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WORD
FROM THE WOOD
The
Steward Community Woodland Newsletter
Issue
7 - Summer/Autumn 2002
THE
ENERGY ISSUE
STOP PRESS
- We’ve got planning permission for five years - see insert
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The
Moreton Woodcraft Folk have been using our Forest School venue
for a series of woodland sessions, making mallets and basic
shelters and learning about the woods.
A
film crew came along to film Ben in his treehouse for a lifestyles
documentary about people born in the seventies. It ended up
with naked interviews in the hot tub, but you’ll have to subscribe
to BBC digital to see it! We were also filmed by some local
journalism students who made a short piece about the project
for their course.
We
have received a grant to pay for upgrades to our wind, water
and solar power systems (see pages 4 and 7).
Our
two year anniversary party saw lots of singing and merriment
in the longhouse, although the drizzle made the turnout lower
than usual, and only two people dared the hot tub.
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In
July we were visited by a group of Basque schoolchildren, they
came for three
sessions of information, practical experience and British weather.
Merlin
and Cheryll have been taking a 72hr permaculture design course
in Ide over the last few months. The course has finished and
they are now both certified... For more information about courses
and permaculture in general, contact the Permaculture Association
- 0845 4581805, or visit www.permaculture.org Our August Open
Day was very popular, with around fifty people enjoying the
sunshine, cakes, guided tours and firepit chatter.
The
Moretonhampstead Carnival Campfire Evening proved to be a timely
and musical celebration of our planning permission news. The
weather was lovely, the fire was bright and the glade was packed
out... here’s to the next five years.
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Questionnaires
We
have had a flood of replies to the questionnaire in the last issue,
many thanks to all those who replied. The winner has been sent her
‘Woodland Way’.
Common
requests were for more information on the actualities of community
life and group members, more about our heroic planning struggle, more
news about the organic growing and an events list.
The
overall response has been very positive, which is encouraging.
We
really are cutting off all those on our postal list that didn’t respond,
so get in touch if you would like to stay connected.
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Around
and about
As
the summer fills the growing area with green life, so it fills
the Steward Wood diary with stalls, open days, gatherings and
other events.
Beech
Hill started the leaflets and pasting table season with their
splendid Open Day on June 16th. We also sang a few songs on
their acoustic stage and wandered round the impressive gardens.
It was an inspirational day.
A
week later we hopped between the Castle Drogo Earth Awareness
Day and the Moreton Music Day. At Drogo we had a table next
to the National Trust’s cob building demonstration, and the
superb setting boasted yurts, sweat lodge workshops, pole lathing,
wood carving and much more. Pete did a few sets at the Music
Day - a solo spot, accompaniments to a few traditional duets
and a performance by the omnipresent ‘Moretones’ men’s singing
group.
In
May we took part in Regenco's Sacred Potato Stomp, celebrating
the renewal of the earth and the food growing around us, although
we went to the wrong field and arrived rather late. We didn’t
missThomas' amazing fire sculpture 'The Angel' blazing into
the night sky.
The
South West Forest Woodfair at Roadford Lake again provided us
with an opportunity to display our bender building skills. There
was a lot of interest in the bender, particularly the woodstove,
which is made from an old gas bottle. After last year’s excesses,
we managed to keep the second hand tool buying to a bare minimum.
We
built a demonstration bender and organised a solar powered cinema
marquee at the Big Green Gathering. We were in the Sustainable
Homes field, alongside log cabin building, yurts, domes, a straw
bale demo and other communities.
