Altavista
The Art of Gardening
Traditional skills Part 1: Pleatching
Hi,
Most hedgerows survive a full pleatch – the bravest gardeners should come to HoBB Real to see the fantastic results, witness the problems with over-cutting and maybe have a go themselves. It's a traditional skill but provides far more habitats for nesting birds than wire and post fencing!
Trees are very tolerant. After tracking done the "Tree Circus" on a Web site, my garden design skills took off in a new direction. Way beyond topiary, bonsai, training and pruning, plants can be created to fill ‘space’, balance views and even inter-fuse, making the garden into a Plant Circus for those Gardeners keen to be the new circus trainers.
If you are interested in working with plants and getting to grips with the real roots of gardening, then contact us and become a volunteer gardener at the HoBB Gardens.
Look around, the HoBB Virtual Web Site - join our 'International Friendship Garden' scheme, or attend a live weekend on plant design at ‘HoBB Real’.
Volunteering is always a useful way of getting experience if you are planning a career in gardening or just love to pick up tips for your own garden design. When C.A.T. was the 'National Centre for Alternative Technology' [N.C.A.T.] I spent many days working there as a volunteer when the gardens were nearly all slate. CAT is not far from here for those interested in including a visit to pick up loads of alternative gardening tips.
Bring a plan and some photographs of your own garden with you to HoBB Real, and we'll do some design thinking and drawing around your personal lifestyle – after a full day in the gardens there's always a moment around the log fire to chat about your plans and the latest gardening ideas.
~~~~~~~~~~ <+))))))))>< ~~~ waves from Grant
Posted by : Grant
Filed in : Voluntary Support
Tomas Peska – WWOOFING around the HoBB
Have your joined the Wwoof organisation? The first ever wwoofer to our HoBBian Hills came here five years ago when we first joined as a Host. He arrived a day early, on a bicycle he designed and built himself, from the Czech Republic
If you are not familiar with the international 'Wwoof' organisation (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) that brings together those wishing to travel the world with hosts, worldwide, then click to wwoof.org.uk and start planning your journey into this new world of friends - a world full of very special and individual ways of thinking.
Tomas continued his cycling through the UK on leaving the HoBB. When back in the Czech Republic, he emailed us saying :
"Thank you for learning a lot; relaxed like home atmosphere; superb food; fun; jokes; Penny; Topy ….. a little bit of philosophy – way of life. And also thanks for patience and energy"
At the HoBB, we encourage rare moments of life to evolve. If you are thinking of Wwoofing at the HoBB Project House, read what others have said about their time here in the green hills:
Monika E. at the HoBB
Florence Tapiau / Environment Journalist / Wwoofing at The HoBB
Rob Lockwood at the HoBB Project House
Russ Sherry at the HoBB
Kiersten Broderick at the HoBB
And in French ...
Jeanne C. at the HoBB
See also:
World of Water Charity Volunteering at the HoBB
Friends of the HoBB
We believe, that if you opt to join us and have an open and enthusiastic mindset, you will be well pleased with your decision.
There are many reasons why Wwoof members choose to visit the HoBB – it is not always obvious, but all leave with some fine memories they frequently choose to share with others.
Many revisit – our extended circle of Friends are very dear to us and we feel honoured to be a part of some very special folks lives.
Journey well.
Grant and Helen
Posted by : Grant
Filed in : Voluntary Support
