Living off the Land

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Winter 2008

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Call 01239 61 41 22 or visit www.howies.co.uk

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This winter catalogue is all about living off the land.We asked a local forager (thanks Yun) to come on tour with us.To reconnect us with the land.To show us the things we had forgotten.But, mostly, to show us the things we had never learnt.It was interesting to see everyone to go from ‘ I am not eating that’ to ‘wow, that’s amazing’.To see how much food that is all around us that we don’t even understand is food.Yun taught us to look at things a little differently.How a bush could becoming seasoning for supper.How good Samphire tastes with some freshly caught fish.How a bunch of nettles can make a great cuppa tea.We came away with more knowledge than we arrived with, that’s for sure.And we learnt to respect Yun and all his ways.He had learnt from the best teacher there is.The land.

David HieattCo-founder


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The river Teifi is 75.8 miles long and is one of the largest rivers in Wales. It is also one of the most pristine and least modified river catchments in lowland Britain.

Cardigan (Aberteifi in Welsh) used to be a thriving port for trading as well as ship building. But the development and activity of the slate quarry caused a build up of waste material in the river, making the river shallower in places, which in turn prevented access by larger boats. This was seen to be the cause of the end of the sea trading port.

The Teifi is renowned as one of the best rivers in Wales for salmon fishing. However, fish stocks have been under steady threat since the 1960s. This was due to the use of drift nets by Irish Sea trawlers. In 2006 drift nets were banned and since then salmon numbers in the Teifi have been on the rise.

Mostly sewin, salmon, brown trout and bass are found in the Teifi. A reasonable year’s run will contain around 20,000 fish. The average Teifi salmon weighs around 9lb, but they have been recorded up to as big as 30lb.

The Teifi is famous for its rich history of coracle net fishing. This used to be the only real source of income for many of the town’s folk. Now in Cardigan there is only one fishmonger and one lobster/crab seller.

Fishmongers have closed and been replaced by large supermarket chains. One man and his boat are fighting back, his name is Len, and you’ll see him come rain or shine out on the bay catching lobsters and crabs (and sometimes a cold). When he has something to sell you will see a sign outside his door (but only when he has caught something).

Aberteifi& Fish

EST. 1093

CARDIGAN

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Epic cotton is quite something.It may look like cotton. It may feel like cotton. But when you come to wear it, it behaves just like a performance fabric. To have a jacket that is both comfortable and yet still performs has kept those clever folk at Epic burning the midnight oil for years. But then one day, they had their Eureka moment. Ping. They had finally worked it out. And then quickly patented the whole process before someone else could work it out.

What they had discovered was a way to put each and every fibre through an encapsulation process and still keep it breathable. This is where most hard shells tend to trip up. They do a good job at being waterproof but fall down by not being able to breathe as much as you can sweat. So you can get wet from the inside. Yet, with Epic cotton you have a water-resistant, windproof jacket that is also incredibly breathable. Plus Epic is a washable fabric that doesn’t lose its water-resistance when washed unlike some hard shell treatments. Reassuringly, the process does not use solvents or other substances, which are hazardous to the environment or to workplace health and safety. They use only 100% solid materials, which create no hazardous wastes. Like I said at the start, Epic cotton is quite something.

51 patents.So far.

9Men’s jacket

Tracker jacketCement, blackS, M, L, XL, XXLRegular cut, multi-purpose jacketEpic cottonMachine washMade in China

Price £140Practical everyday jacket with lots of pockets, made from Epic cotton, which has the look and feel of cotton but is highly water-resistant, adjustable hood and cuffs, warm quilted interior in a bright contrast colour, interior pocket.


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We made this jacket using the Goldilocks Theory

The Goldilocks Theory is all about a little thing called perfection. A difficult thing to achieve in anything you do – not too much of this, not too much of that, just right (she was a fussy girl).

What we have here is The Big Fat Jacket. A super-warm classic puffa jacket designed using just that theory. Not too hot, not too cool, just right (a bit like the Three Bears’ porridge).

You see, the problem with most down jackets is that often they are just too darn hot for our modest climate (they are designed for more entrepid expeditions than a walk to the shops). They have a fill power of between 600–650, that’s the industry norm. We found that to be a bit excessive for the kind of temperatures we get in Cardigan Bay. You stick your jacket on when you’re cold and before you know it you’re overheating. You’re all red-faced and can’t wait to take the bleedin’ thing off again. Quite simply, they are too hot for this non-arctic life.

However, if the fill power you use is too low then obviously you’re going to get cold. We had to find the perfect balance. So we’ve insulated The BFJ with 80% fine quality duck down – great at trapping warm air and probably the best insulator known to man (or bird), mixed with 20% duck feather. These regular feathers insulate a little less efficiently than the pure down. They do a great job of striking the balance between toasty

BFJSubmarine, black

S, M, L, XL, XXLActive fit hooded jacketRecycled polyester with down fillMachine washMade in China

Price £175A warm, cosy down filled jacket with a recycled polyester outer. Insulated removable hood, brushed tricot inside neck for comfort and warmth, two-way zip with storm flap to keep the cold out, external and internal pockets.

and toasted and giving our puffa a much more comfortable fill power of 500–520.

Down is not only the best insulator there is, but it is a lower impact one too, being 100% natural and recyclable and a by-product of the food chain. Reassuringly, before it goes into our jackets, it has also been washed and sterilised.

We didn’t stop there in our search for perfection either, the outer shell is made from recycled polyester fibres, stuff that would otherwise have gone straight into the landfill – granddad’s old suit, your next door neighbour’s fleece, even a water bottle or two thrown in for good measure perhaps.

Through the Teijin Eco Circle recycling system all that stuff is ground into granules, decoloured, converted into polyester polymers, before being spun back into fibre and then made into this new garment.

The BFJ is lightweight and packs pretty small too, so if you’re off camping or snowboarding and need to cram all your gear into your rucksack it won’t break your back. We wouldn’t advise a trek across Antarctica in it, it’s not that hardcore. However, for a typical UK winter you can rely on it to keep you snug.

The BFJ. We think Goldilocks would approve.

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Men’s jacket

Slate river jacketRoyal, blackS, M, L, XL, XXLAthletic fit2.5 layer waterproof jacketMachine washMade in China

Price £130Made from 2.5 layer nylon ripstop fabric, which is lightweight but very tough, waterproof, breathable and quick drying, fully taped seams, draw cord at hem, adjusters around the hood, rubber adjusters on the sleeve, reflective 3M print on the chest, long welded mesh pockets on either side for ventilation.

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Men’s jumper

Marley jumperDenim (top), pebbleS, M, L, XLRegular fitOrganic cotton and Merino woolHand washMade in China

Price £70A classic crew-neck jumper that looks like a sweat. With a Merino wool face and an organic cotton back, which gives it a marl effect.

We like the Marley jumper. We like the fact that it is styled like a sweat but feels like a jumper. We like the fact that the fibres have been blended so that there is the warmth of Merino wool on the outside and the softness of organic cotton on the inside. We like the fact that we have used a natural colour cotton and blended it with the coloured wool to create a marl effect. Little details we know, but at howies we like to get nerdy about all that stuff.

Is it a jumper?Is it a sweat?

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Scrumper jumperNight, fern, mercury, gold, rubyS, M, L, XL Regular fit 100% lambswoolHand washMade in China

Price £55Regular fit crew-neck jumper in soft lambswool with contrast colour trim inside the neck.

Men’s jumper

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www.coldatnight.co.uk

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Humbug jumper Red, lime, royal (right)S, M, L, XLRegular fit100% lambswoolHand washMade in China

Price £75Regular fit stripey jumper in a soft, lightweight lambswool.

Men’s jumper

Humbug jumper (otherwise known as the ‘girlfriend’ jumper) Last year when we introduced our women’s Humbug jumper, they seemed to be flying out of the warehouse. As much as we loved them, we were a little surprised to see that they were outselling our other women’s jumpers by a considerable amount. Then Lisa from our Carnaby Street shop pointed out that men were coming in and buying them as well. So this year we decided that we would create a range especially for men. You see, it’s all right for us girls to borrow your jeans, but you just keep your grubby little hands off our jumpers. OK.

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who art in Devon,Hallowed be thy tractors name,Thy supermarket will come,Their orders will be done,On time as it is in their quota,Give them this day our daily milk,And forgive us our overheads,as we forgive those that trespass on our land,And lead us not into bankruptcy,But deliver us by tanker,For thine is the dairy,the Jersey, and the Friesian,for Tesco and Asda, Ooh Arrmen.

