Gardening with the group 28/2/24, reflections and ideas!

Reflections from today:

The day began with beautiful blackbird song on my wet walk to the park. I saw many a blackbird playing and flying, and heard babies. I saw a very fluffy squirrel. The crocuses and daffs are cropping up everywhere in the park, I even saw a couple of bluebell clusters! I especially loved along the route/Taff trail from where I live, the random spurts of daffodils, providing little pockets of colour amongst the browns and greens. I recorded some audio from today to add to the collection for a potential soundscape gathered...I am still yet to ask for permission to use voices and interactions when gardening, and maybe even time-lapses when benchmaking.

Today the two men and I were helping out planting in the raised beds in Calon Taf. We moved some herbs and planted spinach, lettuce and cabbage in another, and pruned some mint. It's always reassuring how naturally I can take to gardening and identifying plants, reminding myself of how the plants speak to us (shamanism) and are very much a part of our DNA. The guys told me to 'smell' a plant I thought I recognised and immediately I knew it was a chive. I learned about the best way to cut into soil when sewing seeds (a Monty Don tip the guy loves to go by!). It's reassuring that they work so beautifully as a team and problem-solve as they go along, always learning. One of the guys brought his quiz from last week to show me and is very on board to doing a quiz with the others next week and spoke about how he used to play electric guitar, and the other man spoke about how he had a love for drawing many years back and has so many ideas in his head that he'd like to give it a try again...I encouraged him to and to bring one in next week, and I said I would too! I hope so! I also mentioned this may be great for designing on a bench, and we could paint his designs and drawings....

I have another idea: encouraging drawings from one guy and perhaps bringing my acoustic guitar and asking if the gentleman who used to play electric guitar may be comfortable playing again on this...and I ask whether I can record some for a sound piece? Picking up my guitar again is something I have done recently, and I have been inspired by compositions and songs in response to nature/land/folk and start making some music, alongside film scores and musicians I have followed in film. (Just seen the Bob Marley One Love film, music to bring peace, a way of life, justice, freedom and love).

On the topic of benches, they are both still very much up for it, and suggested an area where it can go. Also, one of the guys said we could put all the gardener's names on it-what a lovely idea!!!! May need to look into engraving/plaques/painting/treating! I said please do give me any ideas you have. I also want to look at best designs for benches...must research this.

I am aware about not really explaining my role as of yet in terms of 'Art Trail', although I have mentioned it in conversation, as I don't want that to disrupt natural connection! I tried to ask about tools etc, and they said best bet is to ask Ros....although I know she doesn't have any, so I have sent round these emails, to see where I can get hold of some and how I can bring the wooden palettes into the space to dry and begin:

Hi Ros,

Today's gardening session was a lovely one! Very much soaked through but fun! We planted veg and herbs in the raised beds at Calon Taf and spoke benches, quizzes and drawing in the midst of a lot of other chats and planting...the guys didn't have an idea about where to get tools from like the handsaw, drill and screws, but I told them about my palettes and they are well up for trying to make a bench out of this and locating it in your garden, and said to ask you about whether it be possible to arrange me bringing my car in the park next Wednesday to carry the palettes into the greenhouse/space, as they are heavy and a lot of them?

And- to also ask you about whether it be possible to arrange getting some of these tools in/if you know of anywhere e.g. Calon Taf/ the Park rangers where I could borrow these? I will also ask my university technician to see if I can borrow some (probably not due to health and safety!), or look into hiring companies to borrow, but I'd thought I'd ask how this might work from your perspective?

Do let me know your thoughts! I think next week ___wants to do a quiz for us all which will be lovely, and _____ spoke about his love for drawing back in the day and how he'd like to get back into it as he has many ideas in his head, so he may be bringing a drawing along, too! Perhaps these could be a decorating/design idea for this bench, too.

Warmest Wishes and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Connie

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Dear Tim,

I hope you are well.

I am just emailing with a question about whether it would be possible to borrow some tools for a project I am doing with the Friends of Ponty Gardening group where we are making a wooden bench out of palettes.

I wondered if there was any way I could borrow a hand saw, an electric drill and wood screws from you/the university? Or if you knew of anywhere I could hire some equipment to use this.

Also, it may be useful to get your advice on the design of the bench, as I am referring to internet blogs and DIY websites and some of the people I am working with...but may be helpful to get some practical advice. What are your working days, and perhaps we could arrange a meeting/chat?

Warmest wishes,

Connie

Finally, I went with a friend Roxy to gather more wooden palettes to dry in the art studios...and walked to collect some Hazel sticks/trees for her project, but may also help to gather for the bench, to combine wood from the natural land. A day spent outdoors in all elements was very healing and inspiring. The almanac has come, so I now will track down and discover natural phenomena occurring this spring around the time of gardening and the art trail! I already know that Wednesday 24th April is a SEED FULL MOON! And this will be on a gardening group session!! So, amazing to look into and celebrate.