In order to ‘buy local’ things have to be ‘made local’. To that end, we are busy planting, pruning and creating all manner of goods here at Joleen Meadows. Our eggs, fruit and vegetables are all from our little patch. We sell them from the door and also take our fresh produce to the local market in Holywell on a Thursday. In the winter we hope to provide root vegetables and some salad crops from our polytunnel. We always have eggs. Our girls are exceptionally good layers and, although they give fewer eggs in the colder weather, they do not stop laying.
As one would expect, the summer months and harvest time provide an abundance of food which we do our best to share and store by preserving, freezing, drying and keeping in vermin free cool storage. The mice would be delighted if we left our apples, potatoes, carrots etc open for their delectation.
Other things that are crafted here are knitted, sewn and crocheted garments, accessories and decorations all of which are on sale year round. If there is a particular item that is required it may be commissioned. The long winter nights and shorter periods of daylight give us ample opportunity for crafting that the summer months deny; the long summer days are devoted primarily to the garden, land, greenhouses and polytunnel.
We are planning to make baskets and bowls from the coppiced hazel and willow in future years. Our woodland planting will take a few years to mature so watch this space for news.