Checklist for Saturday...

1) Final class on Nutrient Dense Crop Production with Dan Kittredge at beautiful Shelburne Farms.
Check.
2) Sell a couple things at Once Upon a Child.
Check.
3) Unload a car full of stuff at the Goodwill
Check.
4) Buy plane ticket to England.
Check.
Wait. What?!

Yes, that's right folks. My Very Great Adventure is a trip to England!

In addition to the usual tourist things... visiting museums and castles, immersing myself in history, dining in pubs, seeing a garden or two, visiting Beatrix Potters "Hilltop Farm" in the Lake District (now a part of the National Trust)... one main focus during my time there will be to learn as much as I can about Willow (Salix spp.) and the many 'value added' products that can be made from it. Check out (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow). Willow is a pretty amazing plant! I am particulary excited to learn how to make woven willow products, from baskets to chairs and beyond, artists charcoal, and living willow landscape elements such as fences, furniture, sculptures and buildings!

Growing willow and using it to make beautiful and useful household things is just one of many traditional crafts that have been passed down through the generations in England (and all of Europe) and is still carried on today.

Here's a link to a video that shows one skilled craftsman working on a chair and sharing a bit about willow: http://www.woodlands.co.uk/tv/2008/10/willow-weaving/

While i'm there, 'home base' will be with my friend Melissa and her family. They just moved this summer from the states on a work Visa to a nice little town west of London a half hour or so, and are getting settled in nicely.

My goal is to do an extended internship where I can work alongside a skilled craftsman and learn as much as I possibly can during the time I have. I am still working out all the details of that experience, but there are also tons of classes offered all over England on all the things I mentioned above, and more. So, a few classes in addition the internship would be nice too!

What an adventure! Right?! I can hardly wait...

But, there's still lots to do... and pack... and take to Goodwill. Lots of loose ends to tie up here before I leave so i'd better get back to it!

So, dear family and friends, please do check back in, maybe become a follower, whatever that means! And come along with me on My Very Great Adventure!!!

love-

Ready...Set...Write...

OK. Already i'm a little confused because I thought I was at blogspot and apparently i'm not. No matter. A blog is a blog. Right? At some point I imagine i'll be very comfortable navigating around in here and might change the appearance or something equally adventurous. I am a Luddite, of sorts, with a very good imagination. For now, just to get some text posted on the pretty background I chose would be nice.

The real adventure, as in, "My Very Great..." will begin tomorrow! Check back in to find out what it is!

In the meantime...

be well!