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Preparing for Summer
Preparing for Summer25-May-2020 17:01
The easing of lockdown is in full swing here in Spain and so are the preparations for summer in earthship land. After weeks and weeks of cloud and rain we have now dropped into full sun and searing summer temperatures. Our water tanks are full and our garden, which I let run riot with wild flowers in the Spring, is now in the process of a major tidy up. As much as I'd love to leave it to keep re-wilding, living with the possibility of bush fires from now until October, we need to create a fire break around our home. The sheep and donkey are part of this clearing too. Their paddock forms a semi-circle around part of the garden creating a break in itself, plus all that I clear in the garden they enjoy eating. And then their poop nourishes the flower beds - it's a great system!
Mushroom soft sculptures coming soon |
Talking of sheep, we sheared them last week. Well when I say we, I mean Dave and a friend did. I helped with Dahling and Jaja, but realised that I wouldn't have the strength to help with the bigger boys Melchett and Binks. It's surprising how strong sheep are, and they have horns!
Pete holding Binks while Dave shears |
I'm so looking forward to using their fleeces, but first I need to pick and wash them.
I'll be using some for stuffing the new soft sculptures that may be popping up on my web site soon. But I have quite a lot so if you'd like some send me an email. It's so much nicer to use than synthetic stuffing and has a completely different (and I think nicer) feel when finished. But more on that another time.
A new plot of land to toast
A toast and a huge thank you to all who bought bee prints and so helped towards buying a little more land to rewild. Just under a hectare was saved from the plough last year when we started purchase talks with the owner. It was going to be ploughed because the owner has been trying to change it's status from grassland to productive for a few years and has had it ploughed every couple of years in an attempt to do so. Not because they wanted to or have ever planted any crops, just because it's worth more if it's designated productive, ho hum.
Saved from the plough |
Anyhoo, the recent lockdown (and interminable paperwork) delayed purchase proceedings, but we're delighted to announce it went through just over a week ago. We're still sorting the registration paperwork (paperwork, paperwork again!), but we're pretty confident it's ok to make a toast to this addition to the nature reserve.
If you'd like to take part in the protection of the wild and haven't done so already, buy a bee print. All profits from my art goes towards buying land to re-wild and protect from the plough, leaving it to grow into a nature reserve for bees and other flora and fauna.
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