Our
entry for the Moretonhampstead Carnival Procession featured
a Gorilla and an Amur Leopard cycling down the streets, highlighting
the human made extinction of 82 species a day. We won first
prize in the bike section. For more info about species extinctionread
‘The Sixth Extinction’ by Richard Leakey, or visit : www.well.com/user/davidu/sixthextinction.html
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Growing
Area Update by pete
The
growing area has been overhauled this Spring, with an integrated
permaculture design for the site, involving ponds, perennial
beds, an annuals rotation system, forest garden and an overall
pleasing circular design. As yet many beds are only mulched
to suppress the resident willow herb and brambles, but five
of the beds are bringing forth onions, peas, beans, tomatoes,
potatoes, lettuces, beetroot, carrots, Jerusalem artichokes,
comfrey, rocket, spinach, squashes, garlic, brassicas, parsnips,
sorrel and courgettes in various degrees of abundance. The rethatching
of ‘The Copper Kettle’ in Moreton has given us a good supply
of old thatch for mulching. We also use carpets and cardboard
for path mulching and weed suppression on vacant beds (if you
have any spare old carpets, plese let us know). Our compost
heaps are adding fertility back into the soil, along with comfrey
liquid feed and the mulches as they rot down.
The
Forest Garden, set up with the help of Harry Pryke’s memorial
fund, has blossomed into growth. A late frost caught a few of
the apple trees, but they are not old enough to fruit yet anyway.
A late June slash of the willow herb has uncovered the baby
fruit trees, and will hopefully prevent the fluffy seeds from
invading the garden beds as well as reducing the herb’s vigour.
The area will be severely mulched when there are enough carpets.
The trees planted so far will create the top layer of the ‘forest’
when mature, and include apple, pear, plum and gage, with plans
for more plantings next year, including a medlar and a mulberry.
The garden will eventually consist of many layers of fruit bushes,
herbs, dwarf and medium fruit trees, and edible ground covers.
For
more information on forest gardens and permaculture gardening
contact Permanent Publications on 01730 823311 for their catalogue.
We will be selling their books on our stalls next year.
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Renewable
energy demonstrations update - by Merlin
In
the woods we provide examples of DIY solutions to alternative appropriate
technologies such as renewable energy using recycled parts, as this
enables people to provide their own services for a low cost to both
the environment and their pockets. However not everyone has the time
or expertise to set up these systems for themselves so here is some
information about using readymade parts.
Last
year we applied to the Ecopower Trust for funding towards renewable
energy demonstrations using some manufactured items such as solar
panels and wind turbines. In May we were delighted to receive a letter
informing us that most of the money we applied for was granted and
we are therefore able to start phase one....
Solar
Panels (phase 1) - not something you can easily knock up in the home
workshop! They involve a large industrial, chemical manufacturing
process, usually by a multinational oil company, and they are expensive.
If you're thinking of installing photovoltaic solar panels to save
the pennies on your electricity bill don't bother. They will cost
far more to purchase than the amount of electricity they will produce
in their lifespan. In fact it takes about 10 years for them to produce
the amount of power it takes to manufacture them! They are useful
however if other sources of power are not available in the area and
are better than nuclear or fossil fuel power.
We
have decided to purchase three different brands and types of panels
in order to compare them in different conditions. An 80w polycrystalline,
a 75w monocrystalline and a 60w amorphous panel.
Wind
Turbine (phase 2) - a wind turbine is something you can make yourself
in the home workshop and there is nothing more satisfying than doing
this and watching the power flood in on a windy day. The more work
put into a generator the more efficient it will be. It is possible
to make something very crude, which will produce power but may only
work in high wind speeds. You also however have to be careful that
it doesn't fall apart in high wind, as this could be dangerous. If
you are interested in building your own, visit - http://homepages.enterprise.net/hugh0piggott/
Manufactured
wind turbines do tend to be more efficient. One reason for this is
due to the shaped blades, which are difficult to perfect when made
by hand. We have purchased a Marloc 1803 rated at 340w at 22mph wind
speed.
Pelton
wheel (phase 3) – micro hydropower is possible to do yourself as we
have done but again efficiency is a factor. Our home built hydro systems
have never topped 15% efficiency, which is fine if you don't use a
lot of power and considering we didn't pay anything for any of the
recycled parts. If however you need to get the most out of your stream,
for a high head, low flow system a Pelton wheel is the way to go.
We intend to install such a system which could potentially provide
up to a kilowatt of power at certain times of the year.
