Windmill Spring Workshop Zooms to Lift the Spirits

 

Our Spring workshops are on Zoom this year. We're aiming to help you to try some craft and mindfulness activities - things that will bring you fun and good feelings. See below for what you'll need for each activity and how to book a place on the Zoom. Each Zoom will have 8 places, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Session 1 - 24th February, 10.30am - How to turn a tin can into a beautiful lantern.

You'll need an empty tin can, a small hammer, a nail and a hand-towel for this one! If you haven't got any of those resources, we can help you get hold of them. There is a bit of preparation - you'll need to fill the can with water, and put it in the freezer at least 2 days before the zoom, so it has chance to freeze solid. The ice then stops the can from getting squashed as you use the nail to tap holes into it. If you can't take part but would just like to watch, let us know.

Send us a cooment to book your place, and we'll send you the Zoom link for the session.

Session 2 - 27th February, 10.30am - Design a daily wellbeing ritual

What is a Ritual? Why do we need them and benefit from them? How can they help us to get through difficult times or celebrate good times or achievements? Come along to design your own daily wellbeing ritual. It might just change your life for the better.

You may not finish your design completely in the zoom session but hopefully you will be inspired and on the way.

Please bring:

a note pad and pen,  

a tea light and something to light it with

a shallow jam jar to put your tea light in when its lit.   

Also bring your open mind. Lets get feeling a little bit better each day and see how we go from there!

Booking three days in advance essential - Just comment below that you'd like a spot.

Windmill Community Gardens Imbolc Post

 

  So, we can feel the first stirrings of spring at the garden.  As, Pete, one of our neighbouring allotment holders said, "You know its spring, when the Ground Elder starts growing".  What is underground, becomes overground,  and the gardening year begins again.  There have been a couple of hardy Hellebores flowering overwinter, but because of the cold weather, not much else.  We have been feeding the birds with fat balls and seed, which has been much appreciated, particularly by the Robins.  The lettuce and spinach that we have in the poly tunnel have been feeding the wildlife too.  We are not sure what variety, but I have put down some cotton wool balls soaked with Peppermint oil, as the rats are not fond of them.  Previously I used vinegar, but this obviously wasn't a deterrent as several of them disappeared, presumably to make nests.

Despite the weather, volunteers have been busy pruning the fruit bushes and thinning Raspberries.  Along with Tracey, they even managed to Wassail the Apple tree.  Please see our Facebook page for a video of this: (6) Facebook

We have been carrying out general maintenance in preparation for the coming planting season and making plans for seating areas and covered seating for Mohi and Mohamed.  Also Tracey has grand plans to create an earth sculpture under the tree near the gate, similar to the ones at Helligan:

 And now:

OUR OWN COVERED CLASSROOM

Yes, at last the Windmill Gardens Committee have given us permission to take on the next allotment.  This will give us a much larger space in which to build an outdoor classroom, so we can carry on with activities during the winter and when the weather is bad.  However there is a slight hitch - the next door allotment is very wet.  We will need to dig a pond to contain the excess water, then make a mound out of the dug earth.  We will then put the building on pads.  So we will be after your muscles over the next few months.  We do not have a final design yet, but we are thinking of a wooden structure with a sloping roof, possibly with windows, or  doors, on one side.  We are joining with Refugee Roots to fund the project, as they enjoy using the site for meetings and gardening and would like shelter for the winter.

In the mean time, we are carrying out an experiment to see which of the thousands of seeds we have instore are viable.  Tracey has been giving out samples of seeds to volunteers to germinate at home, using damp tissue paper, as in the photo.  Then we will know which to plant and which to discard.

We have decided not to hold our normal Feel Good Garden Party in the summer, as we don't know yet what Covid restrictions will be in place.  Instead, we are going to hold a weekend Art Exhibition in the early summer.  This means that a few people can enter the allotment at a time.  If you are a budding artist, or know someone who is, please start thinking about what you could do.  There will be some undercover space, but it will be mainly outdoor.

For more news, see our Facebook page: (6) Windmill Community Gardens | Facebook

Rosie Jarrett 04.02.2021

Wreath Making Workshop Saturday 12th December - in person and online

Join us for a wreath making workshop with a difference. We'll be giving away the materials you need for your wreath on Saturday 12th December from 10am until 1pm. Just book a slot to collect by messaging us. Then we'll be having a Zoom workshop at 2pm, so you can make the wreaths in the comfort of your own home!

We'll supply 

- either a ready-made willow or grape-vine wreath ring or willow rods to make your own

- some fir or spruce branches

- ivy

- holly

- a ribbon

- some other bits and bobs!

