Tinkers Bubble

a lesson in living light

By The Bimbler

Once I spotted the sign I knew it was close by… it’d only taken me 20 years to get here.

Tinkers Bubble derives its name from a stream descending the side of this unique 40 acre site. It’s been run as an Organic and virtually Fossil fuel free smallholding since 1994 by a group of people who truly walk their talk.

I’d come out of hibernation briefly to volunteer for one of their multi day forestry workshops, lashings of tea started proceedings while I met some of the friendly and down to earth residents…

…and got acquainted with the wonderful guest accomodation

The forestry is all carried out using muscle and traditional methods rather than chainsaws and tech.

Douglas fir trees are sensitively harvested to provide timber for most of the unique dwellings and firewood for cooking and keeping warm through the colder months.

Evenings at Tinkers Bubble revolve around a thatched roundhouse where lively conversation and a roaring woodburner set the scene for a hearty supper.

when it’s not raining much of the cooking takes place in a well equipped outdoor kitchen.

Food staples are grains and vegetables from their fields and dairy courtesy of a couple of cows.

I’m humbled by the shared vision of living lighter using their available resources and filling in some of the gaps by wombling things that the everyday folks leave behind!

I’m inspired by the fruits of their combined labour

and I’m in awe of the productivity that can be achieved when a group of likeminded people work together… especially when they know how to run a genuine steam powered sawmill using their own seasoned logs!

Tinkers Bubble allow limited numbers of volunteers to visit for occasional working weekends. If you’d like to head to South Somerset to learn some traditional woodland skills and get a taste of their unique way of life you can get in touch via tinkersbubble@riseup.net