Herbal Experience for Caddington WI

We have got off to a very good start for 2023. Several new members have joined WI and our numbers are increasing.

The talk at our monthly meeting was by Beverley Bond on herbs and their uses; not just culinary, but religious, general good health, and as 'carpeting' in medieval times. A few herbs were passed around for members to smell. We learned that monasteries kept herb beds near the infirmaries, making sure that toxic ones were well away from the safe herbs. The job of a ‘herb strewer’ (carpeting) was well paid in the 17th century at £24.00 per annum plus perks! Lavender is a wonder herb with many antiseptic uses; it was invaluable during WWI. Mediterranean plants are adaptive plants and have evolved smaller, curved leaves to prevent burning and collect/direct moisture toward their roots. They grow on light-reflecting, stony ground of poor quality, whereas European green leafy herbs prefer good, moist soil with some shade. We learned there are many more herbs than those on supermarket shelves and a lot of them are literally under our feet in our woodlands; Herb Robert, Jack by the Hedge, and the Stinging Nettle to name but a few. Note to anyone with an ex-trampoline bare patch in the garden - this can be adapted to create a herb garden! Our meeting for March was an in-house craft evening. Carol Hardy provided us with string, a metal ring, and we supplied our fingers! Carol demonstrated the art of macrame and we were given the task of creating a key ring. Right over left, left under right, a tug, and there you go, bearing in mind it should twist as you do the knots. The giggles and laughter began as we struggled to get started. Some achieved the keyring task and they looked lovely but some sat in bewilderment at what they had created, myself included! I must thank Carol for being very patient with us and we had a very enjoyable evening.

We had a quick Annual Meeting with the existing committee agreeing to sit again for the next year. If you feel you can help us we would appreciate your help. Our competition was to make a homemade item. Nicky Moore was the winner with Kay Storey second and Kay Palfrey third; how many talented ladies have we!

The talk at our April meeting will be on Whipsnade Zoo and topically the competition will be to make an animal from a vegetable.

23rd April St. Georges Day at Heathfield Community Centre is a big event in the village and we have been asked to provide refreshments including the popular bacon sandwiches.

Please can you design a

We have Lace Making for the evening in May and the competition is to bring an item with lace. We will be toasting the new King with a bucks fizz and we will wear red, white and blue.

The committee is arranging a trip out to Bletchley Park, the home of the code breakers in WWII; it is a very interesting site to visit and we are looking forward to it.

Caddington WI meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7.30 p.m. at the Caddington Sports and Social club. Always a cuppa and cake for you.