As weeks merge into a month...

Last Week had Camas descended on by 7 young folk from Castlemilk High, in Glasgow. For the new volunteers this was our first youth group of the season, and we were excited to meet them! The 3 days were filled with sporadic sunshine and lots and lots of banter. We abseiled and kayaked, John took a few guys out on his boat, we toasted marshmallows and built fires in the evenings and the boys enjoyed lots of cooking.
We loved them into submission and by the end we’d created bonds that will outlast their stay and we hope to see them again later on this season.

We at Camas are given the chance to offer freedom and choice, elements of community that are totally new to some people and this has been a key part of the past week. We learned how to better support each other and create a trust between ourselves and the group.

It’s hard to put into a blog post how enriching Camas life has been so far, finding our individual stride within the Camas routine and building our mental (and physical!) capacities. Waking up each day and remembering that this is where we live is something I can’t get over!!! We are in this incredible secluded bay, we are able to take responsibility for ourselves, our waste, what we bring down from the ‘outside world’, is heavy in our wheel barrows and we are able to utilize our natural surroundings (the wind, and pete, and sunshine!), enabling us to fall less upon other unsustainable resources. In times of reflection I am overwhelmed with the luck that we’ve all come together, and each week with a new dynamic and a new group, to this beautiful space on this beautiful world!!!!!! Happy Monday! And happy 1st month (TODAY!) that the new volunteers have been here!!!!  

Love Rach 

 interesting objects making their way down the track..

Climbing during training week..... IN THE SUNSHINE!!!!

Sacred Work

"Work, yes, endless as rain, but also warmth and plenty and safety."
 from the novel Hild by Nicola Griffith

After two weeks of staff training with the new volunteers, the garden week guests have arrived.  As a volunteer I feel like the real work of Camas has begun: the work of welcome, hospitality and of building this place up.  The work of the first half of the week included planting potatoes, weeding and planting in the poly tunnels, building a net over the fruit bushes and expanding the woodland, among other tasks. Halfway through the week, our work has already yielded visible progress. 

Here in community, work takes on an even deeper significance beyond the tangible results. When we work in a spirit of care, love and comraderie, the work becomes its own reward.  In working together for the well-being and dignity of others, we find our place in community and our own dignity and well-being.  In this way our work becomes sacred.  I'm delighted to finally play a part in welcoming the guests to a week of yes, work, and also warmth, plenty and safety.  

-MB

April SUnshine

 

Abbi spotted this Emperor Moth outside our kitchen window last week.

The last month has flown by like geese migrating. We had an epic Work Week, in which a bundle of jobs got done by top folk. Some regulars and some new. All embraced the totally random and fun experience. Trying out new skills such as building a cupboard to store games. Digging up turf from an over grown lazy bed and using it to make a green roof on the round house, thus giving us a new bed to plant potatoes. There were some diligent cooch grass pickers as much as there was also what seems like a hundred willow trees planted by a team of folk headed up by an old camas staff member David. who also bought his two children for the week. David has an array of foresty schooly knowledge to share, from foraging to willow structure weaving. Because of him we now enjoy seaweed and comfry fritters and fried nettles. I was very grateful to Sue who taught myself and a few others how to felt. We didn't have the ideal wool to felt with, so we improvised. I used Tawhai's (Jon's dog) hair that id saved from brushing him and some of the yarn that i bet has inhabited the art room for some years. It worked out well making a lovely purse.

              Self Portraits and thoughts/dreams/Ideas

After work week, the centre was ready. We received our first and so far most noisy group, of young people from Govan in Glasgow through Aberlour youth point. Daniel one of the young folk, commented that they were/would be the most noisy. Well we shall see, they set a good bench mark. When they come again, I think i might just carry my ear plugs in my pocket, just in case. They Embraced the cold and then the hot water bottles. Whilst fluey Ben, one of Iona Communities youth workers joined the group to work with them on finding out about their linked history with Iona. The big George Mcloud (not spelt this way of course) used to be a minister at old Govan parish church. The church itself lies next to some very ancient Viking Stones, to which it takes care of. Govan famous for its ship building in times gone by, now struggles with high unemployment. Ben wanted the young people to get inspired and find out who else was connected to their local history. Billy Connely worked there in the ship yards and Alex Ferguson also was born there. Jonny and Julie were amazing group leaders. I couldn't help laugh so much when Jonny made a stunning self portrait... and Julie was inspired by the collection of wool, to demonstrate her Camas Hair style.

The week was packed full with all kinds of experiences, fun, challenging and delicious. Larissa's pizza was mentioned a few times. What was also very cool, was that they had a film maker following them around. Another John, so we had Jon, Jonny and John. Watch this space for the film.

The following week we had a group of young people from the north and south of Mull for a day of fun outdoor activities brought along by our old manager Mary. Then for a couple of nights a returning group of young carers from Oban. Some new and many old faces, a real treat. So glad to see them again, and witness them developing into strong independent people. One of my favourite moments was the dressing up in the art room, if I can remember right, We had a wee Bob Marley, a beach dragon, a couple of glitzy gals, a Greek sun goddess and a killer bride. So good.

Now we have our new volunteers. Five new and one returner from last year. since last week we've been having staff training. Gently, (i say lightly), introducing them to Camas and its intricate very varied ways. Theres been plenty of laughter, washing up and some how sun!



Here they are Michaela, Issac, Sophie (that makes two of us!) Madeline, Rachel and Larissa (our returner from last year).

Our Garden week has just begun with some of our new arrivals trickling down the track!

Till next time, I leave you with some words that have been added to the Poetry Net in the Art room...
Have Fun! and thank you for appreciating my dislexia
Sophie 

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

In the beginning.... there was MUD!!!

The winter tends to go at a slower pace over here on the Isle of Mull. Hibernation takes hold and Camas staff are mere shells of their summer selves. But the daffs are coming up and the preparation for the new season is beginning. Before we know it we will be welcoming new and familiar faces off the bus. Last week we welcomed are new resident’s Abbi, Fran and Sophie to join Avril and Jon down the track. It’s been a jammed packed week of induction, training and getting to know each other. This obviously involved lots of laughing, singing and general frivolity.  We also headed on over to the Holy Isle (Iona) to get to know new residents running the Abbey and MacLeod centres. We were welcomed with many a scone, cups of coffee and a small amount of delving into our personalities via the medium of the Enneagram. Turns out we should get on just fine (well done us). 

So the team;

Jon is still heading up the team as Coordinator.
Sophie who many would have met last year as a volunteer has taken the role of Creative Programme worker, her experience ranges from sculpture to dance psychotherapy.
The lovely Abbi is our new Resident Gardener bringing loads of knowledge acquired during 2 years of growing goodness in New Zealand.
Fran is our new Activity and Expedition worker, bringing a broad range of experience of leading groups throughout the UK from Wales to the North West Highlands, on sea and on foot.
The sparkly Avril continuing her second year coordinating activities.
 

Yesterday we had fun digging a drain. It quickly turned into a very gooey, rock n mud soup. But the work seems to be paying off as Abbi reports that the drains are flowing and the ‘soup’ has settled to reveal silt. 

The hens appeared briefly for a photo shoot. In truth they thought there was food being served, on their plastic platter (spare piece of guttering). 

At the mud fest, there was much laughter and reminiscing. As kids, mothers would hose some of us down after muddy biking adventures. The offer to re-enact this wasn’t taken up. The day ended washing equipment in our conveniently full flowing stream, just outside the garden.

  Avril & Sophie