Birch Cottage has a new website of its own
Visit the Birch Cottage website to bookWelcome to Lackan Cottage Farm
We’re Steve and Claire Golemboski-Byrne, we live here off grid with our daughter, our dog, cats and horses. We make all our own energy using wind and solar, grow as much of our own food as we can (it varies widely) and have used permaculture design principles to help us create a great place to live.
Here on the website you’ll find stories about the projects we’ve undertaken – what works, what doesn’t. You can come stay in our guest cottage – Birch Cottage and we will show you round, or maybe you just want to find out how to do some of this stuff. Either way, welcome.
The wait is over – the electricity pole has gone
When we first saw this place three years ago, we fell in love with it instantly, but vowed that the 11 metre electricity pole sighted right behind the house would have to move. Moving it turned out to be incredibly expensive, but removing it altogether was (oddly)...
Green woodworking – video
Green woodworking at Lackan Cottage Farm - here's a bit of film from our Introduction to Green Woodworking course..
Turning in the woods
Today saw the second of our series of woodworking courses, the introduction to green woodworking, which focused on pole (or bungee) lathe turning, and some work shaping wood on the shave horses. Participants were able to make simple items such as rolling pins by the...
Last minute place on green woodworking course – now booked
Now booked, but more courses coming over the summer.
Down in the woods
Last week our woods came alive to the sound of drawknives and froes as our first group of greenwoodworkers came to make stools with Steve Ryan. It has been wonderful creating a space in which people can come to create, in surely one of the most peaceful settings you...
Living off grid – Calamity Jill
Calamity Jill: Living off the Grid with Jill Redwood from ABC Open Gippsland on Vimeo. I saw this and couldn't resist sharing - this lady is walking the walk, and I see so much of what we are trying to do here in the place she has, and her lifestyle. Reminds me why...