Paul and Hoppi Wimbush

Plot 6

Paul, Jarro, Hoppi and Emba Wimbush                              

We are a family of four. Paul, Hoppi, Jarro and Emba. We are building a timber framed straw bale house on plot 6 and expect to be largely self sufficient within 5 years. We plan to sell hazelnuts, plums, apples, berries, livestock and pottery. In addition we intend to run courses on a variety of topics ranging from low impact development to emotional literacy. Paul has played a central role in bringing about the Lammas project and he plans to continue to play an active role in this. Hoppi plans to bring her wealth of training and experience in conflict resolution and communication skills both to the project and to the area.

We have constructed our workshop and are currently living in that whilst we construct the other buildings.

plot 6 agricultural workshop (Dec 2010)

Paul has a wealth of low impact living and building experience. He spent three years studying Architecture at Cardiff University. He then lived in Tipi Valley for 5 years where he learnt gardening, goat herding, coppicing, green woodworking and simple living skills. Whilst there he built and lived in Tipi’s and Yurts. He then spent 5 years living in Brithdir Mawr where he played a central role in managing the 165 acres of pasture and woodland. Whilst there he also learnt hedge laying, dry stone walling, working horses (including teamwork and haymaking), conservation skills, as well as developing his forestry, pasture and horticultural skills. Whilst there he built a timber framed, straw bale, turf roof roundhouse. He also lived in a chalet community on the Gower Peninsular where he worked as a carpenter and kept goats and ducks.

Hoppi has built, lived in and given birth in a yurt and has co-built a wooden chalet. She works theraputically with the arts including painting, sculpture, puppetry, drama, music, poetry, and story. She is an accredited Journey Therapist. She is also a forest school leader and trainer and specialises in Communication Skills, Emotional Intelligence and Conflict Resolution Training through creative expression and play. She currently works freelance across south-west Wales.

Jarro attends the local primary school and is passionate about film making, drumming, fire-staffing and IT. Emba also attends the local welsh speaking school and is loving learning welsh fluently. She is totally in love with tree swings, water and laughing.

Click here to visit Hoppi's website. To see a clip from Hoppi's recent 40th Birthday party celebrations, please visit www.gowervideo.co.uk

             Caravan and yurt (Aug 2009)                Earthworks (October 2009)

             Hoppi on the dumper (Oct 2009)               Scything (Aug 2009)

        Workshop building detail (Feb 2010)     Hoppi working on the workshop (feb 2010)

          Workshop frame (July 2010)                  Workshop under construction (Sep 2010)

Jarro's drawing of an eco-house