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Illustration: Stuart Kolakovic

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Men’s sweat

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Cassius sweatHeather, black, green, royalS, M, L, XLRegular fitOrganic cottonMachine washMade in Turkey

Price £55Organic cotton brushed-back heavy-weight sweat with a soft sueded finish.

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29Men’s shirt

Hick shirtRed (left), blueS, M, L, XLSlim fitOrganic cottonMachine washMade in Portugal

Price £50Double pocket long sleeved shirt made from organic cotton brushed oxford check.


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Kaizen 08 jeansDark unwashed denim30, 32, 34, 36, 38 (regular and long)Regular fitOrganic plantation selvedge denimMachine washMade in China

Price £160We have updated the Kaizen so that it is the same fit as our new regular fit jeans.

Men’s jeans

Organic selvedge denim with howies’ unique cyan selvedge.

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To ensure these jeans age beautifully, wear as long as you possibly can before washing – it will be worth it.

Plantation dyed with natural indigo.

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Bring back the hippies

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Spraying a field with a nerve poison to control aphids and thereby killing all other insects by accident is as violent and ignorant as a Nazi book burning; planting phasealia to attract adult hover flies and lacewings whose larvae will eat the aphids is a peaceful and truly knowing one. Annihilating all soil life with the fumigant mythyl bromide to kill a few weed seeds and pathogens when 99.99% of the soil’s population is beneficial is as dumb and intellectually lazy as expecting carpet-bombing Vietnam to lead to peace and freedom. Using the last of our fossil fuels to make nitrogen fertilizer which clover could provide for free and without contributing to global warming is the mark of a blinkered economic system incapable of seeing beyond a self-destructive worship of the free market and greed. How could we be so dumb?Organic farming is smarter in so many ways; it is more than just not using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides; it is about our relationship with the planet we live on, including the seven billion people we share it with. At its best it is about humility, understanding and learning from nature rather than arrogance, domination and destruction. It is about peace and respect rather than violence.

I know this is wild stuff and I sound like a hippy but I don’t care. My early years as an organic grower taught me that if you go to war with nature without the back-up of an arsenal of fossil fuel based agro-chemicals you will loose. That made me angry initially but with loosing comes humility,

re-evaluation, introspection and fundamental learning. Looking back over my early years as a grower it is hard to believe how personally I took it when things went wrong. It was all about ego and my fields were my empire. Perhaps the self-centered arrogance would have subsided with age anyway but I am convinced the vulnerability inherent in organic farming helped. For most converting farmers there comes an epiphany when they realise they have got the relationship wrong; that organic farming is not about substituting ammonium nitrate with chicken shit, pyrethrum with soft soap or herbicides with flame throwers, that the conflict is unnecessary and ultimately self-defeating and that the key to organic farming is observation, empathy, humility and understanding rather than power.

Nature can provide what academics would call the “elegant” solutions that include balance and the subtle relationships between organisms that make chemical farming’s clumsy, energy consuming, often thoughtless abuses seem grotesque by comparison; it has so much to teach those who are receptive and organic farmers normally become more receptive than most. If Bush and Blair had spent their bonding time on an organic allotment with their hands in the soil rather than driving a golf cart around in bomber jackets they would have realised that they were not omnipotent and their countries might not be fighting their unwinnable wars.

True organic farming requires learning and acquiring a deep and long-term understanding of a farm’s ecology and its crops. It is about a subtle management of the environment to grow our crops with the minimum interference and disturbance.

Guy Watson

Guy Watson founder of the Riverford Organic Veg Box Scheme and co-author of the Riverford Farm Cook Book. www.riverford.co.uk

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Men’s hoodies

Cassius zip-through hoodyBrown, black, green (main picture)S, M, L, XLRegular fitOrganic cottonMachine washMade in Turkey

Price £65Organic cotton brushed-back heavy-weight hoody with a soft sueded finish.

Cassius hoodyBlack, heatherS, M, L, XLRegular fitOrganic cottonMachine washMade in Turkey

Price £60Organic cotton brushed-back heavy-weight hoody with a soft sueded finish.

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Men’s polo shirts

PD polo shirtNight, crystal, light khakiS, M, L, XL, XXLRegular fitOrganic cottonMachine washMade in Turkey

Price £35Striped short sleeve polo shirt in soft organic cotton, collar and cuffs in plain rib, howies embroidery on chest in contrast colour.

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Bread facts

Bread has been a staple food for humans sice 7000BC. The workers who built the Egyptian pyramids were paid in bread.

Wheat production is estimated at 350 million tonnes annually.

12 million loaves of bread are made every single day. We consume only 8 million of these, the rest goes to waste.

The average UK household buys around 86 loaves per year.

70% of the bread we eat is white.

The UK bakery market is worth almost £3 billion. However, of all bakeries, less than 5% of them are real craft bakers.

Bread tastes really nice when toasted with jam on top.

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Angled belt loops.They’ll save you 0.6 seconds

per belt loop.Although if you’re looking to gain

that extra time, it may be worthlooking at other areas of your life

aside from getting dressed.

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Men’s jeans

Loose fit Regular fit

Drifter jeansIndigo30, 32, 34, 36, 38 (regular and long)Loose fit12oz organic denimMachine wash Made in China

Price £75An update of our Skomer jeans. Loose fit five-pocket jeans, eco-ball washed for softness, button fly, classic slouchy fit.

Drover jeansIndigo30, 32, 34, 36, 38 (regular and long)Regular fit12oz organic denimMachine washMade in China

Price £75An update of our Timber jeans. Regular fit five-pocket jeans, eco-ball washed for softness, button fly.

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Loose fitSlim fit

Stoker jeansIndigo30, 32, 34, 36, 38 (regular and long)Slim fit12oz organic denimMachine washMade in China

Price £75An update of our Backyard jeans. Slim fit five-pocket jeans, eco-ball washed for softness, zip fly, slim leg but not too skinny.

49ers jeansIndigo30, 32, 34, 36, 38 (regular and long)Loose fit12oz organic denimMachine washMade in China

Price £80Loose fit, front slash pockets, back pockets have flaps, button fly, eco-ball washed for softness.

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Rimmer jeansDark indigo30, 32, 34, 36, 38 (regular and long)Regular fit14oz organic denimMachine washMade in China

Price £75Same cut as the Drover jeans but using a heavier weight 14oz denim with a darker rinse. Leather patch replaced with a natural cotton howies patch.

Men’s jeans

Paul Rimmer (one of our sponsored skaters) is vegan. Whenever we send him jeans he always cuts the leather patch off the back. So we thought we’d design a jean that he could wear without having to modify. We took his favourite cut (our Timber jeans), we made it in the kind of denim he likes (dark heavy duty 14oz organic denim) and we replaced the leather patch with a natural cotton howies patch.

You can put the scissors away now Paul.

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Men’s trousers & shirt

Drover canvas trousersDark khaki (swatch), black (right), café (main picture)30, 32, 34, 36, 38 (regular and long)Regular fitOrganic cotton canvasMachine washMade in China

Price £70Our new regular fit, the same fit as the Drover jeans. Classic five-pocket organic canvas trousers with jeans style detailing.

Walton shirtGreen (swatch), bone (right), red (main picture)S, M, L, XLSlim fit western style shirtOrganic cottonMachine washMade in Portugal

Price £55Long sleeved double pocket western style shirt in the softest organic cotton flannel.

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They have at times been the subject of makeovers and suffered the whimsy of fashionistas that try to re-invent them. They always come back stronger and more focused after such trifling. I can do every thing in my life with them that seems worth doing and what can’t be done with them I couldn’t care less about. We have been on some incredible journeys together and they have been to some of the best gigs of all time with me.

They have never been perfect in any way at any time but they have been more understanding and forgiving of my ability to go from one reality to another in the flick of an eye, one minute we could be skating a ditch, later in the day we’d be hill climbing and at the end of the day we could be either dancing like dervishes at a party, riding BMX bikes or riding fixies to a gig 25 miles into god knows where, they never back down from a challenge and have never let me down.

I don’t want to climb Everest in them but if I wanted to they’d come with me, but like me we’d all be out of our depth, no matter though as they’d still do their job and with a few extra mates to fill in the gaps, I’m sure we’d be able to conquer those extremities too, but I’m not interested in being that extreme. I just want to keep it simple and that’s why they are always there for me.

Whether I’m slashing a kerb in a car park, jumping off cliffs into the sea or out on my bike they are ready to take it. They also like a walk to the shops too.

