by Steve Byrne | Mar 3, 2018 | off grid
We’ve been weathering the ‘beast from the east’, and so far everyone is bearing up well. The horses have been tucked up in their stables with hay most of the time, only venturing out to have a roll in the snow before retreating again. Our hens are similarly unimpressed, although they have decided to keep on laying eggs despite the conditions. We were warned about this weather for a good week before it happened, so there was plenty of time to prepare, and on the whole we got everything ready in time. Here are our top off grid bad weather preparation tips:
by Steve Byrne | Mar 2, 2018 | self-catering
A lovely programme from RTE about Newcastle Co Down, and the surrounding area, highlighting just how beautiful our area is. Walking on Newcastle beach, walking in the Mournes, or sampling some of the great range of restaurants, pubs and cafes, Newcastle has become a...
by Steve Byrne | Mar 2, 2018 | crafts
The best of craft in the Mournes We are fortunate to have incredibly talented and creative craftspeople living and working in County Down, and in particular around here in the Mournes. Combine craft with some great food, and you have some of our favourite places to...
by Steve Byrne | Feb 19, 2018 | media
Way back in April 2017 we were approached by a TV production company – Boundless – who make the BBC programme ‘Escape to the Country’. The premise of the programme being that people who want to well, escape to the country, are shown several...
by Steve Byrne | Feb 14, 2018 | self-catering
Last year we discovered that our truck is as much loved by visitors as it was by us when we lived in it. A stay in the off grid horse truck is an opportunity to escape from connectivity completely. The truck has been fitted out with recycled materials, an is truly unique. No wifi, no mains power, the truck is run entirely from solar and batteries, and has a cosy box bed, living room with a woodburning stove, as well as a shower room, and a galley kitchen with a dining area.
by Steve Byrne | Feb 13, 2018 | crafts
This winter can best be described as incredibly wet. Our land is saturated, and other than a bit of sacrificial field for the horses, we’re keeping off it as much as possible and concentrating on jobs such as harvesting our willow crop for the first time....
by Steve Byrne | Feb 9, 2018 | courses2018, off grid, self sufficiency
A day of winemaking with Leo Cullen, who can conjure wine from just about anything. We’ll be walking and picking some ingredients in the morning, talking about what we can use to make wine, and how to go about preparing our ingredients and equipment, and then sampling some of Leo’s brews over a lunch of home made soup.
by Steve Byrne | Feb 9, 2018 | buildings, natural building
One of the hardest things about producing your own food isn’t growing it, it is storing it afterwards. It really wants to break down as fast as possible, and all manner of creatures want to eat it first. Until now we’ve stored food all over the place – hanging up in the living room; in cupboards. In short, not ideal. Another issue that we had was that our 4000 litre rainwater tanks and pump were not terribly pretty and very exposed to cold temperatures. The pump especially has been badly damaged by freezing twice now. The problem, as they say in permaculture, is the solution, and in this case takes the form of a strawbale barn, which incorporates the water tanks as its back wall.
by Steve Byrne | Feb 9, 2018 | self sufficiency
Our first basket willow crop Our first basket willow crop is now ready and we’ve begun to harvest it. We weren’t terribly good about keeping the planted willow cuttings weed free, so its a little patchy, but about 90% of the planting has established. Funny...
by Steve Byrne | Jan 16, 2018 | food
We grow a lot of squash here, it seems to like our polytunnel. Our favourite so far is Burgess Buttercup, which grow squashes to a decent but manageable size and can be quite prolific. They also store beautifully, so we don’t tend to eat them until the dark days of January and February, when sometimes you just need a decent, cheering soup on a wild oul day.
by Steve Byrne | Jan 13, 2018 | courses2018, crafts
Before plastic containers and even cardboard boxes became common, the woven basket was used as a container for literally everything. Able to be made into all sizes and shapes, limited only by the imagination of the basket weaver, the basket was part of everyday life....
by Steve Byrne | Jan 13, 2018 | courses2018
Our willow basket making courses with tutor Sabine were so popular last year that this time around we’re adding some new days where you can learn to make your own willow garden structures in time for the growing season ahead. Beautiful and practical, you’ll make your own and the course is suitable for those who have never tried basketry before.
