keeping it simple
I just popped to Sainsburys to pick up one of my parents’ respect organics carrot cakes. I only needed the box really for a project but must admit I was pretty happy to delve in and give the cake a try for ‘quality control’. It passed! Now I have to make sure I don’t eat it all at once as I just so happen to be writing a book at the moment called The Flat Tummy Club. Not so flat today but everything in moderation…
Thank you Lori for a truly fascinating and stimulating evening.
Lori says “we see and perceive through our organs, emotions and senses according to the seasons”
Spring, Summer, Late Summer, Autumn, Winter
Creative Vision, Inspiration, Clarity Focus, Receptivity and Integrity, Wisdom and Essence
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water
All are interconnected and we all have something of everything in us BUT only one guardian element.
Did we manage to work out what our guardian element was? ….. maybe.
Now for the Arty bit! I selected 5 paintings for our group to look at and with Lori’s help everyone was given the unique opportunity to see/feel/appreciate/understand them using their organs and the five elements in turn. Sounds complicated but with total concentration in a quiet room I think most of us gained an insight into a new way of looking at art.
To reflect the seasons I chose:
A large blue sky pastel of Badbury Rings (spring)
Alners Gorse in golden light (summer)
Poppies on Fontmell Down (late summer)
Dorset Heath (autumn)
After the Rain, Arne (winter)
I would like to quote from one of the ladies who came to the talk – she has emailed me today:
“I am still not quite certain which is my guardian element, but the whole subject, though at first appearing to be a minefield of complications is possibly in the long run a logical perception of discovering who we are, and hopefully being comfortable with what we are”
I think that sums it all up beautifully.
Lin Adams
Respect Organics Studio Gallery
Shaftesbury
Join us at Respect Organics Gallery in Shaftesbury, Dorset, for a talk with local artist Tony Duncan titled ‘Australian Aboriginal Art’ followed by a practical workshop.
Details:
Monday 4th October
7.00 pm
Cost £6.00 to cover all art materials and refreshments.
The talk and workshop will last for about an hour and a half. Space is limited so booking is essential.
By email to lin@respectorganics.com
Or telephone Lin or Sam on 01747 851561 and leave a message and we will get back to you
Or simply pop in to enquire
Many thanks!
Gold Hill Organic Farm Walk
This weekend we went on a farm walk at the local organic farm, Gold Hill Organics. It’s only a couple of small fields in size but they make up for it in the variety and quality of their veg – what an inspiration for thinking of delicious recipes and ways to cook with them. Vince has been going along to the voluntary weeding group on Thursday evenings – week for an hour in return for a bag of delicious veggies. I can happily report that right now all the following vegetables are in season and growing away:
Hambledon Hill makes a glorious backdrop
Sarah explains the art of weeding carrots
Hold on...
From Lin and Sam:
We spent an afternoon at Flowers of Hatch near Tisbury a couple of days ago. What a great place – you can look around their field of wild flowers for free and pick your own – 50p for a small bunch up to £5 for a bucket-full.
We enjoyed sketching the flowers and the Vale of Wardour (sounds very Lord of the Rings) – and it was a very relaxing place to dwell. Much recommended!
This weekend our local village had its open garden day and thanks to the lovely weather it was the busiest ever. Recently we’ve had our garden designated as ‘wildlife friendly’ by the Dorset Wildlife Trust and so they gave us lots of information we could have on hand for visitors as they delved into our garden! We’re certainly not gardening revolutionaries but we have just happened to garden organically for many years now as we could see before our eyes the difference it makes to the wildlife and also the way the garden grows and looks so natural rather than forced. People noticed that the garden is full of bees and when it’s not full of people we have plenty of birds, butterflies, dragonflies, a brave rabbit and this year even a doormouse. This year everyone was talking about the comfrey – it is spectacular and takes a bit of managing! And a few people noticed we don’t have green fly on the roses – in fact we don’t seem to worry about pests at all really. We tend not to bother growing things if they’re just going to get gobbled up and we have such a variety in the garden it doesn’t give pests a chance to thrive on anything in particular. And of course the birds adore the all the insects – woodpeckers enjoy foraging for ants in the lawn and the swallows swoop down low every evening. This year we were lucky enough to watch a family of wrens fledge on the fig tree and kept a polite distance when we discovered a robin nest near the front door.
We make it sound like a wildlife paradise – and to us that’s just what gardens can be. We feel incredibly lucky with our garden and do work hard to make it look effortless and a bit unconstructed!
If you live in Dorset then find out more about the Dorset Wildlife Trust’s garden scheme here…
Saturday 24th July: Summer Blues – Meadows and Butterflies
Fontmell Down
Discover the joy of getting back to nature with your sketchbook in hand, glorious Dorset landscape for inspiration and a local artist there with you for help, advice and directions to the best views (and teashops) in the county.
Cost: £35.00
Start Time: 10a.m.
Finish: 2.30p.m.
Meet at Fontmell & Melbury Down car park at the top of Spread Eagle Hill on the Higher Blandford Road (ask us for directions if you need them). Please bring your own art materials and picnic. Once you have met up in the car park enjoy a short walk across the chalk downs to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Blackmore Vale. Sam will point out any rare flowers, butterflies or birds along the way and then drop down into the meadow to find a good spot to sit, study and start sketching.
The workshop is 4 hours, giving you plenty of time to pick up tips and soak up your surroundings.
These field study trips are perfect for beginners or if you have recently taken up watercolour painting as a hobby.
“Whatever the weather, be prepared!”
To book your place call Sam at the gallery on 01747 851561, email cleverart@live.co.uk or pay direct through www.respectorganics.com
Thanks! And for more information on Fontmell Down visit the Dorset Wildlife Trust by clicking on this link.
Luzia Barclay is a herbalist Vince knows through Transition Town Sturminster Newton. Luzia has started a monthly wild herb newsletter and we can’t get enough of it! Last month it was wild garlic, which grows in abundance in Dorset, while this month we are looking out for lime blossom to make delicious tea.
Here is Luzia’s newsletter and if you want to learn more about herbs then do visit the Herbs for Healing website.
