Summer at the WI

As we eagerly await the Paralympic Games, still enthralled by the stupendous competitors of 209 countries, the tens of thousands of Games Makers and volunteers are being lauded for their invaluable contribution to the outstanding success of London 2012 Olympic Games.

I know some of those thousands are also WI members and their contributions to the whole event are charted in the July/August edition of WI Life. Many sewed quilts for athletes to take home with them, as well as knitted cushion covers, made using British wool. A WI member was also part of the construction team at the Olympic Park, and another was a dancer in the opening ceremony.  I'm sure there were even more WI members than we know taking some part in the wonderful extravaganza.  

And, indeed, we now do look forward to those Paralympic Games, hearing again of the Games Makers and, of course, the amazing athletes who will compete in the greatest show on British soil.

WI members have been stalwart volunteers in every aspect of life for almost a century, and volunteering comes in many guises. Much of it can be just what we do in our everyday life, interacting with the people around us. As WI members, although on payment of an annual subscription to cover the eleven obligatory meetings a year, all activities are voluntary.  Those who take office in a WI or Federation are volunteers, as are all the members who sit on the National Board.

For many WIs August is a holiday month, with no formal meeting (although some take the break in January). The National Headquarters in London operates throughout the year and there are never many slow days in August - there are always WI members across England and Wales needing information or advice, and help with preparations for the opening of new WIs.  And although external meetings are less frequent during August, preparations are made for forthcoming events and activities. 

Holiday or not, the WI never sleeps. Indeed, every aspect of the WI is buzzing. And the WI wasn't far away when I prepared afternoon tea for a family party last week.  I turned to my WI Books, in particular "The Women's Institute Vintage Teatime". Coconut Slices and Ginger Crunchies were among the favourites, as well as Macaroons and Chocolate Brownies. Recipes from the book are familiar but with a touch of the 'special' about them. You'll find that with all the WI cookery books' recipes. I can also thoroughly recommend Strawberry Crush and Freeform Tomato Tarts from The WI's "Cooking from the Garden", and Ruby Red Marmalade and Orange and Beetroot Jam from The WI's "Homemade Jams and Chutneys".

The WI's own range of jams, currently on sale in independent shops, one supermarket and online at Danzar Foods, are winners in the trade too, with the golden star being awarded to the Blackcurrant Jam in the Great Taste Awards.  The same gold standard was awarded to our Ginger Biscuits - the nearest thing to homemade.  You can’t beat a good WI recipe.

A Fair Deal for Dairy Farmers

Central Hall Westminster was packed last Wednesday afternoon when 2,500 dairy farmers from across the country gathered to show their solidarity against those dairy processors who propose to take up to 2p off the price paid for a litre of British milk.  

A Voluntary Code of Practice for contracts has been some time in the making and on Wednesday it was said agreement was needed on three words to finalise it, with both sides "conceding a lot".  Many were calling for legislation to make pricing fair.  Agricultural Minister Jim Paice MP felt this would not happen.  A call for the return of the Milk Marketing Board style body was rejected too, and emotions were running high.

Mr Paice had gone shopping that day and he brought to the podium a pint of milk for which he paid 49p, and a pint of bottled water for which he paid 53p, clearly demonstrating that something is wrong somewhere. 

I sat in front of a dairy farming family from Derbyshire; the farmer and his wife and their two sons of just six and seven years of age.  The parents, well aware that the boys’ hopes to grow up and continue the family farming tradition were at risk, deemed this crisis summit urgent enough that their sons should know what was going on, and they sat as good as gold throughout the whole of the proceedings.

