Visitors, volunteers and possible ventures.

On Saturday, we were visited by a friend who we met when we were living in an intentional community in Cornwall, prior to our move here (with the neighbours). She has also moved on and is embarking on self-build in a recently formed eco-village. They are using volunteers to help and she brought four of them up with her because they were interested in visiting The Centre for Alternative Technology http://www.cat.org.uk/ and having a look around Mid-Wales, including a visit to where our landlords live, which is quite an amazing place http://oldchapelfarm.org/
The neighbours came around and ten of us had dinner in the barn on Saturday, which was great, the four volunteers were in their mid-twenties (so made me feel quite old and mumsy), really switched on and interesting. They have gained a fair bit of knowledge and skills whilst travelling and volunteering, including some straw bale building. This really got me thinking..........

We talked about the possibility of having our own volunteers when we arrived here last year, but didn't get any further. We could certainly do with some help in the garden, the menfolk both work full time, Cathie and I have part time jobs (although I am currently not working, thanks to a back injury, but should be working again soon) and children, the garden is huge and the weeds got the better of us last year. We feel like we are more on top of it this year, but I am frustrated with my inability to physically do what I want to do. A bit of help would be great. Having some young people about would be fun, cooking for a few extra mouths is no problem. These particular volunteers have their own accomadation in the form of caravans. These particular volunteers were also lovely, so ever the opportunist, I suggested that they might consider coming here later in the year. I don't know what will happen, but it's planted a seed. What we could really do with in the first instance is people with straw bale building experience, because within the land we have this little gem......................

An even shonkier, wonkier little straw bale house. It has been used for volunteers and as a retreat in the past and it would be a real shame if it fell apart. It needs some TLC. I know nothing about these things, but apparently the timber frame is supporting the roof, which is keeping the weather out, but the walls need taking out and re-building. If we could get some help with this, we may be able to use it as a retreat or volunteer accomadation again. A quick call to our landlords to confirm that they are OK in principle for us to maybe do this gets the thumbs up. They built it years ago when they lived here and have built and restored other interesting structures so should be able to advise.

One of the good things (or maybe not) about blogging about this means, to me that it is slightly more than just an idea. Now I've written about it and it's "out there" I feel slightly obligated to follow through.