Saturday, June 07, 2014

Lackan Cottage Farm

Not far from here there is an amazing place.

Steve and Claire at Lackan Cottage Farm near Ballyroney are on a wonderful journey, rejuvenating an abandoned smallholding in the heart of the Mournes Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, creating a permaculture smallholding, low impact home and Eco teaching centre. 

We went down with Eleanor this morning. It is a delight and inspiration! 

You can get involved and help too, by supporting with the build of the eco classroom - for you help you will be well rewarded!

find out here:

Hear are some pictures from today:

beautifully green

Steve

inside the tipi

the tipi 

polytunnels, abundant growing spaces

onions

inside the large polytunnel




fruit in the polytunnell already

straight from the plant!

great recycled milk cartons!

outside - Artichoke

abundant veg garden

artichoke onions and garlic

a glimpse of Lackan Cottage

The Tipi

The Fire Pit

ever present - the Mournes

wild flowers on the compost toilet

International 'free / vacant' symbol!

eco built

heritage domestic architecure - wonderful





Tuesday, June 03, 2014

Last Days of May

We've had a busy time of it, with our lovely Eleanor brightening up the days, and a visit from James and Lauren to plan their wedding here next year, exciting times, and firemen too!

A visit form the Mourne Mini Club

Little beauties!

"I'll just take this one"

red sunset and rainbow - a rare sight here


Interesting Skies

buttercups and hawthorn in full bloom

Charlie

sheep - our new neighbours

the garden by the workshop


Add caption

assistants enjoying the new wetroom 'adjustments'

opening things out

on the way to Inch Abbey for lunch

lunch amongst the stones

look what I found in the car park!

We had the NI Fire Service visit for Tea and Cake - here's the team!

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

The Greenhouse reborn - along with the rest of the garden

Last year we were given the really special gift of a greenhouse by our good friends Gary and Mary.

After a fair amount of digging cementing and rebuilding it was ready to serve as a perfect hot growing space for the whole of last summer and Autumn

But, come the gales around Christmas, disaster struck, some of the glass panes shattered, the wind got in and simply shredded it!

We thought at one stage we'd have to abandon it to inevitable decline, but thankfully, shoring up, and many 'temporary' repairs left it the the structure was sound enough to rebuild - although only a single piece of glass was left in one piece!

It had always been the intention to replace glass with plastic as wear and tear took it's toll,. We didn't expect to do the whole lot in the first year. That's what living a mile from the Windy Gap does for you!


one greenhouse kit

foundations - this is probably what kept it from flying away!

Construction

complete

very pleased!


December 2013 - disaster
May 2014 - restored!

All the new glazing is 4mm twin wall ultraviolet resistant polycarbonate -hopefully this will survive

we've also added extra mass, and supports against the winds - which double as a new bed/coldframe

no more shards of glass, just growing plants

so good to see
Some pictures of our blossoming garden this evening, now that May is in full spate:

Lady's Smock, from one plant 3 years ago, now we have a hundred!

lost in the garden

we're still mindful of nettles for the insects

view along the boundary to the new 'far seat'

apple blossom

this apple tree is perhaps not big enough to hug yet ....

... but a kiss is even better!!