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Post by skarloey on Feb 8, 2007 22:04:59 GMT
Just got home from my first ever village horticultural society meeting!! The average age must have been 70. I personally know the chairperson and she is 87!!!! ;D ;D ;D What I found sad though, was that it's all going to end if more youngsters don't start attending. Anyway........ There was a great talk on lavender given by a bloke who used to be a dairy farmer until he realized he was selling his milk for 2p a litre less than he was producing it! I was captivated. 5 acres of his land he has turned into lavender fields. He distills his own oil and him and a friend turn it into lavender products, soap, oil, cream, spray etc, to sell at local farmers markets. He started selling it wholesale at £75 litre until the whole world started producing it and it now only sells for around £16 litre. He's really into wildlife and was rattling off what have moved back in due to the lavender fields including barn owls and partridges. He did mention that the decline in bumble bees was largely due to badgers who forage for them!!! So I bought a bar of soap and some cream, both of which smell Dee-lish-ous! ;D Here's his web address if anyones interested, www.lordingtonlavender.co.uk/Role on next month, Mrs Murphy is giving a talk on strawberries!! ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2007 7:54:48 GMT
Skarloey
You've inspired me. I keep meaning to join our local HS but haven't yet done so. I think I might just ring the secretary later and see when their next meeting is.
FA x
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SteveC
Under Gardener
Posts: 43
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Post by SteveC on Feb 9, 2007 11:46:18 GMT
We joined our village gardening club last summer. We'd been meaning to go along for some time, so I'd taken no notice of who the speaker was. Got to the village hall. Had to pay the more expensive non-members rate as it's a annual subscription and there were only two meetings left, so not worth joining for that year. £1-50 each  Then £2-00 for raffle tickets and 50p for a geranium (which we were supposed to grow on for a competition later in the year). Total cost of the evening £5-50 for the two of us. Sat down to wait for the talk. Didn't recognise the name on the posters. Then I noticed a tallish, bald but distinguished looking gentleman chatting to one of the organisers. "He looks just like that chap from the Antiques Road Show who does the paintings..." So a talk, by Paul Atterbury, on Jekyl and the rise of the sub-urban garden (which was fascinating), a cup of tea and a slice of extremely good home made cake, all for £2-75. Then we won a bottle of wine in the raffle as well ;D We've also made more friends in the village, been to a couple more meetings (not such well known speakers, but very good none the less) and generally enjoyed ourselves. ...but my geranium didn't win Steve |
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Post by skarloey on Feb 9, 2007 15:33:23 GMT
Good to hear it FA. ;D Steve, you sound as though you were as pleasantly surprised as I was. ;D I don't think it can hurt going to a meeting once a month. Especially when you learn something too. ;D But we missed the tea and cake.  Does anyone else belong to their local horticultural society? |
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Post by isabella on Feb 9, 2007 16:26:27 GMT
We do Skarloey  and we have lots of younger members which is really good Also the children at the local schools are positively encouraged to enter the Flower Show that is held every September.There are classes for painting,cooking,models and pets and the classes are always well supported. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2007 16:14:56 GMT
Well.....................I did it !!
They meet on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at the local community centre. Which just happens to be about 200 yards from my front door !!!
The next meeting is on Wednesday 21st Feb and the speaker is a chap from Thompson & Morgan so I'm going to give it a go.
Thanks for inspiring me Skarloey ;D
FA x
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Post by skarloey on Feb 10, 2007 17:22:34 GMT
That's good news Pam, I don't think kids these days are very aware of where things come from or how they grow. I would love to be like 4P and set up something when he goes to school. We'll have to see how busy I am with the allotment!! I just don't know how the horti society are ever going to get younger members though.
Good for you Andy, ;D let me know how you get on! I'm sure involving yourself with the community can only be a good thing.
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Post by MamIDdau on Feb 10, 2007 18:24:54 GMT
I've looked up my nearest one and it's in llandudno, £5 a year membership. When I have some money, moved house etc I'll give the lady a call and enquire.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2007 7:39:12 GMT
I'm not a member of a local society at the moment but I really must think about joining one once we have moved house. |
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Post by Barbara on Feb 12, 2007 18:30:58 GMT
how can i find out if there is one in my neck of the woods.
any web sites please.
barbara
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2007 19:38:11 GMT
Barbara
I found out about mine through a local village newsletter. It doesn't have a website so Googling wouldn't have helped.
If you don't have something similar, try looking in the local library or maybe you might be able to get contact details from your local newspaper if they have a list of local clubs & societies.
Maybe you could try your town's local websites - they sometimes have clubs & societies detailed on there.
If none of the above can help, try asking your neighbours or at the local shops or post office.
Cheers
FA x
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Then £2-00 for raffle tickets and 50p for a geranium (which we were supposed to grow on for a competition later in the year). Total cost of the evening £5-50 for the two of us.
and we have lots of younger members which is really good 
