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.
Coppicing and horse permaculture
Since autumn appears to have arrived (and because it'll take me weeks), I've made a start on coppicing over in the woods. Although it is mainly birch, I've started with an area that has some ash in it, to give the ash a fighting chance, and because it coppices far...
What works?
Having just stumbled outside at 4am in the cold and sheeting rain to rummage around in the log pile, so that I can get the range re-lit and make a cup of tea, I can reflect not only on the joys of early parenthood, but on how handy modern conveniences such as electric...
Charlie’s House
I worked with Charlie briefly on the community hub building at Lammas, and not only is he a top bloke, but a fantastic example of how someone with relatively little experience can create the most amazing building. It really is the nicest reciprocal frame roundhouse...
With the blessing of horses
Horses always seem to be fascinated by small people, and Sherafey is no exception. I presented Lyra to her, and she very carefully blew warm breaths over her, and had a good old sniff, whiffling around her very gently. I can't imagine anything better to see a baby on...
Say hello to Lyra
Well, what a night (and a day). This time yesterday bump was just that, a bump; and we'd got quite happily used to him or her being around. Anyhow, in the middle of the night she decided it might be time to get outa there, and so this morning, here she is, suddenly a...
What comes down, must go up
Ever since the horses arrived here, and through all the terrible weather, the lack of stables has really bothered me, and Sherafey, who dashed into hers as soon as it was finished. It also means poor Mel here can eat his dinner in peace without being monstered by the...