Townings farm has a farm shop
selling their own or locally produced meat, vegetables cheese etc.
This weekend was based around SEVAC a local organisation.
The Sussex group were visiting for
their first time this year. I decided to join them to supply all
their caterings needs.
Andrew Coleman a relatively new
member, was enjoying some instruction from Mike Gordon who as usual
gives up unlimited time to encourage anyone on the humble art of
pole-lathing.
I just love meeting spoon makers and
other greenwood workers who are not members and to be honest require
no real pressure at all to join our organisation. I do explain our
liability insurance deal wherever I go.
Everyone who makes, understands the
benefit from meeting like-minded folk with knowledge and skill to
share and transfer. Mat (friend of James Pumfrey) has also made some
furniture and is looking for some guidance in chair and table making.
Hopefully soon he will join a local group.
Mat…
I have never met a snare and net
maker before I bumped into Peter Hills. He is also a keen rifleman
and local pest (rabbit) controller. These agricultural fairs give the
humble bodger opportunities to meet skilled craftsman working in
other materials i.e. hemp and modern equivalents. These craftsmen are
also the custodians of the old ways and deserve much more respect
than they get! They have such a wealth of knowledge to pass on. I was
very fortunate to have half an hour of his time.
This young man comes from a long
line of local butchers. His father, (who I met later), was left
handed and so he was not trained in their family trade. His son is
self taught and works on site. He gave a demonstration on pork
butchery and later on gave some of the visitors’ children an
opportunity to make sausages. He was great; such patience with the
sausage makers for a young man.
During the weekend there were many
farming equipment displays as well as a corn to bread race (not a bit
like the log to leg?) which took 4 hours – combine / drying /
grinding and baking.
This diesel machine has an air
blower / dryer on the right. The grinding unit is on the left.
This young lady was – shearing
their rare breeds sheep. They lean through a harness, I presume to
protect their backs. The sheep appeared to enjoy it far too much; I
was thinking of mint sauce.
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