CFL 48 Newsletter

Issue 48 • Spring 2014
Published quarterly by The Camphill Family
www.camphillfamily.com
How our
allotment grows
O
Left to right: On set with
Paul, Ian, Rob and Alastair.
Below: Rob with a big
wheel of Dale End.
Did you
see us?
O
urselves, our cows, our cheese…
We hope you saw Botton Village
on television, in the BBC cookery
programme ‘Paul Hollywood’s Pies
and Puds’. It was a great experience
that left us feeling really proud.
Thank you
We’d like to thank everyone we met
during the filming – you were so lovely
– and all the friends who sent messages of
congratulations when the show went out.
It wouldn’t have happened without our
friend Andy, who sells Botton cheese at
The Courtyard Dairy in Settle. It was there
that one of the programme’s researchers
first tasted our organic Dale End Cheddar
– which led to a crew coming to film the
whole cheese-making process, from the
farmers milking the cows to a Botton
household enjoying the finished product.
Zooming cameras
It got even more exciting when Ian, Rob
and Alastair from our creamery went to
London to film with Paul Hollywood, and
help cook a pie using Dale End Cheddar
and organic Botton onions.
‘We went to the place where it all
happened, with cameras zooming in and
everything’, says Rob. ‘Paul Hollywood
asked questions about the cheese, and
he asked me to mash the potatoes for
the pie. Then we ate it afterwards – he
gave us a slice each, just on its own,
and it was very nice indeed.’
‘I liked the way the programme got
more customers for the creamery’, says
Ian. And indeed it did! So much so that
Dale End Cheddar quickly sold out.
Each batch takes at least 13 months to
mature, so there’s been a wait for more
to be ready. ‘You can’t rush quality’,
says Alastair. ‘Big manufacturers use
additives to speed up the process, but
our cheeses are produced and aged
using natural methods.’
However, if you would like a taste
of Dale End, here’s an inside tip: the
next batch should be ripe and ready for
eating in April, and can be ordered from
www.thecourtyarddairy.co.uk
In this issue: New Finlieve is beautiful
l
ur allotment in St Albans is now
heading into its second spring
in our tender care. As we’re an urban
community, it’s wonderful to have a
patch of land to get to know and look
after. It brings us together and puts
us in touch with the natural world.
When we got it, it needed a lot of
work so the first task was to have a
clear-up. Everyone turned out to help.
‘We took the big stones off the beds
and we took out the weeds, then we
made the beds level and we sowed some
seeds which were carrots, radishes,
flowers, potatoes, rhubarb and spinach’,
recalls Elisabeth.
‘I liked planting vegetables’,
remembers Maxine. ‘I worked with Mel
and James. Afterwards, we all went back
and had a barbeque.’ It was a perfect end
to a productive day – and the start of
a summer of tasty home-grown veg.
This year our ambition is to grow
more varieties. ‘We’re going to use a
greenhouse to start things off earlier’,
explains Anthony. ‘And hopefully we
might be able to get a little polytunnel
where we could harden off the plants and
maybe grow tomatoes and cucumbers.’
‘The aim is to be self-sufficient.
Not only to save money but to have
fresh vegetables with all the natural
nutrients and vitamins, and no
chemicals. All organic.’
Tree House Triathlon
Anthony is a
keen gardener.
l
Looking forward
Taking part in sport builds friendships a
the social aspects of going swimmin
improving our skills. And sometimes
Edward and Fionn prepare to
test the water for the 50m swim.
Alan (pictured centre in red)
and the plucky competitors take
a moment to mark the occasion.
The Tree House Triathlon
F
or those of a sporting disposition,
the annual Tree House Triathlon in
Botton Village is a unique test of mettle.
After a bracing 400m swim in
‘Lake Taylor’, a pond high up in the
woodland at the head of Danby Dale,
competitors undertake a 5km run
through woods and fields and onto
the moor above, before cycling from
the church in Botton for a 20km return
journey to the village centre.
