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admin (no pm's please)
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Wales skills swap weekendOkay this is a downsizer event, but the threads only been up a few hours and we have 35 bookings already 
Who knows how widely it might appeal?
The food should be pretty spectacular!
http://forum.downsizer.net/viewtopic.php?t=30671
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Symon
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Easter weekend ? bit late isnt it.
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admin (no pm's please)
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Like a newbie I missed out the link 
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The Downsizer Skillsharing Weekend
Sat 31 May/ Sun 1 Jun
Where: Carmarthen( Cwmoernant Farm)
Cost:: £10 adults, £5 children (babies and toddlers free)
Whats on offer: We have the run of a 10 acre smallholding that has been renovated and returned to active use using virtually entirely reclaimed and recycled materials. We have several barns to hold classes and party in, use of a spit roast, wood fired bread oven, and the run of the woods and fields. Your fee gets you access to the site and activities, and starts us off on the supplies for a party meal on the Saturday evening.
Sessions offered so far: I will edit and update this as more offers come in. (most of these lifted from other threads so far- shout if you are down for something but have since changed your mind!)
Sallyinwales: use of the sock knitting machines, two spinning wheels and a soapmaking workshop.
Gareth: Baking in a woodfired oven, will also be running the spitroast so any advice wanted on thise available through Saturday.
AlisJ: star gazing guided tours....with added myths and legends!
Fee: Paul will run a 'circus area' with diabolo, juggling balls, clubs, etc., will make lots more balls to bring too, for anyone who wants a go. I'm sure a few of us can do some jewellery-making too
lettucewoman: music/drama workshops
Gervase: a talk/demo on care of traditional buildings - damp control, pointing, limewash, plaster and that sort of thing - if people would be interested. I assume the venue has some old stone buildings that can be used for demos? (yes it does, several very old parts of the farm that can be poked and prodded at will)
And I could also bring squeezeboxes for a ceildih/session...
Mary-Jane: fly-casting tuition (which reminds me, the farm borders a reservoir, so nice walks and ducks to look at)
Gil: Can do scything and (Austrian) blade sharpening/peening tuition if anyone interested. Will there be a field to mow in ? (yes, there is a marshy bit w lots of long grass and sedges if that will do?)
Wine orders can also be taken in advance and delivered at the weekend.
Woodsprite: Hubby can advise/talk about woodburing stoves/flues/woodpellet heating systems and solar.
I can run a patchwork and quilting workshop.
jocorless: something for Wanna-bee Apiarists
Nanny: a barefoot trimming thing perhaps (Andrew, I think she means you!)
dpack: bender building ?home,greenhouse or shed for a tenner
Wellington Womble: Pilates, looking after your back
cab: forgaing and identification walk
farm owner's son probably: how to kill and draw a chicken
Brownbear Firearms safety and shooting techniques
Mini-market: Bring stuff to barter, share or sell, we'll probably do this informally throughout saturday in the main party barn
All the pics below were taken on a very wet March day, it should all look a lot drier and tidier by late May!
Venues: The 'bullshed' is a cosy building with lots of squashy chairs where we can set up spinning wheels, the sock machines, generally curl up and knit, sew and do other gentle domestic sessions. It has a woodburner should we wish to use it if the evening gets chilly.
There is a large barn with several distinct spaces within it that is earmarked for more 'building and maintainance' type sessions, you can drive a vehicle in if required and there is no problem with making a certain amount of mess should anyone wish to demonstrate mixing limewash or other arcane arts.
The Party Barn: A modern barn with a kitchen, loos (a disabled loo, composting loos and urinals) and a big space to hold a mini market, music and generally socialise. In the very dark pic below you may spot a stage, a trapeze and an industrial sized ballpool rescued from the local council who were sending it to landfill  I'm told the owner is getting a builder round to assemble this safely so it should be available for the kids to play in.
