Tinker's Bubble
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Tinker’s Bubble is a 42-acre organic smallholding in the heart of Somerset. Over a period of ten years a handful of permanent residents have built low impact environmentally friendly dwellings, and use the amenities which nature provides to sustain their lifestyle. Nestled amongst the trees, a variety of homes emerge like mushrooms from the forest floor. Built from recycled material each dwelling reflects the personalities and aspirations of their architects. Some are little more than hazel twigs lashed together with canvas to protect from the elements, or relics of long disused garden sheds, while others are carefully constructed from bales of straw and daubed with mud in place of plaster, and fully fitted with wood burning stoves.
Tinker’s Bubble takes it’s name from the sound of the stream running through the woodland and the travelers from a bygone age who used to congregate each autumn to work as apple pickers. Each year the tradition is upheld, and the extensive orchards are harvested of their fruit to produce organic apple juice and cider. As well as vegetables grown in the communal and individual allotments, two Jersey cows provide milk for cheese and yoghurt. Management of the surrounding woodland mainly comprising of Douglas Fir and Laurel provides material for building and fuel and the production of timber for trade.
Low Impact living at Tinker’s Bubble is by no means an easy life. Labour is manual due to their non fossil fuel policy, work is carried out by hand, which includes felling trees and hay making. Rain, mud and cold are a common feature and despite the fairy tale location, such living is not for the faint hearted.
Alexander Smith 1829-67, Scottish poet said .........“Nature never quite goes with us. She is somber at weddings, sunny at funerals, and she frowns on ninety out of a hundred picnics.” At the moment we can only hope for this to be true, in the meantime we must trust in the resilience of nature and its ability to adapt. We must give more credit to the eco-warriors and environmental agencies who campaign against global warming on behalf of the otherwise complacent masses.
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