Tinkers Bubble Somerset Eco Village Community, September 2019 BBC Inside Out West

The family living off-grid in the woods in Somerset
Residents of a small off-grid community say they wanted to "slow life down" and escape consumerism.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-engl...
Tinkers Bubble is a 40-acre site in the south of Somerset and home to more than a dozen people.
They heat water using firewood, do not use fossil fuels and have solar panels for electricity.
You can see more about this story on Inside Out on BBC One West on Monday at 19:30 BST.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...
Couple who ran two businesses quit the 'rat race' and move their five children to rural Somerset to live off-grid in a self-sufficient commune where they grow their own food and use a 1930s steam engine to chop wood
Kirsty and Nick Tizard moved from Devon to Tinkers Bubble last December
The self-sufficient community of 14 residents grow their own food on site
Mr Tizard described things the family have given up - such as indoor toilets and washing machines - as needless luxuries
By AMELIA WYNNE FOR MAIL ONLINE
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...
PUBLISHED: 16:57, 29 September 2019 | UPDATED: 09:27, 30 September 2019
Kirsty and Nick Tizard, who owned a cafe, moved from North Tawton in Devon to Tinkers Bubble, a near self-sufficient community in south Somerset, in December.
The 14 residents there till the land using horses and a Victorian plough, saw timber using a 1930s steam engine and sell homemade apple juice to local shops.
They grow most of their own food with the occasional help from volunteers who come to Tinkers Bubble to experience communal living.
Washing requires lighting a wood-burning stove to produce hot water in a few hours.
Tinkers Bubble, which has been established for 25 years, features in a BBC Inside Out West documentary that will air on Monday.
Mrs Tizard told the programme: 'We both ran our own businesses for quite a few years, we had five children and a very hectic life.
'I had what you might call a midlife crisis - I had a feeling of 'is this all there is to living?'.

[@elsiryn]

The “is this all there is to living” really struck me. Whenever i explain i want to live off grid its because i don’t want to be stuck in a 9-5 job working my whole life to pay off debt

[@emilyjane7791]

YES!

[@pendaofmercia7892]

You’re not alone.

[@peroquetoiseau933]

Exactly

[@hojdog]

Yeah but then you don't get to play cod :'(

[@gordan4173]

@@hojdog you wont want to play cod when all your friends you know, dont play cod ;)

[@jamncos]

I was 24 when I realised bare foot is the best feeling ever. These kids are learning fast

[@pablo3168]

The interviewer is a prime example of Modern Man's lost sight of beauty in nature and simplicity

[@fillmglass]

My thoughts too, he takes great pride in his appearance. He should be rolling up his sleeves correctly and mucking in.

[@Eddy_Del_Lobo]

I lived here for a while! Very fond memories

[@beatamafulu2405]

How can we visit?

[@kay-sp4gk]

I’m 17 years old in America and really want to WWOOF here for a while then eventually live here permanently. Is this possible? Are there rules for who you accept to live there? This sort of lifestyle is exactly what I’d love to live

[@taz5614]

this gives me hope that we (my little family) could someday live like this in a wonderful community like this too

[@thevagabondsageinthewoods]

You can!! I managed to purchase a wee bit of land in Missouri and now we have two cabins here! It can be done. Keep the faith love!❤

[@judeross3875]

I think you are all amazing and a credit to our mother earth. Today I asked the hairdresser to give me my son's hair off the floor after I asked how it was disposed of. Composting or for the birds to nest build. Most of us have lost connection with nature after so many years in urban life xx

[@Skoda130]

Hair does not change into compost for many years.

[@elaine7owen]

aww you guys! how much I miss Tinkers. This video really does the community credit and it looks like everything is harmonious again. Congratulations tribe x

[@thevagabondsageinthewoods]

I have a few acres in Missouri. A series of events that seemed to hurt me actually made it possible for me to live here in the woods. Currently I am the only one actually living here but I’m trying my best to carve out trails and clean up the pond, have a few chickens and rabbits, grew a small garden and learn to make medicine off the wildflowers. I am creating a nice camp for 5 tents and will join workaway for volunteers to build a small chapel or pavilion in the middle of the woods. I will open the land to the public.

