Life at Gleanings

20th-21st August - Willow Basket Making with Pippa Scott

2011-10-09T10:10:00.000-07:00

Pippa returns to Gleanings by request, for the third time. Her teaching skills enable everyone to relax and thoroughly enjoy the learning experience.

Sally has tuition then makes the most of the weather and continues on the decking outside

Dave is more than pleased with his first attempt at a Willow basket - looks great Dave

13th-14th August - Enamelling with Jill Leventon

2011-10-09T09:49:00.000-07:00

It was amazing to watch Jill and her students create some wonderful crafts from the red hot kiln!

Jill's kiln used for the enamelling


Used when red-hot!

Learning the basics from Jill

One to one tuition for everyone

Summertime on the smallholding - July and August

2011-10-09T09:32:00.000-07:00

With the sun shining we had to make the most of the haymaking!

One field baled

John and Dave (Wwoofer) check all is okay with the baler

Some lovely hay from the field in front of Gleanings

Dave rakes up any clumps of grass that escape the baler

Time for a well earned rest with a picnic in the hayfield

Cows and Sheep are soaking up the sun and watching their Winter feed being made

The hay turner is just right for the naughty kids climbing frame

1st - 5th August 2011 - Watercolours with Sue Linton

2011-10-09T08:26:00.000-07:00

This was Sue's second successful course at Gleanings - this year she concentrated on "Garden, Field and Hedgerow" and students could choose to either use a botanical or free style.

Sue believes in practical demonstrations and has full attention from Gill, Jenny, Angela, Chippine and Derek

Derek certainly has something to be proud of

Gill soon managed to free her natural artistic talent

She produced some amazing paintings from life

All students produced some wonderful work and here is Angela demonstrating her drawing skills

John and I like to go out for a social meal with the week courses. On this occasion we stopped to admire the ancient St Peter's Church at Melverley, founded in 1406.

Amazing interior to St Peter's Church

We gather outside the church for a photo shoot with John behind the camera

Here we are, ready for our meal!

16th-17th July 2011 - Folk Blues, Finger style & Slide Guitar with Jim Crawford

2011-10-09T06:46:00.000-07:00

This weekend was Jim Crawford's first visit to Gleanings and we hope it won't be his last. He was a lovely man and incredible singer and musician. We managed to catch him on camera and video as well as some photos of the course participants - Kate, Tom, John, Ian and Jim.

Jim performing at the House Concert at Gleanings during his weekend course

George Papavgeris leads the second course in June

2011-10-09T06:27:00.000-07:00

This is George's second songwriting course at Gleanings - he is such an inspiration. The photos were taken by one of George's pupils, Ross, and the only sad thing is that we, therefore, haven't got Ross on film. What a shame.

The Stables Inn (one of the local pubs) with Yvonne and John singing at a session with George's course group

A goat's eye view of Gleanings

Peter brushing up his new song

George and Vanessa Papavgeris with friend and pupil, Joyce, at The Stables session

All enjoying a meal at yet another local pub, The Callow Inn

Some of the students get together with their songs

June continues with flowers, sunshine and George

2011-10-09T05:43:00.000-07:00

June is an amazing month when our roses bloom, the grass is growing and the animals are fat . . and having babies. Look at Violet with her firstborn - a little girl d.o.b. 11.6.11

Ain't she sweet

"Mum, what you doing?"

Didn't she do well - three of them - two boys and a girl. A couple of weeks later Primrose went on to have just one girl


And here are all the kids with Violet

The sheep and cows are enjoying themselves in the brilliant sunshine

Just love foxgloves

John's willows are growing nicely - he uses them for basket making


Our wildlife pond created from a natural spring

Yvonne and Eileen sharing a joke in the holiday cottage garden

Roses galore at Gleanings

Amazing June!!

2011-10-08T15:01:00.000-07:00

What an amazing month June has turned out to be with the incredible Frankie Armstrong demonstrating 'The Joy of Singing' and so many came along to this special weekend with such a special lady . . .


