Twists and Braids

For the last seven days, I've been spending time each day working on Ricardo Sierra's Seven Day Challenge, to focus on practicing a skill, usually perceived as 'primitive'. I chose to focus on a two strand twist with fibers I stripped from the fallen leaves of a Pandani tree.

This is a ten foot length of braid I did as an aside. It's looped at the beginning, as are each of the four cords I made.

This cord (two photos above) is what it was all about. thirty-seven feet of two strand natural cordage. I'm very proud of this piece.

In this time period, I also did two cords (a braid and a two twist) out of 100% polyester curtain that I tore into one inch width strips. To test their strength, I hung a 7.5 kg (just over 16 pounds) kettlebell from each. Handled it easily.

It was a great challenge. I'll extend the time so I can learn a few other cordage skills.

7 Day Skills, 1st Aid, Lettuce.

Ricardo Sierra's 7 Day Earth Skills Challenge is something I'll be doing starting on the first of June. It's a free event open to anyone and can be done virtually anywhere. So, if you're interested, give it a go.

 I've chosen to try to turn the leaves of this Pandani (Richea pandanifolia) into cordage. It grows next to my garage, another near the front gate, and more about a kilometer away on the way to the shop. Now that I'm aware of it, I'm noticing it everywhere.

 I'm using the drier leaves picked up from the base of the tree.

Spending an hour or so each night separating the fibers and collecting them in this bucket. I'll concentrate on twisting during the challenge.

I posted a little while ago about the installation of these vegetable beds. Glad to say they've come of age and we've been eating lettuce and kale. Crisp and crunchy, this is quality.

This region's home-schoolers got together today at the Presbyterian church in Ulverstone to do first aid courses. the younger ones, including sons number two and three, got a basic orientation seminar...

...while the older kids, including son number one, did some actual practice.

 All in all, a good day out.

Catch Up

A few things come to mind that I haven't gotten around to mentioning. Let's see...

Kynan successfully graded to his second Green Tip yesterday. Now he starts studying for his green belt. 

We took the boys to a Leonardo da Vinci exhibit at the Burnie Regional Arts Gallery a month or so ago. Wasn't supposed to take photos, but didn't realise that until someone tapped me on the shoulder. The guy was a genius.

A beach trip, we discovered Samphire. Our attention was first drawn to its existence when we watched Andy Liaw do a tv segment on food in Tasmania. He walked around in a field thick with this wild vegetable. We found some patches at one of Sulphur Creek's beaches. A little salty, as expected. Quite nice.

More Ranger Activities.

Took the boys to another Discovery Ranger program a couple of days ago. Different division, different ranger, but a great event (as usual). 

It was an overcast day, threatening drops from on high. As such, the usual beach local was ditched for indoor security. 

Outdoor activity was an option because the rain didn't carry out on its threat. Ranger John got the kids playing a game where they explored the danger of introduced and domestic animals attacking native animals.

These events are great. They add an educational element that is sorely missing in the lives of today's youngsters (and 99% of oldsters, too).

The thanks of our family go out to all members of the Discovery Ranger programs.

Youth and Family Focus Inc.

Last year I took the three older boys to an organic gardening event in Devonport. Among other things, there was a stall offering free garden beds for food plants as part of the Veggie Patch Project. We qualified, and yesterday they turned up, set up and installed. 

Youth and Family Focus Inc. are the folks responsible. And here's their Facebook. Their mission as stated on their front page is:

"We are a non-profit organisation based on the North West Coast of Tasmania. We provide young people and families in the region with access to the support, encouragement and resources they need to make a positive contribution to their community. This is achieved through the identification of issues and the development then implementation of appropriate tools and strategies.

Our services include:

Focus on Integrated Family Support Service

Youth Focus Accommodation Service and Focus on Transitional Outreach

Community Focus Youth Alcohol and Other Drug Service

Illicit Drug Diversion Initiative

Focus on Family Drug Support Service

Needle Syringe Program

Improved Services Program

Focus on Primary Schools Partnership Program & Respectful Relationships"

(Cut and paste from their front page. Will be removed if they object).

They came prepared.

Included a compost bin...

...and two vegetable beds.

The finished product. I think they have over 100 recipients on their to-do list. This is good work. Our sincerest thanks to the workers who did the installing, Y&FF Inc., and whomever gave the o.k. for the funding for this programme.

