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.
Community Hub Building at Lammas
Doesn't it look fabulous? So pleased to see the Community Hub building finally nearing completion, and can't wait to see it again in a fortnight. Spending time on the build, and having a part in its construction is something I'm really proud to have done, and I've got...
Answering the critics
A common accusation that I've seen made to those who live off grid seems to be 'you're off grid and living self sufficiently, but you'll be quick enough to use the NHS when you get sick, and you're using a laptop that couldn't be made if it wasn't for big business and...
Turning the tap on
Lets face it, installing 1000 litre rainwater storage tank was always going to guarantee us some sunshine, and so it was that we had a week of glorious weather.All good things come to an end of course, and so it was that today we got some serious rain, and a nice,...
Off grid couple face eviction
A COUPLE living an “off-grid” lifestyle say they face prison unless they move from their own land in Willand and return to an existence in the benefits trap. Stig and Dinah Mason bought Muxbeare Orchard after a sudden windfall allowed them to quit their impoverished...
Angry of Bangor
Its a beautiful morning, but I have to have a quick rant and get it over with. Listening to Evan Davies and Sarah Montague on the Today radio programme this morning, they mentioned that the last Blue Peter programme is broadcasting from London for the last time. Not...
Abundance
Just 12 weeks on, and our little veg plot is coming on really well. We're getting a feel for what will grow where, and enjoying the fruits (literally, we have strawberries) of our labour. A second succession of onions, beans, peas, salads, and all manner of flowers...