One Chicken Share Now Available!!

Community Chicken Shed: One 'chicken share' now available!

We have 11 beautiful, healthy, character-full birds. 

... who lay around one egg per day each. 

The share involves: 

- taking on either one half day or one day per week involvement (option is to take a half day or a full day's commitment) 

- on that day you will be responsible for the chickens' welfare. 

- ensuring they have water, food.

- letting out in the morning and/or closing up at night (either or both, depending on what you want) 

In return you get fresh eggs and the enjoyment of being part of the project. 

The share is available to start immediately. It's a rare opportunity to be involved with the Chicken 100 Project. Since we started a year ago we've had no new vacancies come up but lots of requests from people to be involved. So if you were one of those people, or if you fancy giving it a go, now's your chance!

Full support and training will be provided, plus 'mentoring' for the initial few weeks so you feel confident and happy. And if it doesn't work for you, of course you can withdraw. 

Please contact Rosie directly on rosieharford@hotmail.com or 07818-598-884 for more info or to arrange a 'trial visit' :) 

Thanks 

Background Info: The Community Chicken Shed is proud to bring you fresh and delicious eggs, courtesy of our small flock. The chicken shed is a community project, with many different people involved in looking after them and ensuring their welfare. The aim of the project was not only to produce eggs, but to learn about chicken-keeping and then to act as a repository of that knowledge for the community. That way, if someone is interested in keeping birds in Wivenhoe, and wants to chat over the pros and cons (there are some - we'll be honest!) then we are available to assist. 'Transition' as a movement encourages this sort of knowledge-sharing and cooperation, so please do email if you want to get involved with this flock, or are thinking of starting your own, and we can help.

Eggs are available every day and will usually go out in the mornings. They are labelled with the date of lay, so you can be sure they're fresh. The above picture shows the little 'egg-house' where they're kept, with the box for donations in the background (suggested donation between 10-20p per egg)

p.s. In case you don't know already, the chicken-shed is the big coop in The Station pub's car park.

Clean 'n' Lube Bike Kitchen: Sat June 15th

"... Just cycled back from the Bike Kitchen on my re-vitalised mountain bike, all the clicking and clanking replaced by a smooth purr. Not only is my bike working better than ever but I've learned how to keep it that way too" ~ Daryl

This Saturday at 3:00pm Bike Kitchen will cover cleaning and lubing your bike - what to clean, where to put oil and where not and how to do it all quickly and easily. It's a friendly workshop with tea and cake and suitable for different ages and all sorts of skill levels.

What's been happening on the allotment?

Just in case you have been worrying about what is going on down on the allotment.........

The shed!
Repaired, new guttering and two,
yes two water butts!

The shed is going to be painted over the next couple of weeks so will look even smarter.

  Here is the lovely Laura weeding the garlic bed, no worries about vampires!

 The fruit bushes are growing at an amazing rate, apparently they will have to be kept pruned to get the best out of them.  I'm guessing jam may be on the menu later on in the year.

A big thank you to all the kind people who donated gardening tools, among them Bob and Jay.

This is the first time I have uploaded photos so lets hope it all works, it's all beyond me
Just need to learn how to get the words to go in the place I want them too.

Before I was able to get to this stage I spent 2 months in a classroom theorising about bees. The best book to use I was told was Ted Hoopers book on Bees and Honey (very helpful) I've had it on loan from the Wivenhoe library ever since!

My first encounter with a hive was with a senior member of the Essex Bee Keepers Association (top guy) I have to say the experience of opening a hive and holding a frame which was full of bees was almost profound, totally magical. The bees were placid and went about their business ignoring my presence, truly amazing. We made an interesting discovery of a  'wax moth grub' on the frame which was duly removed. Weather permitting I hope to re-visit the hive this week.

Being so enthused I have ordered my first hive and will use this to help me to build my own.

 There is a chance for you to feel the Buzz in TTW.

Friends forgive me its been many months since my last Blog... 

I've been hatching a new scheme!