Mount Gnomon Farm

We all went to Mount Gnomon Farm yesterday for their Rare Day Out event. Basically, Mount Gnomon Farm is a family run business that specialises in old-fashioned breeds of livestock, primarily pigs. Known for their 'Wessex Saddlebacks', they also have some interesting old cow breeds, and I noticed some ducks and chooks roaming round. As well as the animals, they're looking to expand into cider, and doing as much of the processing on site as possible. Eventually it will be a major food tourist destination. A wonderful place to visit with its animals, orchards, and people (the owners, their family and friends, visiting WWOOFers, musicians, venues, and all of us visitors).

If you ever get the opportunity to visit for any of their events, I'd recommend you jump at the chance. Personally, I think it's great to live so close to such inspiring folk (they're only two towns away).

We arrived and the boys are excited.

A little piggy patting zoo, with real little piggies and real big patting. 

The food was top shelf. Fresh, Tasmanian, some gluten free. I grabbed some bottles of cider to send to my dad, and a bottle of dry for me. Think I have a new favorite tipple. Boys had the sausages, Mrs Me had the gluten free taco, and I had the hamburger, foolwed by dessert from Red Cow and Lonely Hedgehog. Doesn't get any better. Hats off to the food providers who did an excellent job (Pickled Sisters, Red Cow Dairies, The Lonely Hedgehog, Seven Sheds Brewery, Theresa's Coffee and Holm Oak Vineyard).

And live music! One of those band members works in our towns only shop. That's what it's all about... local. His band was quite good too. Always good to see the young ones doing it themselves rather than taking the 100% CD default route.

Construction. Orchards, buildings, lifestock... getting better and better, working towards their goal of earning their spot in Tasmania's food tourism industry. They are going to be major. If it goes the way it seems to be heading, they'll be an internationally recognised foodie destination. It'll be a quality thing, not a quantity thing.

Big pig patting.

What can I say, tracks. At last count I have fifteen tracking books, but nothing beats dirt time.

The setting for this farm is against the Dial Range. Nature, it's what Tasmania is known for. Has its ups and downs though. Wallabies are a competing force. Look at those clouds. Portent of things to come.

While the first thing I think of with regards Mount Gnomen Farm is 'pigs', they do have other animals. Evidence, exibit 'A': 'Cows'. Look... a Saddleback Cow!!! :)  Nah, it's a Belted Galloway. Keeping with the old breed theme, they also have Scottish Highlands and Short Horns. That black one up front has the cutest furry teddy bear ears.

Bugger, end of the tour. That's hail, and we were all up the back paddock. Had to cut through the pigs yards to shorten the run back to shelter. There were quite a few of us, maybe fifty or more. A shame really, but wet + cold + kids = head home.

We caught up with some good friends in the car park who had just arrived. All-in-all, an excellent time. Thankyou to everyone at Mount Gnomon Farm who made for a wonderful family experience.

If you live in Tasmania, or are a tourist working on your itinerary, keep an eye on their Facebook and blog to see if they've got anything happening.

Flying Mammals and Memorial Paint

Is there anything more annoying than being woken in the early morning by kids who we wish were as devoted to sleep as adults are? Off the top of my head, maybe politicians who want to reduce payments to the unemployed, disabled and schools, while ensuring the rich are subsidised. But that's about the only thing I can think of.

Anyhoo, four am this morning and a frightened six year old called me into his bedroom. He heard squeaking and I figured it was a toy, so went back to bed. Ten minutes later and I get an encore. This time he has heard flapping. This time I heard it, and looking around this dark early morning room I could see movement, I figured a large moth and knew I'd have to catch it. I flick on the light... and it's a bat!

Never had a bat before, that I know of. Armed with a light sheet from a cot, I captured it as gently as possible, evicted it out the kitchen window, and went back to bed.

At a more reasonable hour, I got to start my chores, and first on the list is to feed our cat. As I dish out her food, a squeak signals that it's time for a little deja vu. I workout that the sound is coming from a curtain that we have hanging to aid in temperature control. Yep, it's a little bat. The same one? Its mate? Don't know, but there it was. If you want to know about Tasmanian bats, click here.

I placed it in a box. Nice and dark and quiet.

I tried a half dozen phone numbers in order to find someone in the industry that might be interested in studying it, but finally worked out that the person in that department was 'out'. I'm busy and doubt the bat wants to stay in the box til tomorrow, so I'm going to wait til dark and set it free.

Then son #1 and I took part in a community working bee. Our local town hall, (according to our regional newspaper a year ago, one of only four town halls in the state actively operated by the locals), has a memorial gate and fence that needed its once a decade repainting. We had a good turn-out, maybe a dozen folk. Good to get the kids involved in community activities.