President, Kate Lloyd welcomed everyone to the March meeting of Old Buckenham WI, particularly secretary Pat after a three month absence on a world tour!
After the business of the meeting members learnt to love stinging nettles more with an excellent talk by Fay Jones. With the help of pictures and examples Fay explained different varieties and their lookalikes. She told how to distinguish between male and female flowers, how to turn raw nettles into usable fibre and their use as dyes. They can be used as an alternative to spinach and can be made into various drinks, beer, tea, of course, but also cordial, gin and jelly. Then there is their value in the garden for use as a plant tonic and for the insects that depend on them. Fay had spent some years studying nettles and her knowledge and enthusiasm was obvious.
After a break for refreshments members were advised of several outings planned for the summer. A tour of the Biomass plant at Snetterton, a garden visit, an excursion on the Wymondham to Dereham railway and a Blue Badge guide in Norwich.
On the following day, to celebrate 50 years of Old Buckenham WI, the two longest serving members, Jean Wade and Pauline Bartlett, overseen by several members, planted a Hornbeam tree on the village Green.
The next meeting will be in the Village Hall on Thursday 26 April when Cos Stephanides will be giving an introduction to Tibetan Buddhism.
Then on Thursday 24 May members will be discussing and voting on this year's resolution 'Mental Health Matters.' The result will be taken onto the national WI Annual meeting in June.
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