Woodgasifier
(phase 4) - Wood gasification is the process of burning wood insuch
a way that the gas can be extracted and used for any purpose natural
gas can be used for i.e. cooking, or running an internal combustion
engine. Because wood uses CO2 while growing this makes wood gasification
and use a carbon neutral process and the exhaust gas is far cleaner
than that of fossil fuels. The idea isn't new – gasifiers fueled thousands
of vehicles during World War II due to the fossil fuel shortage. We
plan to implement the system as a power source for both electricity
with the use of a small generator and to uel a sawmill for forestry
work using off cuts from the mill to power it.
Batteries
and related control equipment (all phases) In order for these systems
to operate it is necessary to store the power for later use. This
process involves using regulators and control equipment to safely
put the charge into a battery. Because we feel that buying new batteries
is not an environmentally responsible solution and we have chosen
to purchase second hand.
For
updates and more details please visit our website.
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A
woodland baby - by Beccy and Merlin
Since
Rowan's difficult birth life has not been easy for him or for
us. This is not due to woodland life, in fact I think we would
have gone mad if we had been stuck in a house or flat. Instead
it is due to this mysterious condition referred to as colic.
No-one
really knows what it is or what causes it and there are no easy
ways of dealing with it or its symptoms. We have tried a number
of things including diet elimination on Beccys part, herbal
remedies, massage, cranial osteopathy and homeopathy all with
the help of practitioners. These helped with varying degrees
of success.
Finally
within the last few weeks things have improved and the difference
is absolutely amazing. He is now a happy content baby with smiles
and laughter to offer us in return for our comforting during
his difficult stage. Who could ask for more?
Things
have run smoothly with regular washing of nappies over a fire
in our laundry area and keeping a good supply of firewood. Breastfeeding
went really well from the start. Beccy is feeding him on demand
day and night which can be a bit tiring, but it is wonderful
watching him grow and develop.
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Focus
on trees - Scots Pine, ‘Pinus Sylvestrus’ ( by Cheryll)
The
Scots’ pine is one of Britain’s three native needle-leaved evergreens
(along with juniper and yew) and is the sole European pine to
have survived the Ice Age. Pine grows straight and tall, reaching
heights of 100 feet which makes it ideal for use as masts, spars
and planking. The sap of the pine has a high resin content which
means the wood is slow to decay - pitch from the sap was traditionally
used to seal beer casks amongst others.
Druids
used to light large bonfires of Scots pine at the winter solstice
to celebrate the passing of the seasons and to draw back the
sun. Glades of Scots pine were decorated with lights and shiny
objects - the tree covered in stars being a representation of
the Divine Light (such rituals possibly gave rise to the traditions
of the Yule Log and Christmas Tree).
The
cones and needles of the pine are used in Bach Flower remedies
to treat despondency and despair. Pine gives us the quality
of not dwelling upon mistakes made and it helps us to persevere
with humility. It is claimed that our discontent with ourselves
can be overcome by meditating upon pine and it gives us the
ability to work with what we are.
The
main message of the pine tree is bringing in the light, and
rediscovering your vitality and connection with life.
You
are welcome to come and meet our Scots’ Pine trees on the woodland
walk. The stand of 60 year old trees is nestled into the steep
slope on the northern end of the woods.
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The
Woodman’s Cry
Oak
logs will warm you well, if they're old and dry.
Larch logs of pinewood smell, but the sparks will fly.
Beech logs for Christmas time, yew logs heat you well.
‘Scots’ logs it is a crime, for anyone to sell.
Birch logs will burn too fast, Chestnut scarce at all.
Hawthorn logs are good to last, if you cut them in the fall.
Holly logs will burn like wax, you should burn them green.
Elm logs like smouldering flax, No flame to be seen.
Pear logs and apple logs, they will scent your room.
Cherry logs across the dogs, smell like flowers in bloom.
But Ash logs, all smooth and grey, burn them green or old.
Buy all up that come your way, they are worth their weight in gold.
