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Summary

Caroline Barry chose to create her own sustainable house, both for her own health, and to show others how easily a healthy home can be created, using environmentally friendly materials for every aspect of the house construction. She has no mains electricity.

She first bought the field in 1995 and started off in a caravan. She then built her first strawbale house, but after a fire in 2007, she had to re-build it, with the help of many friends.

Outside she has two polytunnels and raised beds, producing salads and vegetables on permaculture principles, some of which she sells at farmers markets.

Green features in the home

• Timber-framed walls of strawbale, cordwood and wine bottles
• Foundations made of car tyres filled with stones
• All internal fittings and furniture were recycled
• No cement or concrete used
• Off-grid, with electricity from solar panels, a waterwheel and a wind turbine
• Woodburner to heat the whole house
• All double glazed windows and doors were recycled
• Floor, walls and loft insulated with sheeps wool
• All low energy lightbulbs

Green features outside

• Rainwater collected in troughs for use in the garden
• Compost
• Vegetables and salad grown in raised beds made from logs
• Two polytunnels
• Medicinal herbs grown (Caroline runs courses on their use)
• Pond with ducks (excellent slug eaters)
• Outdoor compost loo (with a view of Glastonbury tor!)

Energy use

Figures not available

Suppliers used and recommended by owners

• Wollens of Glastonbury for non-treated timber
• Organic straw from Cawleys
• Logs from Fountain Forest, Butleigh

To find out more

For more information about this property, email carostraw@phonecoop.coop. You can also see Caroline’s own website at www.carolinebarry.org.uk

Directions

You can use bus route 667 to Butleigh, either getting off at the Post office, which is a 10 minute walk, or sometimes if the bus is going via Barton St David you can be dropped off at the entrance to Brook Farm.

See the calendar for open days and times