Open Country

Off Grid in Mid-Wales


Listen Later

Guest presenter Ian Marchant meets people who live off-grid in his part of the world, near Presteigne in mid-Wales.

There's Bob, who started his off-grid life on the hippy trail in the sixties, driving over-land to Afghanistan and bringing back the first Afghan coats to the London fashion scene. Now he lives in a wood, still making jewellery and living in his van. For him, there's adventure in every aspect of his life, even the washing up, especially if you have to do it in 'horizontal snow'.

Goffee-the-Clown has built himself an idyllic cottage, but somehow he can't bring himself to move in. He prefers the simplicity of his pale blue retro caravan with its wood-burner and collection of spider-webs, idyllically situated on the bank of the River Usk.

There are the Hoopers, a family of four who run an efficient small-holding as carbon-lightly and self sufficiently as is possible. They did have a brief spell in a house, but despite the fascinations of the washing machine, they were delighted to be back living off-grid up a mountain.

And there's Briar, who has just moved in to her new home, a yurt she has built herself, snugly insulated with duvets and brightly-coloured rugs and fabrics. Everything she needs is to hand, and there's water from the spring nearby. Knowing she can rely on her own strength and skill to live anywhere makes her happy and gives her confidence. And the cost? This luxurious construction cost her roughly twenty quid to build.

Producer...Mary Ward-Lowery.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Open CountryBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

83 ratings


More shows like Open Country

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,589 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,056 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,464 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,805 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,748 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,044 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,085 Listeners

Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs

1,981 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

478 Listeners

Saturday Live by BBC Radio 4

Saturday Live

38 Listeners

Farming Today by BBC Radio 4

Farming Today

66 Listeners

Gardeners' Question Time by BBC Radio 4

Gardeners' Question Time

282 Listeners

The Food Programme by BBC Radio 4

The Food Programme

266 Listeners

Scotland Outdoors by BBC Radio Scotland

Scotland Outdoors

251 Listeners

Ramblings by BBC Radio 4

Ramblings

157 Listeners

The Plodcast by Our Media

The Plodcast

105 Listeners

Gardening with the RHS by Royal Horticultural Society

Gardening with the RHS

253 Listeners

Wild Tales | Nature Podcast by National Trust

Wild Tales | Nature Podcast

102 Listeners

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle by BBC World Service

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle

4,165 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,187 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

722 Listeners

As the Season Turns by Ffern

As the Season Turns

238 Listeners

Life Changing by BBC Radio 4

Life Changing

99 Listeners

A Life More Wild by Canopy & Stars

A Life More Wild

26 Listeners

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth by Gyles Brandreth / Plain Jaine Media

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

487 Listeners