Anon
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LIVING
ENERGY by Dan
Energy
in the universe is often seen moving in a vortex - imagine a
spiralling galaxy, a hurricane, or water spiralling down the
plughole. This natural movement of energy was studied by Viktor
Schauberger (1885 - 1958), who forewarned humanity in the 1920's
of the environmental crisis in which we are now caught. All
industrial machines and processes channel such agents as air,
water and gases into centrifugal motion. For example, a car
engine uses the release of heat to cause expansion and pressure
to produce work. Viktor observed that this type of motion is
not only very inefficient but that it is only used in nature
to decompose and dissolve matter. "When our technology only
uses the decomposing motion, it becomes a dead technology, a
destructive one, dangerously affecting all of nature."
Viktor
grew up and worked in the forests of Austria. By studying fish
in streams and by closely observing the natural water cycle
he was able to understand the vast potential of natural energy.
He noted that nature uses another form of motion for rebuilding
and refining, namely centripetal or 'cycloid spiral motion'.
With
this, nature uses the process of cooling to cause suction and
vacuum to produce work, like in a tornado.
He
saw that the prevailing human technologies are destroying the
earth and the life support systems for humans by working against
nature. All the prevailing methods of energy generation - from
hydro electric to nuclear fission – produce harmful long-term
effects on the environment and encourage disease. Schauberger
developed Implosion Machines to demonstrate another way of producing
energy, a method using the cycloid form of motion for the positive
production of energy from air and water:
"The
implosion motor is centripetally operated. It produces its own
driving source through the diamagnetic use of water and air.
It can produce its own energy (atomic power) by biological means
in unlimited amounts - almost without cost."
As
an inventor, Schauberger developed a number of ingenious machines
which would revolutionise farming, horticulture, forestry and
aircraft propulsion. He showed how air and water could be harnessed
as fuels for many machines. His discovery of implosive energy
and diamagnetism have many practical applications, most of which
have yet to be developed. However, research is continuing in
this field, particularly by the Centre for Implosion Research.
For
further information, see: 'Living Water' by Olaf Alexanderson
(available in our woodland library); or contact the Centre for
Implosion Research, PO Box 38, Plymouth. PL7 5YX www.implosionresearch.com
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upcoming
events...
...in
the woods
Visitor’s
Weekends - September 21/22nd and October 19/20th - chances to
get involved with some of our woodland/gardening work and to
visit the community; please ring to arrange.
...and
elsewhere
Tavistock
Alternatives Day (at Bedford Suare) & Exeter Green Fayre (Bishop’s
Palace Gardens) - both Saturday 31st August. We’ll be having
stalls at both these events, with a live internet link up to
the Johannesburg summit at Tavistock.
And
finally, a pink castle
A
few of us were involved in the anti-GM protest at Weymouth that
occupied a test field before it was planted with genetically
modified maize seeds. A pink castle was erected inthe field
entrance to prevent the seeds from being planted. The farmer
did eventually gain access to the field, but the maidens and
knights of the castle, together with concerned local residents
and dog walkers ensured that the crop never had a chance to
grow. Repeated hoeings and weedings cleared the field of the
GM plants. After a stay of nearly eight weeks the castle was
dismantled by its inhabitants.
For
more information on the occupation visit: www.sayhi.to/thecastle.com
GM crops could be commercially grown in the UK as early as next
year (cue a government re-education, oh sorry, ‘consultation’
campaign this autumn...), but the recent Aventis/Bayer seed
conamination fiasco may have some implications for the commercialisations
(the GM seed companies have been giving farmers seeds mixed
with unauthorized antibiotic resistent varieties for the last
three years - reassuring!).
For
more GM and other news and discussion - www.indymedia.org.uk
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For
more information or to get involved - Contact us to be added to our
mailing list (either email or postal). You’ll receive newsletters
and information about upcoming courses, workshops and work parties
etc. Donations to cover costs would be appreciated.
You are welcome to take a walk in the woods at any time. If you would
like to visit the community (for either a short tour or a long stay)
please phone us first.
To
contact us...
