Processed pigs, or some of them anyway. That's a lot of work and a whole lotta pig. This picture shows the smoked and brined bacon and hams drying. In 3 - 4 months they will be ready to supplement the broad bean cafe. There are also a vast array of sausages - dried mainly - and rather too much brawn and potted meat. After you've done all that processing the one thing you don't want to do is eat pig.

Posted by Adam Sutherland
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 11:59 GMT

It's taken a while but finally and in time for the Karen Guthrie and Nina Pope's Leeds show - we have a finished Lilliput Lane model of Lawson Park, their vision of how it will be. This model along with the Japanese house will be editioned as a joint multiple of 21. The Japanese house will then be used in the village in Japan where the village will produce models for the gift market - an alternative product for the village, craft based and a bit different for Japan and hopefully a start of something new in terms of product. Lawson Park model will also be produced, not exactly sure what we will do with it to give it some bite, we will think of something, available on the honesty stalls soon.

I had kind of forgotten that art people find these things gross, the idea that some aesthetics are not acceptable seems strange now, these models just make me think about what it is that appeals so much, the smallness, the change of proportions, the image of the rural, of heritage, of life style fantasy. The magazine that Lilliput Lane put out (50,000) has many testamonials from buyers, touching explanations of the joy these things bring to thier owners, often linked to death, a vision of heaven. Laugh if you must.

Posted by Adam Sutherland
Sunday, November 25, 2007 at 14:45 GMT

Visited today by the grandson of the man that used to own Lawson Park back in the 1930's. He not only donated a Sycamore bowl he had made for the collection, but also had this photograph from 1937 of the house, an item that he and his family have treasured - a heart warming day

Posted by Adam Sutherland
Monday, November 5, 2007 at 18:55 GMT

Peter Hodgson is a local man that works with horn, he makes beautiful spoons and other bits and pieces all of which have been selling very well through the honesty stalls, particularly the London one. He also makes these lovely funny drawings of animals which he sells as postcards. We thought it would be nice to make some simple cups for him to do his drawings on, so here's a few examples - £5 each off the stalls or direct + £2 p&p eveyone's a one-off.

Posted by Adam Sutherland
Friday, October 19, 2007 at 16:31 GMT

Garden is closing up for the year, somone stole the money box from the honesty stall last week, which is the first time so not bad really - here's an image of a happy summer and a film star good looks carrot. First frosts this week so mushrooms are really over, a disappointing year, but after last year we can't complain.

Posted by Adam Sutherland
Friday, October 19, 2007 at 16:04 GMT

It's important to show those errant swarms who's the boss sometimes.
Watch our girls on Youtube.

Posted by Karen Guthrie
Monday, September 10, 2007 at 16:57 GMT

Instead of joining the hordes shuffling round nearby villages, Team Grizedale spent the Bank Holiday strimming and a-raking our 3 acre wildflower meadow. Or at least some of it....

Posted by Karen Guthrie
Monday, August 27, 2007 at 21:47 GMT

Topics: 'haymaking'

Bank Holiday takings = £9.78

Posted by Karen Guthrie
Monday, August 27, 2007 at 21:43 GMT

Topics: 'honesty shop'

We just got accepted for the NGS open garden scheme! We first offered ourselves up a few years ago, but were scuppered by the dodgy access issues and -ahem- lack of hard landscaping on the site, making it all a bit hazardous for the typical NGS mature visitor!
This time however, the building works are on track so we plan to open late August 2008.
Meanwhile we have planted - exploiting the sodden August weather - our bog at last with a yellow colour scheme throughout: Primula bulleyana, primula sikkemensis and the splendid yellow and purple veined iris 'Holden Clough' with a few carex grasses and evergreen ferns intermingled.

Posted by Karen Guthrie
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 22:22 GMT

Topics: 'bog' 'garden' 'National Garden Scheme'

Lawson Park Garden has just been accepted into the prestigious National Garden Scheme, or 'Yellow Book' as its called by those in the know. The scheme raises money for charity by opening mainly private gardens to the public, and usually offering teas and plant sales alongside. Grizedale sees its participation as part of its education and outreach work, communicating its overall aims to new audiences through the garden and land programme.
We haven't yet confirmed the open date but it's likely to be late August 2008.

Whilst the local NGS coordinator braved the sodden garden, George got on with the long-awaited planting up of the new bog garden. I joined him for the afternoon, at which point the general dampness turned into a steady downpour. However, though this may be nasty for humans, for the bog plants - Primulas, ferns and irises - it was perfect.

Posted by Karen Guthrie
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 11:05 GMT

Topics: 'open garden bog'