River Cottage HQ - Hugh's a Legend... Anyone been?

[Thomzo]

Hi
Nowadays I attend quite a few courses via webcasts. Where there is a slide show or video on the web and you participate via telephone at the same time. This would only be any good for people with broadband but it might get around some of the travelling issues.

I would certainly be interested in attending some courses and would happily pay for it.

Zoe

[red]

thats a thought - as we are fairly spread out over the world on here! virtual courses...problem is the want to do something 'hands on'

I like the barter idea.. get credits for giving a course that you can offset against courses you attend . I would hate for it to become too commerical - the joy of SSish is the sharing of experiences etc

my local smallholders association runs cheap courses - its good to share knowledge.
Re Hugh - well we are fans of his - and well aware that he is making his living out of river cottage and the concept - and good on him - without being able to make aliving out of it, there would be no programs no books and some people would not have been inspired by him. just as before him John Seymore did not make his way by being self sufficient, he made a living out of running courses, giving speaches and his books.

As for going there and meeting him - eeks I once went to a 'meet the band' thing at a folk festival, and the band, who i had been a big fan of for years, were rude and arrogant, and that put me right off - if we met Hugh furry brickabrack stall and he was just as we imagine hm, then that would be great.. but what if.....

still the prices decide it all in the end.

[Andy Hamilton]

Hi
Nowadays I attend quite a few courses via webcasts. Where there is a slide show or video on the web and you participate via telephone at the same time. This would only be any good for people with broadband but it might get around some of the travelling issues.

I would certainly be interested in attending some courses and would happily pay for it.

Zoe

good idea! will certainly bear this in mind come the autumn.

[Stonehead]

It's soooooooo expensive though

It is rather, I am sure that there are other people out there with more experience for a cheaper price too. Perhaps Neeps and Selfsufficientish should join forces at some point and offer similar events at realistic prices.

And another downside is that people prefer to buy RC meat boxes and have them shipped up here via refrigerated couriers to buying local meat boxes. It's the "brand" they want, not the contents of the box.

[Shirley]

It's soooooooo expensive though

It is rather, I am sure that there are other people out there with more experience for a cheaper price too. Perhaps Neeps and Selfsufficientish should join forces at some point and offer similar events at realistic prices.

And another downside is that people prefer to buy RC meat boxes and have them shipped up here via refrigerated couriers to buying local meat boxes. It's the "brand" they want, not the contents of the box.

Well more fool them I'm sure RC meat is good but there is good stuff up here - your pork is just one example!

[contadino]

I wonder...

Given the talk that Hugh has talked about the importance of local food, whether he'd walk the walk, and refuse orders over a certain distance (say 50 miles?)

I find the RC forum pretty unfriendly these days, but maybe it's worth a foray just to make the suggestion..?

[Andy Hamilton]

I find the RC forum pretty unfriendly these days

All the decent folk post on here

[red]

I wonder...

Given the talk that Hugh has talked about the importance of local food, whether he'd walk the walk, and refuse orders over a certain distance (say 50 miles?)

I find the RC forum pretty unfriendly these days, but maybe it's worth a foray just to make the suggestion..?

that a really good point - along with the point stoney made about branding.. which is sadly true
why not contact HFW direct (or as direct as you can) and put it to him? love to hear his answer

[Andy Hamilton]

Ok my calender told me to come back so what courses could we run? what would people want to learn/do?

[mrsflibble]

I think you'll find HFW LIKES the fact that his brand sells; he will be making quite a tidy profit off it and like any high earning business person, he wont want that to change. plus the fact, he can't vet everyone who wants to buy a box of his meat can he? he'd lose all of his high class chelsea customers if he did that.
If I sound like a cynic, it's beacuse I am one. I used to have faith in what HFW was doing until I saw the price he charges for his merchandise and worked out how much he must be earning.

[Thomzo]

I used to do a course on making greetings cards from recycled materials and another one on making recycled paper. I could see if I can dig out the course notes or put something together again.

Otherwise, how about a workshop to make a solar cooker? Or a solar dryer. I can read the instructions but my DIY skills aren't good enough to try these things on my own. But I bet I could do it in a proper workshop with someone there to help me out when I get stuck.

Zoe

[mrsflibble]

is a solar dryer a washing line?! 'cos if you can find me something that'll work in half the time I'll sign up for a course.

[Thomzo]

is a solar dryer a washing line?! 'cos if you can find me something that'll work in half the time I'll sign up for a course.

I was actually thinking of a food dehydrater.

Zoe

[Annpan]

How about these ones, they are simpler than what RC do but maybe they are a bit more 'ish'

Woodwork/ practicle building-
build a chook house
food dehydrater
Solar powered washing line

Or maybe some more simple ones (some people out there might need to be pointed in the right direction.)-
Make Jam or wine
Use a sewing machine
Make soap
Knit / crochet

Or how about making useful stuff out of rubbish (milk carton, marg tubs, etc) Like -
build a recycled green house / cold frame

Or practicle gardening skills -
how to plan an alotment (including composting, layout, basic organic skills)

[mrsflibble]

is a solar dryer a washing line?! 'cos if you can find me something that'll work in half the time I'll sign up for a course.

I was actually thinking of a food dehydrater.

Zoe

hahaha!!! I'd sign up for that too lol!!


I would be willing to pitch in and teach sewing by hand and machine use.
I can knit, but not well enough to teach... I'd love someone to show me how to crochet.


also, with basic food ingredients I can knock up a dinner for 6 at 50-80p per head which does not involve a trip to Iceland.(the foodstore, not the country:lol:)