Materials are free but we'd appreciate any donation you feel you can make. 

If you'd like to book a slot for picking up materials, message below. If you can't leave your home for some reason, also let us know and we'll help get the materials to you if we can. 

The Zoom link for the 2pm workshop is HERE or if you prefer, message us for the meeting ID and code.

Get Your Stocking Fillers Here and Support Windmill!

If you're looking for some local Christmas gifts, we can help! Message us if you're interested in our fabulous jams and other gifts, or taking out or giving a gift membership of "Friends of Windmill Community Gardens". Click on each item for the price. If you're a "Friends" member, then you get 20% off the produce prices quoted here. Message us to order.

Get free seeds and concessions for workshops and much more. 

A Friends of membership is £11, £16 for a family and £40 for an organisation. 

A gorgeous crimson jelly that looks as good as it tastes. £3 or 2 for £5.

Members get 20% off. Made with Fair-trade sugar. 340g jar.

Beautiful lavender bags. A perfect stocking filler. £1.

Japanese quince membrillo - made with whole fruit to give a really full taste. It slices to make a perfect accompaniment for cheese and the ruby colour looks fantastic on a festive cheese board. £3, or £2.50 for Friends members. Made with Fair-trade sugar, and flavoured with organic lemon.

A delicious soft-set jam which works well on bread but also makes a wonderful topping for vanilla ice cream. It is named for its texture, so has no butter in it. Made with Fair-trade sugar, and flavoured with organic lemon and cardamom. £3 or 2 for £5. Members get 20% off. 340g jar.

Damson jam is always our most popular variety.

Made with Fair-trade sugar. £3 or 2 for £5. Members get 20% off. 340g jar.

Japanese quince membrillo - made with whole fruit to give a really full taste. This is spreadable but otherwise tastes the same as the slicing version. Membrillo is the original marmalade, so it's the perfect topping for breakfast toast. £3, or £2.50 for Friends members. Made with Fair-trade sugar, and flavoured with organic lemon.

Lovely on toast and amazing stirred into yoghurt. Apple butter is named for its texture and has no butter in it, just apples with cinnamon with a pinch of mixed spice. £3 or 2 for £5. Members get 20% off. 340g jar.

November's Cooking Workshop!

Join us for more foodie fun with Refugee Roots! On Wednesday 25th at 5.30pm, join us on a Zoom session to see the wonderful Sally (from Stripey Beetroot) make a delicious recipe. There will be a chance to chat and ask questions afterwards and we will make up ingredients packs for anyone who needs them - just let us know in a message and we'll add you to the list. 

Click on the link HERE to get the zoom registration page and to access all the previous recipe videos. You can also order one of the new cookbooks from Refugee Roots if you're looking for festive gifts!

Home Pumpkin Celebration Day 5 - Launch of our Free Pumpkin Recipe Book!

Welcome to Day 5 of our Home Pumpkin Celebration! Today, we are launching our Pumpkin Cookbook! This has all the recipes we're featuring in our videos and many more, even including a recipe for a face-mask! Note - that's a "mask" you slather on to your skin to make it smooth and soft, not something you wear to avoid spreading Corona round the shops! We're also hoping to run a final Zoom session tonight at 5pm, so see below if you'd like to register to find out more about the recipes, see how to watch the videos again and to find out how to make our favourite pumpkin soup. You can find the recipe book on our Windmill Group Page here, just join the group to see it - 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1327066264324389/

To register for the Zoom at 5pm, Friday 30th October, go here - https://www.refugeeroots.org.uk/Event/virtual-kitchen-friday

If you aren't on Facebook, just leave a comment and we'll help you get hold of the cookbook by other means!

Home Pumpkin Celebration Day 4 - First Recipe Workshop - Pumpkin Pancakes and Toffee Sauce!

 Today, we're linking with Refugee Roots again to bring you our second cooking workshop 

- pumpkin pancakes with toffee sauce!

Tracey will be part of a second Zoom Call at 5pm today, showing a video of her making the recipe in the her kitchen. She will be able to answer any questions you have, and after that, you'll be able to access the video at a link we'll post below. There will be a Zoom launch for a recipe video on Friday as well, at 5pm, but don't worry if you can't make it, as the recipes will be hosted afterwards on the Refugee Roots site.

If you'd benefit from being given the ingredients to help you make the recipe, you can apply for a recipe box - we have quite a number to give away. Comment under each of the posts if you are interested in the ingredients for that recipe. Happy cooking!

Pumpkin Pancake Recipe Zoom - sign up using this link. Scroll down to get an email with your invite to the zoom.