Braziers Barn Floor - Information for volunteers:

The building. A Listed 200 years old timber frame barn. Not much mucked about with. In last decade or two, half the roof has been re-laid, all cladding renewed, a few minor frame-repairs and two new doors.

The place. Set in an array of old agricultural buildings, including a granary, egghouse, forge, coachhouse and cottages, just along from a Strawberry Hill Gothic country house. In the Chilterns, between Reading and Oxford. 50 acres of pastures, woodlands, gardens and old buildings, surrounded by farmland and beech forest.

The people. Home to an intentional community, and venue for interesting courses and yoga retreats. All run as the Braziers Park School of Integrative Social Research. See www.braziers.org.uk

The work. Installing a simple and quick level floor: plywood sheets screwed to softwood joists. All levelled over the original irregular floor. Various fiddly bits around the edges... (If we finish too quickly, there’s an old cowshed needing similar treatment, a large walled garden with weeds to tug and a wall to re-point, an Edwardian greenhouse with rotting timbers...the list is extensive!)

We will start at 8am, and work till about 6pm, probably with an extensive midday break (because we like summer siestas!) The intention is to work hard, do a good, worthwhile job, learn a few things, and enjoy meeting interesting people into sustainability and creativity and such.

Enthusiasm and an ability to do physical work are crucial; carpentry experience and skills a bonus.

The facilities: accommodation, meals and fun!

Ideally, bring tent and bedding. (We have a few spare tents if that makes your travelling easier)

If it makes a difference, we can probably find beds in the main house. Again, helpful if you can bring your own bedding, especially if you can only come for a few days.

We will eat with the community: simple help-yourself breakfast; soups, salads and leftovers at lunchtime; cooked dinner. Sometimes meat (always a vegetarian option). Special diets can often be catered for IF we know in advance. We sort out our own washing up, and if we deal with all the pots and pans too, the residents will smile mightily upon us!

There is some wi-fi in the main house, but don’t expect modern urban speeds. There is also a projector and screen, so consider what films you might want to bring and share. Two pubs within walking distance (King Willy is easy but gone foody; Black Horse is 40 minute walk through the woods with local beer, outside toilets and time-slippage)

Buses and trains serve Oxford and Reading, and a bus (Thames Travel X39/40) runs between the two cities half-hourly during the day, with a stop at the bottom of our lane.

If you’d like to join us, or have questions, please get in touch with us:

Name:

Address:

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I arrive (day and approx time)

I leave (day and approx time)

I need / can offer a lift from:

Dietary needs:

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I have relevant skills/experience in:

I am particularly keen to come on this project because:

Anything else we need to know