Category Archives: Permaculture

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Start a Fire in our Fire Pit

In our previous post, we discussed the Fire Triangle—Heat, Oxygen, and Fuel. To make fire in practice, you need tinder, kindling, and firewood. Tinder is dry, small materials (wood shavings, grass, or paper) that catch fire easily. Kindling consists of small twigs or sticks that help the fire grow once the tinder ignites. Firewood (larger branches) keeps the fire burning. Remember, splitting wood can be satisfying, but smaller wood burns faster. Choose the right wood size depending on your fire’s purpose, and ensure a good supply of tinder and kindling to keep the flames alive.

Easy Roasted Pumpkin Soup: Warm & creamy comfort food

This roasted pumpkin soup recipe is a comforting, flavourful dish perfect for lunch or dinner. Begin by roasting a Crown Prince pumpkin with onions, carrots, and garlic, seasoned with nutmeg, oregano, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Once tender, combine the vegetables with vegetable stock and simmer to meld the flavors. Blend the mixture until smooth, then serve with a swirl of cream or coconut cream. Garnish with pan-fried pumpkin seeds and fresh parsley for an extra touch of flavour. This warm, creamy soup pairs wonderfully with crusty bread or sandwiches, making it an ideal meal for any season.

The Fire Triangle

Cooking on open fires Meadow Orchard site is off-grid, which means we don’t have mains gas or electricity. To cook at Meadow Orchard we use bottled gas (Butane or Butane / Propane mixed gas), Paraffin, Meths or Firewood. We have a number of different types of stoves and methods of cooking, Kelly Kettles, Rocket Stoves,Continue reading “The Fire Triangle”

Homes for Solitary Bees

Solitary Bees and How to Create Habitat for Them

Did you know there are around 250 species of solitary bees in the UK? Unlike honeybees, solitary bees do not produce honey but play a crucial role in pollination. These fascinating bees build nests in hollow plant stems or small cracks in trees, laying eggs and providing food for their larvae. You can support solitary bee populations by creating ideal habitats, such as bundles of hollow reeds, bamboo, or drilled logs, placed in sheltered, sunny spots. By setting up these bee hotels or bug houses, you’ll encourage solitary bees to nest, enhancing your garden’s biodiversity. Learn more about how to build a bee-friendly environment and attract these essential pollinators!

Off-Grid Kitchen: Solutions for Outdoor Cooking

Learn how we built our practical off-grid kitchen. A simple two-burner gas hob and using reclaimed materials like a stainless steel sink and polycarbonate roofing, we’re keeping things functional and sustainable. Our volunteers have been busy finding ways to reuse materials, salvaging wood for the construction and creating a habitat wall for bees. With no mains water, we use collected rainwater and eco-friendly products to minimize waste. This kitchen shows how small changes can make a big impact on living more sustainably.

Herbs and Flowers for our Kitchen Garden

Help us create a vibrant and flavourful kitchen garden with our collection of herbs and flowers, including borage, chamomile, chives, fennel, lavender, and spearmint. Sowing seeds at the right time ensures a bountiful harvest, so start your garden indoors with a mini propagator or sow directly outdoors once the frost has passed. Discover the perfect sowing instructions for each herb and flower in our collection, from fresh chamomile tea to spearmint for relaxing brews. Explore the growing season and bring fresh, homegrown flavours to your meals.

Off Grid Lighting for our Roundhouse

We’re currently installing low-voltage lighting in our Roundhouse Classroom. The setup includes a small solar panel to charge a leisure battery, which powers 12-volt spotlights. The addition of lighting will benefit our site users and enable the Roundhouse to be used during the winter when daylight hours are short. The Roundhouse has few windows andContinue reading “Off Grid Lighting for our Roundhouse”

Elemental Home Education Feb ‘25

Every Monday, Meadow Orchard hosts Elemental, a home education hub for children aged 5 to 8. This day-long program immerses children in nature, helping them connect with the world around them. Activities like bulb planting, weeding, and harvesting encourage mindful engagement. Elemental’s holistic approach nurtures empathy, compassion, and responsibility while fostering a deeper understanding of the natural world. Children develop mindfulness and an interconnected perspective, discovering their innate qualities in the process. To join or learn more, visit Elemental’s website or contact via WhatsApp