The Wholelife Project

We have just made our annual cold syrup. The main ingredient is elderberry, which is in our hedgerows at the moment and the best thing is that it's free 😀

#elderberry #ElderberrySyrup #hedgerow #wholelifeproject #foraging #growyourown #Devon #NorthDevon #nature #homemade #carefarm #outdoors #flu #cold #dissability #gardening #alotment #selfsufficient

35mph gusts on this video yesterday afternoon were nothing compared to last night, what a night. We didn't sleep much. We had gusts of wind up 69mph. This is the point where we can loose the poly tunnel. Luckily it survived. But I had a knife on a pole ready to cut the plastic to save the frame if I needed to. Today will mostly be clearing up and inspecting damage.

#wind #farming #carefarm #weather #storm #devon #estury #lovewhereyoulive #home #tired

Who doesn't love a cold and frosty morning?

#frost #wholelife #growyourown #cavolonero #devon #vegtables #nature

Homegrown smoothies for breakfast.

I wasn't going to do more than one post today but I couldn't help it it when a unicycling saxophonist came past the farm 😁.

A new direction

We've run The Wholelife Project for the past 13 years as a care farm for people with learning disabilities. Four weeks ago tomorrow we shut our doors indefinitely, prior to the government's decision to lock down our nation. This was due to the vulnerability of our clients, most of which have underlying health conditions.

Over the years at Wholelife we have been growing our own fruits, vegetables, producing our own eggs and rearing our own meat. This produce has been used to feed the Wholelife family daily. Our small kitchen has produced over 20000 meals.

The growing here has always been a bit hit and miss. Our motto has always been “help do, not do for”. This has meant that sometimes our plants haven't had the best start or ending they deserve.

However given this current situation and the time we now have on our hands we have gone into full-scale production of fruit and vegetables for our local community. Will be supplying @thegoodstores at Ashford St. Johns garden centre @stjohnsashford with our produce. The volume won't be great but the quality will.

This is also my first ever foray into the world of social media. So if any of you have any help/constructive criticism then please message me.

Thanks

Matt, Emma, Lilly-may and Poppy.

We have taken the very difficult decision of shutting The Wholelife Project down. It will be the first time in nearly 13 years that we have closed our doors. This hasn't been a decision we've made lightly, but considering the vulnerability of all of our clients it was necessary to protect those we love. Keep safe everybody love Matt, Emma and family x x x

Today's job?
Making our own recycled paper & biodegradable plant pots & filling them with our home hand-made seed compost

The first of many. We've really focused on our season bulbs this year, watch this space 💚

Harvesting Kiwi's 💚 One of the best parts of the new year! @ The Wholelife Project

Lilly's are known for there beauty, but who knew they had such pretty bulbs! We've been digging out our seasonal flower beds, & came across these gems.

Walking back from our Christmas meal, we're all very full! @ Heanton Court Vintage Inn

We love our toasty kitchen fire on morning's like this. 🧡 Today's tasks? All cosied around the table making Christmas decorations, Christmas treats & discussing our Christmas plans #christmastherapy 🎄

It maybe simple blackberrie leaf but yesterday it was the focus of attention for one of our clients. Maybe it was the shape, the symmetry, maybe the 'prickles', perhaps they just admired the beauty in a small thing, whatever it was moments like these are always encouraged at Wholelife.

We've tidied up the Goji berry plant's, ready for the spring. We had such a great harvest this year, picking the last of them on December 1st. @ The Wholelife Project

For over a decade our farm has developed, adapted, grown... to our clients consistency is essential to maintaining their wellbeing, they know that no matter what we'll be here for them.
Working together we've created our own symbol of growth & eternity, our Wholelife Christmas Wreath. @ The Wholelife Project

On Thursday's our resident play therapist Emma works on site with school aged children. Though no pictures can be taken for obvious reasons, this picture of a fish from a favoured game clearly shows our thoughts on the weather today!

We've been making Christmas wreaths for our friends & family! Using berries, pinecones, walnut shells

We love our walks along the tarka trail, taking time to appreciate the view, collecting & talking about the things we find, even the odd sing along!

The Wholelife call ducks think it's cold...

Hard days work yesterday, as a group we weeded & dug over five beds. So satisfying for everyone to see it complete and ready for planting in the spring.

Nature walks! We love embracing nature, walks along the estuary are a firm afternoon favourite. We collect driftwood, sing songs & hunt for critters: Yesterday J was truly thrilled at finding this little crab! @ The Wholelife Project

Our chicken 'Chunk' checking out our main job for the day, cleaning out the animals. Chunk is as wide as she is tall & a distinctive favourite with our groups!

Milk refills! Our aim to be as eco friendly as possible on the farm, all working together to reduce waste, plastic & pollution. We love our trips across the road to Orchard's farm shop 💚