Gardening

Alys Fowler's garden

I'm very interested in gardening because I like to eat food and it makes sense to me to grow as much I can. That way I know what's gone into that food, and it gives me a lot of pleasure beyond that of eating it.

I will be writing a few posts about food security because it's something that the WI has always been involved with and I think it's something that should continue. Resilience comes from having independent access to the basic things that we need to survive. Food is one of those things.

But we needn't get too boring about it. Most of us living here in the countryside have access to some land, usually our own gardens. Gardens are wonderful places to sit and relax and feel connected into nature. I love flowers and I don't want to forgo my love of colour in the garden.

I came across Alys Fowler a year ago, and have applied her gardening approach to my own garden and allotment. Here is an article that touches on her style, but I recommend looking at her book The Edible Garden. It's a real inspiration to me and my garden. I look at it often.

If you are interested in gardening, pop over to my blog: http://jump-into-the-void.blogspot.com/ where I often post things about my garden and living in this rural place.

Amazing Women

After that big block of text I thought I'd post a nice easy video.

There will be a regular item on this blog where we will feature amazing women who inspire us, who remind us that in this world of bland conformity there exist passionate, creative, independent women who strive to bring something special to our culture, our world, our lives.

I'm going to start with Bjork. That might seem weird to some people. But I find Bjork so totally amazing. She's a true artist, someone with a fresh and original vision, who is not afraid to experiment and be true to herself.

Get in touch if you want us to feature a woman who has inspired you.

Minutes 5th May

Last meeting was lots of fun. We brainstormed ideas for our programme and now are on our way to having an amazing year of learning, fun and making.

Also, I am now the president! I'm a really shy sort of person, so this is really weird for me. I'm glad that the group is full of amazing friendly and supportive girls, otherwise I'd never be able to do it. Thanks to everyone for your help, support and enthusiasm. Together we will make something amazing, I'm sure!

Here are the minutes, any problems with them, let me know:

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Minutes for 'Nothing Like W.I' meeting of Thursday 5th May 2011 - Held at Riversmeet Leisure centre, Gillingham at 7.30pm.

Our second meeting was held on Thursday 5th May and there were 16 members

and 5 guests present.

The meeting was chaired by Jennifer Newbury and we were informed of Maddie's decision to step down as President due to other commitments.

Jennifer is happy to take over the position and it was put to the group who decided in a unanimous vote that she should be elected as our new president.

We wish her the best of luck and our full support in this demanding role.

This meeting was the first that we tried a raffle, to great success (donations of raffle prizes welcome!) and we charged for drinks, raising a grand total of £30 - this effectively means we got the hire of the centre free so it was worthwhile and easy to do. We will have a volunteer system for baking the delicious refreshments we have become accustomed to - thanks to Denise for her lovely cakes.

Jenny is very keen to keep in touch with the group via e-mail, blogs and Facebook. All members were reminded to give Jenny their e-mail address so they can view the minutes and keep up to date with current news. The issue of room hire was again discussed and we were given a few more suggestions of places which may be cheaper - Bisi was a great help and it seems we may be entitled to reduced rates at the Town Hall as we are a charity - Charlotte to investigate options.

We had a group 'brainstorming' session to finalise our plans for speakers over the next 12 months and we agreed on the following subjects/speakers:

Card making from our very own Teresa - to take place in June

G.A.N.G (Nature group)

Bright Moon Crystals

Bisi on Bees

Threshold Centre

Fanny Charles

Fun and Frugal

Cider making

Terence Cuneo (we are very fortunate to have his daughter in our group so this should be excellent)

Indian Head Massage

Alexandra Pope - womens' cycles (Author of 'The Wild Genie')

Joyce Greenfell Monologues

Jyoti Fernandes- self sufficient smallholding and environment campaigner.

Looks like we have a full calendar of events (they will need to be confirmed) - They have been carefully chosen to be both interesting and not too expensive (frugal!)

We decided we will meet in August - anyone who can't attend can keep up to date by logging onto the blog or via e-mail.

FUND RAISING

There is a Lions Club table top sale on Saturday 18th June - 10am -12pm at the vicarage school room. Many thanks to Jill, Angela and Maria for volunteering to help out - we are going to have a tombola stall with bottles as prizes. Members were asked to donate a bottle, alcoholic or not, at the next meeting.

Other ideas for fund raising included asking Waitrose to allow us to take part in the token system, Bingo, Nearly New Sales and sponsored events. We decide to form a sub-committee for fundraising - Jenny, Bisi, Charlotte, Teresa, Denise and Ann will form this group.

Meeting closed at 9.45pm - committee meeting 26th May and next general meeting 2nd June.

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Thanks Charlotte!

Dorset Wildlife Trust Events

Yesterday's meeting flagged up an interest in the Dorset Wildlife Trust. So here's a list of events happening locally to us Nothing Like WI girls, and below that a list of county-wide lectures. If anyone is interested in going along to any of these, let me know and we can share lifts. For other DWT things going on outside the Gillingham/ Shaftesbury area click here.

Sunday 8 May 2011

Open Wildlife Garden

All are invited to come and enjoy this spectacular wildlife garden, by kind permission of Miss Tina Wright.

Sunday 15 May 2011

10:00 North Dorset Volunteers

Assist with the monthly volunteer tasks at North Dorset reserves.

Sunday 29 May 2011

10:00 Photographic and Video Group Field Trip

Butterflies and Wild Flowers at Fontmell Down

Sunday 12 June 2011

10:00 North Dorset Volunteers - Orchid Identification Day

Join Dorset Wildlife Trust Warden Steve Oliver on a guided walk to discover the orchids of Fontmell Down.

Sunday 17 July 2011

10:00 North Dorset Volunteers

Assist with the monthly volunteer tasks at North Dorset reserves.

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show

If you are visiting the show, come and see us at the Dorset Wildlife Trust stand.

and here is a list of lectures/ talks county-wide:

Wednesday 18 May 2011

19:30 Illustrating Britain's Flora

An illustrated talk by Christina Hart-Davies.

Thursday 19 May 2011

19:30 To Bee or not to Bee

An illustrated talk by Paul Mann.

Friday 20 May 2011

10:00 Wet and Wonderful Plants at Higher Hyde Heath Nature Reserve

A walk around wet heath and woodland areas taking in the internationally acclained aquatic biodiversity of these wet habitats.

Wednesday 13 July 2011

19:00 An Introduction to Plants and Their Parasites in Typical New Forset Wet Heathland

Discover the heathland flowering plants, ferns and their allies and the leaf-miners, galls and micro-fungi that live on them.

Minutes of the meeting and a little report will follow in the next few days/ week or so.

Come