All Things Green
About us -
It is a way of
life for Rosie and Nigel, who have lived on
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,
Travel
It is possible to
get to Fionnphort, 3 miles away by road, by public transport – from
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..
.