Background
Obee CIC is an off-grid environmental education centre in Mid Suffolk. Using traditional, environmentally friendly methods to building and growing. The project has been running for the last 18 years, offering a unique opportunity for many individuals to learn traditional building methods with hands-on experience.
The Project
Sarah and her team of volunteers have been gradually bringing life back to the site with repairs and re-building of original structures such as the Threshing Barn and Long House. The Threshing Barn, now home to a workshop, mini museum (featuring finds from the site including medicine bottles, pottery, thatching crooks and collar used for working horses) and tool store with Wattle and Daubed roof. This space has proven valuable to the project with room for sharpening and fixing of tools for use by volunteers.
The Long House (soon to be education building) originally with a thatched roof had fallen down when the property was taken on. Over the last 8 years a collective of students, volunteers and experts have re-built the long house with hand cut timber frame, straw and earth walls, wooden shingle roof tiles, earth floors and masonry stove. At the time of visiting (Oct25) the roof shingles are close to completion with each shingle having been made expertly by hand. The masonry stove is a powerhouse of warmth, built by re-using original bricks and mortar the stove radiates heat through the building and with thick walls of straw and earth the building stays warm long after the fire has extinguished.
The site also features a garden, orchard and recently built tool shed. The garden comprises of beds filled with compost made on site and paths of soaked cardboard and wood shavings/chips which are a by-product of the works on the long house. This combination works as an excellent weed suppressant and will also break down to form useable compost for the garden. OBee have allowed plants to self-seed and grow where they root – often leading to stronger and better plants. They have managed to produce a great quantity of food on site including chard, apples, pears and herbs.
OBee have previously held workshops on topics such as wattle and daub, clay plaster, timber frame repairs, using hot lime, making wooden roof tiles (shingles) and timber frame restoration.
Volunteers involved in the project have come from all over the world including experts on sustainable building, construction and architecture students but many are local people in Suffolk, students from nearby colleges, local people wanting to work outdoors and learn new skills, employer-supported volunteering groups and many more!
Sustainable Communities Food Fund
OBee CIC applied for the Sustainable Communities Food Fund (Babergh and Mid Suffolk) in March 2025. The funding has already proven valuable – evidenced by the teaching of a range of skills to volunteers and workshop attendees. These skills have included maintenance, restoration and repairing of garden and woodwork tools, permaculture gardening techniques, plant identification, rainwater harvesting, deadwood screen making, soil health and biodiversity.
The funding has also paid for a volunteer supervisor to work with new volunteers and working parties as well as a tool restorer to teach volunteers proper restoration techniques.
The impact of this funding extends beyond the funding period as the skills taught will be used for many years to come at OBee to encourage maintenance of tools and care for growing areas. Education around diversity and growing food alongside nature will also contribute to a welcoming and safe environment for a whole host of wildlife (hedgehogs, birds and insects have already been seen making Orchard Barn their home).
Those who have attended Orchard Barn to learn skills will take these forwards to other places and environments where skills will prove invaluable. Industries such as architecture and construction are often looking for new ways to encourage sustainable building, and these skills will support long-term change and education.
