Coming up in September

Our next meeting on 16th September:

Lamorna Hooker will talk to us about the work of 

St Mungo’s – the charity that works on recovery 

from homelessness so that everyone has a place to 

call home and can fulfil their hopes and ambitions.

St Mungo’s aim to end homelessness and rebuild lives. They have been coordinating responses with the local authorities to get people into safe places and protect them from the pandemic. They recognise the importance of mental health and well-being and of the companionship of pets and welcome dogs.

Pictured: St Mungo's client Susan with her dog Lady.

We are also hoping that Jakki, one of our members, may be able to join us to share some of her vast professional experience of working with women in housing.

Lamorna works in Bristol so this meeting will be online, starting at 7.30pm. The Zoom link will be sent out earlier that day to our list of East End WI members and friends.

If you don’t think you are already on the list and would like to be included, please email us.

Another coffee anyone?

We had a lively opening meeting in person at Café Crème, 566 Roman Road, Bow, E3 5ES, last month so we suggest sticking with this venue for our next coffee morning this Friday 10th September at 10.30am.

From the last meeting someone commented on how ‘reasonable’ the prices were with an extensive menu offering lots of choice for all palates. It is also accessible by foot, bicycle and other forms of transport and within walking distance of the Community Garden - if anyone cares to make an excursion afterwards!

Foraging tips and family stories: our August meeting

It’s a good year for blackberries. But what else could we be foraging? At our August meeting, we heard from Wendy Paton, forager, bushcraft specialist and East Edge Sisters member.

Wendy grew up in Melbourne, Australia, where she grew interested in living off the land. Wendy has foraged wild rhubarb in Mongolia, harvested blueberries in Ecuador, been mud fishing in Vietnam and eaten insects for breakfast in Laos. Wendy started London Bushcraft to reconnect people with nature. 

Along with their uses in traditional herbal medicine, here are just a few of the things that we learned from Wendy’s talk: Elderflowers are best picked early on a dry day, nettles before they flower and sloes traditionally after first frosts. Jack-by-the-hedge, nettles, lemon balm and dandelions can all be used in pesto mixes. Sweet violet leaves are a good parsley substitute. Ash seeds can be pickled if picked early when transparent. And a swiss inventor studied how burdock leaves stuck to clothes – which led to the invention of Velcro.

Our members shared stories too: Past President Natasha learned to forage from her French mother, who, if in any doubt, would take mushrooms to the chemist. Chemists in France have to know about poisonous mushrooms. And Annie told how they used to use curly dock seeds as money when they were children.

Some rules for foraging:

• Only eat something if you’re sure what it is

• You can pick unless there are regulations in the area

• You cannot uproot a plant unless you have landowner’s permission

• Test your sensitivity to plants

• Pick in a non polluting environment

• Always double check ingredients before using.

• Avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding

More from Wendy on foraging, recipes, workshops, courses and wilderness retreats: https://www.londonbushcraft.com and at @londonbushcraft on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter 

Pictured above: blackberries by the River Lea, herb Robert and lemon balm.

Our next coffee morning will be on Friday 27th August, on Zoom

Our next meeting, on 16th September, will have St Mungo’s talking about women and homelessness. Check back here for details.

Coming up in August...

At our next meeting on 19th August, Wendy Paton from London Bushcraft will talk to us about foraging in London.

Wendy’s interest in bushcraft started as a young child in Australia. Wendy has led 21 expeditions worldwide. During these trips she has foraged for wild rhubarb in Mongolia and picked enough wild blueberries in Ecuador to turn herself blue.

At our August meeting, Wendy will tell us about the what, where and how of foraging in London.

This meeting will be online, starting at 7.30pm. 

The Zoom link will be sent out earlier that day to our list of East End WI members and friends. If you don’t think you are already on the list and would like to be included, please email us.

Coffee mornings

In person: We are making use of the chance to sit outside, under a protective awning at Café Crème, 566 Roman Road on Friday 6th August at 10.30am.

It is just on the corner by the Bow Idea Store. Accessible, and buses not too far away. Very friendly, welcoming staff and, if we did need to go inside to shelter, it is quite spacious. We do not expect a huge group, but for some of us it will be a chance to put on some glad rags and see the full picture!

We will see how it goes, and will also offer (possibly alternate) future Zoom sessions.

On Zoom: 27th August, 10.30am. The Zoom link will be sent out nearer the time to our list of East End WI members and friends. 

Following the plots – our July meeting at Pudding Mill allotments

“The first year, there were hundreds of goldfinches.”

For our July meeting, we were invited to visit the beautiful Pudding Mill Allotments, by Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where East End WI members Clare and Colleen have plots.

