Having baked hundreds of loaves in the past, you’d think I’d be a confident bread baker by now – but I still feel insecure without instruction. So, on to the computer I went, looking for that perfect recipe for a nice challah loaf. . .But page after page and I couldn’t find any that seemed quite right (too much of this, not enough of that, unappealing picture, vague descriptions. .). So, in the end, I felt it must be the time to bake without a recipe. Once I started, my hands seemed to remember what to do – which ingredients to combine first, when to add what, how long to wait. The dough kneaded smoothly, and I returned two hours later (after wandering nearby fields and talking to uninterested sheep) to find it had expanded like the throat of a giant bullfrog. On with the punching, rolling, braiding, shaping, and into the hot oven. . . . . .Not so bad in the end. . .(I have learned to trust my hands for the next time!)

arugula from america

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there were no storytellers.

Today, as millions of people upload video-diaries and self-publish books, articles and blogs, you might think the World was overflowing with storytellers. This is not the case. However, the result of all this activity is an abundance of raw story material that we storytellers use to evoke our rich tapestry for the community’s entertainment.

The Storyteller's skill is to gather threads from many sources and weave them into yarns thereby keeping the Oral Tradition alive and updated. By audience participation, we make a valuable contribution to the self-confidence and personal motivation of learners.

Each Storyteller evolves a style of storytelling.

My personal style of storytelling often incorporates fresh elements and storyline suggestions from the audience as living tales evolve. This gives my audiences a degree of control over story direction as it flows. My natural manner, part-improvised, comes from the earliest oral tradition of community life – when people met, stories were told.

Read more at WoW Storytelling

Image below:
Poster produced for our first public storytelling as
part of the
Birmingham Readers and Writers Festival.

A terrific range of imaginative storytelling methods, character voices and accents along with acting, singing and artistic skills make BookBod the ideal visitor for your event.

You can contact BookBod at the HoBB (`Home of BookBod`).

As it is good to know a little background about a visitor before meeting them for the first time, we emailed BookBod a few probing questions and here are the answers:

ANSWERS FROM A STAR:

Your name
BookBod

Company
Freelance

Job
Binder, collator, developer, researcher and presenter of all manner of stories.

Age
As a time guide, my age has overtaken time itself.

Best friends
ClueBod and my horse.

Diet
I love very brightly colourful food and the darkest food - liquorice root sticks, especially when tied into impossible knots before eating.

Travel experience
I have visited many ‘Big Bangs’ but only one recent galaxy closure which was a bit sad but very moving.

Traits
The list is short. I rarely blink and I’m sometimes bothered by my height on Earth.

Pet
Horse

Interests
Information and disinformation, fact, myth and mirth. I like swimming in waters of wide opinions, attitudes and views. My HoBBy is Bookbinding.

Memberships
Whilst here, I joined the British Library, Butterfly Conservation, IPG (International Publishers Guild) and the Milky Way Archive Project.

Favourite Links
Amazon
Bodleian Library, Oxford.
British Film and Strange Sound Library

Favourite Earth Characters
Merlin, Father Time, Dr.Who, Nostradamus and Gina (who found me stables a great parking place for my caravan)

Music while you work
Wind blowing through Autumn trees by the bank side of highland streams in spate.

Favourite drink at Work
Spring water drawn in Summer.

Preferred method of transport
Portable Green Light beams.

Favourite restaurant
Lucciano’s Pasta Bar the end of the Omniverse

Something that should be done
Phone home.

Biggest challenge
Making myself understood in Earth Language.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN ANSWERS FROM A STAR, PLEASE CONTACT BOOKBOD

Read more BookBod 'behind the scenes' information

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

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

Publishing projects require all of the above skills and more.

“Publishing … is to make public – to send forth among the people – the words and pictures that creative minds have produced, that editors have worked over, that printers have reproduced … a formidable succession of activities no one of which can, by itself, be called publishing.” (Chandler B. Grannis. Publishers’ Weekly, 1957)

I have three things in mind when reviewing publishing ideas: first, the ‘magic’ quality – does the idea excite me; second, topical value, and third, the wider picture and its ongoing potential. The only rule is that it must excite.

