Summer updates from Lackan
July already, how did that happen.Needless to say we’ve done a fair bit since my last post back in December, so I’m not even going to try and cover it all, as its mostly in a recent video where I did a quick walk round. As you can see, we’ve made...
Bornay wind turbine upgrade
So after years of gradually building up our renewable system, we’ve definitely got to the point where its perfectly capable of supplying us with enough power, but the thing about building a system as you go along is that its a learning process, and sometimes you...
Making the most of the light
We’re into the part of the year that is hardest for those living off grid, when the days are getting increasingly short, the sun doesn’t appear that often, and when he does, he’s pretty low in the sky. Having been terribly casual about the whole...
Being prepared
The typical image of ‘preppers’ is of heavily armed Americans living in compounds in the mountains, with stockpiles of food and ammunition, or their close relatives the ‘survivalists’ who are kitted out ready to live in shelters in the woods,...
There’s so much to do!
As we approach Samhain – Halloween, and the midpoint of the latest lockdown or ‘extended half term’ as it’s sold to us, we’ve managed to get busy in the garden. Our apple crop this year was woeful, partly due to some odd frosts at bad...
Wind turbine upgrade
Right at the start of the year, Gerry from Kerry was kind enough to give us a working Bornay turbine like the (then broken) one we have, as well as a 15 metre mast to put it on. Our mast is 9 metres which seems pretty tall when you’re near it, but in the world...
Let there be light
For the last eight years we’ve been fervently letting everything grow, more or less unrestricted. So for the first time this summer it became really apparent that it was time to rein things in a bit, as the vegetable garden was becoming darker and darker, and...
Where has the truck gone?
We’ve had lots of emails to ask why the truck isn’t available to stay in at the moment. The simple answer is that during lockdown, we spent a lot of time redecorating and sprucing up Birch Cottage, and then realised that the truck needed even more work...
A tour around Lackan Cottage Farm
As it looks as though we won’t be doing any actual tours around or opening for visits in 2020, I made this somewhat inpromptu video tour where I had a good walk round and covered most aspects of Lackan Cottage Farm on the way. Usually I’d be answering...
Our new venture – Off Grid Kit
Over the years hundreds of people have come to us for advice about off grid energy, and over the last two years Steve has increasingly been supplying equipment to people all over Ireland on an occasional basis. With increasing interest in energy security in uncertain...
Enjoy a safe and relaxing stay in a rural setting
Here at Lackan Cottage Farm, our guests health and wellbeing has always been incredibly important to us, which is why we used materials and finishes free from harmful chemicals when we renovated Birch Cottage. From food safe paints to natural local timber inside, to the fresh smell of the birch wood next to the cottage, this has always been a place to come to retreat, relax and rejuvenate.