sustainability | Farm In My Pocket

Solar power – a new way to benefit

Unused solar power can now be diverted to give you hot water...and you'll still get paid for feeding it into the grid!

Solar Power – one year after installing PV cells

Falling installation costs mean that PV solar cells are still a sound investment

How to use security lighting correctly

Why most security lights don't deliver much security

Compost toilets in the UK: buying a commercial loo

Composting toilets are less fuss, less of a fright, and less expensive to install than you might think.

Compost toilets in the UK: introduction

An introduction to compost loos, which are set to become more popular as the cost of mains water rises.

Polytunnel watering in a hosepipe ban

You can water inside a polytunnel with a soaker hose - even during a hosepipe ban

Coping with a hosepipe ban

If a hosepipe ban is imposed on your area there is still a lot you can do to keep your plants green through the summer.

The government just lost its appeal over the High Court ruling (of December 21, 2011) that they had acted illegally in announcing early cuts to the FIT - Feed In Tariff - payments for solar panel arrays.

Greywater: treating and recycling wastewater

Reusing greywater can reduce household water usage by up to 30%. But is it cost effective in the UK?

Eight signs you’ve been bitten by the self-sufficiency bug

Don't recognise yourself in this list? Show it to your partner. If they laugh, it's time to worry.

Home heating oil – is it still worth it?

Most people in the UK still heat their homes with ‘conventional’ fuels such as heating oil.

Biomass heating with a pellet stove or pellet boiler

Modern pellet stoves are incredibly efficient, work quickly and use sustainable 'biomass' fuel. Read about the pros and cons.

Wood stoves and log burners to heat your home

Wood stoves are more efficient than open fires. Many have glass doors, and some give you hot water, too.

Open fire heating – the pros and cons

Despite being dirty, inefficient, potentially dangerous and quite a lot of work, there’s nothing quite like an open fire.

Wind turbines – for the home or farm

A wind turbine is a sound investment and a green way to generate power. But does this outweigh the visual impact?

Photovoltaic panels – solar power

Solar power - we all want some, but it is really worth it...yet?

Building with Cob

Take some sub-soil containing a mix of clay, soil and sand, add some straw, mix it together...and that's cob.

Smart watering

Smart watering is about providing the right amount of water when it is needed, wasting as little as possible

Rainwater harvesting

Collected rainwater can do more than just water the garden - it can supplement or replace the mains supply.

Water boreholes and wells

If you use a lot of water and don't want to rely on the expensive mains supply, you might consider drilling a well or borehole.

Water security: how safe is your supply?

A look at how to reduce your dependence on expensive mains water.

Kit homes

Kit homes can offer a long-lasting, environmentally-friendly and cost-effective alternative to other building methods.

Rammed earth construction

Rammed earth buildings are made from bricks of compressed soil, often mixed with cement to help prevent weathering

Why Homestead?

Homesteading. Which is true - trendy pursuit, incredibly hard work, or just a bit of fun?

Straw bale construction

Safe and energy-efficient, straw bale construction is an increasingly popular natural and sustainable construction method.

Peak Oil

There are many reasons that make people decide to start producing some of their own food, but it’s an inescapable fact that large-scale food production as we know it is doomed.