All Things Green

 

About us -

It is a way of life for Rosie and Nigel, who have lived on Mull since 1976, to be reasonably self-sufficient. Activities have included keeping goats, chickens, sheep and extensive vegetable gardens grown without the use of pesticides or herbicides.  For our own house, we generate much of our own energy needs by means of a wind turbine, solar panel, photovoltaic panels, and seem to be constantly trying to improve the thermal efficiency of our house!  We re-use materials where we can, mend rather than buy new. We purchase and promote fair-trade and organic products for ourselves and the croft shop from the Green City Wholefood Co-operative.   We buy our basic staple foods locally, supporting local business. We are active members of several organisations promoting green issues and technologies, including the Centre for Alternative Technology, The Soil Association, Ross of Mull Organic Gardeners, Mull Renewables, Scottish Crofting Federation, WWOOF (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms), Organic Holidays, all of which provide active forums for advice on green issues.  Specialist environmental advice is achieved though subscription to the Scottish Agricultural College and the Soil Association.   

Several small areas around the croft were planted with a mix of trees 10-15 years ago.  These are now maturing to offer varied habitats for birds and other wildlife. The croft has also taken part in ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Areas) Scheme for 10 years and latterly the Rural Stewardship Scheme protecting and promoting various habitats around the croft by farming in traditional ways.

Guests are welcome to explore the croft and to visit the gardens where you’ll find information about the natural and cultivated plants, and history of their uses for diet, medicine and other applications. There is also information about how we cultivate our vegetables and fruit with no pesticides or herbicides, using primarily seaweed, manure fertilisers and composted materials from the croft.  Our sheep and chickens free-range on ground visible from the guest accommodation. 

 

The Crofters’ Kitchen and Gardens – our self-service-open-all-the-time-mini-shop - can supply you with eggs, meat, seasonal vegetables and fruit all produced on the croft.  Shellfish is best bought fresh from the local boats when they land their catch in Fionnphort or Bunessan.  Fish supplier calls weekly to this end of the island.

Delicious Isle of Mull Cheeses and Island Bakery products are available in local shops.

Venison can be purchased from Pennyghael Stores and Organic Beef and Hebridean lamb from Ardalanish Farm, near Uisken, south of Bunessan.   Ethical and Organic Hebridean tweed fabric, clothes and accessories are also available from Ardalanish Farm Weaving Mill.  You can see samples of their fabrics on the chairs in Taigh Foise.

 

About Taigh Foise

The construction of the building uses SIP’s technology – Structural Integrated Panels - giving highly insulated, draught-free living spaces.  A thermal imaging inspection carried out at end January 2010 showed how worthwhile it is. The thermal efficiency of this construction was ideal to incorporate a NIBE Exhaust Air Heat Recovery heating system. It converts the warm air generated by solar gain through the huge windows, into hot water for underfloor heating and domestic hot water.  It also recovers the heat generated by appliances and people so for lots of comfort, keep the heat in and dance a lot!

The building materials that were used in the house were chosen primarily for energy conservation and sustainability.

 

 

 

 

How you can help while you are here–

 

Water & Waste

Showers are available in all bathrooms together with dual flush toilet cisterns;

 

For clean, ‘green’ laundry we should be grateful if guests would use the Ecover products provided, economy cycles and air drying.  Use of these products also keeps our septic tank sewage system and reed beds in good working order.

 

For drinking water a filter jug is provided but you can enjoy local spring water from a nearby tap beside the road leading to Kintra.

 

Designated containers are provided for waste and recycling together with directions for disposal.  We support the community-led initiative MESS, Mull & Iona Environmentally Sensitive Solutions.

 

Energy

The hot water temperature is preset and automated as part of the heat recovery system but you can boost the hot water during the off-peak times.  The underfloor heating is controlled by thermostats in the living area and the main bedroom.  Individual room heaters have thermostats and timers.  The NIBE unit also operates as an air conditioning system giving a complete change of air every two hours. 

Guests are requested not to smoke in the house but for those with special needs, exceptions may be made. 

All the lighting in the house is low energy but any number of combinations should give you the mood you would like

Most of the electrical equipment is A-rated for energy efficiency.

 

Natural Heritage

We invite our guests to add to our lists and photographs of flora and fauna on the croft and in the locality and put any interesting observations in the Nature Diary

We encourage responsible exploration

 

Community

Support our community initiatives and projects relating to the local environment such as Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, Sea Eagle Hide, Ardalanish Organic Farm and Weaving Mill, Mull and Iona Environmentally Sensitive Solutions and Castaways and The Mull and Iona Community Trust.

 

Travel

It is possible to get to Fionnphort, 3 miles away by road, by public transport – from Glasgow with Scottish Citylink buses or Scotrail train, Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries from Oban to Craignure and from Craignure to Fionnphort with Bowmans coaches.  There are bus services to Tobermory too.  There is cycle hire in Craignure from            and car hire from www.mullselfdrive.co.uk

If you would like to come by public transport, ask us if you would like to be collected from the bus at the beginning and end of your visit..

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