- but it would be good to hear why people have gone for the particular system that they are using.

I am aware that there are the high tec evacuated tubes as well as a variety of more simple concepts available.

We are also keen to hear stories of the process of installation and maintenance and the energy saving that you think you are achieving.

You can find a review of the year here, but it is really not complete without you adding your story.

Best wishes for 2010

Our original frustration was to do with the painstaking process of finding and identifying mushrooms. Our first forages led us to hundreds of different mushrooms – so they’re easy to find, but they’re difficult to identify accurately and with mushrooms that really matters. And, it turns out that it is hard to find the ones you’re looking for.

We adopted this approach, instead of stopping at each mushroom and trying to identify it in our various field guides (there are over 3,000 out there and less than 300 in our books) we learned how to identify the top 15 worth eating, like Ceps, Field Mushrooms, Chanterelle, Puffballs, Boletes, Chicken of the Woods and Oyster mushrooms.

The problem then comes in trying to find them. But that is a good excuse to get out here of an autumn weekend.

Anyway. I’ve started this thread to see if anyone wants to talk about mushrooming this Autumn. We’ve so far found Shaggy Ink Cap in the lawn of the Arch-deacon of Halifax’s garden. And my garden has sprouted a huge mass of brown toadstools under a rotten log – but I’m not going to bother identifying them as I know they’re not on my list of the ones worth eating.

Below are Puffballs and Amethyst Deceivers we found and cooked last Autumn. Happy Hunting.

Alan and Kaye invite you to a relaxed evening in which to bring and share stories that inspire, challenge, motivate or underpin our desire for a more sustainable and enriching way of life. You may have a favourite author/writer (fiction or non-fiction), poet, musician, visionary, activist, a religious text, or a personal lifestory that you return to again and again for wisdom, wonder and wellbeing.

Sunday Nov 15th 8 for 8.15pm         “Ectopia: Challenges from a future earth citizen”

Foundation Bristol hosts EarthAbbey for an evening of interaction and reflection on our future society’s energy sources, narrated by a future earth citizen

At Cotham Parish Church, Cotham Road, Bristol BS6 6DG

Finishing around 9pm, with an invitation to Highbury Vaults pub afterwards

Sunday Nov 22nd 1pm     Through Leigh Woods

A leisurely walk, with Alan, Gareth, Steve and Moira, through Leigh Woods stopping every so often to observe a tree, identify it and listen to a poem. Bring a flask with your preferred beverage, biscuits and cakes provided. Path is circular and buggy friendly. Meet at main car park to Leigh Woods at 1pm. Map here Moving at 1.15pm to wood entrance (with display boards), following purple trail. Late or lost – phone 07929090153.

Saturday November 28th 3 for 3.30pm       Considering… ‘The Sermon on the Allotment’

With Tim Lawrence, a reflection on consumerism and grace in nature as taught by Christ, together with pumpkin soup and hot apple juice. Ends 4.30pm.

On Dundry View Community Allotment – found off Speedwell Rd between Plummers Hill and Cecil Ave, down a little lane, which will be near Tim’s bright yellow van. The gate to the allotments is at the end of this 50m lane. Climb over the gate and walk straight ahead and then through the gap (tractor size) in the hedge to get into the community allotment (look for the bay tree).

And to say that Laurie MacIntyre is visiting Bristol and would like to meet EarthAbbey people on Monday 16th November in the morning. He leads a church community in Australia that has recently re-imagined itself as an Abbey.

For more info on any of these events use the contact button on the home page or phone 07929090153

Wulf

If you live somewhere else and are keen to get an EarthAbbey group going in your area, then contact us through this site and we will get in touch.