Archive | August, 2011

Permaculture Cottage ~ Darning Socks , Sustainable Living.

29 Aug

Bealtaine Cottage homespun woolWool, my favourite textile for keeping warm!

I wear woolly socks on my feet and often need to darn them as they wear thin when I use them instead of slippers!

This little wooden mushroom has a detachable head. It is used in darning holes and threadbare patches, fitting up inside the sock…

 

All that is needed is some wool and a darning needle…which is a big needle with a big eye to take the wool through.

Oh, and if you’re wondering about all the little holes on the mushroom…Jack had a little taste and chew!

 

Woolen gloves, hand knitted at Bealtaine CottageSome interesting facts about wool…Wool ignites at a higher temperature than cotton and some synthetic fibres.

It has lower rate of flame spread, low heat release, low heat of combustion, and does not melt or drip; it forms a char which is insulating and self-extinguishing, and contributes less to toxic gases and smoke than other flooring products, when used in carpets.

This is one of the reasons why I used wool to insulate my loft!

It is also incredibly warm!

Pure Irish Wool Bootees from Bealtaine CottageWool is resistant to static electricity, as the moisture retained within the fabric conducts electricity.  This is why wool garments are much less likely to spark or cling to the body.

The use of wool car seat covers or carpets reduces the risk of a shock when a person touches a grounded object.

Missy Approved Baby Pixie Bootees handknitted at Bealtaine CottageWool is considered by the medical profession to be hypo-allergenic.

Premature babies are laid upon wool in incubators…it is comforting and natural.

Slouch Hat, handknitted at Bealtaine CottageI spin wool from fleece collected locally…spinning is a wonderfully therapeutic and relaxing craft to do.

Hand knitted shawl at Bealtaine Cottage Wool is a sustainable and natural product to help us live lightly upon the Earth.

Permaculture Cottage ~ Lazy Sunday Afternoon…Upcycling!

28 Aug

Today is Sunday…afternoon…Pics from here, today, at Bealtaine Permaculture Cottage…

Sun rising over Bealtaine today.

Sunrise from the porch. Built in a sustainable way from wood, locally sourced…when most people are building in concrete blocks, but as I often ask, ‘how long do you intend living on Gaia?’ This wooden porch will see me out!

Windows are recylced, as is most of the wood!

Upcycled taps…from the bath to the sink…water is water is water is water!

And an upcycled sink and an upcycled surround and the same for the material for the curtain…and the dish drainer?…that’s a cake cooling rack!

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