My sister has long been a member of the Women’s Institute but I had never thought of it as an organisation that would be of interest to me. That is, until one of the members of my Knit and Natter group told us about a local WI foraging evening. Now, that sounds perfect for me!
With it now being dark by 7 o’ clock in the evening, foraging wasn’t an option yesterday when I attended my first meeting as a guest. However, we did another activity which I think is just as worthwhile.
I hadn’t brought along any garments which could be cut up and made into gloves or mittens but one kindly member gave me a pair of socks. Another lent me a needle and I spent a merry evening transforming the socks and getting to know the women at the meeting.
The fingerless gloves have yet to be finished but now I know what to do with old socks which can’t go in the compost bin because they won’t decompose.
Growing out of chaos 
I think WI groups are as diverse as the people that attend them. Sounds like you’ve got a good one there (with tea as well!)
Yes, this group is different from the others in the Leeds area at least. In fact, this very subject came up at the meeting, as some of the members had been to the Leeds groups AGM and seen that most of the others have speakers each month, which sent shockwaves through our group!
Diversity can be good.
Indeed!
The WI does seem a tad too much for me but I look forward to hearing more about how you get on!
I haven’t joined yet – got two more opportunities to visit as a guest, so I’ll see how I feel about joining after that. I did leave before they started singing Jerusalem – am not keen on group behaviours of that sort.
Our daughter-in-law hosted a Stitch and Bitch evening in her village shop. The one man used an orange as a mushroom to darn his socks – until Jackie gave him a wooden one.
That’s a good idea!
I’m always surprised by how radical the WI can be and the environmental campaigns they have been involved with. But I do agree it depends on the members and groups probably do vary.
Yes, the WI has a campaign within its members to reduce waste in various ways, so supporting these moves is a good thing.