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A New Chapter for My Daughter What a week it’s been here at Cornish Cottage Homestead! The biggest moment was watching my 16-year-old daughter start college after three incredible years of home educating. She’s absolutely loving it, diving into her passions with such enthusiasm. I’m bursting with pride, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t bittersweet. Those home-ed days, filled with shared learning and precious moments, will always hold a special place in my heart. Have you

A year ago, we stood at the edge of a new chapter, not entirely by choice. Life, as it sometimes does, nudged us forward—or rather, uprooted us—from our home on a Devon farm, where wide fields and the hum of rural solitude had been our home for years. Through no fault of our own, we found ourselves here, on Cornwall’s wild coast, in an 1850s stone coach house once an award-winning off-grid holiday let. What began as uncertainty has bloomed into a journey of grit, growth, and

Hi all! If you’ve been following my journey on @cornishcottagehomestead, you know I’m all about diving into authentic, hands-on living here in my cosy coastal cottage in southeast Cornwall. From learning to foraging along the coast (land and sea) to attempting my first garden beds, I’m learning as I go—no fancy setups, just a ton of passion and a shoestring budget. My Sourdough Starter using Kilner's starter set Lately, I’ve been trying to crack the code on sourdough starters

Hello! If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your garden bounty into a little side hustle, you might have considered setting up an honesty stand—those charming roadside setups where passers by grab what they want and leave payment in a box. It’s a concept rooted in trust and community spirit, often seen in rural areas where people sell fresh produce, eggs, or homemade goods without constant supervision.  A few years back, I decided to give it a go right where we used to live in t

Hello, fellow homesteaders and off-grid enthusiasts! Welcome back to the Cornish Cottage Homestead blog. If you're new here, we're a family living off-grid beside the beautiful, windswept coast of Cornwall, UK. We've been experimenting with various renewable energy sources to power our little off-grid plot, and today, I want to share our real-world experience with wind power. As first-time off-gridders, we're all about trying new things, learning from our mistakes, and passin

There’s a quiet magic in homesteading that makes every day feel like a warm embrace from the past. For me, it’s not just a lifestyle—it’s a return to something deeply rooted, a way of living that feels like home. At Cornish Cottage Homestead, I’ve found joy in the simple, honest work of growing my own fruit and veg, baking from scratch, and embracing the old ways. Here’s why this life speaks to my soul and might just resonate with yours too. Growing Fruit and Veg: A Labour of

Hello, lovely readers of Cornish Cottage Homestead! Today, I’m buzzing with excitement to share a special adventure we had down at the rugged Cornish coast near our off-grid home in, Cornwall. My daughter and her friend, friends mum, and I spent the day rock-pooling, exploring the treasures of the tidal pools, enjoying a picnic, and tackling the steep climb to and from the beach. It was a day full of wonder, learning, and a few tired legs—come along with us! The Trek Down to

Hello and welcome to Cornish Cottage Homestead! We're thrilled to share the start of our adventure, living off-grid here in Cornwall. Our little slice of paradise is powered entirely by solar panels and wind energy, and we’re diving headfirst into a life of sustainability, growing our own vegetables, cooking from scratch, and embracing resourcefulness. Whether you’re a fellow homesteader, a curious dreamer, or just love a good story of trial and error, we hope you’ll join us

Hello, and a warm welcome to Cornish Cottage Homestead ! We're thrilled to invite you into our world, a journey just beginning from our off-grid home—an old coach house perched above the wild, windswept shores of Cornwall, where the sea’s rhythm and the land’s bounty shapes our days. This blog is our way of sharing our passion for self-sustainability, growing as much of our own food as we can, and weaving the beauty of this life into watercolour paintings and heartfelt recipe

Imagine waking up to the sound of birds chirping, the sun rising over rolling hills, and the fresh scent of nature filling your lungs. This is the daily reality at Cornish Cottage Homestead, a place where off-grid living is not just a dream but a lifestyle. Here, we explore the joys and challenges of living off the grid, and how you can embrace this fulfilling way of life. Off-grid living means being independent from the traditional power grid. It involves generating your own