Botton forester Alan Ayres thought
up the event as a fun challenge for
anyone brave enough to enter. People
can choose to go the full distance, opt
to run and bike only, or simply do the
swim. Local friends join in the fun too.
Last year’s event was the most
challenging ever. Thankfully the sun
was out but exceptionally heavy rain
the day before and strong winds made
the going very tough.
Swimming in soup
Silt had washed into Lake Taylor,
turning the water to a shade similar to
oxtail soup and reducing underwater
visibility to virtually nothing. However,
there were a record number of entries,
making for a bit of chaos as the
swimmers jostled for position.
With water temperature a
disappointing 11 degrees C, Stef
the Joiner exited after two laps but
went on to complete the rest of the
course after warming up again.
Only one competitor, Sam, played
it safe and wore a full wetsuit, no
doubt ensuring a better swim time
but costing time in transition. Nanda
put in a solid swim for the Thirsty
Ferrets, the sole team entry.
However, Alan managed to lap
the rest of the field (swimming into
most of them in the process) giving
him a lead into the run - which
was tougher than usual with soft,
muddy ground as well as more gates
to jump due to sheep and a closed
footpath section at the end.
‘The wind doesn’t care’
James, who was taking part for the
third time, said at the end: ‘The first
time I did the bike ride only. Last year
I decided to do the run and then the
bike. This year I did the running course
and then the bike ride. When I got up
on the ridge there was this headwind
and for awhile I was tempted to throw
a big tantrum. But I told myself, the
wind isn’t going to care if I’m tired.
The wind isn’t going to stop. So I’ve
got to pace myself a bit.
‘I was with people for most of
the run, but then I got to the back
on the ride. I had fun though.’
and extends horizons. Many of us enjoy
ng and riding, and the challenge of
we dream up challenges of our own.
Swimming for the horses
B
y swimming half a mile, Debbie
from our Larchfield Community
has raised over £100 for a place that’s
dear to her heart – the Unicorn Centre,
a riding for the disabled facility that
backs onto Larchfield.
‘We were absolutely delighted’,
says Claire Pitt, the Centre’s manager.
‘Debbie’s swim was quite an
achievement, and her donation helped
meet the winter feed bill for the ponies
and buy an item of new tack. We are
super, super grateful!’
‘With horses, you
have to be the boss’
James reaches
the finish line.
At the finish line
The previous year’s overall winner,
Botton mechanic Mark, had to
withdraw due to a breakdown call-out,
leaving Alan to produce the fastest
time for the full course.
However, the biggest cheers were
for those coming in at the end, for
those whom the ordeal was toughest.
In Botton, the taking part is more
important than being the best.
At the Unicorn Centre, children and
adults with disabilities have a chance
to get to know the specially-trained
horses and ponies, and learn to ride.
There are two purpose-built arenas
and safe bridleways.
Over the last five years it has almost
become Debbie’s second home. As well
as riding, she has done her Level 1 NVQ
in Horse Care at the Centre, and is now
putting her skills into practice by
volunteering every Friday.
‘I tack up, groom and get the horses
for lessons’, she explains. ‘You have to
lead them in a circle to the centre of the
arena. They’ve got to stand there quietly
without moving away from the mounting
block. You’ve just got to be polite but
very strict with them. Because horses
say, oh, I want to eat, and you have to
say no. You have to be the boss.’
‘It was a lot of hard work’
Debbie had been concerned for some
time that the Unicorn Centre had been
short of money; as a charity it depends
on donations to stay open. Then she hit
on the idea of matching up her other
favourite sport of swimming with a bit
of fundraising.
Karin, who works at Larchfield,
supported her – and her friends and
family sponsored her. ‘It was brilliant’,
Debbie says. ‘A lot of hard work, with
the swim, the training, and collecting
the money from everyone.’
‘Karin went in the water with me and
gave me encouragement. We did two
lengths and then she would say “just
two more lengths”. I couldn’t have
done it without Karin.