[@alainvosselman9960]

Waw.. i was considering building a cob house on a private piece of property... Seeing these videos of off grid communities...seems even better ! It is a huge decision to make to want to go off grid an in a community but i certainly feel like visiting such places and get an idea and feel for that type of life style, as well as meeting individuals living this way. Can't wait. Thanks so much for sharing this.. This might be a game changer for me.

[@thejupiter1744]

I stayed at tinkers for about 6 weeks in the late 90s. Sadly it had a few piss-heads and their dogs visiting but I’m happy to see that the tribe seems happy now and are far more productive for themselves.

[@zosmanovic9763]

This was normal in the 1800s...Belarus still have communities (Dacha). The issue is, if your under 45 and considering this, you'll be considered mad.

[@drunkweathervids9950]

I would like to join an off grid community like this because I am extremely worried about the way the world is going with the vaccine passports and now Australia have actually mandated vaccines anyone who doesn't get the vaccine will go to jail I'm really scared I would like to join this community to get away from it all.

[@pendaofmercia7892]

Interviewer just doesn’t get it does he?

[@susanyates4233]

Wonderful!

[@iainhill492]

Subtitles never cease to amuse..the "tasered" family ? Freud would've been proud of that slip !

[@fgvevdbcbvng]

I wish I could live there 💖

[@stevesalt9347]

living the dream

[@dezmondwhitney1208]

Good on them for 'Breaking Away'. Well Done

[@kylec166]

Awesome place to live wood stoves are awesome miss having them now. Had them when I was a kid.

[@christopherdale7017]

Gee if I could only find a place like this in QLD/NSW in Australia I could go to afew weeks Ever year to refresh and charge my Batteries. This is such a beautiful example of how more eco holidays and living should be.

[@drunkweathervids9950]

Yeah it's really bad in Australia with all the vaccine mandates and draconian lockdowns I feel really sorry for you guys.

[@donnatrimble7439]

Right on. Teach by example. Come on Canada

[@sometea4741]

I am a Somerset..nice community.

[@Isomoar]

A person who is a consumer says you've given up a lot. Perhaps he should ask what you have gained instead?

[@lunarrose9290]

Haha " still sounds like hard work to me " 😂

[@Pictman777]

In Scottish Highlands, looking for like community and others in same position , anyone here? 🙏

[@colleenbrown92]

I'd absolutely love this. I hate the rat race we are living.

[@oracleowen]

Went to a Rainbow Gathering near here, such loving natural vibes

[@patsydf]

So who owns the land?

[@andydixon2980]

How did they aquire the 40acres? Must have cost a fortune.

[@curtsk19]

It's woodland, far cheaper than u think

[@rudypickering3884]

When can i join? Every eco living ive been on does hardly have children but im a lone parent with three children and a great farmer or gardener. I would be a hard worker but dont know how to start the process. Please advise 😊

[@leahc8347]

What do I need to do to join? What does one do for finance? (Rent, food,... can one buddy up for free in exchange for help, etc) Thanks!

[@garrieleepeck8753]

My god what I give to live there at the moment had a bit of break down .I need alway from everything lived in Street, Glastonbury all my life .but I need time away from everything I wish I could find somewhere just in peace to but a tent for couple of mouths

[@madmark2588]

This is the way I want to live my life I've been there once one day I'll push myself to sell my house and get a bit of land and live of the grid I don't care about gadgets internet rubbish

[@sir2603]

Seeking to set up a suitable community somewhere in Ireland if anyone interested.

[@shezoebadd1991]

Wish I had the funds

[@calliehilbert]

I would be

[@denisecouchman9289]

How are you getting on with your plans ? We’re looking into alternative living , Denise

[@catsmeow4003]

I could do the cooking.😺

[@rosiemaguire3352]

Hello my name is Rosie this is exactly the way of living I'd love to do is there a way I could get in contact with u guys please

[@PeterBorenius]

Do an internet search for them Rosie...

