yurts for the course if required. Please contact larkhillcamping@gmail.com.

Camping may be possible at the Dyfed Permaculture Farm Trust whilst you are on the course. Please contact Michelle on 07813464990 or michelle_laine@yahoo.co.uk for more info.

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Sign Writing Workshop

Posted on April 25, 2021 by Michelle

Saturday 15th May and Saturday 29th May

Over two Saturday workshops, Fay Burnett will be creating some beautiful new signage for the Trust whilst teaching participants the art of Sign Writing.

Participants will:

  • Learn about and practice the art of signwriting
  • Make a valuable contribution to the fabric of Dyfed Permaculture Farm Trust
  • Enjoy a two course lunch provided by the fabulous (and very local) Veganishmum
  • Enjoy the company of 4-5 other budding signwriters!

An outline of the course is below. At £20 for both days, including lunch, the workshop is great value!

Places are limited, please get in touch to book

To give you an idea of what might be achieved, I have added some photos of the work Fay has done for our neighbouring project, Eva’s Garden, at the end of this post.

Course Outline
The courses runs over two days, 9am-5pm each day.
Participants will be invited back to a future volunteer workday to help install the signs, if they wish.

Day 1 (Saturday 15th May)
Introduction to sign writing, preparing the wood, design your sign and get stencils ready

Day 2 (Saturday 29th May)
The basic signs prepared on day one will now be dry, ready to paint on the final designs.

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Roundhouse Volunteer Weekend

Posted on April 25, 2021 by Michelle

Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th May 

Our beautiful Roundhouse started takeing shape in 2019. Progress was slowed, but not halted, by the events of 2020

Led be experienced Roundhouse builder Richard Sylvan, we’re ready for the next push!

Roundhouse skylight

Tasks for the weekend include:

  • Cob / cordwood – mixing cob and filling in wall panels with Cob, Cordwood and “Bottle Bricks” (see image above for how the walls look so far).
  • Woodwork – Fitting wooden framing for windows and cupboards, made with locally sourced larch. Installing windows and cupboards

The weekend is free to attend, and you are welcome to book for one or both days.

Due to Covid restrictions, places on the weekend are limited and must be booked in advance.

Please bring a contribution for a bring and share lunch. Camping is available on site if required.

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November Volunteer Workday

Posted on November 6, 2020 by Michelle

Our next volunteer workday will be Saturday 14th November, from 10am – about 4pm.

We will be continuing work on the Roundhouse: finishing walls with cob, cordwood and bottle bricks that were not completed last time, fitting sills and windows and perhaps looking at fitting the woodburner and the wooden floor too.

Light shining in through some of the bottles built into the walls on the last workday.

If you want to come along and help, please get in touch 🙂

We need to know numbers in advance to ensure we have enough space to work safely distanced. We are not currently having a bring and share lunch, so please bring your own picnic lunch and your own mug for tea.

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October Volunteer Workday – cordwood and cob!

Posted on October 9, 2020 by Michelle

Our next volunteer workday will be Saturday 17th October, from 10am – about 4pm.

We will be creating the next layer of walling for the roundhouse, using cordwood, cob and bottle bricks.

  • Roundhouse drystone stem walls
    A neat edging of dry stone stem walls, ready to receive the next layer of walling. This will be cord wood and bottles, held together with cob. Some of the cord wood we will be using can be seen stacked beyond the ladder.
  • Working on the drystone stem walls. The logs piled behind give an idea what the next layer of walling (cordwood) will look like.
  • Roundhouse skylight
    Richard cut a hole in the rubber that was covering the skylight and let in the light! An ex-bus window was installed over the top to keep out the rain.
  • Using a two man crosscut saw to cut a larch pole to length. The pole was used to provide extra support to one of the corners of the little lean-to.
  • At the end of the day, reviewing what we have done and admiring the light coming through the roof light. We’re fond of the funky grass curtains hanging down across the front of the round house 🙂

Above – pictures from our September workday, when we built the drystone stem walls

The aim is to take the walls to about waist height (though we may not get that far in one workday!). This will leave the structure open and airy, as suited to pandemic times, but provide enough shelter to be able to install the wooden floor.

Cordwood walls are created by stacking logs, much as you would in a logpile. You can get an idea of what it will look like in the pictures above, as some of the cordwood we will be using is already stacked in the background.

The logs will be held together with layers of cob, which we will be mixing on the day (bring gloves and wear wellies!). The cob also helps exclude draughts. We will also be adding “bottle bricks” to make funky patterns and let in light (here are some beautiful examples).

