Birch Cottage makes the Guardian Top 15 Off Grid places to stay
Birch Cottage features in the Guardian’s 15 of the best places to stay off grid in the UK – ‘Off grid living with creature comforts’. https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/apr/27/15-best-off-grid-places-to-stay-in-uk-cottages-huts Since then...
The Truck in the Times Top 20 Off Grid places
It’s always nice to be recognised, and this week the off grid horsebox appeared on The TImes Top 20 off grid places to stay in the UK list. Introducing people to the idea of living more simply, whether off grid or on grid has always been our aim, and because we...
Wild Horses with Joe Rocks
Musician Joe Rocks and his partner came and stayed in our off grid horsebox earlier in the year, and recorded this version of ‘Wild Horses’ during their stay, which they’ve very kindly shared with us. It’s always lovely to see that people...
A filming day, and the garden makeover continues
There is definitely an increase in the whole idea of sustainable living, living off grid, permaculture, tiny homes – all the things that are part of the ‘how do we survive the next 20 or 30 years’ mix. On Wednesday it was the turn of Jon, filming for...
More seven year improvements
So having got the house to the point where it behaves itself – we have charged batteries, far more hot water, and considerably less chance of it raining inside the house, as well as not having lit the fire for some time now; we have finally been able to turn our...
The storm before the calm
I keep nearly writing posts, and it seems there is so much to put in that it never gets done, so its time for a good update and then we’ll keep up to date. There is certainly plenty going on, so here goes. It’s getting on for a decade since I began this...
GROW Citizen Soil Observatory
Building Better Soil Through Citizen Science Through Permaculture UK, we are excited to be a partner in the GROW Observatory, a European-wide project engaging thousands of growers as citizen scientists. We will learn together, using simple tools to better manage soil,...
Exploring the Mourne Coastal Route
Recently we welcomed the folks from Outsider.ie – Ireland’s Adventure Magazine to visit, and we’re really pleased to feature as part of this promotional video made in association with Discover Northern Ireland. The Mourne Coastal Route is undoubtedly...
Building and installing a ram pump
A little stream runs through the farm – actually its a drainage channel, cut into the rock to drain this part of the bog, well over a hundred years ago. The fields and woods drain into it, and it heads off through the countryside which is mostly level. As it...
Books – The self sufficient house
None of this energy saving, off grid stuff has appeared out of thin air. Back in 1980, Brenda and Robert Vale wrote ‘The self sufficient house’, which is still an incredibly useful resource and which is full of good practical information on improving the...