August on the roof

We decided to fix our kitchen roof this month. It was done about fifteen years ago with planks of waney edged board from our sawmill. We have started to experience rain on the breadboard so it was about time. Now the sawmill is happily churning out wood again we can continue the essential repairs.

First we took everything out of the kitchen. Which made it a challenge for those residents on domestic (day of cooking, cleaning, wood sawing duty). Some of us carried boards up the hill and baton. Some prised old board off the roof, and we took it in turns having the children. We put a layer of canvas down once all the old roof boards were off and swept all the cobwebs off he beams. Then we fixed the baton running down the beams to attach the new boards to. Getting the boards straight was not easy at the building is shall we say rustic and has slumped in places since it was built. Still sturdy though.

We also now benefit from a skylight above the rayburn in the kitchen which is truly life changing. When cooking you can now see what you are stirring. Good…or bad, depends i suppose.

Raising the siege towers

Rosie the cob mistress at work. She led volunteers in touching up the roundhouse walls (our communal living area) and re liming them. It looks very shiny, and just in time for the open day in September. She also took on the liming of the new guesthouse walls which are dazzling.

Carnage in the roundhouse as walls are patched up and repaired.

As promised a photograph of Ed and his Harris hawk Maya. He has been taking her out and training her and she is learning fast. She was unfortunately kept in a dark shed for many years without flying and so he is having to start from scratch really. Pardon the pun. First he flew her short distances on the rope, enticing her with meat, and then gradually longer and longer distances. Now she flies above while Ed walks down to the orchards to train her.

Sometimes harrowing is. Harrowing, that is. But not this time. Charlie working hard with Sophia, Jake and Pedro.

We are clearing a bit of land that has been occasional pasture with a number of apple trees on it. It has been garden before and is right next to the poly tunnels so it makes sense to turn it in to garden again. We want to have enough space to grow oats and wheat. We are going to have to trim the russets a little though.

In the gardens… we have been busy sowing over wintering vegetables and salads. We are back to having to consume ten leeks a day. Green manures like crimson clover have been sown. The first succession of winter salads are getting there. Us gardeners have discussed ways of trying to thwart the hungry gap by over wintering things in the poly tunnels and sowing things very early. Will let you know how that plan works out in May and June next year!

My daughter has been snipping caterpillars in half, which is very useful but slightly disturbing that shes killing things already ( aged two and a half)! Those foul smelling cabbage whites. The children have been devouring wineberries, blackberries, plums and apples but also helping to make cakes and crumbles.

Tinkers Bubble had a stall at the Ham Hill Woodland Fair last Saturday. Ham hill is the high hill we live on and is also a country park. It has a vivid history, having been quarried since the roman times, home to an iron age hill fort and medieval village.

We had a stall and did some horse logging and crosscut sawing demos. They also had chainsawing there, kids crafts, meat, sweets and some interesting wood carvers including traditional bow makers. We sold some juice, discovery apples, cake and vinegar.

Our Open Day is on the 19th of September. If you are local come along! I promise there will be cake.