hello from Orkney

[PlayingWithFire]

I thought I'd better say hello since I have been off line for soooo long. Moved house but still living West Mainland, Orkney Islands, Scotland.

Spring is here again and the nettles are harvesting well.

Been experimenting with seaweeds as food, dye and fertiliser ... now need to plant out. Got a lot of willows in ground but not sure how many will root well. Fingers crossed. Only renting this house, beside the ocean (within a stones throw, literally).

Big plans for polytunnel community gardens and reducing food miles, via our social enterprise www.touchwoodproject.com

Had a visit from Joanne, from Countryfile, so prompted to get back onto Selfsufficientish and start planning connections with Bristol folk. Hope to get down in September - until then, is time to use more electricity with the internet. Use wisely and frugally folks, have wonderful days outdoors, write and say hi.

Anyone contemplating travel to the north of Scotland, give me a shout, and check out Couchsurfing.com for cheaper places to stay.

Best wishes, and congrats Dave

~ Malcolm (still playing with fire :) )

[Green Aura]

Hi there.

What's this about sunshine! In NW Scotland, we've been having much rain and gale force winds! With a little sunshine in between.

Welcome back

[PlayingWithFire]

Thanks Maggie!

It has been a wee bit windy the passed days but mostly with sun, which is a tad puzzling to be honest. I grew up in Wales, where wind also means rain. Maybe like NW Scotland too?

Is that your polytunnel in the pic? If so, can we have some advice? Always good to learn from others.

Keep in touch.

Best wishes

Malcolm

[Annpan]

Welcome back :D

It has been horribly windy here too... mostly with disastrous amounts of rain... I counted 6 ponds in my garden this morning (I'm only supposed to have 1) The poor chickens are not happy about it at all.

[PlayingWithFire]

I must remind myself of how lucky we have been, keeping relatively dry, when later in the year it is still cool here and mainland Scotland basks in sunshine. My willows would like more moisture though

Best wishes

M

[MuddyWitch]

Pleased to meet you, PWF

MW

[Millymollymandy]

Hello and welcome back!

[becks77]

Hi, nice to meet you

[Shirley]

Good to see you back again

[sleepyowl]

Welcome Back

[CyberPaddy66]

Just Saying Hi.

[PlayingWithFire]

Hi

I am scratching my head, wondering what things people should really be doing to reduce their negative impact and increase their positive impact, both environmentally and socially?

I'm looking for quantitative or well researched ideas - so if anyone has got suggestions of websites or other resources, please let me know.

If there is a discussion about this on here already, I am a dunce and will gladly skip over there when pointed in the right direction

Malcolm

[Millymollymandy]

Well the forum is full of what people are doing to reduce their impact on the environment, so I can't just direct you to one or two threads..... I think you'll have to have a mooch around.