I used to ride 50 miles with them when I was in my mid-teens and that was when we were wearing nylon pants and bell bottoms, always laughing our asses off and having a great time. So I’d just like to use this space to say thanks to my two friends with whom I have spent so many good times with that they too should take some credit for what we’ve all done.

Mr Jeans and Mr T-shirt your simplicity and adaptabilty has made my life better. Cheers for helping make a six feet five lanky fella with a love for bikes, boards and mischief find a uniform that lasted longer than any fashion or trend, classics they are not, icons they are.

Tim March

I have two best friends that have kept me well during my time on this planet.

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Men’s cords

Power cordsNight, sand, café (right)30, 32, 34, 36, 38 (regular and long)Regular fitOrganic cotton corduroyMachine washMade in China

Price £75A new fit six-pocket cord that is based on the Drover fit. Two front jeans pockets, plus two front welt pockets, button fly.

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Drifter cordsBlack (left), café30, 32, 34, 36, 38 (regular and long)Loose fitOrganic cotton corduroyMachine washMade in China

Price £70The same cut as our Drifter jeans, loose fit, button fly, soft organic cotton corduroy.

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Call 01239 61 41 22 or visit www.howies.co.ukIllus

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Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?Might be a bit trickySeeing as you’re a potatoBut I still like youIn fact, it’s more than thatYou’re specialAnd you grew strongEven though I neglected youNot on purposeI was just doing other things(mowing the lawn, restraining the slugs)But you were there, just growingNo fussJust growingAnd when I came back to youOn that warm August dayFork in handAnd lifted you from the earthI gazed upon you lovinglyFresh and perfectly formedNature’s knobbly bountyThen I took you insideAnd mashed you right upWith some butterSorry about that bitHope it didn’t hurtBut if it’s any consolationYou tasted real good

By Dan Germain

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Waffler mid-layerGraphite, flashlight (right)S, M, L, XLAthletic cut100% Merino wool with a honeycomb constructionMachine washMade in Fiji

Price £90Wear over a base layer as a mid-layer when the weather is cold or as an autumnal top layer. Half zip, honeycomb construction, which has high breathability but also traps your body heat. Zque accredited Merino. Great for winter sports like snowboarding, mountain biking, walking or running. And even better when used in a layering system with an NBL underneath (see page 54).

Those man-made polyester base layers are just full of hot air. The sales patter babbles on about how great they feel and how effective they are. They use terms like ‘moisture transportation’ and ‘temperature management’ blah blah blah. All very technical and scientific, but a load of smoke and mirrors in reality, and hiding a multitude of sins.

For a start, they are made from oil – itself a completely natural material, naturally, but as we know not extactly sustainable. They aren’t biodegradable either, so once you bin them they’ll inevitably end up in a landfill, where they’ll stay for an awfully long time. That sales spiel will probably neglect to inform you that you’ll more than likely need to wash it just about everytime you wear it too. That’s down to the fact that the fibres are so uniform and act like a breeding ground for bacteria, making you a bit stinky and notvery nice to be around.

You could say our Waffler mid-layers are full of hot air too I guess. In fact we’ve designed them to be. The fabric has a 3D waffle effect, which has tiny pockets in the knit. Those pockets trap heat around your body like an invisible thermal blanket, keeping you warm in even the coldest climates.

And, because they are made from the highest quality Zque accredited Merino wool you can buy, when you start to warm up, that clever wool shifts moisture away from your body more effectively too, meaning you won’t overheat or get too sweaty should the going get really tough.

They are 100% natural too, so are as biodegradable as a banana skin. Plus, the wool comes from a completely sustainable source – ask the sheep shearer, he’d be out of a job otherwise. And they won’t stink either as the Merino fibres are coated with microscopic scales that make it hard for the bacteria to grab onto, meaning you won’t need to wash it as often.

Our base layers may cost a bit more than some, but you’ll know where your money went as soon as you put one on. You’ll understand why sheep-made beats man-made, any day.

Men’s mid-layer

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It came from the land. One day it will return to the land.

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Men’s merino

NBL light long sleeveFern/graphite, orange/graphite (main pic)graphite, royal (swatches below)S, M, L, XLAthletic cut 100% superfine Merino woolMachine washMade in Fiji

Price £45Cut to hug the body, perfect for high-intensity exercise, subtle rib construction, tiny holes in the fabric means that it wicks moisture, regulates temperature and stays odour-free, itch-free. Zque accredited Merino. Also available in short sleeve (see website).

NBL ribbed base layerGrey marl, faded red (swatch)S, M, L, XLSemi fitted100% Merino woolMachine washMade in Fiji

Price £50A few years back we made a small run of ribbed Merino base layers, they were never featured in a catalogue or on our website, they were just worn by our staff and our riders. On really cold days they are everyone’s favourite base layer to wear – it must be the rib construction of the fabric, so we’ve brought them back and this time made them available to all. A great base layer for everyday use, less fitted than the NBL light range, itch-free, moisture wicking, Zque accredited Merino.

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Chew on this

In these days of carbon counting, our focus is often guided toward what we believe to be the higher impact aspects of life – heating the house, flights and car journeys mostly. But what about the food we eat? The term ‘food miles’ is often banded around, but do we really know the entire story? The truth is our shopping baskets are spewing out more greenhouse gases than we first thought. In fact, scientists now know that our love for food accounts for up to twice as many emissions as our love for driving. So, is the simple answer to shop local?

When you look at the supermarket shelves and see grapes from New Zealand, tomatoes from Spain and apples from Africa, locally-grown produce sounds like a logical answer, doesn’t it? Well, it does until you learn that the term ‘food miles’ is solely focused on the products’ CO2 emissions. But, when you throw other harmful gases like methane and nitrous oxide into the equation, then the food production process becomes a whole lot dirtier. Those two gases alone are known to be way more harmful to our atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

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Research shows that farm to fork transportation accounts for only 11% of food’s total carbon footprint, with up to 83% of the emissions coming from the food production process itself. The remaining 6% going into wholesale and retail, refrigeration and lighting. The most emission-intensive foods are red meat and dairy. That’s down to the amount of fertiliser and food that farmers use to rear cows and the amount of CO2 and methane they expel (the cows, not the farmers). You might be surprised to know that the carbon footprint of a tasty steak is the equivalent to that

of a 19-mile journey in a 4x4 and that a simple bowl of cereal creates the equivalent stink of driving 4.5 miles (the main culprit in your bowl being the milk rather than the cereal itself). So, one way of reducing your carbon food-print could be to give meat the chop entirely. Switching to a vegan or vegetarian diet could cut your annual carbon footprint by the equivalent of 1.5 tonnes of CO2 per person. That might be a bit too much of a leap for some meatlovers, so perhaps another way could be to simply reduce the amount of red meat we eat.

Maybe replacing it with a nice free-range chicken. Chickens eat less grain and fart out less methane, so, in turn, cause a lot less damage to our atmosphere. I guess there’s no simple answer and we all have to make our own choices in the end. Just some food for thought.

Illustration: Nicholas Saunders

Facts: Fertilisers and manure release nitrous oxide, which is 296 times as good as CO2 at trapping heat and remains in the atmosphere for 114 years on average.

By 2050 meat consumption is expected to reach 465 million tonnes per annum.

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Men’s Merino

NBL long sleeveBlack

S, M, L, XLTo hug the body100% superfine Merino woolMachine washMade in Fiji

Price £45Superfine Merino that can be worn on its own or as part of a layering system when it’s cold. Wicks naturally, resists build-up of odours, regulates temperature, itch-free. Feels real nice next to your skin.Zque accredited Merino.

NBL half-zip base layerBlack

S, M, L, XLTo hug the body100% superfine Merino woolMachine washMade in Fiji

Price £65Superfine Merino that can be worn on its own or as part of a layering system when it’s cold. Wicks naturally, resists build-up of odours, regulates temperature, itch-free. Feels real nice next to your skin.Zque accredited Merino.

63Men’s Merino

Stones boxer briefSubmarine (left), fern, graphiteS, M, L, XLAthletic cut100% superfine Merino woolMachine washMade in Fiji

Price £35Cut to hug the body, lightweight and comfortable to wear, subtle rib construction, moisture wicking, regulates temperature, itch and odour free. Zque accredited Merino.

NBL light long johnGraphite (left), submarine, fernS, M, L, XLFitted cut, extremely lightweight100% ultrafine Merino woolMachine washMade in Fiji

Price £50100% ultrarfine Merino wool, subtle rib construction, wicks naturally, resists build- up of odours, regulates temperature, itch-free, feels real nice next to your skin. Zque accredited Merino.