Many publishing ideas are grown here at the HoBB – our fertile imagination ensures this. Ideas arrive here with their creators for development and some ideas originate here during weekend `Creative Boot-Camp` meetings. View our growing catalogue of examples: Publications Gallery

Do you have a publishing project? Is your project so very wonderful that publishers should be clambering for your title?

The practice of developing publishing ideas alongside editors produces the most successful results. While general access to editors is limited, we occasionally arrange editorial meetings here at the HoBB for authors seeking to eat, sleep and dream their books together. These enthusiastic sessions are ideal for brilliant unknown authors and often for writers wishing to develop a better `live` style at book signings, festivals and events. Contact us for available dates.

Next year’s publishing projects are progressing well, Little People Books and their friends - librarians, teachers and parents, continue to do everything in their power to encourage innovation, culture `best solutions` and represent quality.

I hope that you attract attention to your next book idea from a publishing house of distinction whose list suits your title. The personality of the house, and in part, its editor, is important – a good match is pleasing, progressive and profitable.

Do you believe you “get out of life what you to put into it’?

Recently, I heard of an orphan, now 22 yrs of age, who left his homeland orphanage on the other side of the world and traveled to the UK in search of a better life. His orphanage upbringing had conditioned him to believe that the outside world provided everything. Consequently, he had no idea of applying himself to achieve his goals. On arrival in the UK he expected the world-on-a-plate. Was his education well designed and ‘fit for task’?

Hopefully, all parents, guardians and teachers in the UK provide a wide educational view of reality within a complex world; but how do we make sure this happens globally?

Margaret Fuller wrote in 1855: “Children need some childish talk, some childish play, some childish books. But they also need, and need more, difficulties to overcome, and a sense of the vast mysteries which the progress of their intelligence shall aide them to unravel. This sense is naturally their delight … and it must not be dulled by premature explanations or subterfuges of any kind”.

Do we all like the World we have collectively designed for ourselves so far?

If the world we have now is the sum total of everyone’s historical effort and input we need to ask ourselves, ‘do we like where we are and do we wish to continue on the road we are upon?’ Young children have confidence in adults and listen to the stories we tell. However, our storytelling merely perpetuates both our fundamental cultural values and our myths.

As we tell and re-tell our stories to each other and to each new generation we focus our thoughts and pave the way to our future - a deep rooted ‘by design’ process that takes an age to evolve.

Whilst ‘to educate’ is the role Society should give to its wisest adults, our handed-on findings and thoughts should always be accompanied by a request that each new generation challenges itself to re-evaluate all things from the past.

Designing today for tomorrow.

As a designer, I do believe that you get out what you put in and I take every care to get the recipe right whether I am designing a reference, an important message, a place of happiness, a moment of time or any other facet produced to conquer the challenges of today for the world of tomorrow.

This website contains samples of my developing depth of thought and quality of deed – ‘design for design’s sake is not my creed’.

Further reading:
Case Studies: Design

Follow me on Twitter

Say Hello

In the early days of printing, authors delivered their manuscripts to printers and the printers were book sellers. An example of today’s online version of this is to be found at lulu.com

Authors do their own editing, typesetting and design then upload their .pdf files to Lulu who print books on demand. Authors then arrange their own book signings and other publicity.

Authors keen to self-publish should know their answers to the following questions:

What is your Publishing Project?
What activities will help you to achieve it?
How much of each activity do you need to do?

and then:

Draw up a `to do` list for each activity.
Enter a time and date in your diary to action each outcome.

This `to do` list becomes your working tool which links all your activities together to bring about your publishing project.

There are many ways into publishing and if you are a fantastic author and need to talk over your work with someone, that someone does not have to be a publisher: You can try a sibling, librarian, spouse, bookseller, or best friend. In a perfect world, if this friend turns out to be a publisher, so much the better. But beware, it is unwise to have too many advisers.

