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.
Roundhouse volunteers
Many thanks to Steven, Belinda, Denise, Alexey, Jim and James for helping out today. It is great to see the inside ready for plastering - it looks fantastic, and to have got the cladding under way. Several people have asked what the roundhouse is for.. Well, sadly we...
A visit to Isengard
Photo copyright Jorge Bacani Today we visited a tower that is plainly Isengard, but which locals insist on calling Scrabo Tower. It's visible from everywhere around us here, and the view from the top is stunning. From away over here on the farm, it stands silhouetted...
Greenwashing
Great video, so do feel free to share as freely as possible.
Watch with glittering eyes
Every so often life overtakes us - the needs and wants and must-haves creep in and it is so easy to forget that simple is good, and that the days can pass faster than we realise. A terribly moving remembrance of Thomas, and the family he leaves behind, caused me to...
Am I missing a trick?
One of the benefits of the whole living off grid, alternative homes, low impact lifestyle 'thing' is that it is generally seen as something different, (for good or bad) and interesting, by plenty of onlookers. People are often fascinated to see how we 'survive'...
Michael Reynolds Lecture in Dublin
Earthship Biotecture Ireland are holding a lecture with Michael Reynolds in Dublin. Going to book my tickets today - Michael is an inspiring guy and has done some amazing work. Anyone who hasn't seen Garbage Warrior - go and order a copy now. Go on.Michael Reynolds...