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Snitch hoodyTurquoise (right), fernS, M, L, XLRegular fit100% lambswoolHand washMade in China

Price £70Regular fit stripey hoody in soft lambswool.

Grafter jeansIndigo30, 32, 34, 36, 38 (regular and long)Loose fit14oz organic denimMachine washMade in China

Price £85Loose fit jeans with slant front pockets, heavy duty denim, button fly, eco-ball washed for softness.

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Men’s t-shirts

Men’s t-shirtsS, M, L, XL, XXLRegular fitOrganic cottonMachine washMade in Turkey Printed in West Wales

Price £25

Thumbs up (reverse print)

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Check out howies.co.uk for more info & our latest t-shirts.

Women’s t-shirts

Women’s t-shirts8, 10, 12, 14, 16Organic cottonMachine washMade in Turkey Printed in West Wales

Price £20

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Women’s tops

Dottie topSubmarine, natural (right)8, 10, 12, 14, 16Short sleeve smocked topOrganic cottonMachine washMade in Portugal

Price £55Short sleeve top with smocking along the chest, button front, quirky print based on the colour blind test.

See page 133 for hat and scarf.

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75Women’s jeans

Lucy jeansTeal (main picture) , violet, black26, 28, 30, 32, 34 (regular and long)Slim fitOrganic cottonMachine washMade in China

Price £70Rigid skinny fit jeans with patch pockets on the front.

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Pre-lovedThis garment is made from recycled polyester fibres.

In a previous life it might have been a fleece, a t-shirt, or even a bottle. Maybe for another brand. For another use. In another country. Bought by another person. Who knows?

The old garment was ground down, decoloured, converted into polyester polymers, spun back into fibre and then made into this new garment.

Now it has been given another life. A sort of reincarnation, if you like.

A chance to go do ‘stuff’ again.

For more info go to page 8.

BFJBlack, fern

8, 10, 12, 14, 16Active fit hooded jacketRecycled polyester with down fillMachine washMade in China

Price £165A warm, cosy down filled jacket with a recycled polyester outer. Insulated removable hood, brushed tricot inside neck for comfort and warmth, two way zip with storm flap to keep the cold out, external and internal pockets.

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Nature is my passion – it’s been my obsession for as long as I can remember.

When I left the academic world to become a pig farmer a couple of years ago I was determined to get back to a more simplistic, natural way of life. My plan was to live and work on my own farm, raising free range animals and growing food as nature intended. I wanted to get back to basics. The idea was to put into practice some of the more traditional British farming methods. I wanted top quality, seasonal, fresh produce so I set about creating an environment and infrastructure on the farm to support this.

Returnto simple

Fact: Of the 5 million pigs in the UK, only 33,000 are organically reared.

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79The type of farming that we practise here on the farm was commonplace before the Second World War; free range, low intensity – oh yes, that good old-fashioned farming. Five years on and I am proud to say that our farm produces rare-breed pork of the highest quality from slow-grown pigs that lead a completely free range life, roaming over pasture and woodland where they are able to root for wild garlic, chestnuts, acorns, tubers and grubs.

The variety and quality of food harvested from our nation’s countryside is one of our greatest assets. We have a wealth of farmers and small producers who grow or raise some of the best meats, fruit, vegetables and cheeses in Europe. The heartening thing is that there is much more interest now in where our food is coming from, how and where it is produced and who has produced it, not to mention the plethora of manuals and cookbooks out there telling you how to cook it! The growing interest in the provenance of food, environment and healthy diet means that people are more aware of what they are buying, cooking and eating.

It is cheering also to see that in many parts of Britain we have viable, lively local food economies, which bring together the farmers and consumers via small convenience shops, butchers and farmers’ markets. It is a growing trend – farmers’ markets are starting up all over the place, food festivals and shows draw larger and larger audiences and, at last, we seem to be waking up to the fact that it is not particularly difficult or expensive to eat real food. It occasionally takes a little bit of effort to seek out and maybe a little thought and time to prepare.

So, once home with a bag full of these wonderfully fresh, seasonal ingredients, what to do with them? I like to do as little as possible – one of my favourite dishes has to be slow roasted belly pork. A superb piece of free range pork, skin scored and sprinkled with sea salt to produce crunchy crackling, slow roasted for a couple of hours produces one of the richest, most comforting meals you can think of. Served with steamed vegetables, a dollop of creamy mash and the juices from the pan, this is a simple, traditional and wholesome supper. Fabulous!

Jimmy Doherty

www.jimmysfarm.com

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Warm-up zip-through hoodyRoyal (main picture), black

8, 10, 12, 14, 16

Regular fitOrganic cottonMachine washMade in Turkey

Price £55Soft and cosy brush-backed organic cotton with a sueded finish.

Warm-up hoodyHeather

8, 10, 12, 14, 16Regular fitOrganic cottonMachine washMade in Turkey

Price £55Soft and cosy brush-backed organic cotton with a sueded finish.

Women’s hoodies

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83Women’s hoody & jacket

Slate river jacketBlack, royal8, 10, 12, 14, 16Active fit2.5 layer waterproof jacketMachine washMade in China

Price £125Made from 2.5 layer nylon ripstop fabric, which is lightweight but very tough, waterproof, breathable and quick drying, fully taped seams, draw cord at hem, adjusters around the hood, rubber adjusters on the sleeve, reflective 3M print on the chest, long welded mesh pockets on either side for ventilation.

Cloud hoodyNatural8, 10, 12, 14, 16Regular fitOrganic cottonMachine washMade in China

Price £55A one-off hoody with a print especially designed for howies by illustrator Jenny Bowers. Classic style full-zip hoody in brush-backed organic cotton.

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Women’s cardigan & jumper

Poppit cardiganPink, aqua, black (main picture)8, 10, 12, 14, 16V-neck cardigan50% bamboo, 50% woolHand washMade in China

Price £60Button-through v-neck cardigan with a polka dot print. Soft and lightweight, made from a mix of wool and natural bamboo.

Poppit jumperAqua, chocolate8, 10, 12, 14, 16Henley style jumper50% bamboo, 50% woolHand washMade in China

Price £55Henley style jumper with a polka dot print, four buttons on front placket, soft and lightweight, made from a mix of wool and natural bamboo.

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The USSR collapsed in 1990/91. Cuba’s ability to feed itself collapsed with it. Overnight it had 80% less oil and no money for imports. The next two years were called “Special Period”. They were not that special. Everyone ate less.

They had no choice but to grow their own food and go organic. Oxen replaced the tractors. Old ways replaced chemical fertilizers. Every bit of land that could possibly grow something, did.

These small organic farms and gardens located in urban areas became known as Organiponicos.

They learnt to be farmers again.

Cuba now leads the world in sustainability in urban locations. Cuba’s infant mortality rate is lower than that of the US, while at 77 years life expectancy is the same. Approximately 90% of its food is organic.

How would we cope without oil?

The total oil imported into the UK per day is 1,084,000 barrels.

The full length article is on the website (this is the speed-read version).

What happens when you wake up one morning and have no oil?

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Millie dressLight khaki, coal (see Millie top)8, 10, 12, 14, 16Three-quarter sleeve tunic-style dressOrganic cottonMachine washMade in Portugal

Price £70A three-quarter sleeve version of the Jess dress with graphic floral print along hem designed by artist Millie Marotta, button opening at neck, wear as a dress or wear over jeans.

Women’s top & dress

Millie topCoal8, 10, 12, 14, 16Smock-style topOrganic cottonMachine washMade in Portugal

Price £55A three-quarter sleeve, hip length, smock style top with button front. Made from crisp organic cotton and printed with a hand drawn illustration by artist Millie Marotta.

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91Women’s cords

Fella cordsBlack, sand, dark khaki26, 28, 30, 32, 34 (regular and long)Loose fitOrganic cotton corduroyMachine washMade in China

Price £80The same boyfriend fit as our Fella jeans but in soft organic cotton cord. Classic five-pocket style with a loose straight leg.

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Humbug cardiganRoyal, magenta, lime (main picture)8, 10, 12, 14, 16Regular fit100% lambswoolHand washMade in China

Price £65Striped button-through cardigan, made from very fine lambswool.

Women’s jumpers & cardigans

Humbug button-neck jumperNeon, turquoise, magenta8, 10, 12, 14, 16Regular fit100% lambswoolHand washMade in China

Price £60Striped jumper with three buttons at the neck, made from very fine lambswool.

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Facts: Around 15% of our diet consists of crops which are pollinated by bees.

The honey bee will visit up to 500 flowers in any one day to collect nectar.

