by Steve Byrne | Jul 26, 2015 | off grid
When we built the classroom space, the intention was always that it would be a space for people to come to and discover new things – not only from the person giving the talk or presentation, but from each other. So it was this weekend as we hosted the first...
by Steve Byrne | Jun 29, 2015 | courses
Courses and Events Full details of what's happening here at Lackan [eventBox id=”4″] Terms & Conditions Payment Payment must be made prior to attending a course, if you wish to place a deposit of £20 to secure a place this is acceptable, although...
by Steve Byrne | Dec 24, 2014 | permaculture
To all our friends and supporters – blessings to you this midwinter, however you celebrate it – have a wonderful Yule, a happy Christmas, and a great time. Our heartfelt thanks to all those who helped us in this last year, it means a great deal. We...
by Steve Byrne | Aug 5, 2014 | permaculture
Our intrepid wwoof volunteers Samantha and Irene from Italy have arrived, and are getting to grips with our vegetable beds, which after a spell of very dry and then very wet weather, were growing increasingly full of weeds. Happily they have now tamed the...
by Steve Byrne | Jun 16, 2014 | woodlands
So after a week, the wonderful woven birch fence is complete (at least for now – we have used up all the material), and it looks really fine. It is amazing how much birch was needed to create the fence, but now as we coppice the birch woodland, we’ll cut...
by Steve Byrne | Jun 1, 2014 | permaculture
Today we created a simple raised ‘lazy’ bed, although why they are called that I’ve no idea – making them is strenuous enough. The first step is to mark out and then turn over all the sod on your bed area. At this stage the bed is pretty flat...
by Steve Byrne | May 19, 2014 | permaculture
As a living resource and habitat, it is hard to beat hedgerows. They provide somewhere for wildlife to shelter, birds to nest, a source of food, they attract pollinators, they provide shelter, they look and smell wonderful, they can provide a source of fuel, act as a...
by Steve Byrne | Apr 21, 2014 | permaculture
As Dougie taught us, the word to describe stuff that is handy, and which others are disposing of, is ‘pruck’. Well we’ve had a bumper week for pruck. A friend is moving house and doesn’t have room for all the things she has collected up over...
by Steve Byrne | Mar 7, 2014 | permaculture
The joys of our polytunnels mean that even on horrid days we can be doing something and be toasty and dry. Lyra can come down and play whilst we get on with the serious business of growing this years supply of veg. Four of the outdoor beds are planted with autumn sown...
by Steve Byrne | Jan 16, 2014 | composting toilets
We love composting toilets. Most of the time. As three quarters of domestic water useage goes to flushing the loo, composters are an easy way to drastically reduce water consumption, and in return you get some useful compost. As a society we have become used to our...
by Steve Byrne | Nov 19, 2013 | food
The South Down GIY Gathering The GIY South Down Gathering is your chance to come together with like-minded people for an afternoon festival of home-grown food. The GIY South Down Gathering will bring people together for talks, debates and Q&A sessions – so...
by Steve Byrne | Sep 30, 2013 | permaculture
This weekend saw our first two day permaculture course, led by Hannah Mole, and we had a ball. After a frantic week of preparations by our wwoofers Bettina and Caroline, the place looked amazing, and the energy of having some 20 people on site was really...
by Steve Byrne | Aug 14, 2013 | permaculture
In this, our first year of growing here at Lackan Cottage Farm, we have been blessed with great abundance. Indeed so great has been the harvest of some produce that we are able to share it with others. Elaine and John from the Turnip House came to visit, and we...
by Steve Byrne | Jul 25, 2013 | permaculture
We will be hosting our first Permaculture Workshop, over the weekend of 28th and 29th September, with tutor Hannah Mole. A practical introduction to permaculture, involving aspects of nature awareness, human connection, design, challenges, forest gardens, animals,...
by Steve Byrne | Jul 16, 2013 | permaculture
The runner beans are now so tall that we are picking them with a ladder, although they are dwarfed by the winter squash, which still threatens to take over the entire west end of the polytunnel. Courgettes are featuring heavily on the menu too, and we are discovering...
by Steve Byrne | Jun 23, 2013 | permaculture
Midsummer is already upon us, and to mark the occasion, we have erected our own standing stone, which looks toward the mountains with which it shares its roots. We will mark important occasions through the year with a circle of stones. The granite here weathers...
by Steve Byrne | Jun 1, 2013 | composting toilets
When we moved in to Lackan Cottage Farm a year ago, we inherited a variety of concrete and tin sheds, none of which were (or are) terribly pretty. Eventually we’ll replace or clad them all in timber, and we decided to make a start with the outside toilet. We...
by Steve Byrne | Jun 1, 2013 | animals, permaculture
I’ve been fortunate enough to be around horses for 30 years now, and very early on, decided that horses would be my career. I’m ashamed to say that it is only now that I am getting to grips with pasture management. From a permaculture point of view,...
by Steve Byrne | May 31, 2013 | permaculture
At long last all the beds in the big polytunnel are filled, and I think we officially have the oddest tunnel layout in the land. The centre beds with a circular path and keyhole beds in the corners are designed to maximise the available edge in the tunnel, and...
by Steve Byrne | May 22, 2013 | smallholding
As we enter our second year on the farm, we wanted to take time to thank all the people who have helped us. To Sinead for helping with the truly horrible task of pulling out old thatch, and to our family and those who came and helped us tear up floors and walls. Then...
