Yesterday we travelled through time. We spent the morning at Butser ancient farm, a site for practical archaeology were we were able to see and experience what it might have been to be alive in Britain about 2000 years ago. Fascinating! As part of their project they had several little plots were they grew ancient varieties of wheat, including emmer- a grain that began being used approximately 7000 BC, Einkorn and Spelt.
During the afternoon we travelled all the way to Dorset, where we visited Pat Bowcock at Ourganics evolving systems, a permaculture project set up by her 10 years ago. Pat received us with a cup of tea and biscuits (which were well accepted by the group since in the rush of getting there we had to limit our lunch to some rather suspicious pasties and snacks that we got at the gas station).She showed us pictures of the place and what it had looked liked when she got it, it was amazing to see how much the land had changed. What was once a pony field now was filled with fruit bearing trees and a bountiful garden with many kinds of vegetables, flowers and herbs.One of aspects of her project that I was most impressed with was its creative irrigation system. Pat explained that traditionally the pasture was flooded 3 times a year to encourage verdant pasture for cattle grazing. She has re-used the technique, and arranged her paths to double as stream-beds; in this way watering the garden is achieved by means of diverting a stream of water to a little pond, and from there to the garden. After the plants would get the water they need, the water drains back into a stream all the way to a river and then the ocean. Through this process Pat uses the flow of water to her own benefit but replenishes the water back to its source.
We finished our day by heading out to a nearby beach where a couple of us jumped into the ocean.
Beautiful sunny summer day.
During the afternoon we travelled all the way to Dorset, where we visited Pat Bowcock at Ourganics evolving systems, a permaculture project set up by her 10 years ago. Pat received us with a cup of tea and biscuits (which were well accepted by the group since in the rush of getting there we had to limit our lunch to some rather suspicious pasties and snacks that we got at the gas station).She showed us pictures of the place and what it had looked liked when she got it, it was amazing to see how much the land had changed. What was once a pony field now was filled with fruit bearing trees and a bountiful garden with many kinds of vegetables, flowers and herbs.One of aspects of her project that I was most impressed with was its creative irrigation system. Pat explained that traditionally the pasture was flooded 3 times a year to encourage verdant pasture for cattle grazing. She has re-used the technique, and arranged her paths to double as stream-beds; in this way watering the garden is achieved by means of diverting a stream of water to a little pond, and from there to the garden. After the plants would get the water they need, the water drains back into a stream all the way to a river and then the ocean. Through this process Pat uses the flow of water to her own benefit but replenishes the water back to its source.
We finished our day by heading out to a nearby beach where a couple of us jumped into the ocean.
Beautiful sunny summer day.
No comments:
Post a Comment