by Steve Byrne | Jun 21, 2011 | smallholding
Today Joan, Tina, Ruth and I went along to the As Sustainably As Possible ‘Picnic on the Hill’ event on the front lawns of Parliament Buildings. The idea of the event, organised by Shirley Lewis, aka ‘Baglady’. I’m not entirely sure who...
by Steve Byrne | Jun 17, 2011 | smallholding
At last! The solar panels have arrived. Admittedly on the darkest wettest day of the year, but we managed to get them fitted onto their frame (part of a scaffold tower, courtesy of Tina and Joan), and during a lull in the rain, hoisted the whole lot up onto the truck...
by Steve Byrne | Jun 15, 2011 | smallholding
With the help of some great beech logs, we now have some steps up onto the lorry ramp, which is sitting on its newly installed legs. The result – a lovely patio area that catches the sun all afternoon and evening. Just hoping that the sun stays out for a couple...
by Steve Byrne | Jun 9, 2011 | smallholding
Although Solar PV would seem to many to be the ideal ‘free’ source of energy, one of the main arguments against it has been that the manufacture of the panels comes at significant environmental cost, in terms of extracting and processing the minerals and...
by Steve Byrne | Jun 9, 2011 | smallholding
Finally, some blue sky! Even if it doesn’t last it is very welcome. As the moment when we get our solar panels hooked up comes closer, we’re taking an ever greater interest in just how much sunlight we’re actually seeing. It’ll be a few weeks...
by Steve Byrne | Jun 6, 2011 | smallholding
by Steve Byrne | Jun 4, 2011 | smallholding
Had a good trek round the farm this evening after dinner, finishing up in the woods. The light as the sun sets is always amazing, and I was there just in time to get some great pictures. It is certainly a relief to be living back in the country, without neighbours,...
by Steve Byrne | Jun 1, 2011 | smallholding
One of the hardest things to get used to is that the truck has a very finite supply of electricity, currently one fairly knackered old battery. I’m so used to being able to simply switch on whatever I like, and the power will flow. Despite having pretty much...
by Steve Byrne | May 28, 2011 | smallholding
Well, at last here I am – if not entirely off-grid then pretty substantially off grid. Today has been a mixture of the good bits – looking after the animals, gathering eggs, salad leaves, coriander, and some strawberries for dinner, sitting in the warm, in...
by Steve Byrne | May 25, 2011 | smallholding
This is Sherafey, who was unwanted after finishing her flat racing career at the tender age of 4. Like many racehorses who fail to live up to expectations, her owners couldn’t justify continuing to spend money on her and so were happy to give her away to a good...
by Steve Byrne | May 25, 2011 | smallholding
The fan attached to its ply mounting The truck has a woodburner in the living room, but I was worried that while it might be tropical down there, the other end of the wagon might be baltic. The solution is what has become known as the WaftOMatic, which does what it...
by Steve Byrne | May 25, 2011 | smallholding
First day in the truck, and I’ve been very aware of all the new noises. It’s rather like being in an old house as things move around in the wind. The occasional chugging of the water pump; the ticking noises as the water heater fires up; odd groans as the...
by Steve Byrne | May 21, 2011 | smallholding
Well, the truck is nearly ready now – just a few bits of plumbing and everything inside will be done. Any furniture that was coming from the house is now in, and the place is starting to fill with belongings, making it feel like a proper home. We’re...
by Steve Byrne | May 19, 2011 | smallholding
by Steve Byrne | May 18, 2011 | smallholding
by Steve Byrne | May 18, 2011 | smallholding
The horses are petrified of them, so I tend to swear about them a fair bit, but the three little pigs that have arrived here on the farm are pretty irresistible. Tiny at the moment, it is hard to believe just how large they will get. Pure bred Saddlebacks all,...
by Steve Byrne | May 8, 2011 | smallholding
As we’ve been farm sitting for the last couple of weeks, it has been a great opportunity to see just what is involved in running a full time smallholding. Something that quickly becomes apparent is just how time consuming all this animal and vegetable nurturing...
by Steve Byrne | May 4, 2011 | smallholding
The decision to be off the electricity grid is probably what people first think of when you mention off grid, and in this case, it’s not merely an ethical decision, but a necessity borne out of living in a truck, parked in a yard where there is no mains...
by Steve Byrne | May 3, 2011 | smallholding
Food is one area where current circumstances mean that I’m not going to be self reliant, but will grow as much as possible, and enjoy produce such as free range eggs from the hens on the farm. It is certainly a fantastic learning process – we have growing...
by Steve Byrne | May 2, 2011 | smallholding
