In 2014 and 2019 we won the Greenest County award for 1) helping
prepare for Climate Changeand 2) Valuing Water. Orchard Barn is off-grid by design (watch video)
We also won the Greenest County Valuing Water and were runners up in their Sustainable Building award in July 2019.
Preparing for climate change starts by learning how
to become self-reliant in water, toilet facilities and energy. Visitors
learn first hand how this works.
Rainwater
is harvested from our roofs. We have installed twelve 1000L IBC tanks,
situated above ground - mostly to the north of the main barn so that
they aren't in direct sunlight. We use this water in our building
courses and projects as well as for
watering the vegetable plots and newly planted trees.
Our
compost toilets are water free. We keep solids and liquids separate.
That way they don't smell. Urine is a great activator
for our compost heaps!
Instead
of fossil fuel or mains electricity, we utilise human energy and get
fitter using a wide range of traditional tools and techniques.
We work with our local
community to provide skills and examples that enable us all to lead
more sustainable lives.
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