A stinging insect that evolved 35 million years ago collects nectar from plants. It converts this into honey and stores it so that it can survive the winter as a social unit. To protect this store of honey, each worker bee is armed with a sting which is capable of produc-ing severe irritation, and, at worse death.

There is no substance in nature (unprocessed) that is sweeter than honey. In a world without sugar, bees’ nests were prized discoveries and great efforts were made to steal the honey. Some of the earliest cave paintings show men with ropes and ladders, and flaming brands, climbing up to bees’ nests to hack off some of the comb to get at what must have seemed like an impossibly sweet substance.

Now it all seems so much more civilised; bees are kept in wooden beehives, managed by beekeepers who have an intimate knowledge how the social organisation of the hive works, and are able to manipulate them to their own advantage, to produce colossal crops of honey and also to provide much needed pollination to the huge acreages of crops like almonds, oranges, apples, courgettes, tomatoes, etc.But in fact it only seems that way. Anyone who works with bees knows that you are really only a bystander. Bees still do what they want and their behaviour is ultimately determined by the weather.

Push the bees where they want to go

Gerald Cooper

If you keep bees at the bottom of your garden, you are sharing your garden with a wild animal, which, like most wild animals, lives a precarious life at the margin of survival. It will swarm if it wants to and go to live elsewhere, and will only produce a honey surplus over and above its daily needs if the sun shines. And this is actually the point. Keeping bees gets you honey, but is also gets you a way into the way nature works. By understanding the way bees respond to all the different aspects of the natural world, the beekeeper is able to recover his own relationship to the natural world through bees.

Beekeepers are much more sensitive to things like the weather because they understand the importance of sunshine to the bees’ ability to gather nectar. You soon come to realise that you can only get what nature gives you.

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Lucky stripe jumperNeon, magenta, turquoise (main picture)8, 10, 12, 14, 16Regular fit crew-neck jumper100% lambswoolHand washMade in China

Price £55Striped crew-neck jumper in the softest lambswool.

Women’s jumpers

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Boy sweatBlack, green (right)8, 10, 12, 14, 16Regular fitOrganic cottonMachine washMade in China

Price £45Regular fit crew-neck sweat, classic boy style, soft sueded organic cotton.

Women’s sweats

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Courtney dressPink (above), blue8, 10, 12, 14, 16Tunic-style dress100% organic cottonMachine washMade in Portugal

Price £65A long sleeve tunic-style dress made from the softest brushed organic cotton. Button opening front, mandarin collar, invisible side seam pockets. Wear as a dress or wear over jeans.

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Nancy topBright pink, bright blue 8, 10, 12, 14, 16Three-quarter sleeve topOrganic cottonMachine washMade in Portugal

Price £55Blouson style top with three-quarter sleeve, button front and elasticated hem. Brushed organic cotton.

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103Women’s skirt

Viv skirtPink, blue8, 10, 12, 14, 16Pleated skirt with braces100% organic cottonMachine washMade in Portugal

Price £50A button front wrap around skirt with pleats, mid-thigh length, removable braces, made from the softest brushed organic cotton.


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Jess dressNight, dolphin (right)8, 10, 12, 14, 16Short sleeve tunic-style dressOrganic cottonMachine washMade in Portugal

Price £60Our bestseller last summer, we thought we’d bring it back in a slightly heavier weight cotton for autumn and winter. Tunic style, small pleats around the neck, little front pockets, mid-thigh length, wear as a dress or over jeans.

Women’s dress

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More info:

www.slowfood.org.uk

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The Slow Food international movement officially began when delegates from 15 countries endorsed this manifesto, written by founding member Folco Portinari, on 9 November 1989.

Our century, which began and has developed under the insignia of industrial civilization, first invented the machine and then took it as its life model. We are enslaved by speed and have all succumbed to the same insidious virus: Fast Life, which disrupts our habits, pervades the privacy of our homes and forces us to eat Fast Foods. To be worthy of the name, Homo Sapiens should rid himself of speed before it reduces him to a species in danger of extinction. A firm defense of quiet material pleasure is the only way to oppose the universal folly of Fast Life. May suitable doses of guaranteed sensual pleasure and slow, long-lasting enjoyment preserve us from the contagion of the multitude who mistake frenzy for efficiency. Our defense should begin at the table with Slow Food. Let us rediscover the flavours and savours of regional cooking and banish the degrading effects of Fast Food. In the name of productivity, Fast Life has changed our way of being and threatens our environment and our landscapes. So Slow Food is now the only truly progressive answer. That is what real culture is all about: developing taste rather than demeaning it. And what better way to set about this than an international exchange of experiences, knowledge, projects? Slow Food guarantees a better future. Slow Food is an idea that needs plenty of qualified supporters who can help turn this (slow) motion into an international movement, with the little snail as its symbol.

Here’s to the slow guy

(Why we pay an Earth Tax)

108 Women’s jeans

Fella jeansIndigo26, 28, 30, 32, 34 (regular and long)Loose fit12oz organic denimMachine washMade in China

Price £75A true boyfriend fit, loose straight leg, zip fly, eco-ball washed for softness.

SA43 jeansIndigo26, 28, 30, 32, 34 (regular and long)Regular fit straight leg 12oz organic denimMachine washMade in China

Price £75A new straight leg jeans, zip fly, classic five-pocket style, eco-ball washed for softness, a true straight fit.

Loose fit Straight fit

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Suzie jeansIndigo26, 28, 30, 32, 34 (regular and long)Regular fit12oz organic denimMachine washMade in China

Price £75Regular fit straight leg five-pocket jeans with the slightest bootcut, eco-ball washed for softness, zip fly.

Lizzie jeansIndigo26, 28, 30, 32, 34 (regular and long)Skinny fitOrganic stretch denim Machine washMade in China

Price £85A skinny fit stretch jeans, classic five-pocket style, button fly, eco-ball washed for softness.

Skinny fitBoot cut fit

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About time too

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We’ve read the emails from our female customers: “When on earth are you going to make a women’s selvedge jeans?”, “How come only guys get to wear howies selvedge?”, “Are us ladies not deserving of your precious premium denim?”. We get it. Sorry girls. You know quality when you see it too. You’re probably more geeky than the fellas about that kind of stuff.

So here you go, these are our first women’s selvedge jeans. They share the same name as their male counterparts – the Kaizen (Japanese for continual improvement). They also share the same attention to detail – the way they are woven the old fashioned way on narrow shuttle looms, from our very own organic plantation denim, with our very own ecru and cyan straight edge on the outer leg seam.

This denim is unique in that it is naturally irregular. These little irregularities become more visible as the jeans fade and as they age they will develop their very own look and feel. The older they get, the more you will love them. They are tough too, so will last longer than normal jeans.

We’ve dyed them using natural indigo dye, a process rarely used these days due to the time it takes to make – 10 months, from planting the seeds through to the finished dye. The yarn is then rope dyed in small batches, using a mixture of different shades, to create a depth of colour that can only be achieved with the use of pure indigo.

These Kaizens are a classic loose fit. You could liken them to that favourite pair of your boyfriend’s jeans, the ones that fit you better than him, the ones that once you put them on he will never get back.

Like most selvedge jeans, they will shrink when you first wash them, so they are cut to allow for this – a little bigger in the waist and slightly longer in the leg. Most folk here prefer to wear them unwashed for as long as possible though, rolling the hem up to show off that selvedge edge in a jazzy turn-up.

What we have here are jeans where every stitch, every detail, every little feature has been considered and then reconsidered. We just wish we’d made them ages ago.

Kaizen 08 jeansDark, unwashed denim26, 28, 30, 32, 34 (regular and long)Loose fitOrganic plantation selvedge denimMachine washMade in China

Price £155A true boyfriend fit, loose straight leg. Made from organic selvedge denim that has been plantation dyed and has a howies cyan blue selvedge. To ensure these jeans age beautifully, wear as long as you possibly can before washing – it’ll be worth it. Oh, and avoid that white sofa and don’t wear white undies – the natural dye is likely to rub off until after the first few washes.

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113Women’s knit

Campus jumperMercury8, 10, 12, 14, 16Regular fit100% lambswoolHand washMade in China

Price £75A chunky knit lambswool jumper, with a cosy funnel neck and buttons made from Tagua nuts. Deep ribbed hem with a drawstring through it, large handwarmer pocket on front.

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How to catch your own supper

115Joby Barnard

Between the months of May and September, the coastal waters of the UK are visited by shoals of mackerel – a delight to those who prefer their food direct from source and without clingfilm. For years considered a second-rate eating fish, recently the mackerel has been re-considered by fishermen and cooks alike – and deservedly so. It is plentiful, nutritious (high in Omega oils), and – unfortunately for the fish – extremely easy to catch. The most important thing is that a fresh mackerel fillet, patted with flour, fried and served with a squeeze of lemon juice, a slice of bread and butter and a cold glass of beer – is one of the best suppers ever.