The woods are steep in places but perfectly accessible for most people and remarkably extensive for such a small site, lots of potential for ID sessions and foraging. We can use any wood we want and the owner is keen to reinstate coppicing in some areas and eventually charocal burning, so if anyone wants to demonstrate this sort of thing, we have the raw materials.
Parking: We think we can fit 5-6 camper vans and 20 cars on the concrete yarn at the front of the farm. It would help if those of you who can car share or who are in a position to use public transport considered this as well though.
Accomodation: Lots of options:
The 'party barn' has a loft area which can be used as dormitory crash space for those that are happy to bring an airbed, sleeping bag and generally be friendly. We reckon we can fit at least 15 people comfortably up there, and you are close to the loos, kettle and inside if its wet
Those with vans, there is a separate hardstanding area where we think we can fit 5 campervans easily. We think caravans might be a bit of a squeeze, but if you are determined to bring one let me know and we'll rejig the parking plans if we possibly can. There is access to a drain cover for disposal of camping loos in an appropriate fashion.
Camping: Three main locations for tent based camping, the old orchard next to the farm house has level pitches for maybe 4 or 5 tents, and is close to the outside loo which has a springwater fed washbasin plus a drinking water tap. We're giving priority on this space to people camping with children as its away from the party barn and should be quiet. It does have boggy bits further in, but the camping area was dry even on a wet March day.
The 'sheep field' is mostly flat in a slightly lumpy field sort of way and will take lots of tents with a bit of creativity. No dedicated loo or water, but you are only 100 yards or so from the party barn.
The 'horse field' is more sloping and is between the party barn and the woods, a few tents will fit here, but again, its finding a flat enough bit so creativity required. (nb. the sheep and horses will be moved elsewhere before we turn up!)
For those that prefer a hammock in the woods, there are some pretty little dingles very close by.
I was going to enthuse about this very very fine cabin, built around a salvaged summerhouse and sporting a proper double bed and cute little woodburner stove, it even has a little annex for a basic 'middle of the night' loo! Most romantic. Then NorthernLad announced he was laying claim to it, scarily, I think he's hoping to entice someone back there after the party. Consider yourselves warned... 
We can also sleep in the barn used for the textile workshops and people are welcome to use common sense and find places for airbeds in the other barns if they wish. The animals are well contained here so apply common sense and you shouldnt get disturbed by chickens and suchlike the the small hours.
We are hopeful that a long barn formerly used as a milking shed will be available as a camping barn. The plan is to have the stalls fitted with boarded platforms and curtains to make private spaces for airbeds, but its not quite there yet. Ultimately this barn will have solar type showers and a basic camping loo for overnight emergencies.- watch this space on this accomodation
The site is very close to Carmarthen town centre, so anyone wishing to find B&B shouldnt have too much trouble.
Food: We have ordered a hogget from Neathchris and will also be firing the ovens, so sheep and bread and a basic vegetarian something will be provided as will basic tea and coffee making supplies. We would like everyone to bring a dish to share on saturday night, and we should have the makings of a good party meal. You probably want to bring your own mug, plate etc.
What you need to do now:
1. Mark the date in your diary!
2. copy and paste the following into a pm to me- this is your booking form! If we get a huge take-up there will be a point when we have to say we are full, so get that booking in as soon as you know you are coming along
Name: (DS and probably a real name might be handy)
How many adults @ £10;
How many children @ £5:
How many too small-to-count children (just so we know):
Accommodation requests (or let me know if you are staying offsite):
Parking requests:
Any access assistance needed or offered (that might be wheelchair access, it might be 'need a lift from the station' or even 'can collect people en route or from a specified station')
Are you offering a skill or session? Its going to be fairly informal but it helps to know what people want to do and share.
Anything you are really hoping to learn more about?
Are you joining in the evening music making, which instrument/skill?
Anything we ought to know about? (this will be held confidentailly amongst the DS staffmembers, might be medical conditions or stuff like that which may be important in an emergency)
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Symon
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Seems they are fully aware of you lot already.
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admin (no pm's please)
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Looks like we now have 59 bookings, which is on the verge of being a sell out 
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