Arriving through fragrant lavender and sitting in early evening light as martins swooped overhead, we heard from Clare about the history of the site, its wildlife and the things that people grow, as well as having time for a catch-up and cake.

We also took time to complete the task of the AGM to elect a President. We’re delighted to announce that Heather Qualtrough has been elected. You can find the 2021/22 committee here.

Our thanks to Yvette from Middlesex Federation for coming along.

A huge round of applause to Natasha and the 2020/21 committee for all of their work in these challenging times, keeping the East End WI community going and creating an excellent programme of virtual events. And thank you Clare and all at the allotments for welcoming us.

Our next meeting, on Thursday 19 August, will be about foraging. Check back here for information nearer the time.

Photos by Kate Fuller; sketch by Lydia Thornley.

 

Welcome to the latest news from your EEWI Our Next Meeting… Save the date! 15th July is the third Thursday of the month, and our next meeting.  Venue: Allotments at QEOP where Clare and Colleen spend time. Directions: Bridgewater Road, London E15 2NJ. Don't look up the address on Google maps as it won't show, but if you Google Pudding Mill allotments then the address appears! The nearest bus stop is Warton Road - buses 25, 106, 276, 425. There is also the 388 which stops on Westfield Avenue. Car parking is also available. Time: 07:30 PM on Thursday 15th July 2021 What you can expect on the evening: We’ll see what goes on at the allotments and hear the history of the site, as well as have time for a catch-up, coffee and some cake. Please note: We remain COVID-19 aware, and will be considerate of social distancing and numbers. We recommend everyone attending bring their own mug/glass, as some wine may arrive… There is a fridge and a kettle and very importantly a toilet! Don’t forget to bring your own hand sanitiser too.  Committee Matters… We’ll also complete the task of the AGM, to elect a President so that we can go forward with the complement of committee and roles filled. Yvette from MFWI has been invited. We have one person willing to stand for President, but if anyone feels they missed the chance, please do step up for the committee or a post. We need to be quorate (8), and this business should not take very long, so we do hope to see you there. In the unlikely event that we cannot complete this task, we need to give 10 days’ notice of a special meeting, which will be on the following Thursday, 22nd July, 7.30 on Zoom. Joining details will follow.

 

Our next meeting, on 17th June, is our AGM, covering 2020/2021 – an unusual and challenging year for us all. There will be reports from our Secretary and Treasurer - about last year’s activities and accounts. There will also be the essential election of your committee, and the new president. Natasha generously continued in this role last year, making it clear that she would be stepping down at the end of that term, but would, of course, be available to support the next holder. We need to fill the key posts to sustain ourselves as the EEWI. An adviser from Middlesex Federation will be joining us. We will again be meeting via Zoom, starting at 7.30pm. The link will be sent out earlier in the day to our shorter list of members and friends. *** Before then we will have a coffee morning on the 11th June - 10.30 usual time. We thought maybe bringing an idea of a treat, activity or event that we would recommend, to welcome the ‘opening up’. I have just heard of the £1 entry to The Tower of London for TH residents so you can go giddy on the glass bridge! Also, have a think and float any ideas for future meetings – we have ‘Tax care and Toy Boys’, foraging and St Mungo’s coming up. Any crafty, weird and wonderful ideas welcomed! We will also be having a coffee morning on 25th June. We suggest continuing these twice-monthly get-togethers for a cuppa and a chat. Looking forward to seeing you on 17th and to another interesting year for EEWI. Best wishes, The committee

 

At our next meeting on 20th May, we will be joined by Karen Piotr, a Trustee for the Donor Family Network. Organ donation is a reality for her, following the sudden passing of her husband Mark, aged 49, in May 2017 from a spontaneous brain bleed. Her talk is about her journey from then to now, including attending the World and British Transplant Games and then going on to meet 2 of Mark's transplant recipients. We will again be meeting via Zoom, starting at 730pm. The link will be sent out early that day to our shorter list of members and friends. If you don’t think you are already on this list and and would like to be included please let us know by replying to this email. *** Before then, at our coffee morning on Friday 14th May, we will meet via Zoom from 1030, for a chat and catch up. There will also be a coffee morning on the 28th May. Again invitations will be sent out nearer the time. *** Many of you have renewed your membership for this year, many thanks. For those that have not quite got around to it, full membership is £44 for the year and dual members pay £21.60 to the second group they join. Payment can be made on-line to: East End WI Lloyds Sort Code 30-94-57 A/c 02044729 Please let us know if you prefer not to pay on line and we can find a way around it. *** You might also be interested in Lydia’s recently started blog, called ‘Dispatches from a Small World’ featuring her sketches and ramblings on the goings on in her back garden. To see more/sign up to it click here.