If you have an idea for an event, please let the secretary know.
Wednesday 10th January 7pm for 7.30pm - Goat Chat
Caz Steward, DASH Tutor, will talk about Goat Keeping and lead a Goat Chat at the Rydon Inn, Holsworthy EX22 7HU. Just turn up!
Tuesday 16th January - Natural Fibre Company - Mill Tour
Unit B Pipers Court, Pennygillam Way, Launceston, Cornwall, PL15 7PJ.
"The NFC supports farmers and smallholders and specialises in turning shorn fleeces into processed fibre/used for felting or hand spinning/into yarns suitable for knitting, crochet, weaving or machine knitting. They can help advise what to do with a particular fleece type and what you can do to adjust the results by using different processes, blending or dyeing."
The cost of the Mill Tour will be £15.00 per person, and will include a tour of the working mill, and the Blacker Yarns area, where yarns can be purchased. If they have any carded waste/noil etc, it will also be available for purchase. They might not have all of the by-products, but we will certainly have some.
Tours normally take about 2hrs. This includes time in the Blacker Yarns area.
It is a working mill, and so visitors are required to wear sensible footwear (no open toes) and no very loose clothing. There are also steps in the mill to access the sorting area and Blacker Yarns.
To book your place please email Karen at training@devonsmallholders.co.uk and details of how to pay will then be sent.
Those who have already registered their interest will be contacted with payment details if they then wish to confirm their places.
Wednesday 21st February 7pm for 7.30pm - Deer Management - Paul Messenger
The presentation will include a brief overview of the ecology of the six wild species of deer living in our countryside. How to manage deer within the current Deer Act and what happens to culled deer on their journey into the food chain.
Paul Messenger is a LANTRA qualified Assessor and Trainer working part time for the British Deer Society. During any year Paul organises and runs Deer Stalking Certificate Level 1 NVQ courses in the Hartland area. Also up to 50 odd Deer Stalking Level 2 NVQ candidates are on his books for Assessment and Training at any one time.
Apart from training Paul is a full time Deer Manager with responsibility to manage deer over several estates, working with numerous land owners and their land agents. Paul and his wife are Small Holders with a small flock of sheep and they also farm deer and keep chickens and ducks. As a registered Food Business with Torridge he processes his farmed and wild venison carcasses and sells direct to the public at local farmers markets trading as Beckland Game. Products include veni burgers, veni sausages, steaks and roasting joints.
As usual this will be at the Rydon Inn, Holsworthy EX22 7HU. Just turn up!