LIVING OFF GRID
Here at Lackan Cottage Farm that’s what we do, and we want to share how we do it here on our off grid permaculture smallholding with you. We’ll tell you our journey brought us to Lackan, how we’ve overcome the challenges of turning uninhabitable and derelict buildings into a comfortable home and bare, rushy grassland into a thriving, productive and beautiful habitat using permaculture principles.
We are Steve, Claire and Lyra, and it is through our experiences of living off grid for the last 10 years that we’re able to help others who want to learn more about resilient living and permaculture. We believe in teaching what we know, and our journey has involved everything fro living in a truck to rebuilding cottages, and setting up our own off grid systems and food supply. We do everything ourselves, and we love to help others do the same.
Trees
planted
We plant trees to offset the impact of your journey here
Coming on one of our one or two day courses will give you a valuable insight into living a more resilient life, but here at Lackan we are able to go a step further. Get unique tailored insight into all aspects of life off grid. Stay in Birch Cottage, our unique off grid cottage that proves you can have beautiful comfortable but self reliant home. Or spend time in our tiny home horse truck. Combine a stay with a full tour of the smallholding and find out how you can begin to build a more resilient life.
Sustainable Cottage Experience
Birch Cottage is our example of how you can live in the future – right now. An off grid self sustaining building with views of the woods on one side, and Mourne Mountains on the other,. Birch Cottage is the perfect place to unwind and relax.
Learning experiences
Our practical resilience, and off grid living courses cover a wide range of topics including – shelter, food growing, renewable energy technology, water, heating and fuel, within the context of creating a truly sustainable system using permaculture design.
Tiny Home Experience
Tiny homes are making the news! So many people are taking the plunge and building tiny homes to give themselves freedom. Our converted horse truck house is a chance to experience truly off grid living.
ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND THOUGHTS FROM LACKAN
Rebuilding in 2026
Well, its been a while. I'll gloss over the absence of posts for the last while and continue as if nothing happened. 2025 (and really 2024) was a bad year - my mum was ill for a long time, and died at the end of May 2025, and then the rest of the year vanished. When...
Looking forward to 2026 at Lackan Cottage Farm
Aaaand - we're back. Let's just pretend that the yawning gap between the last post and this one didn't happen. A lot has happened here at Lackan and now that 2026 is upon us, it feels like we are moving into a new phase. Anyone who has followed us for a long time will...
Sustainable cottage experience
Birch Cottage
What was once a small derelict cottage is now a comfortable, beautiful and healthy space to live, thanks to local natural materials and renewable energy technology. Warm, cosy and practical, yet with almost no running costs,
Birch Cottage is our example of how you can live in the future – right now. With views of the woods on one side, and Mourne Mountains on the other, Birch Cottage is the perfect place to unwind and relax.
STAY – AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER
BOOK DIRECT ON THE WEBSITE FOR THE BEST RATES
Tiny Home experience
Off Grid Horsebox
Tiny homes are making the news! So many people are taking the plunge and building tiny homes to give themselves freedom. Our converted horse truck house is a chance to experience truly off grid living. Solar power, upcycled materials, woodburning stove, outdoor composting toilet.
Tucked away in a quiet corner of the farm with great views of the mountains. Enjoy a digital detox, unwind and celebrate a different way of life.
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