Dandelions, vegetables and The Polytunnel (again!!)

Today Steve and Jacqui decided it was time to weed their overgrown vegetable patch and plant some squashes, kale, brussel sprouts and leeks. When Dawn and Mark appeared, we all worked on tightening the tension of the polytunnel plastic helped again by the wonderful Bruce and Mary Anne.

Whilst weeding said veggie path, we dug up loads of dandelions, used the leaves to make some tincture (only a litre, don't get too excited now!) and the roots were transplanted into the dandelion bed so we can have some order in the dandelion world, they have a whole 100ft bed all to themselves and are jolly lucky because not all of the herbs have their own 100ft bed (except the valerian and nettle).

Elderflowers Harvest and The Saga of the Polytunnel Part ???

After many days of strange and inclement weather, none of which were conducive to harvesting, we finally started harvesting elderflowers for tincture production. We only have 2 mature trees but have planted 5 more for following years. Luckily, our hedgerows and parks have plenty, as does our local nature reserve. Nettles next we think.

Jacqui has also been inspired by the flowers of different plants growing on the farm and after some communing and tuning in has been instructed to make some flower essences.

So far, she has made Dandelion, Valerian, Buttercup and the Ox Eye Daisies are enticing her to make some from them too, and so she will, next week, hopefully when the sun is out again.

Continuing on with the polytunnel saga......just when we thought we'd never get the darn plastic on, all of a sudden the wind dropped and we all rushed towards the tunnel to get going. A few extra bodies in the shape of Bruce and Mary Ann lent a hand and after much yo heave ho-ing we can announce the plastic is on....Ta Dah!!! (applause please). An odd but rewarding time to spend a saturday night! And now we need beery goodness to celebrate but sadly we had none except the odd swig from Bruce's cider (much appreciated!).

Hops in the hedgerow.

Today was sunny but the wind still too strong for the polytunnel plastic. So we embarked on a day of grass cutting, and planting. The hops decided that they would like it best in the hedgerow where they could scramble all over the hawthorn! Who are we to argue, so there they went.

Also planted Bistort, Gypsywort, Woundwort, Wormwood, Lungwort, Skullcap, Sage, mouse eared hawkweed, and wild lettuce. Hoeing and mulching too and that was quite enough for the day!

Thar she blows!

Ah well...here we are again and it's raining, so the saga of the polytunnel continues. It was'nt so much the rain, although we would have been soaked....it was the wind. Really its always been the wind that has stopped us putting on the covering. It's like organising a military operation as the team all have to be available at the same time on the same day with favourable weather conditions...the more its blows tiddely pom!!!!

The Tincture Press.

Today we went to try out the tincture press, made by Paul at South East Essex Engineering on Canvey Island in Essex. We were keen to use local business and crafts people to make or obtain the things we need for Broad Oak Herbs. We pressed out some of Jacqui's herbal tinctures and the press worked a treat! A few modifications and a bit of sprucing up and it's done.

Polytunnel frame nears completion.

More photos

A few more photos of polytunnel planning...everyone sneaked off for an Easter Egg Hunt!

April fools.

Yes the crazy gang continue to try and erect a polytunnel over a cold, bright Easter weekend.
Hey guys..no laying down on the job!

.....and then success as the first part of the frame is completed. From L to R Steve,Mark,Dawn & Ian.

And now how to spend an Easter Weekend...polytunnel 101 !

Ah yes, ..how to erect a polytunnel with the trusty instruction manual (Hmmmm!!).
First prepare your ground, so here are pictures of Mark and Ian preparing holes for the polytunnel frame in the lovely mud!

Petals and Labrynths

Working between ourselves and nature intelligences, the design begins to unfold.
We all seemed to think of the petal beds as though nature had planted that idea into our minds collectively. Ian then suggested a labyrinth design and nature likes a curve as opposed to a straight line and so now you can see the beginnings of the labyrinth in these picture.

Getting down and dirty !

Well, it's beginning to look like more than just a field and here are some shots that we think illustrate how completely mad we all are crawling about in a muddy field. Pictured here are Ian, Dawn, Mark & Steve.

More Turf Cutting shenanigans

This was a busy weekend for us. We spent all of it cutting up turf and stacking it at one end of the field, stopping for the occasional tea break.

Here are some pictures of Dawn on the dumper truck, the rest of the gang Ian, Jacqui, Mark & Steve and occasional helper Greg.

We can't forget Bod (short for Boddington) the jack russell who liked to guard and on occasions sample the tea and biscuits!

You can also see us marking out the central beds shaped like petals around the central ginkgo tree.

Fun with Turf Cutters

Today was exciting as we started measuring ,cutting and lifting the turf to prepare the beds. It was heavy back breaking work but it's a start on turning a blank canvas into something wonderful. These strip beds are planned for dandelion, nettles and valerian.
These are the first of many beds!

A little bit about Nature Intelligence

Many people have asked what is Nature Intelligence and so we have given you a link to a paper written by Michaella Small-Wright. She was inspired by the work of Peter and Eileen Caddy and Dorothy Maclean at Findhorn in Scotland. This is what fascinated our herbalist Jacqui for many years and she is employing this same set of principles down on the herb farm. It just seemed right to her to try this alongside the organics and biodynamics.

http://www.perelandra-ltd.com//PDF/PP11_What_is_Nature_Intelligence.pdf

And so began many days of Jacqui wandering around the field checking where plants wished to be placed and scribbling her findings in her diary.

Since the ground was too wet for the turf cutters it seemed the right thing to do, sort out a planting plan...and so she did!

Breaking ground

Well it was another cold and wet day on the farm and our friend Daniel came over to give a oneness blessing (check out oneness on the internet for those that are interested!) Blessings from any source are always welcome and so we asked him to bless the land and the Ginkgo tree that we have now planted in the middle of the field. Then we went back to the house for hot soup which warmed the cockles!
That was the first of many plants to go into the ground and we felt a great sense of beginning our amazing journey together to turn an acre of field into an oasis of herbs!

A beginning

It was a cold miserable afternoon in mid January 2010 when Broad Oak Herbs came into being.

A co-opeartive, that will be specialising in the production of medicinal herbal tinctures for practising herbalists, together with other holistic, eco friendly projects, including opening the medicinal herb garden up to the public for educational purposes.

It is the only one we know of in Essex. A great place to hold workshops and gatherings in all things. A straw bale community centre is also being built as a place in which to hold many events and workshops in subjects such as herbalism, yoga, permaculture, shamanism and anything else we can think of.

We have been hard at work with the soil, plants and polytunnel and will keep you updated on our progress! We grow organically, are flirting with biodynamics and are growing our herbs using the philosophies learnt from Findhorn and Perelandra (working with nature intelligence).