 Bee Hives have been dotted around Wivenhoe for many years, its a bit of a secret affair and I'm wanting to share the experience of my new hives with you...

Meg and Dan from the CSA have agreed to site a hive or two on their farm. Over the next 12 months I would like to share/blog my bee journey with you, if you would like to know more about setting up a TTW bee project please get in touch or stay at home and watch the progress of this new venture. Incidently I have joined the Essex Bee Keepers Association and have a very thick bee suit! Contact me, chrisblomeley@gmail.com.

 

Station Garden Update

A beautiful sunny bank holiday Monday brought hundreds of people to Wivenhoe Station to celebrate 150 years of the railway in Wivenhoe at an event organised by Off the Rails.  Jean, Nadia and Ruth had been working hard over the weekend to make the garden look lovely, and had constructed a wonderful Victorian scarecrow (albeit with a slightly wonky head!) to tie in with the theme of the day.

I had the relatively easy task of turning up on the day although I had rather huffily refused to come dressed in Victorian garb.  I wish I had done; the people dressed up looked great. Lots of people came over to chat to me about the garden; there’s certainly a great deal of interest in what we’re doing there, and several people commented on how pretty the garden – especially the forget-me-nots which are now in full bloom – looks.

In between talking to people I found the time to plant out some French beans, do a spot of weeding and see how the plants are doing. The alpine strawberries are beginning to flower and I am already having thoughts of jam making. All the herbs are doing well, with the mint and lemon balm having come on spectacularly in the last couple of weeks – perfect for making tea.

I have some pink fir apple seed potatoes – donated by former custodian of the garden Chris – to plant, and tomatoes, courgette and summer squash are nearly ready to plant out. The garden is a lovely sunny spot and these should all do well, although I’ll have to keep on top of the watering. The donated water butt does not seem to contain much water. The down-pipe wasn't properly connected to the gutter so I climbed up and fixed it, which should resolve the problem. There’s plenty of rain due in the next few days so we shall see.

I also constructed a new sign for the garden. I’d been up the estuary a few days before and gathered some likely-looking bits of driftwood for this purpose. A spot of sanding, assisted by Martha (5) and Freya (7), and a bit of elementary woodwork and the structure of the sign is complete, including a box for leaflets and area for pinning notices. I’m happy with the structure of the sign but it needs the name of the garden carved or painted on it and a bit of decoration, preferably before Wivenhoe Open Gardens on May 18-19; are there any arty types out there who would be able to take this on?

The sign certainly seemed to attract quite a bit of attention. From my vantage point at the Station pub, to where I retired to recuperate after my labours in the garden, I saw several people stop to take a look and read the leaflet.

Wildlife Garden Grand Opening!!

The pond is fast filling with rainwater, providing a much needed fresh water habitat for all sorts of species. It is hoped that local primary school children will be able to use the pond to study the aquatic wildlife that will soon be living out their interesting lives under the murky waters.  On Saturday 20^th April a group of young children from Wivenhoe Montessori helped sow seeds for the mini wildflower meadow.  It was a beautifully sunny spring day.  The children loved sprinkling the carefully selected wildflower seeds then stomping the ground to bed them in. It was wonderful to watch families enjoying the garden, and children interacting with the natural world.  

 The grand opening will take place on May 18^th during the Wivenhoe Open Gardens event, with activities such as the nature trail and building bird nest boxes.  You will also have the chance to talk to one of the local experts who can give advice on attracting wildlife into your own garden.

While working in the garden we have seen stag beetles, frogs and toads, and lots of birdlife.  What we would like to do is monitor the wildlife in the area as more habitats are created. If you are interested, maybe you would like to become a Wivenhoe Wildlife Warden? We are looking for passionate people to help look after the space.  If this is you,  please contact us via hello-food@transitionwivenhoe.org.uk  We are also looking for local artists that might want to create something in the garden.

If you haven’t been already, come down and experience the garden for yourself.  It is a beautiful relaxing environment for everyone to enjoy.