‘ Living a more sustainable life has made us healthier and happier’
Liz Zorab lives an almost self-sufficient life in Monmouthshire
Becoming a full-time gardener and homesteader meant a huge lifestyle change for Liz Zorab when she gave up her job to move to rural Wales. Prompted by a health crisis, Liz and her husband, who everyone calls Mr. J, were forced to re-evaluate the way they live. ‘I needed to do something to work around how well I felt,’ explains Liz. ‘I thought, if I could grow and raise as much of our food as possible, I could contribute to the family income and work at my own pace.’
The house the couple purchased in 2015 needed little or no work, whereas the 0.8 acre plot was another story.
‘The soil was lifeless, so the first thing I did was build a compost heap,’ explains Liz, who has always loved gardening so had a head start when it came to cultivating her now established fruit and vegetable patch. Raised beds came next and Liz started growing ‘a few things I knew, in one bed at a time. I was feeling my way so I just grew basic salad stuff and a few potatoes at first, then moved on to carrots and cabbages and lots more. In the first year, I created 10 beds, using as much homemade compost as possible and now we are virtually self-sufficient, with around 85 per cent of our food and drink coming from our own garden.’
Sustainable living also extends to other areas, such as energy. ‘Our solar panels were already in place, so we have no power bills as all our costs are covered by the feed-in tariff,’ adds Liz. Recycling is important for the couple, too. ‘We use locally sourced materials wherever possible such as pallets to create fencing and wood chips from a local tree surgeon for pathways and composting. And, of course, a handy bucket in the kitchen ensures all fruit and vegetable scraps are returned to the compost heap.’
Liz and Mr. J also keep bees and while they originally raised chickens, now rear ducks for both eggs and meat. They also help control the snail and slug population when allowed to roam among the vegetable beds, eliminating the need for slug pellets.
‘It’s certainly a lot of work,’ reveals Liz, ‘but I’m convinced that the fresh air and exercise and the unadulterated food we eat have all played a part in improving our health and wellbeing.’
Liz recounts her experience in her book, Grounded – A Gardener’s Journey to Abundance and Self-Sufficiency,
available from bytherfarm.com/books.
With staycations being the best way to catch a break this summer, camping is on the cards for seasoned campers and newbies alike. But before you begin packing up everything bar the kitchen sink, it’s worth assessing what you really need for a few days sleeping under the stars.
Top of the list should be a tent, but what type comes down to who will be spending time in it. ‘We often get feedback from customers that wish they’d bought bigger,’ says Paul Trepte, Managing Director of independent outdoor retailer Trekitt. ‘I’d recommend getting a tent with a porch as a good halfway house – you get a larger footprint for less weight,’ he adds.
Somewhere comfortable to rest your head should be a high priority too, as you don’t want a poor night’s sleep hindering your trip. ‘Sleeping bags have comfort and season ratings, and while this may seem like jargon it’s actually really important information,’ explains David Scotland, owner of Outdoor World Direct. ‘A one-season sleeping bag will only be suitable for warm summer nights, whereas a three-four season sleeping bag is thicker and better suited to year-round camping but perhaps too thick for hot summer nights. Each sleeping bag has a comfort rating or suggested usage, which will include two temperatures such as -2°C to 18°C. That means checking that the forecasted temperatures of your trip don’t fall outside of that temperature range.’
Other essential buys are comfortable chairs, something to cook on – such as a gas stove or a compact barbecue – as well as some cooking utensils and picnicware. Portable lighting will also come in handy when the sun goes down. Most other items, however, are considered more of a luxury. The best course of action is to write a checklist before you go so you don’t forget anything or end up over-packing in a lastminute panic. ‘Even experienced campers forget the less obvious items,’ says David. ‘If you do forget something like a mallet, try not to sweat it and don’t be afraid to ask fellow campers. We’re typically a friendly bunch and often more than happy to help out others and impart our wisdom on those with less experience.’