Webbcrafts

Sorting the Worms from the Compost

Working Worms

Today I sorted my worms from the compost that they have made for me.

I provided old cardboard in the form of tubes from various sources of paper, and a huge quantity of used tea bags, both conventional black and herbal.

No Worries

Throughout the winter I checked on them occasionally, gave them extra tea bags or a blanket when it really got cold, and they worked. Thanking me by producing the most nutritious compost ever available, and staying with me.

A potted Mahonia fed on worm compost gives me berries for wool dye

Worm Bolt

It is not possible to keep a worm if it doesn’t want to stay, and when there are thousands that don’t want to stay it is indeed a spectacle.

They didn’t Like Scrap Wool

When I first started keeping worms my intention was to have them compost the waste wool that cannot be spun. Duly I gave them the wool as part of their bedding, and they left in huge numbers. I only spotted the flight by accident, and managed to keep a small amount by quickly finding another container and changing their habitat to cardboard. They then chose to stay, and have been with me ever since, which has been eight years now.

Grateful for Worms

I was destined to keep worms from an early age.  On reaching the age of  eight my parents and I holidayed in the country, and I collected an enormous number of worms and put them in a jar, but I didn’t have a lid. On being called to eat I wondered how to stop the worms from crawling away. The solution I felt was to turn the jar upside down then they couldn’t leave me.

On returning to the spot some hours later there wasn’t a worm left, and I was so embarrassed that I didn’t tell my parents what I had done, feeling that I should have known that they would burrow.

These beans are just a few weeks old and budding already

Mutual Admiration

I now know that if you give them what they need, the reward will be well worth the wait.

Free Fertilizer

Who knows if we will be able to rely on manufactured fertilizer always being available? And why not be organically self-sufficient anyway, it saves a great deal of money and the resulting vegetables are sweeter for that.

A luscious pot of Mange Tout Peas

The Inspiration for a Warm Sweater...

When your country looks like Iceland in winter, one of the first things you think about is warmth, and keeping warm.

Using the Natural Materials

When your country has sheep with an incredibly thick fleece, you will find ways of utilising it to provide the warmth that every body craves.

The fleece that keeps out the Icelandic winter

Was Your Winter Cold?

The winter of 2009-2010 has been long and hard, the coming of spring delayed, we could learn from Iceland.

The Lopapeysa in action..

I hadn’t knitted a lopapeysa before, but once I started and worked through the pattern methodically ten rows at a time, I was pleased that it was ‘ doable’

Warm enough for action...

Nursery Rhyme

I love this nursery rhyme from Iceland, but you don’t have to start at four, I proved it!

Now you have come to your fourth
year Your work you will begin- That is
learning the three arts:
To read, to knit, to spin. -Icelandic nursery rhyme

Lamb Amongst Spring Flowers

Making An Easter Lamb

I saw some lambs with their mother’s playing in a field and couldn’t resist making one for my grand daughter.

Needle Felting Again

It’s good old reliable needle felting again, and once more my stash was raided.

Having ready washed and combed fleece means that sculpting can be done at a moments notice, as the mood or season takes me.

Have Your Wool Ready

I also have felting needles and foam pad ready for when I need them. This also means thinking ahead. You will be glad that you did.

All Wool and Needles Needed for Resting Lamb

Now is the time to start thinking about your fleece stash.

All woollen sculpture can be made with any fleece, but the best use of fleece that can’t be used for spinning is the basis of sculpture. This is always inexpensive and sometimes free.

My fleece comes from organic Kite’s Nest Farm in Worcestershire. They only have four sheep which means that their wool doesn’t have to go to the Wool Marketing Board. One of the sheep has such poor quality wool that it is better to use it in ways other than spinning. I always have too much for my own projects though, so should any reader require fleece, do get in touch, and I’m sure that I can provide some for you.

Make Your Basic Shape

When you have made your basic shape then you can apply colour or a different fleece to make a different texture for your sculpture. I buy coloured Merino tops for this purpose, and these too are inexpensive, as you get a lot for your money.

The picture below is of Kite’s Nest sheep when they were young, browsing on the roses.

Roses Good Enough to Eat..