Barnacre Farm

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Hello everyone,

Update from the farm... I am in Morton which is a small town outside of Liverpool city and the place I am staying is called Barnacre. There are so many words to describe this place but a few include chaotic, crazy, strange, tough, dirty, wet, muddy... and AMAZING haha! This place is so much fun, we work hard during the day and play hard in the evening.

I am involved in what has been called, and documented by the BBC, the largest eco friendly self sustaining self build in all of the U.K. Russell and Helen Kenan and their four children have opened their home and their way of life to helpers all around the world in order to achieve such a monumental project. I have arrived towards the end of the build in that all of the structural projects are done (which include a large home, an indoor pool room, pool house, garage and three rock cottages used for holiday rentals) and we are now working outdoors making everything functional and aesthetically pleasing.

I am here with seven other people right now, a guy and a girl from australia, a girl from Israel, one from malaysia and a girl from France, then another guy and girl from the U.S. Everyone has a nickname and it mostly involves something from their country of origin, I have been given the appropriate name of Texas. Everyone is really cool and we all work together during the day and hang out in the evenings. It is a great environment and a really special place.

The days involve a breakfast around 8 a.m. and a job plan for the day. Jobs range from digging (lots and lots of digging...haha) repairing fencing, cleaning the water tank, "fixing stuff" which means anything haha cause there is always something that needs fixin'. JCB work (tractor) plumbing, tiling, pretty much any job you can think of when maintaining a home. The saying for the group is "Ne panique pah" which is french for "dont panic" Mel, the girl from France, says it all the time and it is just perfect for this place.Then we work till around 11 a.m. and its time for a tea and biscuit break. Lunch then is served around 1 p.m. and then it's work till 5 p.m. Once we are done with work its time to start the drinking...haha. Russell brews his own beer, wine, and cider on site so we all enjoy a nice beverage after a hard days work. Most of the evenings involve a HUGE dinner, socialising, going down to the pub (with the donkey... I will explain below), or pool rugby (which is quite physical to say the least...haha). The family has assorted animals on the farm but the most loved and popular is Perdy the donkey. She is the queen of the house and we have found that taking a donkey with you to the pub is a good way to break the ice, and is quite the attraction. When its time for bed we don't head for the house, or a caravan, or a dorm room... we go to our teepee! Yes we sleep in a teepee with a wood burning chimney stove... it is so cool haha! We get the fire burning and we all settle into our sleeping bags then some friendly chatter and then its sleep (really good sleep by the way). We have two days of a week and it is usually on a tuesday and wednesday, so we hang out on the farm or we go into the city.

So this is my life for the next month... and I will say that I am quite pleased so far. The work is good, the people are great and the overall environment, Though chaotic, is just unbelievable. Good luck to everyone and Ne panique pah, I will report back soon.

all love,
Brian a.k.a. Texas

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Photos

Home Sweet Home
oh the teepee... how we love you

The Gang
This is the group of workers that were here when i arrived.

Pulling up Fencing
this was a pain in the butt haha

The Teepee Fire
this keeps us warm at night

Chelsea
From Australia

Caleb
Also From Australia

Sarah
From California

Moses
From Illinoise

May
This is May from Isriel

Comments

[Aunt Monica]

WOW!!!
Brian- I love living vicariously through your experiences. I am so thrilled for you and proud of you for just getting out there to see what the world has to offer. You will never be the same. It makes you feel so small to realize that there is a huge world out there and that the US is not all that matters. I am sending you lots of love, lots of prayers and blessings for a continuation of the journey. All my love Aunt Monica

[Paul Herzig]

Howdy
What an eclectic group of nomads! What could be better? Hey Texas, next time Frenchie says ne panique pah say “laissez faire”...let, let go, let it be.

[anna m verstegen]

Wish I was young again
I wish everyone in this family would have a chance to do what you are doing. What a blast. Who knew that it would turn out to be so much fun. I want to go around telling all the grandkids: "Why don't you do what Brian (Texas) is doing. There's no better time than now, when everyone is free of responsibilities and cares. Love, Nanny and Grandpa