Photo copyright Jorge Bacani Today we visited a tower that is plainly Isengard, but which locals insist on calling Scrabo Tower. It’s visible from everywhere around us here, and the view from the top is stunning. From away over here on the farm, it stands...
Every so often life overtakes us – the needs and wants and must-haves creep in and it is so easy to forget that simple is good, and that the days can pass faster than we realise. A terribly moving remembrance of Thomas, and the family he leaves behind, caused me...
One of the benefits of the whole living off grid, alternative homes, low impact lifestyle ‘thing’ is that it is generally seen as something different, (for good or bad) and interesting, by plenty of onlookers. People are often fascinated to see how we...
Earthship Biotecture Ireland are holding a lecture with Michael Reynolds in Dublin. Going to book my tickets today – Michael is an inspiring guy and has done some amazing work. Anyone who hasn’t seen Garbage Warrior – go and order a copy now. Go...
So nearly ours….Solicitors are doing whatever solicitors do, but not terribly quickly – with any luck it will be ours by the end of the month. (We said that last month). Anyhow, 6 acres and a couple of little cottages will hopefully soon be our home, and...
Last year was certainly an eventful one – living in the truck-house, working at Lammas, trips to Wales, our Wedding, roundhouse building, being off grid, and so many other amazing things that the list could go on forever. This year isn’t going to be any...
For a seemingly simple setup, the wind turbine certainly involves a lot more that I ever thought it would. A lot of folk with ‘big’ turbines certainly view the small, chinese made end of the market as very suspect, but my view has always been that at least...
If only Paul Gilding’s message that unlimited growth is totally unsustainable could be heard by more people, and that rather than putting their heads in the sand, they would act now to change the way we live.He sums up the reasons why I have chosen the lifestyle...
Ram pumps are fantastic things – no external power required, and they can shift water over fairly large heights. Ideal if you want to pump from a stream up a hill. This video demonstrates really well just how they work –
Headed off to England this week to get our latest addition in the form of this ford cargo horsebox, which will be a removal lorry, horse transport and occasional temporary accommodation as we establish ourselves in a new home over the next year.
By way of pre-midwinter preparations, we thought it would be a good idea to do a bit of chimney sweeping, and what a good job we did. After six months the flue was full of soot, and desperately in need of cleaning, especially the bit outside where it gets cold. Tar...
