Page 35 - link magazine

LOWER SHAWFkRM
Five years ago Lower Thaw Farmhouse was standing empty and the outbuildings were unfit
for cows let alone people„ Since then the dairy and sheds have been converted to dormit-
o,ies and meeting -rooms and ,thanks to the enthusiasm and effort of a succession of
residents,a sense of community and continuity has been established.
The present residents,six adults and one ch.ild,now run the 'farm' as a flourishing
meeting place which has a steady stream of visitors throughout the year.
The nature of events organised at Lower Shaw varies considerably.Some are instructive
courses comprising both discussion and practical activity while also being a social get
together for participants,. Courses have dealt with subjects as wide-ranging as gardening,
efficient use of energy,nutrition,health,living and working together,and children's edu-
.
cation„ Other events are more li.yht •hearied in nature and might be called informal learning
holidays. These have included craft weeks,during which skills such as pottery,wcodwork,
painting,spinning and weaving have been practiced and exchanged;Movement weeks,combining
activities such as cycling,dancing,horser.iding,walking,yoga and swimming;and also weekend
events for similar activities.
In addition to running its own events Lower Shaw Farm also hires out its residential
facilities to groups with aims sympathetic to its own. There have been V.S.O. training
courses, Friends of the Earth conferences ,Swindon Youth Couneel]ing Project,and other
counselling and self-help groups.
Although the major business of the farm is to function as a residential centre- a service
obviously unnecessary for people living nearby- it gladly welcomes anyone who wishes to take
part in its events on a day to day basis.
At present the main link between the 'farm' and Swindon comes through the wholefood shop
Swindon Pulse in Curtis Street. Started in 1976 by Lower Shaw Farm it is now run as an
independant o--op managed by its members who include most of the residents at the 'farm'
as well as several people living in Swindon. The shop is busy and prospering and also
serves as an informal information centre for a number of local groups who advertise their
activities on the noticeboard,in the free newsletter and by word of mouth.
The 'farm' has a substantial vegetable,fruit and herb garden which is cultivated by the
old-fashioned methods free of harmful man-made chemicals. Once a month there is a working
weekend when volunteers come and work in the garden in return for their keep.These weekends
are usually very worthwhile from everyone's point of view, and fun too. Several goats are
now kept as well as an assortment of ducks and hens. These animals are kept not only for
their milk and eggs but also because they give tremendous enjoyment to the residents and
visitors, especially the children.
Lower Shaw Farm has no collective religious,spi.ritual or political base, iAims,interests
and attitudes of residents vary„ They come with many different backgrounds and ranges of
experience but try to forge this diversity into a care of common aims and values to create
their programme of activities and overall development. These aims might , reasonably
be described as follows a-
-to provide a meeting place where people can share ideas,information and experiences in
a-eas concerned with a healthy and balanced way of life.
-to seek a greater sharing of responsibility within a democratic structure, and by sharing
work to enable individuals to widen their experience and use and develop their skills.
Lower Shaw's programme this sutunn and winter includes the following weekend events.
.
1 7-19 October 'Life through Literature' -for people who enjoy reading to share lively and
thoughtfultalk about life as seen through writing; 7-9 November 'Communication in Groups'-
for anyone interested in improving means of understanding one another; 21-23 November
'Song and Dance'-for everyone who enjoy using their voices and their bodies regardless of
'talent',experience or training; 5-7 December 'Dreams'-to explore together ways of recalling,
recounting,recording and understanding dreams; 2-4 January-Winter Celebration- for anyone
who has survived Christmas and New Y ear and would still like to frolic; Volunteer working
weekends on 14-16 November & 12-14 December,
Please write enclosing s.a„e. if you would like to know more about activities at the farm
to Lower Shaw Farm,
Shaw, nr. Swindon,
Wiltshire,
Telephone Swindon 771090.
September 1960,