Frankie enjoying her weekend workshop

What a happy bunch - as well as having the expert tuition from Frankie they also had glorious sunshine and were able to have lunch in the garden


Some of Frankie's group line up to be counted!

Wonderful news in May - we've won!

2011-10-08T14:32:00.000-07:00

We were so surprised to hear that we have been voted the Winners of the 2010 Shropshire Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group's (FWAG) competition for our 'contribution to the conservation of natural habitats in combination with efficient farm management' - we will be presented with a shield and certificate and we'll let you know when this happens. Here are some of the wild flowers that helped us win this . . .

Merry May on the farm

2011-10-08T14:11:00.000-07:00

Goats are growing wider as they are due to kid next month - yipee

John and our son, Adam walk Violet and Primrose in from the field

They are very well behaved - the goats that is, not Adam and John

Lots of work as well . . . for John, that is

Even log splitting with Ian's own invention powered by the tractor

April was busy on the smallholding

2011-10-08T13:42:00.000-07:00

Let us introduce you to some of our friends on the smallholding

Two goatlings meet the hens and cockerals

Here they are - Violet and Primrose

Just had to show these wonderful tulips - what a wonder colour

Yvonne's sister, Penny with John taking Violet and Primrose for a walk

Introduction to the plant nursery - "Don't eat the plants!"

Little family group of hens and cockerals

April Workshops continue with Polymer Clay Jewellery

2011-10-08T12:03:00.000-07:00

On Saturday 16th April Pam Breakwell got crafty with a Polymer Clay Jewellery Workshop

Learning the Polymer Clay techniques

Pam with her students taking a break in the sunshine

Deep in thought about designs and colours!

Putting all the craft work on display

April starts with a Song in the Air

2011-10-08T11:42:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful weekend with the Craig Morgan Robson who ran a long weekend workshop of "Vocal Harmony" on the 1st to 3rd April, with the added bonus of a gig in our local village hall at Hope on the Saturday evening - what music!

Sarah morgan sorts out harmony groups during workshop

Carolyn Robson and Sarah Morgan with some of their group

Here are some wonderful photos taken by Phil Hobbs during the Harmony Weekend - many thanks Phil

Winberry flowers

Manstone Rock, Stiperstones

Mitchell's Fold stone circle

March brings the first workshops

2011-10-08T10:38:00.000-07:00

Fiddles galore at Kitty Greenwood's "Fiddle Playing for Pleasure" workshop on 5th March 2011

Kitty puts everyone through their paces

Kitty and Gary making music

Relaxation after a busy workout

January and February 2011 in Gleanings

2011-10-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

Putting Gleanings through it's paces at open mic night in January

Dirty Ray takes a break

February brought Bishop's Castle Samba Band here for a practice session . . . they could hear it in Shrewsbury ! !

Piggies and Goatlings at Crosfields smallholding

2011-10-08T09:51:00.000-07:00

Piggies receive a warm welcome from the family

Then we get down to goat-herding in the paddock

Work stops in the plant nursery

2011-10-08T09:21:00.000-07:00

We can't even get into the polytunnel!

Seeing 2011 in with snow, snow, snow

2011-10-08T07:57:00.000-07:00

Around Gleanings and surrounding countryside

Christmas Card Shropshire

2011-10-08T07:40:00.000-07:00

Everything is quiet in the snow around Gleanings, The Byre and Oakedge Plant Nursery on the last day of 2010 . . .

Gleanings nestles in the snowy farmyard watched over by John's tractor called "Bluebird"

Winter hills from Gleanings

No sitting on Gleanings decking today

The Byre holiday cottage with views of the Stiperstones Hills

2010-12-28T09:59:00.000-08:00

And still the cold weather goes on and on and on . . . . . . . . . .

One very cold robin

The twice daily changing of the ice-making water bowl - FUN!

