Welcome to the Lammas November 2015 Newsletter. 

Elephant Hawk Moth at Lammas

 

Ecovillage news 

Autumn has arrived in a swirling mix of hot 'Indian summer' days along with bands of cold driving rain. Our busy visitor season is making way for a slower, darker time in which the harvests are gathered in and the winter fires are nurtured.

Nonetheless building continues whenever the weather allows with Katy and Leander's stunning timber-frame house emerging as the latest wonder at Lammas. 

 Katy and Leander's 4 bedroom eco-home  

In the Media

Lammas will be featured on the BBC Radio Wales 'Country Focus' program on November 22nd, and includes interviews with residents Tao Wimbush, Ayres Gipson, Jane Wells and Andy Wells as well as volunteers Mario and Simone. This will be available on the iplayer for 30 days after the broadcast. 

Also keep a look out for Abz and Vicky in a Christmas Special for the BBC series 'Country Strife', in which Hoppi Wimbush visits the ex-rock star and his glamorous girlfriend in their new smallholding. 

 

"We can do it"

A piece from Lammas resident Jane Wells about establishing their vegi-box scheme:

This year we have discovered that we really can make a living from the land!

When we first arrived here 6 years ago we realised that there already existed a free range egg business and organic veg box business within a couple of miles from us. We really didn't think it was fair to undercut them or poach their customers so we didn't do much to build up our own business in these areas. We did sell a little to friends and neighbours and would pick fruit and veg to order. Over the years we have built up quite a reputation for top quality produce and good prices. With the help of advertising on social media we have gradually built up a customer base of around 40 locals. Enough of them now are regularly buying veg, eggs and plants from us that we really are making a living from the land! This allows us to buy the foods we like to eat but can't produce for ourselves. 

We are also proud to announce that the first piglets have been born at Lammas too. 

Jane 

 

Planning News: Rhiw Las

Rhiw Las is a 4-unit 'One Planet Development' (OPD) application about 8 miles south of Lammas in the neighbouring County of Carmarthenshire on 22 acres of mixed pasture and woodland. Their planning application can only be described as exemplary - as it outlines the low-impact lifestyle plans for the four families which include beekeeping, community supported agriculture, forest school education and a micro-dairy.

Carmarthenshire planning department, whilst taking their time to assess the application, have been very diligent in their approach - sending delegates on a 'One Planet Council' training day and concluding that the application should be wholeheartedly approved. Unfortunately the elected County Councillors in Carmarthenshire are not as enlightened as their advisors and turned the application down on prejudiced grounds. They have been criticised in local and National press for their decision and this in itself reflects the significant shift in cultural attitude towards OPD. Both the Management Plan and a podcast of the County Councillors in action are available from the One Planet Council website. 

They have submitted an appeal to the Welsh Government and will shortly be launching a crowdfunding campaign to support their legal costs.

A Welsh harp made from timber at Rhiw Las

 

Courses at the Lammas Ecovillage: 

Either click on title or scroll down to view details

DateDescriptionCourse facilitated by
November 7th – 8thWeaving Hedgerow Baskets and Flax FlowersMelissa and Jacqui
November 14th 2015Reindeer Sculpture Workshop Cassandra Lishman
November 28th 2015Celebrating CacaoHoppi Wimbush & Salena Walker
December 7th – 11thLiving in the LandscapeSimon and Jasmine Dale
December 12thWillow crafts for ChristmasCassandra Lishman
December 16th – 18thCreating ConnectionSimon and Jasmine Dale
March 1st – April 1st 2016Permaculture and Natural Building InternshipSimon and Jasmine Dale
April 30th – May 1st 2016All Natural Skincare CourseHoppi Wimbush
June 17th – 21st 2016One Planet Experience WeekHoppi Wimbush
August 19th – 22ndLammas Family Adventure CampMelissa and Jacqui and Robyn
September 14th – 18th 2016 One Planet Experience WeekHoppi Wimbush

 

 

Volunteers building an earth-drum temple called 'heaven' on one of the plots at Lammas