2016 - Big Tunnels & Community Spirit

Old tunnels moved, more reclaimed and in 2016 we put up one last big tunnel, Again with wonderful help from Lovibonds friends, Our fantastic local brewery crowd.. I built the frame with a volunteer and help from Vagi and Marc over a month and then on a beautiful spring morning, fortified with beer and goulash cooked over a fire we heaved, hauled and battened on the new cover. There is a wonderful moment when a space is enclosed, the light changes, there is no wind and the sun fills the space with heat, Its magical! 

The years rushed on and the garden evolved, gathering friends. building a community linked by a love of food, growing interest in local produce and the beauty of the garden Through the weekly market stall in central Henley we were able to share our vision and produce with many more people and friendships, connections with customers and other local businesses flouished. .We held our first Summer Open day linked to the Chealsea Fringe and invited students for fruit tree pruning workshops in the depths of winter.

The business grows slowly in standard accounting terms but the wealth that cannot be measured is immense, I work in a beautiful place I have created, surrounded by people I love (and I count all those pictured above in that) I get to share this food with my community and the joy in that is greater than any salary earned working for 'the man'. I have weasles. grass snakes, newts, buzzards and kites as my companions and a dog I adore. All in all I'm the luckiest woman I know! Rarely now I persuade my children to come and help me and despite their howls of protest they usually end up conceding they've had a good time, I do wish they enjoyed it more, not just for the very useful free labour but because I actually quite like them and don't see them much from May to September!