A growing conversation at Brooke's Cafe, Flookburgh
Last Friday 9th December
talking about community growing and more at Brooke’s Cafe, Flookburgh
Steve, Sanjive, Deirdre, Jeni
Hi all, there's a few things from our discussion last Friday. Sorry for the seemingly copious notes, it’s to help me remember what we discussed too. It was a meandering conversation, based on what we’d been up to recently, which seems like a lot:
Focus: We talked about what we are trying to achieve with these regular discussions and whether it’s a better idea to find some funding and try a project, or to keep talking and find common ground between us all first. We’ve agreed for now the best approach is to carry on the conversation, develop ideas and see if there are more people who might like to join the discussion.
Steve had emailed me before we met with some research he’d done into an idea about a 'Let's Grow' Orchard Garden consisting of all the trees that grow easily in the UK and bear edible fruits and nuts. These include: Cooking Apples; Eating Apples; Cherries; Sweet Chestnuts; Cobnuts; Damsons; Greengages; Medlar; Pears; Plums; Quince; Hazelnuts; and Walnuts. His ideas were: a garden in that the arrangement of the trees would facilitate picnics, seating etc. It seems like a lot of trees, especially as we'd need two of each type to enable cross pollination. Indeed, given more than one variety of plum, pear and apple, I estimated 34 trees. Nevertheless, I have done the calculation and we are looking at just third of an acre!
Rogan's Our Farm visit for me was a magical experience and one that I’d like to repeat in springtime, if John is available again. Steve and Sanjive are keen to see it too. Our visit images are here. Hilary told me she’d spoken to a gentleman in her local pub about our visit and how fabulous the space is - he said, I own it, they rent it from me! Last Wednesday I went to our parish council meeting with the same excitement about our visit and mentioned how great we thought it was - our PC Chair said, I own that land! - I guess that’s Airey family connections right there!
Mapping the space
Hi all, there's a few things from our discussion last Friday. Sorry for the seemingly copious notes, it’s to help me remember what we discussed too. It was a meandering conversation, based on what we’d been up to recently, which seems like a lot:
Focus: We talked about what we are trying to achieve with these regular discussions and whether it’s a better idea to find some funding and try a project, or to keep talking and find common ground between us all first. We’ve agreed for now the best approach is to carry on the conversation, develop ideas and see if there are more people who might like to join the discussion.
Steve had emailed me before we met with some research he’d done into an idea about a 'Let's Grow' Orchard Garden consisting of all the trees that grow easily in the UK and bear edible fruits and nuts. These include: Cooking Apples; Eating Apples; Cherries; Sweet Chestnuts; Cobnuts; Damsons; Greengages; Medlar; Pears; Plums; Quince; Hazelnuts; and Walnuts. His ideas were: a garden in that the arrangement of the trees would facilitate picnics, seating etc. It seems like a lot of trees, especially as we'd need two of each type to enable cross pollination. Indeed, given more than one variety of plum, pear and apple, I estimated 34 trees. Nevertheless, I have done the calculation and we are looking at just third of an acre!
Rogan's Our Farm visit for me was a magical experience and one that I’d like to repeat in springtime, if John is available again. Steve and Sanjive are keen to see it too. Our visit images are here. Hilary told me she’d spoken to a gentleman in her local pub about our visit and how fabulous the space is - he said, I own it, they rent it from me! Last Wednesday I went to our parish council meeting with the same excitement about our visit and mentioned how great we thought it was - our PC Chair said, I own that land! - I guess that’s Airey family connections right there!
Mapping the space
We looked at the local area pathfinder (636 Grange over Sands) map I’d brought and talked about maps in general (I love maps). I’d taken my laptop so I shared an online map I have been building since 2018 in MyMaps for the Cartmel Peninsula. It's a collection of data and links about the area that have captured my interest over the years in getting to know this place and being curious about it (some of it is very random!). Here's how Google MyMaps works if you'd like to create your own map of an area.
Historical land use
Participatory Practice - last Wednesday Annette and I went together on a day course hosted by Cumbria Action for Sustainability, in Penrith. Led by Jane Springett, an academic and north Cumbrian-dweller who has recently written a book about the subject. We were shown and engaged in different ways of getting people talking in groups where everyone has an equal voice. It was a great experience and we’d love to share the idea of that approach to see how everyone else feels about it. We used circle discussion, world cafe and something else I’ve forgotten the name of, but they were all very valuable tools in terms of bringing together new people to engaging them in shared conversation.
We talked about group ethics - I have a lovely environment artist friend, Dr Kerry Morrison who started the Pendle-based in-situ 10 years ago - their code of ethics is here https://www.in-situ.org.uk/ethics. It's a socially engaged creative practice that engages and connects people with their place. The blurred lines between art, science and everyday life are really important - see it as participatory, experiential, collaborative, community working together, rather than art! It might be an idea for how we can work together - everyone has an equal place in any discussion, their voice or silence is as important as the next person. There is no hierachy. Ignore the art bit - it’s just because that’s my background!
Forty Farms is a coffee table book I brought with me - it’s the lockdown project of Kendal based farmer Amy Bateman - images of her book are currently on exhibition at Rheged, Penrith. Locally it has Rogan's Our Farm, Holker Farm (cheese) and Wraysholme within the peninsula. Not too far away are: Great Lindeth Wood (Rusland), Nibthwaite Grange (S. Coniston), Orchard Dene, Strickley and Low Sizergh (all just south of Kendal) - visit ideas? It would be lovely to make contact with them through the stories they have in the book.
Deirdre mentioned Food Futures in Lancaster - North Lancashire's Sustainable Food Network - looks well worth a visit? I’m also interested in the seed library they have in Lancaster.
Diary Date: 10th March 2023
Bringing in new people to the conversation?
Historical land use
I’d met recently with our parish clerk, Lyn Prescott and shared my map (above, by email) and told her of Steve’s earlier research into how much land would be needed to grow enough food for the whole peninsula (1,400 acres). Lyn wrote back with this: Related to the information regarding food production on the peninsula, in the 1914 Victoria County History there are details of the acreages of each parish and how much land was used for arable, grassland and woodland. Don't know what the figures are today, though the total acreage will be the same. Also attached is a copy of a Cartmel and Lower Holker Almanac which has specific details of the different type of food produced, fishing catches and livestock in various years (plus lots of other random information).
Participatory Practice - last Wednesday Annette and I went together on a day course hosted by Cumbria Action for Sustainability, in Penrith. Led by Jane Springett, an academic and north Cumbrian-dweller who has recently written a book about the subject. We were shown and engaged in different ways of getting people talking in groups where everyone has an equal voice. It was a great experience and we’d love to share the idea of that approach to see how everyone else feels about it. We used circle discussion, world cafe and something else I’ve forgotten the name of, but they were all very valuable tools in terms of bringing together new people to engaging them in shared conversation.
We talked about group ethics - I have a lovely environment artist friend, Dr Kerry Morrison who started the Pendle-based in-situ 10 years ago - their code of ethics is here https://www.in-situ.org.uk/ethics. It's a socially engaged creative practice that engages and connects people with their place. The blurred lines between art, science and everyday life are really important - see it as participatory, experiential, collaborative, community working together, rather than art! It might be an idea for how we can work together - everyone has an equal place in any discussion, their voice or silence is as important as the next person. There is no hierachy. Ignore the art bit - it’s just because that’s my background!
Forty Farms is a coffee table book I brought with me - it’s the lockdown project of Kendal based farmer Amy Bateman - images of her book are currently on exhibition at Rheged, Penrith. Locally it has Rogan's Our Farm, Holker Farm (cheese) and Wraysholme within the peninsula. Not too far away are: Great Lindeth Wood (Rusland), Nibthwaite Grange (S. Coniston), Orchard Dene, Strickley and Low Sizergh (all just south of Kendal) - visit ideas? It would be lovely to make contact with them through the stories they have in the book.
Deirdre mentioned Food Futures in Lancaster - North Lancashire's Sustainable Food Network - looks well worth a visit? I’m also interested in the seed library they have in Lancaster.
Diary Date: 10th March 2023
I’ve arranged with Art Gene that we can have a guided tour and group discussion around their wonderful community growing space on Walney called Allotment Soup. We’ll tie in a visit to the spice stall at Barrow market, with Sanjive as our tour guide for this! Put the date in your diary.
Gathering for a different kind of discussion
Gathering for a different kind of discussion
We wondered if anyone would be interested in gathering for a Jacob’s join, where we eat together, each bringing some food to share. We thought a weekend or evening might work best for folks who are working. I’ll send suggested Jan dates to see what you think.
Bringing in new people to the conversation?
If you know of anyone who might like to join in this conversation then please let me know and do share the information provided here. Sr Margaret is hoping to introduce a new Boarbank guest, Joby who is staying there with his family. They have a wonderful knowledge of growing their own food - I’ve tried their cardamoms and can vouch for great tastes!
Next walk: Fri 16th Dec meet at 9:30 at Boarbank Hall, Allithwaite
Also to mention, I watched the film, Thriving (at Rheged) - Thriving is a film of Kendal based Clare Dyson who this summer took her horse, Merry on a 200 mile journey to visit farmers in Cumbria who are farming in more sustainable ways. . It would be lovely to have the film shown locally so I’ve emailed to ask!
What would you like to talk about?
See you soon, Jeni
Next walk: Fri 16th Dec meet at 9:30 at Boarbank Hall, Allithwaite
Also to mention, I watched the film, Thriving (at Rheged) - Thriving is a film of Kendal based Clare Dyson who this summer took her horse, Merry on a 200 mile journey to visit farmers in Cumbria who are farming in more sustainable ways. . It would be lovely to have the film shown locally so I’ve emailed to ask!
What would you like to talk about?
See you soon, Jeni