Being fortunate enough to live by the coast, and being part-owner of a second-hand river canoe, it’s possible on most summer evenings to paddle out into the harbour. After a work day, and when the sea is mirror-flat (the only time its safe – our canoe isn’t really designed for the sea) it’s a great pleasure to glide along until we’re about 50 metres out, and then tie up to a buoy. With the sun lowering but still warm, in the calm of the bay we’ll start to fish.

Countless words have been written about the re-storative effects of being in, on, or near water – and they are all true. No matter how stressful or draining a day at work has been, within five minutes of being on the sea, there’s a wonderful sense of careless-ness, not as strong as after a long run or good surf, but still very special. Especially as there’s hardly any exertion involved in this kind of fishing. The canoe bobs gently and we sit at either end, with handlines over the side – hoping to catch our dinner. Often we’ll fish until the light dies and it is rare to go home empty-handed.

Of course you don’t need a canoe to catch mackerel. Most seaside towns will advertise trips on boats where equipment is provided and you’ll be pretty much guaranteed to catch.

But the simplest and least expensive way to have a go is the old-fashioned way. You’ll need a rod and reel (borrowing is cheap), a weight, and a set of feathers – usually six hooks strung together with silver foil lures attached (for around £3 from a good tackle shop). If you’re unsure, ask someone else to set up the line for you.

Mackerel swim in to shore from deep seas to feed on the incoming tide. The best time to try and catch them is half-an-hour before high tide, and at this time in any coastal town worth its salt there will be fishermen ‘jigging’ for mackerel – whether for bait or plate. Cast from a safe place into calm water and then jig the line. This means pulling the line shorewards and then letting it drift out again repetitively and rhythmically. This con-stant motion will hopefully mimic the small fry the fish are looking for. Shaped like a torpedo, the mackerel is a voracious hunter, and has been clocked travelling 19ft per second after prey. If the conditions are right, then it shouldn’t be long before your line starts thrumming and you’ve made a catch. It’s not unusual to haul up five fish at once, but to take only what you need seems a good rule, and joeys (juvenile fish) should be put back until next year.

Another good rule is ‘an hour from hook to plate’ – mackerel, like most things, is at its most delicious when fresh, and part of its (unfairly) bad reputation comes from the fact that the flesh spoils quite quickly, so eat them as soon as you can. Cleaned whole fish or fillets can of course be frozen – but don’t keep them longer than a month.

The simplest method of cooking as mentioned earlier is by far the best – but being so versatile, there are many mackerel recipes, and many more you could invent yourself.

Happy fishing.

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Women’s jacket

Stroller jacketBlack, cement8, 10, 12, 14, 16Regular fitWater-resistant Epic cottonMachine washMade in China

Price £130A great everyday jacket made from water-resistant Epic cotton, concealed zip, two front pockets, removable and adjustable hood, inside chest pocket, warm padded lining, quirky polka dot interior print.

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Women’s jacket

36kph jacketBlack8, 10, 12, 14, 16Active fitWater resistant Epic cottonMachine washMade in China

Price £130Made from Epic cotton which is highly water-resistant but breathable and it still has the feel of cotton. Active cut sports parka, ergonomic fit, removable hood with double adjusters, two large mesh-backed pockets on the front, draw cord at the hem, rubber adjusters on sleeves.

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Women’s tees

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V-neck t-shirtCafé, white8, 10, 12, 14, 16Slim fit, longer hip lengthOrganic cottonMachine wash

Price £20

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Belinda Tarling9 x National Masters XC champion2 x World Masters XC champion

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NBL light long sleeve Faded red/graphite, slush puppy/graphite (main picture), Lemonade/graphite (below), café and graphite (swatches).8, 10, 12, 14, 16Athletic cut100% superfine Merino woolMachine washMade in Fiji

Price £40Cut to hug the body, perfect for high-intensity exercise, subtle rib construction, tiny holes in the fabric means that it wicks moisture, regulates temperature and stays odour free, itch-free. Zque accredited Merino.

Women’s active Merino

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Women’s casual Merino

Merino punked rangeAqua/café, faded red/graphite8, 10, 12, 14, 16Athletic fit100% Merino woolMachine washMade in Fiji

Base layer £50

Vest £35

Long johns £50We thought it was time Merino got a bit more exposure so we created this range that can be worn as traditional base layers or as everyday items. The long johns look great when worn with a skirt or dress and the long sleeve top looks great peeking out under a short sleeve shirt. All the properties of our other Merino products – itch-free, moisture wicking, odour repelling – just a lot more fun.

Merino punked beanie & neckwarmerAqua/café, faded red/graphiteOne size for mena and women100% Merino woolMachine washMade in Fiji

Beanie £25

Neckwarmer £20The beanie is perfect for active use and the neckwarmer is great for snow sports or riding during the winter. 100% Merino wool, regulates temperature, wicks moisture, repels odour, itch-free. Zque accredited Merino.

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We pick books that interest us, challenge us, inform us, enrage us, and inspire us. In the hope they will do the same for you.

You can borrow any book from our library and we trust you to send it back.

To borrow a book, just e-mail us [email protected]

If you have any books that you can recommend, please let us know.

In Defence of FoodMichael PollanAn investigation into our relationship with food and how our diet of processed food is slowly killing us.

Food WarsTim Lang & Michael HeasmanAbout the way our food has been produced and its affects on our own health.

English Bread & Yeast CookeryElizabeth DavidThis book looks into all aspects of bread. With recipes for you to try.

Wild FoodRay Mears and Gordon HillmanA guide to eating wild.

Culpeppers Colour HerbalDavid Potterton and CulpepperA beautifully illustrated guide by the 16th century herbalist Culpepper featuring herbs and their medicinal benefits.

Food for FreeRichard MabeyA forager’s bible.

Rekindling Community: Schumacher BriefingsAlistair McIntoshConnecting people, environmentally.

The Biology of the HoneybeeMark L WinstonAll you need to know about the clever little honeybee and how life just wouldn’t be as sweet without him.

Riverford Farm Cook Book: Tales from the Fields, Recipes from the KitchenGuy Watson and Jane BaxterLooking at the rise of Riverford and ethical eating.

Keeping Chickens: The Essential Guide to Enjoying and Getting the Best from ChickensJeremy Hobson & Celia LewisA guide to chicken rearing.

Seaweed and Eat It: A Family Foraging and Cooking AdventureXa Milne & Fiona HoustonA journal of seasonal foraged food and cookbook all in one. With recipes, feasts and folklore.

Books

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The Selfsufficient-ish BibleAndy and Dave HamiltonA guide to eco-conscious living.

Slow Food Nation: Why Our Food Should Be Good, Clean, and FairCarlo PetriniThe leader of the Slow Food movement shows us how to take back control of our food.

Stuffed and Starved: Markets, Power and the Hidden Battle for the World Food SystemRaj PatelLooking at the imbalance of world food resources and rising levels of both obesity and starvation.

Edible Wild Plants & Herbs: A Compendium of Recipes and RemediesPamela MichaelA field guide to the identification and use of foodstuffs from the wild.

The Transition HandbookRob HopkinsDiscusses how several UK towns are preparing for the effects of climate change and a life without oil.

www.sustainweb.org Home of the Real Bread Campaign.

www.breadmatters.comShows how easy and rewarding it is to make bread with our own hands.

www.riverford.co.ukFresh vegetables delivered direct from the farm to your front door.

www.soilassociation.orgPromoting sustainable organic farming and championing health.

www.csl.gov.ukAn organisation dedicated to applying science in the protection of food chain safety and environmental health.

www.plantsforlife.netThe importance of having plants in our everyday lives.

www.botanicalkeys.co.uk A database to help identify the native and naturalised flora of Great Britain.

www.britishbee.org.ukWorking to promote bees and beekeeping in the UK.

www.efrc.comAn organization set up to develop and support sustainable land use, agriculture and food systems.

www.greengardener.co.ukNatural, biological control of slugs.

www.permaculture.org.ukProvides ways to design and create healthy, productive places to work, rest and play.

www.eatwell.gov.ukA wealth of information on food, nutrition and health issues by the Food Standards Agency.

www.allotment.org.ukAll you need to know about having your own allotment in the UK.

www.slowfood.com80,000 members in 90 countries who care about the heritage of regional food and drink, and protecting it from globalisation.