[@nammalik786]

How do i get in contact with this cmmunity?

[@ia8018]

They have a website. You can contact them there.

[@emilyjane7791]

Can I move in please ?!

[@rl5725]

Id love rhis bit always feel theres an undelying sinister element , maybe i have trust issues?

[@ogagaikenna9980]

❤❤❤😂😂😂

[@garrieleepeck8753]

What I do for that just to feel better I'd love it

[@IvanTheReasonable]

On the whole I love what this community is doing BUT 5 children per couple is in no way sustainable. So sorry to grumble but I think the planet's expanding population is a really serious issue.

[@fabiancanada8876]

I use to think that way but once you get educated/experienced in living with nature.. we could easily have 30 billion people on this planet and it would look like paradise. But it would require us to be very conscious and even more important, act upon it. People talk about climate change, yet go fly to different part of the world multiple times/year for vacation or business. Of course, you can't do that with 30 billion people, we would all have to become more responsible, conscious, giving, take what you need, work together,etc.

[@ia8018]

The couple that has 5 children were not part of the community until recently, it is talked in the video. Certainly 5 children is not sustainable, but the way I see it they're having far less impact on the environment than a 2-3 kids urban family.

[@ia8018]

That said, people in UK have a big negative impact on the planet (they consume an enormous amount of resources!) and they should have less children no matter what. I've read somewhere that the sustainable number of people for Britain might be 2 millions!! Big overshoot!!

[@fabiancanada8876]

@@ia8018 Here in Nova Scotia we have far more seniors (over 65) than we have children (under 18). So that is sustainable? Knowing now how much food we can produce in a good way, we should probably have 5 children instead of one or none..

[@IvanTheReasonable]

@@ia8018 2 million would leave plenty of space for the restoration of lost natural habitats. I like the sound of that. If each couple had just one kid it'd make for a 50% reduction in resource requirements per generation

[@daveberry2177]

how many are on benefits i wonder,

[@franktreml3145]

Who cares?

[@daveberry2177]

@@franktreml3145 i do should they not be at work, lol

[@sometea4741]

They earn income selling apple juice and wood products..costs of living is within their means, otherwise it'd be benefits well spent. Meh,,.shallow question.

[@daveberry2177]

@@sometea4741 why is it shallow i simply asked a question, i worked in a woodland trust, we had good folk but alot of do nothing folk, trying to blag it, and why is it benifits well spent i ask, thanks for the reply

[@jamesrun4eva474]

So only a select few should pay tax & insurance for others to benefit from it for free?

[@cargumdeu]

I stayed there for a little while 10 or 12 years ago. But i dont have dreads or particularly enjoy living in the 1800s so it wasnt for me. This current crop look like climate activists, so to be living in a bubble should come easy to them. I remember it as a pretty humourless place run by bossy women with hairy armpits and many children. every meal was vegetarian, you had to work in exchange for bed and food. Next stop the hard streets.

[@nicktizard5421]

Lots of humour here now. We spend many evenings being creative, making music and interacting with each other due to not having a TV. It's not easy growing your own food and maintaining the forest and the land, we all work hard. Our community is run by group decisions and leadership is generally given by those who have experience in the task at hand. Hairy armpits are gained by generally being a human and not using disposable razors not too sure how relevant your comment is.

[@judeross3875]

Probably best you still not there then!! I am a woman with hairy armpits and as an ex nurse may be described as bossy if a patient needs treatment immediately then I may shout instructions is that bossy??!!

[@stokeyone]

@@nicktizard5421 did you have to buy the land originally or if it's low impact eco friendly is it just accepted ) would love to know. Thanks

[@ia8018]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jICwiK2gp7eceMk

[@nicolemurphy2629]

@@judeross3875 No You’re the kind of nurse a patient needs!

[@You_are_not_normal]

Middle class eco warriors lol