The WI continues to stand by dairy farmers and has actively done so since 2005 when members voted on a resolution to "urge WI members to do all in their power to raise public awareness of the unfair difference between the retail prices of milk and the price paid to farmers".  The WI's Great Milk Debates across the country did indeed raise that awareness, and in the years since we have seen some progress with more retailers establishing dedicated relationships with the dairy farmers that supply them with fresh milk.  Yet this progress has not gone far enough.  Time and time again, we see the same cycle of farmers losing money on every litre of milk that they produce.  This tells me that the supply chain is failing to function properly.  All parts of the supply chain stand to benefit from maintaining a profitable, productive and healthy dairy industry, yet as events over the past two weeks have again shown us, the balance is wrong.  This problem was an issue the WI took up again in our 2010 Mission Milk campaign with the NFU.  Now yet again, we are getting behind our dairy farmers.    

It is a very sad truth that dairy farms have been closed across the country in high numbers in recent years:  producer numbers for England and Wales stood at 10,724 in May 2012; a fall of 172 or 1.6% over the last 12 months.  Since 2000, the number of UK dairy farmers has literally halved.   The Derbyshire farmer told me he thought he had about another six months for "things to pick up" before the bank came knocking at his door. 

The British public has to get behind these dairy farmers. Their herds produce liquid milk of a quality and hygiene standard higher than in any other country and of course there is a growing demand for British, local, quality, assured and traceable food; for products that consumers can trust and support.  With fewer dairy farmers the risk that this will lead to less product choice is very real.   Our farmers are custodians of the countryside who provide work for many more industries such as veterinary practices, animal feeds, engineering and more.  And indeed, these industries were also represented at the summit; both in solidarity with the dairy industry but also in fear for their own.

As consumers we can all play a role in encouraging retailers and processors to step up to the challenge and do the right thing by British dairy farmers.  Do take a look at the NFWI website to see what you can do to help. 

Farmers in the firing line

I'd like to pay tribute to and thank all those intrepid WI members across England and Wales who, this summer especially, may very well encounter wet weather when ordering and running the WI tents at County Shows.  Sadly some shows have been cancelled this year, but some are still are going ahead – or have already taken place in the rain, and the new fashion seems to be posh frocks and wellies, which may be the only way to endure the hours of standing as a steward!  If the water rises so that the straw set down to absorb that water is floating on the surface, wellies really are the only way forward!

Weather and wet aside, some of the superb craft items displayed at these events really do show that the WI is the bastion of craft in this country.  When I visited the East of England Show on Friday, I was just delighted and amazed to see a tea cosy in the shape of the Sydney Opera House and chocolate that looked so real I thought it was an edible exhibit, which has been made with tiny beading and exquisite needle point.  Cookery, flower arranging and much more are all on display for wonderful viewing.

I expect many of these skills have been learned through the WI – this is the message from many new members joining the organisation – but it is surprising how so many 'new' talks, speakers and subjects have been round once before.  Rag rug making is having a revival, albeit in many guises other than rugs, and if zumba dancing had been all the rage in the 20s, it would have been in there with the Charleston.  

A subject that is certainly coming round again is the question of the price of milk.  It has been announced that from 1 August 2012, three of the big milk processors will be cutting up to 2p per litre from payment to dairy farmers.   Farmers need consumers to get behind them, and we all need a sustainable supply chain, to ensure the future viability of this key industry.  There is a growing demand for British, local, quality, assured and traceable food, a demand which British farmers can help us meet so it really is essential that we offer our help now in their time of need.  A crisis summit is taking place this afternoon from 1pm today (Wednesday 11 July) in Westminster Central Hall.  The WI will be there and if you can’t make it you can watch the talks online http://www.nfuonline.com/News/Dairy-Summit---WATCH-LIVE/.     

This urgent action has meant that I am very sadly unable to wave off fellow WI members on the inaugural WI and Saga cruise from Dover today - I trust that they will all have a wonderful time aboard the ship, and form new friendships that will last long after you have docked in your last stop.  The itinerary sounds fascinating and the scenery promises to be breathtaking journeying through the Norwegian fjords; I look forward to hearing all about the trip very soon.

Without urgent action there will be a further exodus from this vital industry. Perhaps it's time to have another WI member sitting in a bath of milk outside the Houses of Parliament to highlight this desperate situation.  Watch this space for an update!