Birch Cottage has a new website of its own

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Welcome 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.

A covered fire pit area with decorative lighting

No guilt? Just kidding

Today I am including a caveat to my 'All the benefits without the guilt', as a way to show how easy it is to fall into a particular mindset. My previous post made it all sound so simple. Why do all that work when a simple device can make your life easier?...

All the benefits without the guilt

All the benefits without the guilt

Something I am starting to understand about generating your own energy is that in the same way that you have to watch when there is little sun and no wind (which is pretty rare), you also have to find ways to use power when it is available. Here we cook, heat water...

Last few Green woodworking places left

Last few Green woodworking places left

We have just 2 places left on each of our Introduction to Green Woodworking courses with Steve Ryan. The first course is on 25th April, 10am - 6pm, and is £65 including materials and lunch. The second course is on May 23rd, , 10am - 6pm, and is £65 including materials...

Month of Mud

Month of Mud

Thanks to the amazing generosity of both our crowdfunding backers, and a small army of volunteers, we have made great progress with our classroom space over the winter, and now we are on the home stretch, with the aim of completing it this summer. The majority of the...

Green woodworking is proving popular

Green woodworking is proving popular

Places on the green woodworking courses are going fast - so fast that we are likely to put on a second 'Introduction to Green Woodworking course', to cater for the interest. There are just a couple of places left now on the 'Make a stool from a log course'. It's great...

Green woodworking courses

Green woodworking courses

We are pleased to be able to offer two green woodworking courses, with Steve Ryan, of Green Woodwork Ireland. Steve is an incredibly talented green woodworker who teaches extensively, and is passionate about his craft. Come and join him here in the woods at Lackan...