We submitted our annual report to the DNPA at the start of the month - this is one of our planning conditions - which contained an updated business plan, a forestry report and an earnings report.
On the 9th we had a small gathering in Pete's bender to celebrate his 'Turning On' - he has recently wired up some 12v car lights and a stereo in his dwelling, so we had a grand turning on party… The battery he is running off is trickle charged from the main battery bank, which is in turn charged by solar or water power.
The biodiesel van came in useful for a few of our friends who were moving houses this month, we helped two families move around the local area.
We held a community Sweat Lodge on the 16th as part of our marking the passage of time on the land - we have now been resident here for three years. We had an anniversary party at the end of the month where dan's new harmonium had its public outing as part of the musical celebration.
We finished off the ash pole and brash delivery for a local low impact building course, and delivered it to the site. We provided ash poles for the wall posts and roof beams, brash for wall strengthening and some more ash posts and second hand planks for a compost toilet.
Dan went on basketry course with Chagford's Linda Lemieux, and returned brandishing a splendid handmade basket. Cheryll went on a similar course at Proper Job to make an Easter rush basket.
In the growing area we continued to humanure our fruit trees, bushes and comfrey patch. We sowed and planted out sugar snap peas, broad beans, carrots, lettuces, chard, cucumbers, brassicas, rocket corn salad and potatoes. We did a fair bit of rain dancing in the first half of the month, which started to pay off in the second half as the April showers made their appearance.