Solar hot water – new and improved

Solar hot water – new and improved

We’ve had our solar thermal panel up for nearly 2 years now, and while it has been great, we always knew it was slightly too small for the size of hot water tank we have. Some time ago our friend John Clementson was kind enough to let us rehome a couple of older...
Making a start on the rocket mass heater

Making a start on the rocket mass heater

Now that we’ve the outside of the build done, (regular readers will realise that there is something of a gap here, but don’t worry its coming soon), we are turning our attention to the rocket mass heater that is going to keep the space warm. For those who...
Reflections

Reflections

August 2014 will long be remembered as the month of many visitors. Over the course of four weeks we have laughed (mostly) cried (a little), celebrated some amazing cookery and culture, and seen the power that comes from a group of diverse people when they put...
Getting to grips with the garden

Getting to grips with the garden

  Our intrepid wwoof volunteers Samantha and Irene from Italy have arrived, and are getting to grips with our vegetable beds, which after a spell of very dry and then very wet weather, were growing increasingly full of weeds. Happily they have now tamed the...
We’re in Permaculture Magazine!

We’re in Permaculture Magazine!

Many thanks to Maddy Harland of Permaculture Magazine for running an article about Lackan Cottage Farm – we’ve already met several new people because of it, which is always a Good Thing. For those of you who aren’t subscribers, get along...
And we’re back

And we’re back

After a frenetic June, and the success of our crowdfunding campaign, we took a couple of weeks to travel and visit family and friends, and begin to plan the next couple of months in earnest. The thrill of meeting our funding target came with the knowledge that we...

Materials wanted list

We have an ongoing wishlist of materials that will be needed here on site, so if anyone has any of the following they would like to part with, then please let us know. Rapid collection assured….Email lackancottage [at] riseup.net if you can help. Timber –...
You did it!

You did it!

Well done folks, you did it – we got to our fundraising target of £3000, which is a huge relief, and allowed me the first decent nights sleep in nearly 4 weeks. We still have 3 days to go, so anything we raise over the target will go towards tools or kit that we...
Celebrating our solstice

Celebrating our solstice

As the sun set on the longest day of the year, we celebrated the midsummer solstice with good company and a fire (or two). The weather has been amazing this last few weeks, and it held out for us in fine style. Here the sun sets over Crabtree Hill, and as it did we...
A flavour of what is to come

A flavour of what is to come

The prospect of a place on our one day courses has proved very popular amongst our crowdfunding supporters, so we thought we’d give a flavour of the sorts of things that we will be doing on those courses. The idea is to give people a choice, and we’ve...
What’s it going to look like?

What’s it going to look like?

Something we’ve been asked is ‘what exactly will this eco classroom look like? The answer, is  – something along these lines, although to a certain extent it will be determined by the materials that become available. The interior above is a similar...
Would you like a unique carved spoon or bowl?

Would you like a unique carved spoon or bowl?

Steve makes these spoons and bowls here on the farm – spoons are carved from birch, and bowls from a variety of local woods, on a foot powered pole lathe. The result, unique pieces that all have a character of their own. If you would like to own one, and support...