Hello from Brittany

We love hearing from you, so here is your chance. Introduce yourself and tell us what makes you selfsufficient 'ish'. Go on don't be shy, we welcome one and all. You can also tell us how you heard about us if you like.
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Henwoman
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latitude: 3° 11' W
longitude: 48° 20' N
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Hello from Brittany

Post: # 230152Post Henwoman »

Hello - I've been reading bits on the forum and love it. I'm based in central Brittany with rabbits, cats, goats, hens, cockerels, ducks and fish for company. I really enjoy living in this area which has little traffic and is very tranquil.

I have a polytunnel and veggie beds but can't do as much as I want to at the moment. I am waiting for a small op to remove a tumour in my neck - probably in May - and then a larger op - a mini gastric bypass to reduce my vast weight. After both of them then I should be able to bend better and have more energy to work in the garden and polytunnel again more easily.

I don't have mains water on my field where I grow my veggies and have the animals, so it's hard work watering all the time with watering cans full of collected water. With the beautiful weather we've been having everywhere everything is growing great guns and I would only ask for a bit of rain during the night to make things perfect.

niknik
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Re: Hello from Brittany

Post: # 230165Post niknik »

hi and welcome :wave:

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hedgewizard
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Re: Hello from Brittany

Post: # 230177Post hedgewizard »

Pull up a chair, and make yourself comfy, fellow tunneler! Got your irrigation sorted out for the tunnel?
http://www.farminmypocket.co.uk - polytunnel offers, reviews, and more self-sufficiency information than you can shake a chicken at

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Henwoman
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Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:48 pm
latitude: 3° 11' W
longitude: 48° 20' N
Location: Central Brittany
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Re: Hello from Brittany

Post: # 230200Post Henwoman »

Thanks for the welcomes. No, irrigation unfortunately. As I don't have a mains supply on my field where the PT is, I can't easily have irrigation. I collect water from my small barn roof into 4 x 1000 litre IBCs, two water butts, two circular galvanised 3-400 litre containers a dairy bath and a household bath, and if it doesn't rain soon, I'm in danger of running out. With the animals and the veggies, it's surprising how much water is needed, and as I can't remember it raining so far during April I may have to consider a rain dance soon!

clanpowell
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Re: Hello from Brittany

Post: # 230213Post clanpowell »

Hi. We're just starting the process of moving to France. Brittany is one of the areas we're intrested in. So we might become neighbours!

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Milims
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Re: Hello from Brittany

Post: # 230216Post Milims »

Hi there and welcome :wave:
Let us be lovely
And let us be kind
Let us be silly and free
It won't make us famous
It won't make us rich
But damn it how happy we'll be!
Edward Monkton


Member of the Ish Weight Loss Club since 10/1/11 Started at 12st 8 and have lost 8lb so far!

MuddyWitch
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Re: Hello from Brittany

Post: # 230219Post MuddyWitch »

Welcome to ISH :flower:

Yep raindancing here too; it's been nine weeks since our last decent rain.

MW
If it isn't a Greyhound, it's just a dog!

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growingthings
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Re: Hello from Brittany

Post: # 230221Post growingthings »

hello! :wave: :iconbiggrin:

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Henwoman
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Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:48 pm
latitude: 3° 11' W
longitude: 48° 20' N
Location: Central Brittany
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Re: Hello from Brittany

Post: # 230266Post Henwoman »

Hello Clanpowell. If you need any help or advice or just a chat, please just contact me. I can't recommend Brittany highly enough. It's just like Cornwall, where I was before this, but much better in every way. LIttle traffic, lots of water, wonderful countryside, warmer weather - perfect really! I loved living in Cornwall, but would never leave Brittany willingly now. There's so much space, so much land without buildings, it's peaceful and beautiful in the countryside and the towns are lively and interesting. Nowhere better.

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hedgewizard
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Re: Hello from Brittany

Post: # 230269Post hedgewizard »

hedgewizard wrote:Pull up a chair, and make yourself comfy, fellow tunneler! Got your irrigation sorted out for the tunnel?
Then you'll be needing to take steps to reduce the amount of time you run back and forward with watering cans: daisy chain lots of butts or run the overflow into a big cattle drinker. Also it's really worth getting some packs of 'tunnel gutter' so that you can harvest the rain from your tunnel too.
http://www.farminmypocket.co.uk - polytunnel offers, reviews, and more self-sufficiency information than you can shake a chicken at

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Mrs Moustoir
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Re: Hello from Brittany

Post: # 230286Post Mrs Moustoir »

:wave: Hello! We've probably met elsewhere in cyberspace and possibly in real life too!

Welcome to the Ish. :iconbiggrin:

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Henwoman
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Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:48 pm
latitude: 3° 11' W
longitude: 48° 20' N
Location: Central Brittany
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Re: Hello from Brittany

Post: # 230337Post Henwoman »

Yes, I do daisy chain the containers and then I use the baths and galvanised cattle containers to dip watering cans as it takes too long to wait for the containers taps to fill the cans. I think I have eleven 11 litre cans - about 2.99 euros each here - and try to keep them filled - visitors are roped in to fill the cans so they're always ready!

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Henwoman
Barbara Good
Barbara Good
Posts: 172
Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:48 pm
latitude: 3° 11' W
longitude: 48° 20' N
Location: Central Brittany
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Re: Hello from Brittany

Post: # 230338Post Henwoman »

Mrs Moustoir - a name that sounds familiar from another site! I can't remember whether we've ever met - perhaps at one of Salamander's gatherings?

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Millymollymandy
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Re: Hello from Brittany

Post: # 230343Post Millymollymandy »

Yes you know her if only virtually! :wink: Hi Henwoman and welcome here! :wave:
boboff wrote:Oh and just for MMM, :hugish: (thanks)
http://chateaumoorhen.blogspot.com/

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Mrs Moustoir
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Re: Hello from Brittany

Post: # 230374Post Mrs Moustoir »

Ah well - once met, instantly forgotten!

You bought some things for your grandson from me... :)

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