Chicken Shack Housing Co-operative

Chickenshack is home to an extended 'family' of people, with usually 6 or so permanent residents at any one time, but with many more family and friends visiting. As a group we are applying a slowly unfolding permaculture design at our home, Brynllwyn, where there are 3 adjoining houses set in 5 acres of land in Snowdonia National Park.

We have half an acre of veg garden, a polytunnel, and an ever-improving and expanding forest garden, home to our chickens. We have also planted an acre and a half of coppice, hedgerow and woodland and are protecting a traditional wetland. The co-op is part financed by Triodos, an ethical bank, and we were assisted in setting up by Radical Routes, a national secondary co-op, and investment from members and supporters.

Our eco-policy means that occasional surpluses from the co-op are reinvested in improving its environmental performance, such as our biomass and solar central heating system and a new PV array. We are actively exploring our commitments to low impact living, green and ethical business and community building.