Websites

Illustration: Billie Jean

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Waffler mid-layerGraphite8, 10, 12, 14, 16Athletic cut100% Merino wool with a honeycomb constructionMachine washMade in Fiji

Price £85Wear over a base layer as a mid-layer when the weather is cold or as a top layer when it gets really nippy. Half zip, honeycomb construction that has high breathability but also traps your body heat. Zque accredited Merino.

Women’s mid-layer

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No shoulder seam so it’s comfortable when wearing backpacks

Ergonomic seaming design so seams fall in places that are not friction points or on places that could cause irritation when the body is moving

No side seam

Fine lockable zip puller, locks in whatever position you put it in

Thumb holes so you keep your hands warm without restricting movement. Also helps when putting on a jacket

Main waffle fabric has a honeycomb effect that traps air to keep you extra warm without the bulk of wearing a thick fleece

Longer hem at back for comfort when active

Inside collar lined with fine rib fabric in contrast colour to help keep you cosy and to wick moisture effectively

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Photography: Jeff Cottenden

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What’s in a loaf of bread? Flour, water, yeast, salt and maybe some seeds or flakes? Wrong. Take a look at the label of an ordinary sliced loaf and you’ll find some other ‘ingredients’. You may wonder what ‘flour treatment agent’ is and your tongue may get tied over ‘diacetylated tartaric esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids’. But allow me to let you into a secret: there’s something else in your bread – and it’s not declared on the label. The big ‘plant’ bakeries together with the instore supermarket bakeries account for about 95% of the bread eaten in the UK. And the vast majority of this is made using undeclared industrial enzymes. Amylase, xylanase, lipoxygenase, protease, hemicellulase and others, singly or in combination, often produced using GM technology, derived from cereal, fungal, bacterial or animal sources and added to bread in forms to which the human digestive system has never before been exposed – these are British bread’s tawdry little secret. Why aren’t they declared on bread labels? Because the law treats enzymes as ‘processing aids’ which, unlike ‘additives’, don’t need to be disclosed. They may be perfectly safe, of course. Trusting folk will, no doubt, be content with assurances to this effect from the regulators – the very same regulators who allowed other additives like potassium bromate to adulterate our bread for decades until they were suspected of causing cancer. The more curious may wonder why, if added enzymes are so safe, the big bakers want to keep the good news that they are in our daily bread from us. Could there be a connection, some may wonder, between the cocktails of enzymes designed to make bread stay squishy for weeks and the growing number of people complaining of ‘bloating’ and other digestive sensitivities? Research is needed into the effects of eating enzyme-laced bread. But people are unlikely to support calls for such research if they don’t know enzymes are in their bread in the first place. And anyway, isn’t it everyone’s right to know what they are eating?

Making food choices without all the necessary information leaves us confused and manipulated.

It’s time to get real about bread. Enough of the additives (hidden or otherwise), the endless ‘healthy eating’ masquerade of charging more for sticking supplements into the same basic dough and the nostalgic marketing suggesting that bread is ‘as good for you now as it’s ever been’ when in fact modern hybrid wheats, bred for intensive farming, are less rich in micronutrients, when white flour is so depleted by milling that it has – by law – to be fortified with chalk, iron and two synthetic B vitamins, and when bread is mixed and baked so fast that there is no time for fermentation to make it more nutritious and digestible. We’re starting a Real Bread Campaign, to encourage more people to make, buy, share and enjoy proper bread. If it’s going to happen, we need to make everyone aware of the adulteration that’s going on. The labels on most loaves are deceptive and incomplete, so let’s stick one on ‘em! Real bread activists might arm themselves will little blocks of sticky labels, printed with the missing information about enzymes. On visits to the supermarket, they might spend a few moments peacefully making good the information deficit on those loaves with the hidden additives. And then we all might open our eyes and make a real choice. Andrew Whitley Author of Bread Matters (Fourth Estate) and founder of the Real Bread Campaign.

More info: www.breadmatters.com www.realbreadcampaign.org

Why we need a real bread campaign

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Accessories

Women’s Kitty beanieMagentaOne size100% lambswoolHand washMade in China

Price £25

Women’s Kitty mittsMagenta, turquoiseOne sizeFingerless gloves with a flap that folds over to turn them into mittens100% lambswoolHand washMade in China

Price £22.50

Women’s Kitty scarfMagentaOne size100% lambswoolHand washMade in China

Price £25

Men’s Victory glovesRuby, mercuryOne size100% lambswoolHand washMade in China

Price £22.50

Men’s 6am beanieRuby, mercuryOne size100% lambswoolHand washMade in China

Price £25

Men’s Hitcher glovesRuby, mercuryOne size100% lambswoolHand washMade in China

Price £22.50

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Women’s Rita hat and tassel scarfMocha, aqua, oysterChunky knit hat and tassle scarf100% lambswool

Hat £50

Scarf £60Made from super-soft lambswool. Made in Wales.

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Humbug stripe hat and scarfElectric (above), charcoal, magenta, fernUnisex, chunky knit hat and scarf100% lambswool

Hat £50

Scarf £70Cosy, hand-finished chunky knit lambswool beanie-style hat and matching scarf featuring a classic howies stripe. Made in Wales.

Accessories

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Bumble & Dot socksBumble men’s Blood/night (left), mercury/fern spice/chocolate Bumble women’s Dolphin/red, bubblegum/khaki, aqua/purple Dot women’s Bubblegum/snow white, aqua/snow white, snow white/black100% superfine Italian wool

Price £20Fine knit, naturally breathable and anti-microbial. Feel great next to your skin. Made in Wales.

Men’s sizes 7–9, 9–11, 11–13 Women’s sizes 4–6, 6–8

Women’sMen’s

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Boys

Boys’ t-shirtsLos Bambinos (submarine)Treehouse Envy (grass) Lowrider (yellow)3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10Regular fitOrganic cottonMachine washMade in Turkey

Price £15Also available as plain t-shirts (see website).

Jack boys’ jeansDark indigo3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10Regular fit 10oz organic denimMachine washMade in China

Price £45With all the same features as the adult jeans – the same 10oz eco-ball washed organic denim, the same unbleached pocket bags and waistband, the same howies signature stitching on the back pocket – they’re just smaller. Adjustable elastic waistband.

139Girls

Tessa girls’ jeansDark indigo3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10Slim fit10oz organic stretch denimMachine washMade in China

Price £45Slim fit girls’ jeans in dark organic stretch denim. Made in the same factory, from the same materials, and with the same features as our adult jeans. They’re just that little bit cuter. Adjustable elastic waistband.

Girls’ t-shirts Classic (slush puppy),Roller Disco (grapefruit),Life Is Sweet (blueberry)3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10Slim fitOrganic cottonMachine washMade in Turkey

Price £15Also available as plain t-shirts (see website).

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Kids’ MerinoA couple of years back, we took the kids skiing. We were in Norway and it was freezing. We kept warm, we had our Merino base layers, but all we could find for the kids were polyester ‘thermal’ layers. I must admit, we did feel a little guilty knowing that, in sub-zero temperatures, the kids were feeling the cold a lot more than we were. We drank a lot of hot chocolates that holiday.

So when we were discussing what products we should add to our children’s range, Merino became the priority. Merino is perfect for kids – it keeps them warm and toasty, it keeps them dry when they sweat, it doesn’t itch, it’s lightweight and it’s comfortable. It’s perfect for keeping them warm outdoors all winter long, and they’ll even want to wear it to bed too. On a practical note it can be machine washed over and over and it won’t lose its shape.

So next time we get away to the snow, we can keep the kids outdoors all day and not feel an ounce of guilt.

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Kids’ Merino punked rangeFaded red/graphite, aqua/café, Athletic fit100% Merino woolMachine washMade in Fiji

Base layer £25

Long johns £25100% Merino wool, regulates temperature, wicks moisture, repels odours, itch-free. Zque accredited Merino.

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don’t just stand there

don’t just stand there

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all talks now online www.thedolectures.co.uk

something

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Men’s loose fitA true comfort fit. Hangs loose in the hip, leg and hem. Hem width on size 32 is 24.7cm. Colour code Cyan fly tape. Styles available Drifter jeans, Drifter cords, 49ers jeans, Grafter jeans.

Men’s regular fitOur old Timber fit has been re-cut to sit narrower in the leg and hem than the loose fit. Hem width on size 32 is 22.6cm. Colour code Red fly tape. Styles available Kaizen 08 jeans, Power cords, Drover jeans, Drover canvas trousers, Rimmer jeans.

