Hello and welcome to The Compost Bin. I'm Compostwoman and I live with my family in rural Herefordshire. We have nearly four acres of garden and woodland, all managed organically and to Permaculture principles, which we share with Chickens, Cats and assorted wildlife. We also grow a lot of our own food, run courses in all sorts of things and make a lot of compost!

I am a Master Composter and have spent more than a decade as a volunteer Community Compost adviser with Garden Organic and my local Council.
I'm a self employed Environmental Educator so I run workshops and events where I talk about compost, veg growing, chicken keeping, cooking, preserving and sustainable living. I also run crafts workshops and Forest School/outdoor play sessions in our wood.

We try to live a more self sufficient lifestyle here, as best we can, while still having a comfortable life and lots of fun.


To learn more about us click on the About Compostwoman tab and remember to click on the photos to make them full size!


Saturday 24 September 2016

Garden Organic Masters conference 2016


Because I am a Three Counties Traditional Orchards Champion and  now a Worcestershire Master Composter ( yes I managed to get back to being one!)

I am again one of the family of Garden Organic volunteers :)




So yesterday I drove to Ryton to attend the annual conference - always a highlight of my year :)


My first workshop was on natural dyeing



I made this :)


I feel another craft interest blooming :)


Drying my dyed silk hankies on the marquee bunting line


After an excellent lunch we had more talks, another workshop choice ( I did composting creatures :) )


Then tea and cake!


An excellent day, spent with lots of friends as usual :)

Sunday 18 September 2016

Book launch at blue ginger gallery



So tonight I have been at blue ginger gallery in Cradley for a fabulous supper and the book launch for Jackie Morris' new books One Cheetah One Cherry and The Quiet Music of Gently Falling Snow.

I was also lucky enough to get my hand on the first advance copy of the White Fox and read it ( I had to hand it back, though!)



Lovely evening among good friends :)

Thursday 15 September 2016

Car repairs


I had to take my car for major repair work on the engine today, over at Hay on Wye.
I got up early and drove to Hay through a glorious morning and arrived at 9 am. The garage gave me a courtesy car and said my car would be ready after lunch.

I decided to have  breakfast and a wander around Hay, then head to Crickhowell and Bookish.














The road to Crickhowell passes by Tretower Castle which I have never visited, so I stopped and had a good look around.




 It was very warm outside and I was grateful for the cool shade inside



Beautiful interiors




While I was at Tretower I got a text that my car would take longer than planned and would be ready at 5 pm, so I decided to have a late lunch in Crickhowell.



I had a leisurely lunch, walked around Crickhowell Castle and then drove slowly back along the spectacularly beautiful road back to Hay. It was the most fabulous sunny day and the air was crystal clear. I was lucky enough to see a load of Red Kites wheeling and tumbling in the sky over the mountains.

Car fixed, for a good price and drove home to sort out the chickens and do some more preserving.

Tuesday 6 September 2016

And so it begins :)


This is one day's worth of pickings from the polytunnel

 
Ready for freezing


Dehydrator down from the loft and ready to roll :)


I do love tomatoes


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