Snow Snaps

2010-12-28T09:11:00.000-08:00

The freezing weather forced John undercover into the workshop where he created some nestboxes for the Springtime . .

John's stack of nestboxes!

Frosty milk bottles

Frozen tree tops sparkle in the morning sun

The Stiperstones in their cloak of white

Beautiful scenery along the lane

Our Cardoons blasted with snow from the North

Winter sunrise over the Stiperstones

Snow surprise

2010-12-04T05:57:00.000-08:00

Even though the Winter has arrived early the goats don't seem to mind

Violet and Primrose - "Can you please let us out"


Not sure the hens approve though

But their food tastes much better than ours

This is fun - we love the snow!

It may be cold but the scenery is beautiful here

In the garden our weeping birch looks lovely in the snow but my poor polytunnel

Singing from the Souls of Your Feet

2010-12-04T05:14:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, 27th-28th November, saw Polly Bolton's first visit to Gleanings. Her voice is magic and her teaching incredible. Nearly everyone managed to get here, despite the snow! Well done to you all - what a brave lot! John did have to help out with his 4x4 but it all adds to the fun, doesn't it? The weather didn't put Polly off as she has volunteered to return to Gleanings next year and run a day "Singing for the Terrified" so if you think you can't sing let Polly show you how.

Everyone gathered in the warm by the logburner and sang their little socks off.

They even braved the snowy weather for a photo shoot in the winter sunshine

Mum and daughter together for a photo after Anna decided to take a brisk walk

Willow Baskets Square and Round

2010-12-04T04:48:00.000-08:00

The weekend of 13th-14th November saw the return of Pippa Scott teaching the art of square willow basket making. Everyone did so well that on the second day they also made a round basket.

Starting from the bottom

You work your way up

Pippa will keep you on the right track

And you can create some wonderful results

Open Mic

2010-12-04T04:17:00.000-08:00

Open mic pals meet at Gleanings every other Monday evening and what a great atmosphere and what incredible talent there is out there!

Beginners Out! Experts In!

2010-12-04T03:31:00.000-08:00

The next day, Sunday 31st, was the turn of the more experienced melodeon players. Rees took them through their paces with East Anglian Tunes - lovely!

East Anglian Experts?

Roger & Marjana in deep concentration

Andy - "How did that go?"

Sunset serenade

Taster Day on Melodeons with the amazing Rees Wesson

2010-12-04T03:25:00.000-08:00

Plenty of Choice

Rees strutting his stuff at evening session

Beautiful weather

Taking the air

Rees in serious mode - if that's possible

What a fantastic day it was on Saturday, 30th October. Gleanings was packed with over a dozen eager people wanting to get their hands on one of Mr Wesson's instruments!

Crewel (not cruel!) Embroidery Weekend at Gleanings!

2010-10-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

Last weekend (23-24/10/10) we had the very talented Jackie Williams - from House of Needlework in Shrewsbury - come to teach the intricate ways of crewel embroidery, an ancient technique using wool. See how we got on in our pictures below...

We were almost a full house this weekend as Chris (husband of one of the course participants) got stuck in with basket making...

We can't wait until next weekend when we've got the famous Rees Wesson coming on Saturday to teach beginners Melodeon, followed by an East Anglian music day on Sunday (any instruments welcome!)

If any of this sounds like something that would interest you then check out our programme of courses at www.gleanings.co.uk!

We've gone Nuts!

2010-10-19T13:36:00.000-07:00

On Friday we discovered a heap of ripe walnuts! Our first nut harvest here...

The Naomi Payne Show Band comes to Gleanings!

2010-10-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

... and makes a lot of noise! 17 instruments, one singer and a lot of recordings! To see the band in action visit www.naomipayne.co.uk for tour dates!

Val Gunnery's Art Exhibition

2010-10-15T16:31:00.000-07:00

We had our first art exhibition this month - showcasing work by the late Val Gunnery, whose pictures were not only stunning, but magical too.