_____________________

Copyrights in designs appearing are the property of either the designer or client named in the respective caption and must not be reproduced without permission.

This web site is hosted by The HoBB

Progress without a care achieves no goals...

At the HoBB, we believe this with a passion. So when we offer our creativity we incorporate our understanding, depth of experience, personal nature and capacity to 'be there' when needed.

On the phone today, someone described the HoBB as a 'creative boot camp' and others have at times viewed us as an 'attack' rather than a 'Retreat'. It's certainly true that the couch here rarely gets used and the get-up-and-go aspect of the HoBB dominates.

However, progress takes a lot more than heading off in the direction ahead regardless of the consequences. The World's gradually waking up to the reality of being over-used in a poor quality manner and hopefully a far fresher era of low impact progress will develop over this century.

At the HoBB, we love to re-cycle and the word 'waste' is never applied to materials for everything has its worth. All goods produced are 'of the Earth and formed from the fixed and finite family of materials on the Earth. We live as part of one delicate recycling process and we must wise-up if we are to remain a healthy part of that process.

I'm only one person in a World of problems, what can I do?

Essentially, keep going and try to get the rest of the World 'on-side'. Practically, whilst there is no full directory of 'low impact' goods, you can look out for the 'Fair Trade' sticker on your purchases. You can buy goods that are less 'processed' and more 'local'. You can support people who will repair goods and find new uses for unwanted goods. You can start a 'Transition Group'.

Share the recycling information you find and the ideas that you have to promote and secure low impact growth. Never give up on a vital thing, for with the internet you can reach the World and keep it changing. Post your thoughts on message boards, newsgroups, guest books and on a section of your own web page. Show the World how you are working to create an ever healthier tomorrow.

I know in some parts of the World, and in some families, it is less easy to think about building a better tomorrow but all of us must try as the World needs everyone to look after it and care for it.

We all live on the same planet no matter which corner our home stands upon. We share the Air, the Water and the Sun. and we all depend upon them no matter where we come from.

Waves from Grant ~~~~~~~ <+))))))))>< ~~~

Posted by : Grant
Filed in : Personal Comments

Maybe there are a thousand ways to fall under the charm of The HoBB, [HoBB is the name of the farm]. Immersed in the hills of Wales, Helen and Grant are a couple of Artist- Farmers who have built a prodigious project where the architectural elements blend in with nature. The garden contains hidden little parts of paradise which each has a particular character of its own: Some have been made with ivy, elsewhere we walk under a vegetable arch, further on we pass a lovely original wooden gate and arrive in front of a strange house where its “feet” are constructed in “stone trunks” … This is just a little preview – of some of the magic that you can feel in this exceptional place.

To travel to this Wwoof, the bus connections were a real brain teaser, but if you really take the time to pass over these transport difficulties, you don’t regret it. In this “jardin extraordinaire” [extraordinary garden] all is conceived with recycling things from the farm and in collaboration with the insects and other natural species. During the morning promenades, Grant was pleased to explain projects, stories and their realisation on site, which allowed me to adopt this magic place.

The interior of the house reflects of course the originality of the hosts. Everyday my eyes discovered a new illustration or curious object. Helen prepared delicious meals like the best chefs with her companion Tuppence, a very kind white boxer. The warm welcome offered to me, with my own private bedroom and bathroom and moreover, Internet access.

My experience in The HoBB was really enriching on all levels, in the physical work as well as mental and spiritual opportunities. I have learned about construction, including building techniques, correct use of tools, and I improve my English with their patience to explain to me the vocabulary, I laughed, I dreamt… With his genuous craziness, Grant has very good advice and he motivated me and helped me to the realisation of my higher dream. Nothing is impossible – just do it!

