Lackan Cottage Farm does hi-tech too!

Lackan Cottage Farm does hi-tech too!

Here at Lackan Cottage Farm we like to experiment with technology, some of it very simple, such as our composting toilets and strawbale insulation, and some of it high-tech such as our solar pv arrays. We started off with just a couple of panels, and this has grown to...
Their power comes from our obedience

Their power comes from our obedience

  I had a conversation with a younger colleague today that serves as an example of why it is so important to question authority. We were talking about how there are times when I think it would be good to video or record ‘officials’ when they come to...
The rock

The rock

  Looking out at the wonderful sunny, still day, it is easy to forget what the weather can bring. Last night for instance, as I lay in bed, the wind got up, and I realised I could hear flapping plastic. Above me. Which is where flapping plastic ought not to be....
A frosty morning

A frosty morning

  The year is coming to an end with mercifully dry and cold weather, the horses are sporting their thick winter coats, and we are enjoying some amazing views across to the mountains. Last night we were officially the coldest spot in the UK, with the thermometer...
Blessings to you all this midwinter

Blessings to you all this midwinter

  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...
Volunteer highlights – Food glorious food

Volunteer highlights – Food glorious food

  One of the best things about being volunteer hosts is that every visitor brings with them a new approach to food, and this year we had some amazing meals. It didn’t take a lot of deliberation to come up with a highlight of the year, which came with...
Say goodbye to ‘when’

Say goodbye to ‘when’

‘When’ is one of those words that fills me with dismay, because it implies a condition. We can do this when such and such; you can have this when so and so. Primarily it dismays me because its inclusion means ‘not now’. It means ‘some...
Wonderful woodlands

Wonderful woodlands

One of the main reasons we chose to live here at Lackan was that it came with several acres of birch woodland, growing on what was cut over bog. There is something magical about the woods, the birch gives them an especially norther european feeling, and they evoke the...
Website improvements

Website improvements

  [wpgmza id=”1″] Over the last week you may have noticed that we’ve been making some improvements to the website – we’re in the process of updating content, making use of the great photographs that we’ve got with our new...
The big switch on

The big switch on

  No, not Christmas lights – at least not yet. Today we were able to switch on George – our 2kw solar pv array, and although the weather is far from ideal – heavy skies and no real sign of any sun, he is generating some useful amps. He joins...
A year of fantastic volunteers

A year of fantastic volunteers

It is that time when we look back at the year gone, and remember all the amazing people who have passed through the farm, and marvel at the things they did along the way. Volunteers came from all over the world – Spain, Italy, North America, Australia, England...
Polytunnels on the cheap (and not so cheap)

Polytunnels on the cheap (and not so cheap)

I answered a forum post the other day that asked about how to get a polytunnel on a budget. I won’t go over how useful polytunnels are here – it’s been covered a million times elsewhere. Needless to say that if you are growing your own veg, they are...