Volunteering at Orchard Barn - a record of our working parties

Sunday 26th August 2007

Our tree to timber story continues ..... but first the tale of the Monkey Digger ..... Once upon a time, there was a slightly mad woman from Offton who dreamt of slowing down the way in which we interact with the earth. This tale tell of how she became passionate about digging gate post holes by hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday 26th August, the time had finally arrived for the gate to be hung, but first two deep and crisp and even gate post holes needed to be dug. Fortunately, Jason arrived at Orchard Barn with his Monkey Digger (hand turned auger) which enabled the mad Offton woman and her wonderful volunteer diggers (Tony and Jason) to dig very neat holes. Slowly, but with great excitement they drew from the earth the following building materials! First rich top soil with occasional stones, then some lovely sticky clay (Jason hopes to build an oven with this inaugral clay), an assortment of limestones (think mortar), then a layer of rich sand.

Never has digging a hole been so rewarding, or so much fun, or so educational!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we began to erect the Elm gate posts ....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, the lovingly repaired gate was hung.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And so ends the first part of our 'tree to timber' tale - except to say that in the meadow behind the barn, there stands an old and chunky Oak. Our farmer neighbour has informed us that (for its' own health) the Oak needs pollarding. He has offered us the Oak timber - which will go a very long way towards replacing the rotting timber at the front of the barn. We are hoping to get a mobile saw mill on site to prepare the green oak. It is a specialist job that we won't be tackling ourselves! It is hoped that the tree to timber project will be recorded, so you can see the whole process. Details of on-site green oak training / workshops / demonstrations to follow.

If you would like to visit us, our official 'Gate-opening' ceremony will be at midday on Sunday 16th September. We hope you can come and join us. After the ceremony, there will be a shared lunch and a celebration of our individual and collective harvest. Apples and Walnut picking - to take home.

If you would like to join the growing community of volunteers at a working party at Orchard Barn, or would like to come to the Gate-opening, please email Sarah.

Return to volunteering page or home page

www.orchardbarn.org.uk © 2007 Wildfire Designs

Photographs © Tony Mounter and Sarah Partridge