Link to Florence Tapiau Blog 2010
(Archive http://flo-journaliste.blogspot.com/)

_____________________________________________________________

Note: The above was translated from the original French (published below)

La grande famille des WWOOF offre de véritables échanges culturel, fermier et d’amitié. Cette experience unique permet de découvrir des modes de vie alternatifs, en étant accueilli chez des gens soucieux de l’environnement, et curieux de nouvelles rencontres pouvant les aider dans leur projet. Je souhaite vous présenter mon opinion sur une wwoof qui mérite vraiment de s’y attarder.

Il existe peut-être 1000 façons de tomber sous le charme de la HoBB, c’est ainsi que se nomme cette ferme. Imergés dans les collinnes du Pays de Galles, Helen et Grant, un couple d’artistes fermiers, ont construit un projet prodigieux où l’architecture se mêle merveilleusement à la Nature. Les jardins recèlent de coins de paradis qui ont tous un caractère particulier : certains sont façonnés par le lierre, ailleurs on passe sous des arches végétales, plus loin on traverse un portail en bois très original pour arriver devant une étrange maison dont les pieds, encore en construction, sont des troncs en pierre. Ce ne sont que certains details de la magie que vous pourrez ressentir dans cet endroit exceptionnel.

Pour arriver à cette wwoof, les correspondances des bus ressemblent à un casse-tête, mais prenez vraiment le temps de surpasser ces difficultés de transport, vous ne le regretterez pas. Dans ce jardin extraordinaire, tout est conçu en recyclant les déchêts de la ferme et en collaboration avec la vie des insectes et autres espèces naturelles. Lors des promenades matinales, Grant se fait un plaisir d’expliquer les projets, les histoires et les réalisations, ce qui permet d’adopter aisément ce lieu magique.

L’intérieur de la maison reflète bien évidemment l’originalité de leurs hôtes. Dans une dominante de bois, les yeux découvrent tous les jours une nouvelle illustration ou un objet farfelu. Helen prepare des délicieux repas dignes d’un grand chef, en compagnie de Tuppence, un boxer blanc très gentil. L’accueil est chaleureux et soigné. Les wwoofers disposent d’une chambre et d’une salle de bain privatives, ainsi que d’un accès à internet.

Mon expérience dans la HoBB a été vraiment enrichissante sur tous les niveaux, tant sur le travail physique que sur les activités mentales et spirituelles. J’ai appris des techniques de construction et la correcte utilisation d’outils, j’ai amélioré mon anglais grâce à leur patience à expliquer leur vocabulaire, j’ai rit, j’ai rêvé, en bref je me suis régalée ! Par son génial grain de folie, Grant a de très bons conseils, il m’a motivé et m’a aidé à la réalisation de mon plus grand rêve. Rien n’est impossible, il suffit de le faire.

Thank you very much

Flo

Florence Tapiau, Environment Journalist, Reporting from The HoBB.

A HoBB guest posting by : Florence Tapiau
Filed in : Personal Development

In 1878 the World's first plain small orange papers were patented (Ref: The Opium Museum / Dr Dirik)

By the 1920’s, some fruit growers wrapped colourful graphic messages around their fruit as a protective covering to limit the spread of fungus and the risk of bruising during transit. Within a few years, hundreds of people started to collect these decorative tissue paper wrappers because they were free and displayed the work of artisans who regularly blended colourful folk art with contemporary imagery.

Between the 1930’s and 1960’s, producers started to spray wax and fungicides on fruit so removing the need to wrap each fruit individually but increasing the need to wash fruit before eating it.

Whilst over the 1970’s and 1980’s fewer fruit wrappers appeared in shops, some continued to wrap a few fruit per box in tissue to grab attention in the marketplace and identify the growers. This made fruit wrappers much rarer which probably caused more people to collect them.

Bananas however, have carried stickers on them for an age – well you try wrapping graphic-rich tissue paper around a hand (bunch) of bananas! Gradually the use of fruit stickers spread – initially adopted by citrus fruit growers. You can even find stickers on some vegetables.