If you want to come along and help, please get in touch 🙂

We need to know numbers in advance to ensure we have enough space to work safely distanced. We are not currently having a bring and share lunch, so please bring your own picnic lunch and your own mug for tea.

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A Cosy Caravan Cwtch*

Posted on October 1, 2020 by Michelle

One successful set of Skills Share volunteer days completed and our tiny visitor caravan looks very snug under it’s new roof.

We had some lovely feedback from a volunteer, which sums up the event perfectly (see below). Watch this space for news of future Skill Shares!

* cwtch‘ (pronounced ‘kutch’, to rhyme with ‘butch’) is the Welsh for a cuddle or hug but can also refer to a cubbyhole or cupboard; a small space in which to store things safely; or a cosy corner in a pub!

What can I say???…..It was extremely enjoyable, I learnt several new skills (e.g. working with roofing tin, and rafter jointing) and used some new tools (e.g. the impact driver!). I now have the confidence to build larger structures and can offer to help with a wider range of building projects. 
Matt, you are fabulous!! I have really enjoyed working with you and am already looking forward to your next ‘Skills Share’ session.

A Satisfied Volunteer

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Eve’s Garden

Posted on September 21, 2020 by Michelle

A well known tenet of permaculture is ‘earth care/ people care/ fair share’

This means that  a) we need to look after our beloved planet and all its diversity, species and soil – b) look after our human inner and outer world needs, families, friends and relationships  c) make sure the exchange between the earth and her species and humans is a fair exchange (rather than the destructive, polluting and consumerist one that has got us to a global crisis)

Towards that purpose- I am delighted to announce Eve’s Garden is now a ‘people care/fair share’ resource created alongside the Trust.  Here you may take a guided mythological journey through  wounded places – with sensory experiences involving a snake, an apple, a trip to the Underworld, ancestral altar, firepit , a baptism pool and other mysteries…  

Fair share is achieved as Adam has tended the builders rubble soil so it is now well composted and fertile for the Golden roses of paradise to grow and blossom- alongside his polytunnel which is tenderly cared for.

Please see www.evesgardenonline.com for the story, more information, photos and how to make contact if you would like to visit. 

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Learn Carpentry Volunteer Opportunity at Dyfed Permaculture Farm Trust

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Michelle

Matt Douglas will be building a roof over our tiny visitor caravan, using a timber frame structure roofed with tin sheets similar to the one in the photo above.

He has space for a couple of people to work with him, either for the joy of joining in or to learn more about carpentry, or both!

The dates he is working are below, you are welcome to join him for some or all of the days. Please get in touch if you are interested.

Sunday 6th September and Monday 7th September, 
Wednesday 9th September and Thursday 10th September.

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September Volunteer Workday at the Dyfed Permaculture Farm Trust

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Michelle
An unusual woodburner awaiting restoration and installation in the Roundhouse
An unusual woodburner awaiting restoration and installation in the Roundhouse

Following a long pause due to Covid 19, we are pleased to let you know that workdays at the Trust are resuming. Our next work day will be on Sunday 20th September, from 10am- about 4pm

We will be working on the Roundhouse. Richard Sylvan is coming along to show us how to build the dry-stone layer that will make up the bottom of the walls. He will be installing the skylight whilst we build. We will also be looking at the placement of windows, doors and other objects in the walls to help us plan our next moves.

All are welcome to come along. There are a couple of changes to note:

  • Please tell us if you intend to come, so we can ensure we have enough space for the expected numbers.
  • We are not currently having a bring and share lunch, so please bring your own picnic lunch and your own mug for tea.

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Roundhouse Walling Wish List

Posted on February 29, 2020 by Michelle
Green grassy roof…and look at the lovely stack of reclaimed maple gym floor waiting to be fitted!

The coming spring is greening up the roundhouse roof beautifully. But we need walls…

Ahead of the next stage of the roundhouse build, we are looking for some natural / reclaimed materials. Below is our wish list – let us know if you have any of the below, or can point us in the direction of someone who does.

The Wish List

Clay

We have plenty of mud right now…but the Trust land is not naturally abundant in clay. We need about half a 1 tonne builders bag to mix with our subsoil to make cob. Let us know if you have a corner where you wouldn’t mind us sourcing some from, or have recently dug a pond and have a pile ready to be taken away.

Second hand windows

We’re looking for up to 3 large and 3 small double glazed windows to fit into the roundhouse, ideally with wooden frames.

Willing Wall Builders

Do you want to come and help build the walls, or know someone who might? The Roundhouse Wall Building workshop will be happening at the end of April, covering techniques such as cob and walling with straw bales, bottle bricks and cordwood. The workshops we ran last year were a lot of fun, and informative too. This one promises to be just as good.

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