Men’s slim fitOur old slim fit has been re-cut to offer a more defined slimmer fit. It sits closer to the leg. This is not a super slim jean. Hem width on size 32 is 21.2cm. Colour code Green fly tape. Style available Stoker jeans.

Women’s loose fitLoose in the thigh, leg and hem. A true boyfriend fit. Hem width on size 28 is 22.7cm. Colour code Cyan fly tape. Styles available Kaizen 08 jeans, Fella jeans, Fella cords.

Find your cut

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Women’s straight fitSA43 is a true straight fit from the thigh to the hem. Hem width on size 28 is 19.7cm. Colour code Lilac fly tape. Style available SA43 jeans, Suzie jeans.

Women’s slim fitA style that is slim in the leg and hem. A rigid slim that has no stretch – it will feel tight when you first put it on but it gives as you wear it. Hem width on size 28 is 18.5cm. Colour code Green fly tape. Style available Lucy jeans.

Women’s skinny fitNarrow in leg and hem, a stretch organic denim or cord. Hem width on size 28 is 18.4cm. Colour code Yellow fly tape. Style available Lizzie jeans.

Women’s straight fit (slight boot leg)The Suzie is a straight fit but with a bootcut hem. Hem width on size 28 is 23cm Colour code Lilac fly tape. Style available SA43 jeans, Suzie jeans.

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How to measureSee the diagrams on the facing page.

Chest: Measure under arms at the fullest part of the chest.

Waist: Measure around the natural waistline.

Inseam (inside leg): Measure from the top of the inside leg to the ankle.

Kids’ measurementsOur kids’ clothes are designed and made with room for growth.

All jeans can be reduced on the waist considerably due to elastic threaded through back of jeans with button holes at 1cm intervals.

FactoriesWe have decided to give information about the country of origin of our products in the catalogue so that you can make an informed decision before you buy. We have a formal assesment done on each of our factories to ensure the conditions for the people who produce our clothes are fair, safe and non-discriminatory. We will be putting more information about our factories on our website in the coming months. We will keep you posted.

Ordering Visit www.howies.co.ukCall 01239 61 41 22 (Monday – Friday, 9am – 6pm)

To payWe accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Switch, Delta and Solo. If you would prefer to pay by cheque, please call us to place your order before you send your cheque.

DeliveryOrders over £100 are postage freeStandard delivery £4 (2–5 working days) Next day delivery £6.50 (order before 4pm) Overseas deliveries – see website for different rates.

ReturnsOn UK orders you do not have to pay to return an item (unless it is a sale item).

No quibble officer dibble guaranteeWe stand firmly by the products we make. We believe in quality and we will not be happy until you are. So, if our products have failed you in any way, please return them and we will give you your money back.

Earth TaxWe give 1% of our turnover or 10% of pre-tax profits (whichever is greater) to grass-roots environmental social projects.

How to order stuff

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Women’sAll women’s trousers come in a regular leg and a long leg. Regular leg is 31in and long leg is 33in (inseam).

8 10 12 14 16Chest 32in 34in 36in 38in 40in81cm 86cm 91½cm 96½cm 101½cmWaist26in 28in 30in 32in 34in66cm 71cm 76cm 81cm 86cmHips34in 36 in 38in 40in 42in86cm 91½cm 96½cm 101½cm 106½cmAll measurements are in inches and centimetres

Men’sAll men’s trousers come in regular length, which is 32in, and long length, which is 34in (inseam).

S M L XL XXLChest 34-36in 36-38in 39-41in 41-43in 43-45in86-91cm 92-97cm 99-104 104-109 109-114All measurements are in inches and centimetres

Kids’ Age 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-10Chest 22¾in 23½in 25in 27in 57cm 60cm 64cm 69cmWaist 21in 21½in 23in 24in 53cm 55cm 58cm 61cmHeight 38½-41 43½-45½ 48-50½ 52¾-55 98-104 110-116 122-128 134-140All measurements are in inches and centimetres

Go get the fun

Chest

Waist

Hips

Inseam

Chest

Waist

Height

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take one planet

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tend with care

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Much more to see on the website.

Woosh jacket mercury Woosh jacket zest

Men’s

Snitch jumper gold Snitch jumper fern

Stockholm t-shirt black

Scramble trousers dark khaki

Long way home shorts black

Stockholm t-shirt white

Scramble trousers black

Long way home shorts liner black

Saddler shirt red

NBL short sleeve fern/graphite

Saddler boxer shorts red

Saddler shirt blue

NBL short sleeve graphite

Saddler boxer shorts blue

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Maggie top aqua

Women’s

Woosh jacket magenta

Boardwalk jeans denim

After Sports track pant black

NBL Light vest graphite

Lizzie cords pebble

Boardwalk skirt denim

Prairie dungaree skirt sand Prairie dungaree skirt black

NBL Light brief graphite

Lizzie cords blood

Millie skirt coal

NBL half-zip black

Lizzie cords black

NBL long sleeve black

NBL Light longjohn graphite

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Credit where credit is due

Designed by Nick Hand, Pete Davies and Aron Jones. Produced by Alison Atkins. Photography by Paul Bliss, James Bowden, Nick Hand, Teri Hunt, Adolfo Crespo, Jeff Cottenden and Ruben Lightfoot. Product photography and styling by Elements Management (thanks Josie). Shoot styling by Anna Felton. Printed by Cambrian Printers of Aberystwyth – an ISO 14001 Environmental Standard accredited printer. The catalogue has been printed on Greencoat which is 100% recycled and is an FSC certified paper.

Thanks to our foraging friends Yun Hider, Marcus Beck and Jethro Chaplin. A huge thank you to the contributing writers – Dan Germain, Joby Barnard, Guy Watson, Jimmy Doherty, Tim March, Gerald Cooper and Andrew Whitley. Also to James for the kind use of Fforest Farm. Thanks to everyone who camped out and lived wild for a week – Lydia Savage, Anika Flower, Kalli, Silje Vallevik, Zuleika Cheatle-Conte, Paul Anderson, Tom Davies, Dan Yeomans, Will Jackson, Matt Berridge, Jack Moore, Chris Jones, Andrew Thomlinson, John Thomlinson, Toby Bradley, Jack Crisp, Owen Howells and Nick Radford. Thanks to Tony Davidson and Sarah Morrison for the table spread and cheers to Tom Seymour for his giant care label idea too. Genius.

Illustration: Nicholas Saunders (Ode To The Potato, Chew On This), Stuart Kolakovic (Farmers Prayer), Billie Jean (Brainfood), Supermundane (Life Is Complicated), Claire Scully (Return to Simple).

T-shirts this time round were designed by Paul Anderson (I Love Storms), Pete Davies (Muesli, Life Is Complicated, Art’s Not Dead, Los Bambinos, Lowrider and Life Is Sweet ), Aron Jones (Treehouse Envy), Anna Felton (Butterflies), Teri Hunt (Skipping School and Love Hurts), Thoughtful (Monday) Bernardo Henning (Eat, Sleep, Ride, Poop) and Sarah Nicholls (Roller Disco).

howies is a registered trademark. All designs are © howies 2008. All rights reserved, all wrongs reversed. Crikey, all this talk of food is making me hungry. Is it dinnertime yet?

Sea Bass on a bed of Sea Beet & Marsh Samphire

First you need to catch yourself a sea bass. If you can’t do that then maybe you should go see a friendly fishmonger.

Then you need to locate some sea beet – it’s found along most coastlines, just above the tide line (look for shingley shores, between the loose stones and the sandy dunes). Although it flowers through July and August it can be collected pretty much all year round.

Marsh samphire is a little more tricky to find. Most abundant on the east coast, though it can be found in Wales and Ireland. It lives on open sand flats and is washed by the tide. Said to be best collected on the longest day… it can generally be harvested throughout July and August. Use a knife to cut it away from its root.

Wash and boil/ steam sea beet and marsh samphire for 4-7 minutes.

Fillet and grill your fish. Then serve it on a bed of Sea Beet. Dish up the Marsh Samphire with a bit of butter, grind on some pepper and squeeze on a bit of lemon juice.

We thought you might like to know what’s cooking on the cover, so here’s the recipe:


London store 42 Carnaby Street London W1F 7DY Telephone 0207 287 2345

howies Bath House Road Cardigan SA43 1JY Telephone 01239 61 41 22 www.howies.co.uk

Bristol store (opening soon) 62 Queens Road Bristol BS8 1RE

Cardigan store 7-8 High Street Cardigan SA43 1HJTelephone 01239 61 45 22

Living off the Land

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Transcript of Living off the Land