Matthew Stephens and Melissa Holloway

Plot 5

Maia, Melissa and Rowan, taken by Matthew on Grasmere Lake

We are Melissa (39), Matthew (42), Rowan (9) and Maia (5 ¾ ). We have recently joined the Lammas project in Jan 2010 after spending many years supporting the initiative from the side lines.

Matthew has been involved in horticulture since leaving London in 1995 to go WWOOFing (Willing Workers on Organic Farms). He spent time in England and Wales learning skills as he worked at various projects. Melissa did her Permaculture design course in South Africa in 1996, while working on a commercial herb farm. She came to Britain in 1997 and met Matthew while WWOOFing at Ragman’s Lane, a Permaculture farm in Gloucestershire.

We have been living in West Wales since 1998, first coming to the area to work at Plasdwbl Biodynamic farm. We then spent 3 years at Brithdir Mawr eco-community in Newport where Rowan was born. We were both part of the garden team, and Melissa also kept the bees. In addition we learnt many low impact skills from coppicing to bread-making to basket weaving.

Melissa was at the first campfire at Dance Camp Wales where Lammas was born, and we’ve been strong local supporters ever since. We are delighted to now be part of the project.

We will be doing a variety of land based enterprises which include commercial lettuce growing for a local box scheme, seed saving and woodwork (Matthew); and bees – honey and wax products, basketry and cut flowers (Melissa). Melissa is also a Forest School leader and Storyteller who intends to use her skills to be part of the educational aspect of Lammas to help raise awareness of environmental issues and positive futures.