Author Archives: Helen

About Helen

I have always been interesting in living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle and used to do what I could. Now, I have come to realise that we have reached such a point in terms of environmental degradation that it is more important - perhaps - to focus on building resilience. I therefore do as much as I can to reuse, grow my own and encourage a supportive community, for example. I also keep reading and learning all the time.

Reintroduction & Rewilding Summit – this Saturday

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Helen

I almost never reblog a post, as regular readers will probably be aware. However, the free event advertised below looks like it could be very interesting and so it makes sense to spread the word. Should anyone reading this post … Continue reading →

Posted in Good for the environment, Social | Tagged , | 7 Comments

An untouched apple

Posted on April 6, 2021 by Helen

Recently, there was a tweet from the Wildlife Trusts about feeding birds at this time of year. Just as it is the hunger gap for us, so it is for them. I asked what I could do for blackbirds and … Continue reading →

Posted in Wildlife | Tagged , | 21 Comments

Vegetable spaghetti

Posted on April 5, 2021 by Helen

Determined not to let my seeds fail through lack of watering, I pulled back the curtains in my bedroom to administer the necessary yesterday morning and was confronted with a sight I had not expected quite yet. Along with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Crafts, Gardening, Social, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Speed networking

Posted on April 3, 2021 by Helen

Ever heard of speed dating? This is where a circle of women sit opposite a circle of men and have three minutes each to introduce themselves before all the men or women have to move to speak to the next … Continue reading →

Posted in Days out, Permaculture | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

The third rinse

Posted on March 29, 2021 by Helen

Last weekend, a pair of my daughter’s leggings came out of the washing machine with noticeable holes on the thigh. We knew the culprit must be the wire which came out of some clothes last July, but I was in … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 6 Comments

While I’m on hold

Posted on March 24, 2021 by Helen

Yesterday, I went for the first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The side effects came on more or less as soon as I got home, which put paid to the rest of my day of annual leave being for anything … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, soil management, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 39 Comments

A bumblebee nest

Posted on March 22, 2021 by Helen

When I was shopping for a rosemary plant last week, I had a look for a cactus dahlia, having been charmed by the ones I saw at River Cottage in the summer of 2019. There weren’t any to my taste … Continue reading →

Posted in edible flowers, Wildlife | Tagged , | 17 Comments

Same place twice

Posted on March 21, 2021 by Helen

I had a day’s annual leave on Thursday to celebrate my birthday. Well, ostensibly, it was so I didn’t have to do work but I did want it to be special. Last year on this day I had been hunting … Continue reading →

Posted in Days out | Tagged , , | 28 Comments

Are the tulips early?

Posted on March 15, 2021 by Helen

Time has a habit of distorting memories, so perhaps last March the tulips were eager to flower whilst the hellebores was in full bloom. On the other hand, it seems particularly unlikely that the snowdrops and tulips were out at … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

A spinning wheel

Posted on March 8, 2021 by Helen

The York District Weavers Spinners and Dyers Guild lends equipment and books to its members, so I’d hoped eventually to be able to borrow a spinning wheel in order to get an idea of whether I would like to buy … Continue reading →

Posted in Crafts, Days out | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments