Refugee crisis – how you can help
Sometimes it is astonishing how a single moment defines a tipping point in our lives. This week it has surely been the heartbreaking image of the body of a three year old boy washed up on a beach as his family flee Syria. That it took such a thing to happen is...
I’m no expert, but….
So twice this week I’ve had conversations with people who said something along the lines of “Well I’m no expert but really solar isn’t much good here in Northern Ireland because unless its really sunny they don’t work and its never really...
Amazing reedmace
In researching what type of reeds were best suited for our new reedbeds, I discovered that the humble reedmace – or Bulrush as many people know it, is a quite remarkable plant. It is hardy, frost resistant, likes wet ground, and can remove high levels of toxins...Horizontal flow reedbeds
Horizontal flow reedbed All the water from baths, showers and sinks comes through our reed bed, which filters and cleans the water, before it passes to our pond. This means it is important to avoid putting any chemicals down the sink, and why we provide ecologically...
Small change
The last week I have despaired somewhat as I watch the government dismantle the renewables industry in the name of shaving a quid off people’s energy bills, whilst simultaneously propping up the oil and gas industry to the tune of £1 billion and shamelessly...
Chicken day
Today was ‘chicken day’ – 15 weeks or so ago, these 10 birds arrived as day old chicks, supplied by our friends Brian and Becky, as something of an experiment in rearing our own meat. They have led a happy outdoor existence, foraging, enjoying...
Permaculture weekend workshop 27-28 August 2016
Coming soon – our 3rd ‘Introduction to Permaculture’ weekend workshop, the weekend of the 27th – 28th August 2016. In the 3 years since our first Permaculture course at Lackan the farm has developed to include a natural build classroom...
One for the techies
The last couple of weeks have seen our renewable energy setup almost completed, as the wind turbine was commissioned, although we quickly realised that we would need some additional capacity to deal with all the power coming in. Our Victron Multiplus 24/3000/50...
Autumn mists
Today saw the first autumn mist, and the farm took on a magical quality that you only get at this time of year. Such an incredibly abundant time, as fruits begin to ripen, and we are able to harvest from the garden and tunnels every day. Having a freezer for...
Permaculture Gathering 2015
The weekend of August 7-9 saw the first visit of the All Ireland Permaculture Gathering to Northern Ireland – at Tubby’s Farm in Hillsborough, home of Sunflowerfest. Preparations have been going on for months leading up to the Gathering, mainly organising...