By 1985, the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, had a growing collection of fruit wrappers and in October of that year published a selection (Book by Gill Sanders. V&A)

The wide use of fruit stickers soared in 1990 with the issue of the first ‘PLU’ numbers and stickers started to appear on all fruit/fruit packaging. Suddenly, children started to collect fruit stickers around the World – a free, easy and education-full hobby around a healthy product. The attention of growers, distributors, retails and point-of-sale promoters all focused on the fruit sticker making it information-rich, easier to collect and often depicting popular cartoon characters on special editions.

Each year a new ‘crop’ of fruit sticker designs is released and a new generation emerges eager to continue a collecting hobby that is free to start and cheap to build – all you need is a love of fruit and a place to stick your stickers.

As we consume greater quantities of fruit (and vegetables) the fruit sticker designers will be kept busy, creating new shapes and graphics. As fruit sales grow so too do the number of fruit sticker collector. However, the future of this low cost hobby is uncertain as growers research ways to tattoo PLU number into fruit skin. The future may be ‘Orange’ but the orange skin may be graphically blemished … by design.

__________________________________

As I author this, the online Flickr Group “orangepaper and fruitsticker group”: (international web site) has 174 members worldwide. For more information, search online for these topics:

Fruit Wrappers
Fruit Stickers
Banana Stickers
PLU Numbers

View our Fruit Wrapper and Fruit Sticker ALBUMS

Background publication notes:

Chronicle Books published a selection of fruit wrappers from the collection of Louise Fili (President of U.S. graphic design firm Louise Fili Ltd.) and Steven Heller (senior art director of The New York Times.)

Little People Books (LPB) first published two selections of fruit wrappers from the 1930’s Wallis Collection, online in 1999 (UK) at http://uk.geocities.com/fruitwrapper/ and (USA) http://www.geocities.com/fruitwrappers in 2000.

Two catalogues of Banana Stickers have been published. (First Edn. August 1995. Gerri Lorenzo, Tulare, California) and Bananaman exists – he’s a great guy and he has published a book about his Bananaman campaign in Africa.

Stay a’peeling

Posted by : Grant
Filed in : Interests

Julija (a www.HelpX.net Premier helper) popped over from Latvia earlier this year to help us in a very artistic manner.

The above picture shows her first feature lighting design (bottom right)

ALSO:

* a selection of fresh HoBB-baked Latvian biscuits (centre bottom) and

* the Light fitting (top left) as it appears in the next book from the ELF series of decodeable early reading books, "Witch in the Bus Shelter"

Julija wrote the following (in Russian) about her HoBB Project House adventure:

Я Юлия , из Латвии. Я была у Хелен и Гранта в конце февраля. Они живут в красивом, уединенном месте, вокруг горы!Место прям магическое...!Все кажется живым, даже дом! Много зайчиков бегает.Я там просто слилась с природой, после них было так непривычно в городе!
Когда была хорошая погода, мы работали на улице.У них есть необычный огород и необычные постройки!Я помогала садить картошку, делать стенку из камней и т.д.А когда дождь- помогала с иллюстрациями, люблю рисовать :) Обстановка непринужденная, работали примерно с 9 -10 до 16-17. Это зависело от погоды и настроения.
Они занимаются иллюстрациями детских книжек.
Очень трепетно, внимательно относились ко мне. Мы так много разговаривали по душам! Я чувствовала себя членом их семьи!
Они очень творческие и неординарные люди.Все всегда с выдумкой!Каждое утро начиналось за кружкой чая и вопроса Гранта – Как будешь улучшать этот мир? так и казалось, что рамки, в которых до сих пор жила, распадаются, и открывается какой-то новый мир!Вообще, такие темы поднимали !:) Появлялось такое вдохновение!
Да , там можно отдохнуть морально и пересмотреть свои цели, свои взгляды на жизнь.
На заметку иностранцам- У Хелен и Гранта чистое английское классическое произношение, хорошо можно попрактиковать свой английский!
В общем, я многому научилась, и многое узнала.
Бурной ночной жизни там нет ,Ближайший город через 3 км. Живешь по часам природы. если вас тянет матушка природа смело едте, не пожалеете!
Да, и кстати, Хелен прекрасно готовит!
А еще у них была собачка Топпенс, умная, как человек!Только жаль, недавно узнала, что ее не стало в нашем физическом мире.