‘We sent a proper cheque. They have
got a picture of me with it on the notice
board. It makes me feel proud.’
Feeling triumphant
after her swim!
Debbie riding
her favourite
horse, Angus.
New Finlieve
is beautiful
I
t’s wonderful to be able to tell you the
new Finlieve workshop building, at
Camphill Community Mourne Grange
in Northern Ireland, is up and running.
Thank you to all who contributed a
donation to the project. Your generosity
is so appreciated by everyone, especially
those who work in the laundry and the
bakery and are benefitting from the new,
improved facilities.
‘The laundry is very busy because
they wash all the clothes, towels and
sheets and all that’, explains Ned. ‘The
bakery makes bread, biscuits and cakes
for the coffee shop and for the houses.’
Pulling together
Although it was a challenge having a
construction site in the middle of the
community for months, people pulled
together. ‘Everyone was very flexible, and
helped to keep the workshops going’,
says Carmel, who helped manage the
The bakery and
laundry teams at
Mourne Grange
say a big thank
you for helping to
create Finlieve.
project. Fluorescent jackets and hard hats
became the new ‘uniform’ – and the good
weather over the summer was not only
a great help to the builders, but a bonus
for all those who loved watching on as
things took shape. One of the most
exciting sights was the big concrete stairs
swinging from a very high crane up near
the treetops!
The project was even caught on video
by residents who were taking part in a
film-making course.
‘We saw it getting made and all’,
says Ned. ‘Thanks for the money you
sent to build it. It is beautiful and we’re
very lucky to have it. If you’re down this
way call in and we’ll give you a cup of
tea and a biscuit.’
Looking forward
E
Bethy Woodward,
pictured here, launched
the conference with a
motivational speech.
Leo, above, helped
organise workshops
and social activities.
very season has its pleasures – and
as well as being beautiful, Spring
heralds good things to come. Simple joys,
like longer, warmer days for those of us
who work outdoors. Cherished annual
events, like Delrow’s Garden Party and
Open Day at Botton Village.
And at summer’s end comes the
biggest shared event of our year, when
people from all our communities leave
their homes and work, and spend three
inspirational days together. We call it
our Conference.
The journey, experience of staying in a
hotel and being a delegate can be exciting
and confidence-boosting in themselves.
But there is so much more. Every day is a
blend of creative and thought-provoking
activities, opportunities to discuss things
that are important to us, and the sheer
enjoyment of being together.
‘Our Future’
Last year’s Conference revolved around
the theme of ‘Our Future’ and we were
thrilled to have Paralympian silver
medallist Bethy Woodward with us as
a guest speaker. ‘She was just amazing’,
says Leo from Grange Village. ‘She has
cerebral palsy and grew up in Camphill
– we actually had a Camphiller in the
Olympics!’
Bethy stressed the importance
of Inspiration, Resilience, Respect
and Responsibility, and encouraged
everyone to celebrate each other and
dare to be extraordinary. ‘She told us
the story of her life’, Leo says. ‘She
made some of us cry at times – it was
very moving.’
With Bethy’s motivational words
ringing in our ears, we went on to take
part in workshops and activities that a
team of Camphill residents had helped
to plan. Some of these were Making
Choices, Good Support, and Looking
Back to Help Your Future.
No wonder we always leave our
Conference energised and looking
forward to the next one.
Camphill Family Life is published by The Camphill Family, Camphill Appeals Office, Botton Village, Danby, Whitby, YO21 2NJ Telephone: 01287 660871 Helpline: 01287 661294
Email: family@camphill.org.uk Editorial and production advisers: Burnett Works, London EC1R 5EX Telephone: 020 7841 3070 www.burnettworks.co.uk Photography by Pete Mernagh unless otherwise stated.
The Camphill Family supports the Camphill Village Trust Limited, a non-profit-making company limited by guarantee 539694 England. Registered as charity number 232402 England & Wales.