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.
Permaculture Gathering 2015
This year's All Ireland Permaculture Gathering is coming to Northern Ireland for the first time. 2 days of workshops and talks, and the chance to share ideas with like minded folk. Camping from friday. We'll be meeting at Tubby's Farm in Hillsborough on 7-9 August,...
Time to shout
What an extraordinary week. We quickly forget that some of the things we get up to are perhaps seen as unusual, and that our view of the world is likewise not always terribly mainstream (whatever that is). So it is always interesting when people want to come and take...
A new neighbour
Well we have a new neighbour - 3 fields away is this 250kw turbine, and it has been fascinating to watch the progress as it has grown over the last few days. As you can see, it is a fair size, and certainly makes an impact on the skyline. Interestingly I find the...
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
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
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...