Tel: 01647 440233 Fax: 07050 674467
Email:
Check
out our website
www.stewardwood.org
This
newsletter was brought to you by Affinity Woodland Workers Co-operative,
set up to encourage and enable environmental awareness and solutions
by providing examples of sustainable land use. We manage and live
at Steward Community Woodland on Dartmoor where we try to practice
a low impact lifestyle, utilising renewable energy, growing our own
food and building our own homes.
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INSERT ===
Steward
Wood planning permission scoop - read all about it here!
“We
are overjoyed by this far sighted decision”
We
have just received a 5 year temporary planning permission for our
existing dwellings (mostly classed as ‘operational development’) and
for a change in land use for some of the site. We had been waiting
for a decision from the Planning Inspectorate since March, wondering
why it was taking them so long to decide – now we know!
The
Inspector’s decision gives permission for the seven benders, assorted
communal structures (the longhouse, kitchen, compost toilet, workshop,
bikeshed), agricultural shed, and Forest School shelter, and it gives
us a five year period to further develop the project and achieve our
aims. The permission has been granted subject to various conditions
(see over) to safeguard the low impact nature of the project and to
reassure local residents.
We
are overjoyed by this far-sighted decision, which shows that the Planning
Inspectorate recognises the importance of our project, and fully supports
what we are doing here. We knew it would be a struggle to receive
planning permission under the present planning system, as it makes
no systematic allowances for low impact developments of this kind.
We are delighted to finally get a positive result after all our hard
work. It is heartening to see the Inspector referring to the Rio Declaration,
Agenda 21 and the government’s commitments to supporting sustainable
practice.
The
Inspector concludes that there is sufficient evidence to show that
“this experiment is not a flight of fancy but is reasonably based
financially and that it is likely to have benefits for the local community
and economy. These benefits include education in woodland and other
rural skills, the enhancement of the appearance of the wood itself
through management, conservation of natural habitats and species,
and assisting in recreational development, including a woodland walk
and extension of the cycle trail along the former railway line.”
We
are a little suprised that he has categorised some of our benders
as ‘operational development’, meaning that he considers them permanent
building works. He feels that the platforms on which some benders
sit make them operational development, because they look very solid
and have obvious posts going into the ground.
A
full copy of the Planning Inspectorate’s decision can be found on
www.stewardwood.org
The
planning conditions
The
permission’s attached conditions (many of which we proposed ourselves)
are summarised as follows:
---The
permission is for a period of five years.
---No
petrol or diesel generators to be used on site.
---No
more than three residents’ vehicles and ten visitors’ vehicles on
site.
---The
present structures cannot be moved without written permission from
the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA).
---No
new caravan, mobile home, vehicle, building, structure or tent to
be brought onto site or erected without the written approval of the
DNPA. (ie permitted development rights including the 28 day rule are
revoked).
---A
written report is to be submitted to the DNPA on 1st April each year
detailing the activities carried out in compliance with our Business
Plan, our Management & Biodiversity Action Plan, and The Land Is Ours
‘Fifteen Criteria for Sustainable Development’ (copies of these documents
can be found on our website).
We
feel that these conditions should underwrite the low impact nature
of the project, and hopefully our relationship with the DNPA will
benefit from our increased interactions with them. It is a bit frustrating
to have our permitted development rights removed, and to have to ask
permission to put up a tent, but a lot will depend on how the DNPA
respond to our requests, and how far ahead we will need to make such
requests.
Steward
Community Woodland planning history
We
moved on in April 2000, and in July we submitted a planning application
for change of land use (to a mixed use of forestry, residential and
educational). This was debated at two DNPA committee meetings and
then refused in November 2000, following a site visit. We then appealed
to the Planning Inspectorate, which culminated in a public inquiry
in August 2001. Hopes ran high, but the appeal was turned down, leaving
us with a 6,000 pound legal bill.
The
DNPA had earlier served an enforcement (eviction) notice, which came
back into force, giving us six months to leave. We appealed against
this notice, again to the Planning Inspectorate, and a new Inspector
looked round the site in March 2002.
He
sent a few letters raising the issue of ‘operational development’
and then there was a long wait until his decision came in August.
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