Stories from the Farm - Page 2 - Ling’s Meadow Camping

Basketry course – 24th June 2017

3 March 2017 by Ling's Host

We are very excited to announce that local basket maker, Karen Lawrence, will be leading a basketry course at Ling’s Meadow on Saturday 24th June. Come and join us and make a beautiful willow bird feeder. The feeder holds several fat balls and is ideal for hanging in your garden. Learn several different weaves, a … Read more

Build a secret garden – children’s activity

3 March 2017 by Ling's Host

Join us for a kids’ craft activity on the meadow this May half term. This year we are offering two opportunities to join in – one on Sunday 28th May and one on Thursday 1st June. Come and make your own mini secret garden using natural and recycled materials! We will provide a selection of grasses, … Read more

Afternoon tea in the orchard

9 February 2017 by Ling's Host

We are very lucky to have three beautiful old apple trees in a small orchard at the back of the farm. Many happy summer afternoons have been spent lying in hammocks in the dappled shade – and all of the children, as small babies, have been mesmerised by the shadows of the leaves as they lay … Read more

Post and rail fence Ling’s Meadow style

26 January 2017 by Ling's Host

Yesterday I decided that I would no longer walk past the dead willow fedge and sigh in a defeatist manner. Ever since it gave up the ghost a couple of years ago, the fedge has slowly become weaker and weaker as the willow dried out. Neither we, nor Graham who planted it, have ever quite … Read more

Rocket stove rethink

7 November 2016 by Ling's Host

The downside of experimenting with new ideas is that occasionally you have to admit defeat and go back to the drawing board. On the upside, experimenting does help you to work out what is really important. In this case, the right rocket stove and finding a sustainable way to cook outdoors. We have really enjoyed … Read more

The ‘wee hut’ urinal

17 May 2016 by Ling's Host

Every season we receive lots of helpful feedback from our campers, which feeds into our jobs list for the next year. One thing in particular that we have noticed is that it is harder for men than women to use the compost loos. I will let you use your imagination, but it is all to do with … Read more

Dead hedging – a philosophical journey

26 February 2016 by Ling's Host

Sometimes, although it is painful and frustrating, you just have to admit defeat.

2013_LingsMeadow_0090 — willow fedge – June 2013

Back in March 2013, when the campsite was nought but a set-aside agricultural field, we commissioned a willow fedge to run along the edge of the meadow. It was a symbolic moment for us as it marked the first step towards our dream project. Admittedly we were planting right at the end of willow planting season, but at first all seemed to be going well. Little green shoots appeared when they were supposed to and we didn’t even mind when we found huge poplar hawk moth caterpillars munching away happily on the new growth.

But at the end of June the weather turned hot and dry, and despite my nightly efforts to keep the fedge watered, it started to look a bit sad. We still haven’t worked out exactly what went wrong but we ended up with just a few determined bits of willow growing here and there among a lot of brittle sticks. The deer just casually walk through the fedge now with a look of ‘told you so’.

And this is where the lesson starts.

New living van for 2016!

6 January 2016 by Ling's Host

Here at Ling’s Meadow we tend to go all gooey eyed every time we see handcrafted, locally made, beautiful things. So, I was a bit of a mess when I discovered this gorgeous living van made by local carpenter and eco builder Alan Powley. Needless to say it is now the new glamping addition on the meadow for 2016!

It has a stunning carved wooden bed surround and, thanks to local glass artist Clair Rice, you are blown away by the sunlight coming through the stained glass window lights in the mollycroft roof.

Compost Karma

17 November 2015 by Ling's Host

Pan_2014-08-16_10-37-06_11 — loo with urine separator

I know, I am sorry, it has been a while, but on this cold, dreich morning, I am finally sitting down to write a new blog post. I am not sure how, but I appear to have made it through three seasons now without writing about the compost loos.

Of all our experiments the compost loos are the things that have just worked, without fuss or the need for me to tear my hair out. They have their moments, don’t get me wrong, but essentially they are a beautifully simple system with little intervention needed.

Rocket powered hot water

17 June 2015 by Ling's Host

It occurred to me today that I don’t think I have as yet talked about hot water. I am not sure why as it seems to be pretty central to operations at Ling’s Meadow.

We had always planned to experiment with a rocket stove to heat water for the shower and sinks, but in year one time ran away with us and we had to make do with a homemade solar panel system. If we are honest it only ever really took the chill off the cold water unless we had a few days of scorching weather.

It was a pretty simple design, using two radiators painted black under a glass cover to transfer heat to the hot water tank. Water was drawn through the system by thermosyphon (the natural circulation caused by heating the water). We had no way of monitoring the actual temperature of the water apart from the screams of the campers using it.