The Shieling Dryer – our latest environmental innovation

The transition movement (see blog entry June 16, 2008) has inspired all of us to look into the manifold options of saving energy and reducing our carbon footprint. The kitchen volunteers are working on providing a diverse range of local and organic quality food whilst maximising these to capacity. This aim is supported by the gardeners who increase our self sustainability with more production and a greater variety of home grown vegetables.

Likewise the housekeepers identified the tumble dryer as one of the main “Black holes” of energy in the Centre, and we’ve been looking for green alternatives. The indoor options for gaining drying space weren’t promising. When Dolkar, the Southend-gardener told us about the “Shieling Dryer”, we immediately thought this could be the solution for us. It had been developed in Mull, specifically for the Scottish weather with its ever-changing mix of wind, rain and sunshine, thus making it almost impossible to use the outdoor drying space except for the occasional stable high pressure days.

This tent-like construction uses the wind tunnel effect to dry the laundry, even if it is pelting down with rain. Last May David and Moira Gracie, the inventors of this green alternative to tumble dryers, came to raise a bigger, “professional” version of the Shieling (5×4x2m with a total of 100m washing line) for the Holy Isle. www.shielingdryer.co.uk

With this novelty on our premises, we have managed to reduce the use of our tumble dryer by 70 – 80 % which has saved money as well as given us a sense of contributing to a much healthier environment. This is especially true for the changeover periods between courses when we wash heaps of linen and towels. We can also now offer some drying space, especially for visitors who come back soaking wet after having been out in the rain.

In addition to this, over the course of the last few months, we’ve discovered a side effect that shouldn’t be neglected. This is that the Shieling Dryer is a perfect “home-trainer” in Mindfulness. If used the right way, it can easily take up to 7 loads of washing, and, as it is used by housekeepers, volunteers and visitors alike, the logistical challenges educate each one of us in using it in a co-operative and sensible way.

 

Summer’s Here

Summer is here and the tree planting season is now over.  The young trees on the north part of the island need some attention.  Summer’s warmer weather thickens the grass, strengthens the brambles and gives strong green stems to the bracken.  All these can be harmful to the trees.  So, we give them some space and clear the area around their base.  In the coming weeks we will be back on the hill on the south side, clearing the bracken, giving space to the infant trees.  A tree planter’s lot; clearing, planting, clearing, nurturing.

Young Trees

New Trees at the South End

Posted by Stevie and June

3rd May, 2009

The population is booming on Holy Isle mainly amongst the sheep and goats we’re very happy to say!!

These little ones are as happy as Larry to sit within two feet of passers by without so much as batting an eyelid.

Wee Lambs

Posted by June

Easter Extravaganza

FOOTBALL CRAZY

Easter Weekend played host to an international footie match.  Both teams were made up of a mix of Holy Isle volunteers and guests on Jason Chans Easter Retreat course.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Player of the match was Sarah,  especially for her vast  generosity in letting in 8 goals.

The  “Throw the Welly” competition was watched by many day trippers to the island.   Pictured is Waisum Chan with her husband Jason to her right and Damien giving her much encouragement from the left.

Christmas and New Year on Holy Isle 08/09

As usual a BIG family Christmas and New Year on Holy Isle with lots of old friends and new faces. Profiteroles and alcohol-free champagne, Chenrezig and silence, dancing and laughter, knitting and mask making, walking and soaking up the winter sun.

On New Year’s Eve we each made a boat – and there never before was seen such an extravagant variety of boat designs – with symbols or words on them to express wishes and intentions for 2009. We floated the boats out to sea from the jetty one by one and they formed a long fleet of hopes and dreams, gently bobbing towards Arran.

Happy 2009 to all!

Snowfall

We had more snow than any of the resident islanders can remember at the end of November. The isle turned starkly white and magical. The crystal-like snow stunned us all, but especially the unsuspecting Mindfulness Scotland party who were staying at the time. After a snowfall of several inches on the first day, we had more freezing weather which meant that walking became very hazardous over the next 48 hours; the snow had frozen solid and icy.

All the while we had a lone baby seal keeping us company on the jetty, completely fearless and serene…until the boat turned up on Sunday to pick up the guests.

We became concerned for the animals: the ponies, sheep and goats and began to make plans to import hay from Arran when on the third day the north end finally thawed out. As it did so rumbling avalanches of snow kept falling off the rooves of the Centre into the courtyard, shaking the buildings as they went.

Many thanks to Tara Dakini for her photography.

Posted by: Fay

Stuffed Butternut Squash

This is a new Holy Isle favourite. It’s very healthy, vegan and looks quite impressive too. I usually serve it with quinoa, cous cous or millet and a tomato and herb sauce. It can be stuffed anything – I’ve used peppers, marrow, large mushrooms etc.

INGREDIENTS

sesame oil (not toasted)
onion
handful fresh sage
handful of pumpkin seeds
handful of sunflower seeds
lots of tofu – scrunched
couple of tablespoons tahini
couple of tablespoons honey
cumin
cayenne pepper small pinch
grated cheese
salt and pepper

METHOD

1.    Finely chop the onion and fry gently in oil
2.    Add the sage liberally
3.    Add pumpkin and sunflower seeds
4.    Fry gently for 10 mins then turn off the heat
5.    Add tofu. I use scrunched silken tofu or braised tofu (which comes in tins like tuna and has a very nice texture and taste)
6.    Add the tahini, honey, cumin, cayenne, salt and pepper and mix. Use just a tiny pinch of cayenne to give a hint of heat
7.    Cut the butternut squash in half and scrape out the seeds with a spoon and disguard.
8.    Lightly oil the cut surface of the squash and place cut side up on oiled baking trays. Allow one half per person.
9.    Stuff the hole with the mixture, sprinkle with cheese and with a few more pumpkin seeds.
10.    Bake in the oven at 170 degrees for 45 minutes

Posted by: Fay

Look 10,000 HITS!!!!

Call for DVDs

Dear Readers,

Do you have old DVDs which you’d like to send to a new home? Here on Holy Isle we’re beginning to bed down for the winter and we thought we’d appeal for secondhand DVDs to keep us entertained on the long blustery nights.

Please send to Fay Adams, Holy Isle, Isle of Arran, Scotland KA27 8GB.

Love to you all.

Veggie Cookery Course Begins

The second Holy Isle Vegetarian Cookery Course of the season has got off to a fine start today with a delicious meal cooked by budding chefs Terry and Quentin.
We served the community spicy quinoa (a staple dish in South America which contains more protein than meat I’m told), with black turtle beans and kombu seaweed for added nutritional benefit. This came with roast Holy Isle pumpkin, grown at the south end, which was mixed with a Caribbean sauce of spices and big bunches of garden herbs. On the side we had coleslaw with sesame seeds and walnuts (usually we’d have cashew nuts but the food was delayed in Lamlash by high winds!). Another salad included – harvested from the garden: landcress, rocket, a variety of lettuce leaves, spring onions, carrots, dill, nasturtium leaves and flowers and even our very own home-made capers. For dessert we had an apple crumble with custard made from vanilla pods.
“Canny scran!” says Terry…after all this is a Geordie dominated kitchen.

posted by: Fay