Who but new life is coming?

The Camas resident couple, the Oyster Catchers I always see them together. Do they see they are two individuals come together, or as one living in unity? Today on the Island at the water’s edge, their long yellow beaks pluck, I can only guess at small crustaceans. To find out I’d have to look them up. If I move closer they will fly away. Their out of sight now and I wonder where they will nest, perhaps they’ve already made one. Will it be the same spot as last year?

I wonder about the other birds that make Camas bay their nesting home. The Raven, Snipe, Song Thrush, Wren and so many other birds. And what about the Seals, Otters, Mink and Cetaceans, the snail of land and snail of sea, the lichen, the kelp, trees, mycelium and sheep. Where will they rear their young, what happens to plants as spring is on the cusp? Who but new life is coming? The sky lights up our day longer as Sun warms seedlings and life filled bones. Sky carries water which quenches and washes Earth. Feeding our oceans we love so much. Wind moves the clouds, brings coolness and warmth, blowing old cobwebs away. It propels the blades of our turbine feeding electricity into the veins of Camas power supply. Here we are human, oyster catcher, wind and Sky, land and life hidden in the undergrowth and crevices of pink granite rock. Who but new life is coming?

 

I wonder if I could trade a piece of granite for a camera? or this picture of a minki whale I found on line.

 Sophie

The Story of a 2013 Expedition

Stepping out to Explore the Wilderness - we have put the story on a page on the right - have a look!

A Winters Garden

My first month in the Camas gardens have been a delight - like rummaging around a curiosity shop of treasures waiting to be found. I have been getting my bearings and acquainting myself with my new growing space and, apart from pondering the variety of certain over wintering plants, I am getting to grips with it all nicely, as well as making friends with the chickens. At the moment most of the nine lazy beds are tucked up under a healthy load of seaweed and mulch for the winter, and the compost is cooking up nicely. The polytunnels are keeping things relatively warm and we have a healthy abundance of rocket, lettuce and water cress growing nicely in there. New sowings of the first of the seasons brassicas, onions and beets and tomoatoes are in and experiments with hotbeds will begin as soon as we can get the manure down the track! Today also saw some love for the newly established herb garden. With a bucket load of Camas compost, stepping stones and a thick layer of mulch, its gearing up to be a wonder bed for a great collection of culinary and medicinal herbs and flowers...for us and the bees! I am sure that being part of Camas, part of the ongoing evolution of the gardens, the people and projects here will be inspiring, challenging and as this past month has shown, lots of fun. I am excited to see what the spring will hold, but for now I am enjoying the ever changing colours of the ocean, the sound of the chooks as they clean up after my digging and sitting by the fire with coffee and making music with friends.

I know these gardens will be a source of inspiration, education and fun for the people who come to visit us throughout the season, and to make that possible I will need your help! Garden week is a great opportunity to come and spend a week, or weekend, down at Camas and help us out get the garden in gear for the coming season. Jobs might include working on our newly establishing shelter belt of over three hundred trees, working in the woodlands and wild areas, potting up and transplanting in the polytunnel, getting the 9 lazy beds full of yummy produce, making compost tea, hot beds, I could continue! The main thing is that throughout this adventure we are kept well stocked on homemade cakes and tea, and by living and working together there is always plenty of time for a natter and to get to know each other. Also plenty of free time to head off into the hills or take the kayaks out to sea! Contact me if you want more info, or our facebook page and the flyer. I am looking forward to getting to know all the local growers so feel free to pop down the track for a cuppa and a wander around our treasure-trove garden. Abbi x