This is what we evolved to doSearching, finding, making and sharing is what we do
“I’ve seen a big orange mushroom come and have a look at it.”
So we follow Andy out the back door of our unit and into the woods.
brant knows his fungus and was able to give a positive identification. We were looking at a Chicken of the Woods mushroom, safe to eat and delicious. We all had a nibble, agreeing that it tasted lemony. Sitting proud on a fallen beech tree trunk the big, fresh fungus was easy to pick.
Taking it into our kitchen and cutting into three generous pieces, it’s clear that each portion will be plenty to make an evening meal for two people. It felt so right to be dividing up this catch and handing it out and I became aware that it was making me feel good, the same as getting a runner’s high. This is what we evolved to do as a species.
Searching, finding, making and sharing is what we do for work here and it gives us good job satisfaction. So what else have we found in the HebTroCo woods this week?
Issue 1 of BOTHER had one of my favourite pieces that has been in the magazine so far. Written by Michael Fordham it’s about his pilgrimage to California to meet and thank one of his heroes, Gary Snyder, who he first came across in Jack Kerouac’s book The Dharma Bums. Snyder is the basis for one of the main characters in the book called Japhey Ryder, a mountain climbing, anarchist, student of zen. He has a robust love for nature and embodies the outdoor pursuit of enlightenment and a rejection of the comfortable trappings of consumerism. He does love to drink jugs of wine and sing songs as well, he’s no dry academic. A year has passed and I got round to reading the book this week. Corny as some of it seems now there’s plenty of ecology, counter culture, freedom, non religious spirituality and good old outdoor adventure in the gravy of this book. Not for everyone but I loved it.
After two years of failing to make a decent t-shirt we went down to F. Chand in Birmingham this week to see our new Two Ton Tees roll off the production line. There was much searching to find the right manufacturer and the good quality jersey fabric. Vic has shot the photos, we’ve written our words and made some videos and we’ll be bringing the harvest to market from next week. Certainly not instant gratification, but this hunt has been worth the wait.
A few years ago we used to sell Action Blankets, a tongue-in-cheek poncho that was a lockdown sensation. Never sure whether we’d ever make them again we were recently contacted by a lady with a loom, which felt like a sign to take notice of. No photos because it’s all a bit hush hush. Sometimes you want to keep your secret spot to yourself. But in an attic over a garage full of vintage and modern race cars we met the lady and saw her handweaving set up. With a background designing for some of the mills we use she has the skills to bring us a very special Action Blanket that could be sourced and made all within Yorkshire. Just imagine sitting on one of these for a foraged picnic in the woods then wearing it as you get the fire lit for an outdoor evening of enchantment.
Ed Oxley
