This archive brings together practical, experience-led articles from The Backyard Farmer, covering gardening, DIY, indoor growing, foraging, reviews, and sustainable living. Each post is written with real-world use in mind — focusing on working with nature, building practical skills, and making sustainable choices more accessible.
More people are choosing composting toilets for off-grid homes, cabins, RVs and van life, offering a practical way to manage waste without relying on conventional plumbing or a sewer connection. But the right choice depends on how permanent your setup is, the space available and
Choosing the right off-grid solar system depends on where and how it will be used. An RV, remote cabin and tiny home all have very different power, battery and installation requirements. We’ve compared current US options and picked the strongest systems for each use case
Choosing an off-grid solar kit is less about buying the biggest system and more about matching the solar capacity, battery storage and inverter power to what you actually need to run. For small cabins and basic backup, a compact 12V kit may be enough. Garden
An off-grid solar system generates, stores and supplies electricity without relying on the National Grid. A typical setup combines solar panels, a charge controller, battery storage and an inverter — but getting the system size right is more important than choosing a particular brand. In
Solar panels turn sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic cells. The panels generate direct current (DC) electricity, which an inverter converts into alternating current (AC) that can be used by normal household appliances. Depending on the system, the electricity can be used straight away, stored in
For most UK solar installations, an unshaded south-facing position is the best starting point if you want to maximise annual electricity generation. But panels do not need to face perfectly south to work well. South-east and south-west are both strong options, while east- and west-facing
Choosing between the best solar companies in the UK is about more than finding the lowest quote. A good solar installer should combine MCS-certified installation, sensible system design, clear warranties, reliable aftercare and equipment suited to your home, energy use and future plans. For 2026,