Welcome to new visitors

Welcome to new visitors

by | May 31, 2015 | off grid

Welcome – there are many new folk visiting the site this last couple of days so we thought we would say hello, and explain briefly what we are doing here at Lackan Cottage Farm.  In essence, we’re attempting to use the best of new and old technology and...
Sunday earth plastering crew

Sunday earth plastering crew

by | May 31, 2015 | buildings

Today we were pleased to welcome old friends and new – the Freckle magazine crew of Lynn, Hannah and Mick, with Andrew and Liam. Together we earth plastered the last of the walls, and gained some mountains and geese, as well as applying some finish coat plaster...
Earth plastering day one – amazing progress

Earth plastering day one – amazing progress

by | May 30, 2015 | buildings

Saturday was the first of our earth plastering days, and we made amazing progress – the first scratch coat nearly complete on the west wall, and this amazing tree too. Can’t wait to see how our Sunday crew get on, and fingers crossed for good...
Green woodworking at Lackan

Green woodworking at Lackan

by | May 24, 2015 | courses, green woodworking

Introduction to Green Woodworking at Lackan Cottage Farm from Lackan Cottage Farm on Vimeo. This weekend saw our latest ‘Introduction to Green Woodworking’ course with Steve Ryan. Blessed with wonderful weather, our participants made a range of items on...
Getting plastered

Getting plastered

by | May 22, 2015 | buildings, natural building, off grid

After two weeks of hard graft, our latest wwoofers,  Brodie and Molly are on their way, but what a difference they’ve made. We promised them building work, and our first task was fitting out battens and wood-wool board in the little cottage.  Then they moved on...
Three years of memories

Three years of memories

by | May 10, 2015 | off grid

This week we have been here for three years. It might have been a lifetime. Or yesterday, I can’t tell which. Looking around it is sometimes hard to remember all the things that have happened here already. How many people have come and shared their lives with...
New insulation for old walls

New insulation for old walls

by | May 7, 2015 | off grid

When it came to refitting the interior of our little cottage – number 81 – we face a different set of challenges to those we encountered here in 79. The little cottage is primarily concrete block built, and cement rendered, so it isn’t the most...
The wait is over – the electricity pole has gone

The wait is over – the electricity pole has gone

by | May 6, 2015 | off grid

When we first saw this place three years ago, we fell in love with it instantly, but vowed that the 11 metre electricity pole sighted right behind the house would have to move. Moving it turned out to be incredibly expensive, but removing it altogether was (oddly)...
Turning in the woods

Turning in the woods

by | Apr 25, 2015 | green woodworking

Today saw the second of our series of woodworking courses, the introduction to green woodworking, which focused on pole (or bungee) lathe turning, and some work shaping wood on the shave horses. Participants were able to make simple items such as rolling pins by the...
Down in the woods

Down in the woods

by | Apr 17, 2015 | off grid

Last week our woods came alive to the sound of drawknives and froes as our first group of greenwoodworkers came to make stools with Steve Ryan. It has been wonderful creating a space in which people can come to create, in surely one of the most peaceful settings you...