Заканчиваю свой рассказ,
Всем путешественникам удачи и теплых встреч!;)

p.s. : Никто тебе не друг, никто тебе не враг, но каждый тебе учитель.
И , открытое сердце встречает такие же открытые сердца!

Candice is with us for six weeks and will be visiting many borderland castles, improving her spoken English, eating, recycling all our kitchen waste, watching sheep, building paths and walls and probably teaching her hosts French. She is off to Sweden next for the Autumn semester at Uppsala Universitet to study economics and languages.

If you would like to read the children's ELF story in French, I have included it below. If you prefer to read it in English, scroll down to below the French version.

FRENCH VERSION

Aujourd´hui Elf, Grande Sœur et Papy mangent un délicieux repas…

Tomates, concombres, carottes, salade, pommes, œufs….

Elf s´apprête à jeter les détritus à la poubelle lorsque Papy l´arrête.
« Non, Elf ne jette pas ςa ! Nos amis les vers de terre vont pouvoir se nourrir avec nos restes de nourriture. »

Elf le regarde étonné.

Il suit Papy dans le jardin. Papy regroupe des bouts de bois, une scie, un marteau et quelques vis. Deux heures plus tard, une cabane étrange se dresse devant eux.

Elf ne comprend toujours pas. Papy lui explique alors :

« C´est une cabane pour les vers de terre. Chaque jour tu leur apporteras à manger en leur donnant les restes de nos repas. Tu peux leur apporter des légumes ou des fruits. Ils vont se régaler.

De leur côté, ils vont participer à la production d´une terre fine et compacte qui s´appelera compost. Ce compost nous sera utile pour replanter des tomates, des salades… »

Elf comprend mieux maintenant. Il décide de partir à la recherche de vers de terre.

Sur son chemin, il en rencontre toute une tribu. Ce sont des vers de terre nomades : ils n´ont nulle part où aller.

Elf les invite alors à le suivre et leur promet un véritable festin.

A leur arrivée, les vers de terre croquent de bon cœur dans les trognons de pommes et les épluchures.

Le lendemain matin Elf s´habille en vitesse pour aller voir ses nouveaux amis.

Malheureusement, il n´y a plus personne dans la belle cabane que Papy a construite. Les vers sont partis.

Elf est triste et demande à son ami la taupe si elle n´aurait pas aperςu la tribu de vers de terre.

La taupe lui répond : « Oh oui je les ai vus ces petits vers et de très près. Le dernier était délicieux, bien dodu mais un peu difficile à mastiquer. »

Elf reste sans voix, la taupe a mangé un de ses amis. Il décide alors de poursuivre son chemin.

Elf rencontre en chemin son ami le lapin et lui demande s´il n´aurait pas aperςu la tribu de vers de terre.

Le lapin lui répond : « Oh oui je les ai vus ces petits vers et de très près. Ils m´ont traversé sous le nez et maintenant je suis en retard ! »

Elf poursuit son chemin et il rencontre son ami le blaireau. Blaireau veut bien l´aider à chercher la tribu de vers de terre. Il fouille, renifle, creuse des trous….
Une heure plus tard, Elf et Blaireau retrouvent la trace des vers de terre.

Elf leur demande la raison de leur départ. Le chef des vers de terre prend la parole :
« Nous ne pouvons rester longtemps dans le même endroit. Nous sommes des vers de terre nomades. Nous voyageons sans cesse. »

Elf leur répond alors : « Papy vous a construit une charmante cabane où vous pouvez rester toute votre vie. Personne ne viendra vous embêter, pas même la taupe. »

Les vers de terre se regardent étonnés. Ils aiment bien trop leur indépendance et leur liberté et n´ont aucune envie de rester dans la même cabane toute leur vie.

