As long as the Earth can make a spring every year, I can. As long as the Earth can flower and produce nurturing fruit, I can, because I’m the Earth. I won’t give up until the Earth gives up.
Alice Walker

I’m writing this between lighting the stove, going in and out to the barn chopping wood and getting my breakfast together.

Much of the wood I save and stack in the barn is collected from the ground beneath trees after a storm…it’s amazing how much timber for the stove can be foraged in this way. 

I’m so delighted with this lovely gift from friends…

Thank you my friends Nick and Danielle for this funky new birdbox, created by Nick from driftwood!

Steps have been taken to avoid the one big bill, from the one mains service, coming into the cottage…electricity!

This is a Pay-As-You-Go-Meter, that also monitors usage and allows one more control over the utility.

I have managed to keep this week’s usage to just under ten euros!

I would recommend this as a way of taking more responsibility for one’s little bit of Earth.

It was free to install!

I’m weather-proofing all the wood around the cottage…with a selection of colours, some donated, some bought and mixed with leftovers, so Bealtaine Cottage will take on a different, more interesting hue!

Lavender is the colour of the day…with blue here and there.

One of the great things about cottage life is the simplicity of design…if it’s made from natural materials, then it doesn’t look out of place.  

I love colour!

It seems a natural decorating choice for cottage living…one lovely eclectic mix of whatever it is one scavenges!

Blossom is out on the Ornamental Plum…

The sickly little Peach tree in the tunnel shows blossom for the first time ever…it has taken me four years to nurse this little gem back to life.

It was rescued from the rubbish skip at Lidl, where it had been dumped after being snapped in half.

This is a new bed I wanted to share with you…it’s another one of my experiments here at bealtaine Cottage.

The tyres are protecting the bed from the East and North , allowing the solar energy to be kept in the bed.

As the land is on a north-facing slope, any rain runs off the tyres downhill towards the north, thus leaving the bed clear from any run-off.

The tyres are well-weathered and already covered with mould.

This was a compost heap from last year.

I shall keep you updated as the growing season progresses.

And finally, a reminder of the thin soil that made up this land ten years ago…this is how close the bedrock is to the surface in many places all over the land here.

Tree-planting here has ensured a future unrealized before now…everything is possible! I cannot stress enough the importance of a Nursery Bed like the one seen here…grow, grow, grow! Then plant, plant plant!

“Husband the earth.

Protect
her from greed and violence.

Build
humbly, plant trees, grow flowers and clothe her
with dignity.

Respect all her creatures.

Honour her
natural laws and the universe which cradles her.
Above all, heartily worship the Source of All that is.

This world needs secret heroes!

Be brave, speak the truth,
heal the sick, make peace.

Be strong, serve patiently, love
generously, live simply.

Enjoy fellowship, eat and drink modestly,
celebrate the festivals.

Breathe deeply, sing and make music,
walk often, cycle and recycle.

Be thrifty, prefer cashflow to
possession, give good measure.

Let your work be your prayer.

Put on the whole armour of light!

Unearth the beauty in
everything.

Inhale the Spirit of Goodness.

Kindle kindness,
especially toward yourself, embracing the sweet
silence of your own soul.

Fear nothing.

Accept
what you are and — while you have
breath — give thanks.”
~John Rogers