First Weekend of Glampers on the Farm!
19/04/11 12:58
First weekend of glamping campers at Beenleigh Meadows Farm, or more precisely, Haven Meadows Yurt Camp at Beenleigh Meadows Farm (what a mouthful).... WOW! It felt like the build up to a show, and let me tell ya we premièred very very well if I may say so myself. Only a couple of hiccoughs..... one being we forgot to put teaspoons in the Hobbit yurt (big punishment awaits Monica) and, more crucially, we mistimed the firing up of the hot tub - so a 6 o'clock start became a 9 o'clock start – fine for those who booked the later session but not so for the first hot-tubbers.....
...who had to make do and mend!
Not really, look what they really got.....
Atmosphere.. attention to detail..... just a bit delayed! However we now know how long we need to stoke the fire for.
The first weekend of glampers was indeed an unqualified success, and for me a real breakthrough; boy was I nervous about having people on the farm, but the reality was very very surprising – it was a pleasure!
Now our next hurdle, apart from being 3 single parents starting a business, is the planning department. It seems we might have to go for full planning permission for the camp site, as it does not fall within the 28-day Permitted Development Framework Directive 211 Development Policy Amendment no 3.34. This is a deeply exciting development as it will cost us loads of money and time – which of course as single working parents we have loads of!
It's about time the English followed the Welsh and get a devolved parliament so that we too can usher in a new development guidance that encompasses LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT. You see the planning law sees us (3 off grid yurts using sustainable principles) in the same light as Barrett Homes or Midas – no legal/planning distinction. No wonder this country is full of supermarkets and crappy homes.... who has the clout? Not low-impact developers that is for sure....
However there is hope – maybe we will see more farm shops and Earthships in the countryside soon? The Land Is Ours (TLIO) is a campaign group which looks at land rights and their Chapter 7 section offers support for low-impact developers...... so that's the next stop........ they produce a fantastically put together and very aesthetically pleasing publication called The Land..... highly recommended.....
So until the next time, keep on keeping on pioneers x x x x
...who had to make do and mend!
Not really, look what they really got.....
Atmosphere.. attention to detail..... just a bit delayed! However we now know how long we need to stoke the fire for.
The first weekend of glampers was indeed an unqualified success, and for me a real breakthrough; boy was I nervous about having people on the farm, but the reality was very very surprising – it was a pleasure!
Now our next hurdle, apart from being 3 single parents starting a business, is the planning department. It seems we might have to go for full planning permission for the camp site, as it does not fall within the 28-day Permitted Development Framework Directive 211 Development Policy Amendment no 3.34. This is a deeply exciting development as it will cost us loads of money and time – which of course as single working parents we have loads of!
It's about time the English followed the Welsh and get a devolved parliament so that we too can usher in a new development guidance that encompasses LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT. You see the planning law sees us (3 off grid yurts using sustainable principles) in the same light as Barrett Homes or Midas – no legal/planning distinction. No wonder this country is full of supermarkets and crappy homes.... who has the clout? Not low-impact developers that is for sure....
However there is hope – maybe we will see more farm shops and Earthships in the countryside soon? The Land Is Ours (TLIO) is a campaign group which looks at land rights and their Chapter 7 section offers support for low-impact developers...... so that's the next stop........ they produce a fantastically put together and very aesthetically pleasing publication called The Land..... highly recommended.....
So until the next time, keep on keeping on pioneers x x x x
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Winter Busy-ness – and watch out, the yurts are landing!
18/01/11 12:28
Today I noticed a real peak of creativity; amongst my friends, certainly in me and in the wider world – a feeling of a surge of energy..
We have been busy on the farm over the Winter – gone are the people and that heady mix of relaxation and harvest and abundance, in with the mud, the horizontal rain and the numerous winter jobs to be done. The ewes are now back on Dartmoor to lamb and their young will return once the grass has rested a bit.
This season we've done a load of hedge work, I say we, rather, a contractor.. the hedge lines badly needed attending to, they probably hadn't been touched in 50-odd years. Nevertheless the effect was... arresting. It looked so drastic, and perhaps it was... it put us all in a bit of a lather about issues of cost/sustainability/conservation as we swam the slippery scale of these factors. For my part, I do my best with the given resources, and sometimes some are scant and others are plenty – resources, that is.
I look forward to planting some whips into the gaps and to the gradual fluffing out of the landscape as we head into Spring, which provides much welcome return on the grey and soggy days of a Devon winter.
Preview Prices
Battling through the mud has been one thing, but battling through the mud trying also to continue on with the infrastructure that the Haven Meadows Yurt Camping venture requires come Spring is another thing. Now, by mid January, we are turning our heads toward the April opening with increased ardour, it's a stirring seed still but the shoot and flower won't take long. Time to prepare! As well as the practicalities of it we have been busy marketing and administrating.
We have made a decision to take a good third off our first year's prices as a gesture of invitation and goodwill, these are our preview prices for 2011 so take a look on our website and check out our 'introductory offers'! (Couldn't resist a flashing graphic).
This business will have at its core a real dedication to a long term vision as well as an offering of service to those who come to stay. The intention continues to be to do everything in the spirit of love, dedication and abundance, both within our business dealings as partners and toward the wider circle of customers.
So, in amongst the festivities, the pounds gained, familial bliss, stolen purses, life changes, muddy paths, fragile hearts and horizontal rain we wish you a joy filled Imbolc (February 2nd) and the blessings of mother earth's bounty to all. May we flourish in our own way and look forward to this first Spring festival.
If you wish to subscribe to the Haven Meadows Yurt Camp newsletter please click here.
Love, Steph
with Monica and Rina
x x x
We have been busy on the farm over the Winter – gone are the people and that heady mix of relaxation and harvest and abundance, in with the mud, the horizontal rain and the numerous winter jobs to be done. The ewes are now back on Dartmoor to lamb and their young will return once the grass has rested a bit.
This season we've done a load of hedge work, I say we, rather, a contractor.. the hedge lines badly needed attending to, they probably hadn't been touched in 50-odd years. Nevertheless the effect was... arresting. It looked so drastic, and perhaps it was... it put us all in a bit of a lather about issues of cost/sustainability/conservation as we swam the slippery scale of these factors. For my part, I do my best with the given resources, and sometimes some are scant and others are plenty – resources, that is.
I look forward to planting some whips into the gaps and to the gradual fluffing out of the landscape as we head into Spring, which provides much welcome return on the grey and soggy days of a Devon winter.
Preview Prices
Battling through the mud has been one thing, but battling through the mud trying also to continue on with the infrastructure that the Haven Meadows Yurt Camping venture requires come Spring is another thing. Now, by mid January, we are turning our heads toward the April opening with increased ardour, it's a stirring seed still but the shoot and flower won't take long. Time to prepare! As well as the practicalities of it we have been busy marketing and administrating.
We have made a decision to take a good third off our first year's prices as a gesture of invitation and goodwill, these are our preview prices for 2011 so take a look on our website and check out our 'introductory offers'! (Couldn't resist a flashing graphic).
This business will have at its core a real dedication to a long term vision as well as an offering of service to those who come to stay. The intention continues to be to do everything in the spirit of love, dedication and abundance, both within our business dealings as partners and toward the wider circle of customers.
So, in amongst the festivities, the pounds gained, familial bliss, stolen purses, life changes, muddy paths, fragile hearts and horizontal rain we wish you a joy filled Imbolc (February 2nd) and the blessings of mother earth's bounty to all. May we flourish in our own way and look forward to this first Spring festival.
If you wish to subscribe to the Haven Meadows Yurt Camp newsletter please click here.
Love, Steph
with Monica and Rina
x x x