Elf s´apprête à renoncer lorsqu´un couple de vers de terre s´avance vers lui. Ils veulent bien venir vivre dans la charmante cabane. Ils en ont un peu marre de voyager sans cesse.

Elf est fou de joie et ramène ses petits amis avec lui.

Un accueil chaleureux les attend. Papy et Grande Sœur ont accroché des banderoles pour fêter leur retour.

Depuis ce jour, le couple vécut heureux dans la cabane de Papy et eut beaucoup de bébés vers de terre.

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ENGLISH VERSION

The Nomadic Worms

Today, Elf, Big Sis and Grandad are having a delicious meal.

Tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, salad, apples, eggs…

Elf is about to throw the remains in the dustbin when Grandad stops him.

“ No, Elf! Do not throw this away! Our friends, the worms are going to have a proper treat with our remains.”

Elf looks at him. He is amazed.

He follows Grandad in the garden. Grandad collects a few pieces of wood, a saw, a hammer and some nails. Two hours later, an odd hut stands in front of them.

Elf still does not understand. Then Grandad explains to him:

“ This is a special small hut for the worms. Each day, you will bring them some food from the remains of our meals. You can bring them vegetable or fruit peelings. They will enjoy it.

They will produce really good soil called compost. This compost will be useful to
replant things like tomatoes or lettuces.

Elf understands better now. He decides to go off looking for worms.

On his way, he meets a whole tribe of worms. They are nomad worms: they do not have a house of their own.

Elf invites them to follow him and he promises them a proper treat.

On arrival, the worms enjoy eating vegetable and fruit peelings heartily.

The next morning, Elf puts his clothes on quickly to go and see his new friends.

Sadly, the worms are gone. There is nobody in the special worm hut.

Elf asks his friend, the mole, whether she had seen the tribe of worms.

“ Yes, I saw these little worms. One of them was delicious, plump but

a bit chewy.”

Elf is speechless. The mole has eaten one of his friends. He turns his back on the mole and goes off to find the rest.

Along the way, Elf meets his friend, the rabbit, and asks him whether he has seen a tribe of worms.

“ Yes, I saw a group of plump happy worms. They passed in front of me –very slowly, and now I am late.

Elf carries on his path and meets his friend the badger. Badger is willing to help Elf look for the tribe of worms. He digs holes, sniffs and fumbles. One hour later, Elf and Badger find them.

Elf asks the worms the reason for their departure. The worms’ chief says: “ We cannot stay in the same place. We are nomad worms. We never stop travelling.”

Then Elf answers: “ Grandad built you a special hut where you can stay as long as you wish.

Nobody will bother you there, not even the mole.”

The worms look at each other quite stunned. They love freedom and independence too much.

They don’t want to live in the same place for all of their lives.

Elf is about to give up when suddenly a couple of worms move towards him. They would love to come and live in Grandad’s hut. They are fed up with travelling.

Elf is really happy and he takes his friends back with him.

They have a warm worm welcome. Grandad and Big Sis have hung up some streamers to celebrate their arrival.

The couple of worms lived happily in their hut and had many baby worms.

Sunrise over the HoBB
Guest photographer : Monika Eidmann

Posted by : Grant
Filed in : Gallery

As everyone, including elves, needs to know a good designer, we introduced the 'Elves of Middle Wales' to Russ Sherry when he did an Art Residency at the HoBB through our Wwoof (www.wwoof.org) Art Scheme

Russ is now helping them to build a series of Elf habitats around the HoBB Gardens. These are photographed as background shots and appear in many of the new Elf books published by LPB (Little People books).

It's been very useful having Russ here and he explained that traditional Radnorshire Elf Architecture is rarely built nowadays as modern gardeners favour 'fairy houses'. There's one example of a Cheshire Elf house at the HoBB and we are always keen to hear about other Elf houses around the World.

The Elf houses are also of great use in our storytelling sessions.

To find out more about the HoBB Gardens Elf Project, contact Grant via this site's contact page.

If you are an Elf or are interested in Russ Sherry's Elf Architecture, you can contact him at russsherry@hotmail.com