August - the Story so Far.

Year to date, we have had 35 campervans and motorhomes visit Frugaldom for overnight stops, each leaving their £5 in the box or paying via our PayPal QR code at a cost of 15p per transaction to ourselves. Several of our lovely visitors stayed for a couple of nights or else left a small donation in the honesty boxes, which is always a huge help when animal feed costs so much.

Willowby, Lemony and Blue

Towards the end of July, the first of the rescued foals, who are now 5-year-olds, went off in a hired horsebox after a 2-hour training session, initially heading for Darcy's Equine Assisted Therapy Centre in Strathaven. However, there was a slught deviation to that plan in that Blue shoud have gone with him but got left behind as he was too upset about being shut in the horsebox. 

BB Dobin in the horsebox

The driver then decided he wanted to take baby Dobbin home with him, as he had really 'fallen for the little fellow', or words to that effect. So now we have 3 youngsters left at Frugaldom and none has made it to Darcy's so far. However, baby Dobbin WILL still be goung to Darcy;s, hopefully this week. More on that soon - we now need to find an extra £315 to cover the costs of services provided by Nutmeg Equine Transport so I have launched a flash fundraiser to help cover these extra costs. 

If you can help out at all, you can find the Frugaldom fundraising page here.

The wildlife visits have been frequent and eventful, with what we think is now 9 badgers in Clan MacBrock. The youngest cub is a real cheeky character, always making a mess and causing chaos on te deckings by tipping up bowls and overturning the feeder boxes.

Badgers by the gate

The fox cub has now met the badgers after a brief altercation that was, luckily, caught on camera. You can see this and many more brief video clips on the Frugaldom YouTube channel.

Vincent Van Goat remains alone since the sad demise of his friend, Goatis Redding. We are open to rehoming a goaty companion for him, nanny or wether, but we need the goat to be tagged and registered accordngly with an approporiate movement licence issued.

The Sand Pit

Our August targets included moving ponies to Darcy's, making a sandpit suitable for Vincemt Van Goat and Ginger rolling in and getting the pond area improved. All of the above are underway, with the sand pit now completed, at a total cost of £115, and one side of the feeder pond partially fenced at a cost, so far, of around £40. The pond, itself, is being gradually cleared of duckweed, thanks to willing members donning waders and playing in the mud. The pond is alive with newts and frogs so great care is being taken while working painstakingly around these. 

We are currently awaiting the delivery of wooden boards for completing windbreak fencing around Vincent's house and finishing a bit more fencing. We were lucky enugh to source several loads of wood/tree chippings, which have been laid out around the orchard wildlife garden as temporary paths, The raised beds finally got refilled with top soil for planting some vegetables and this week will see the arrival of Harvey's next Ecoarts creation - The Four Horses of Frugaldom: Truth, Honesty, Integrity and Respect. All going well, these should be installed in a corner between the pony track nearest Vincent Van Goat's run.

More news soon - it takes sunshine to recharge the batteries for laptop and mobiles,

Badger Haven at Frugaldom

Our badger clan is growing

 

Frugaldom did not set out to become a haven for the local badger clan, it happened quite by mistake. Our barren land was purchased 10 years ago and from them until now, we have been planting rees, hedges, wildflowers, herbs, grasses, fruit, berries and vegetables. The badger clan found us just last year, when we first completed the hutting project and began monitoring wildlife.

Badger in daylight

We did some fundraising for Frugaldom to help cover the cost of some trail cameras, which we managed to source for around £25 each. These were initially purchased to monitor the movements of a pine marten that was spotted.

Pine marten

By setting up the various cameras we were able to establish regular surveillance and have now amassed housands of photos and video clips showing weasels, stoats, pine marten, badger, deer, fox, adders and to our surprise, 5 feral cats who visit through the night. 

Over the winter of 2023/24 we began offering wildlife watch weekends for Friends of Frugaldom, staying either in the huts or in campervans or motorhomes in the yard. As a Certificated (or Certified) Location, we are licensed for up to 5 fully-contained campervans but we aim to keep this to a maximum of 3 owing to quiet hours and lack of services. We do have a waste tank for emptying portable toilet cassettes and a soakaway for water but we are fully off-grid here, so no electricity, sewers or running water. It is very much a case of bring absolutely everything you need, take nothing but photographs and leave no trace. We charge £5 for using the basic facilities and overnight parking is by donation. You must like animals and wildlife and you must adhere to our fairly lengthy list of rules as we are a sanctuary and wildlife conservation project carrying out wildlife surveillance seven night per week. Although we don't object to people bringing their pets in motorhomes or campervans, the pets MUST be kept on short leads and all mess cleaned up. Badgers, pine martens and adders don't mix well with domestic pets if they inadvertently get cornered. Ordinarily, though, the wildlife is out after dark and happily wandering around when left to do their own thing.

Pair of badgers in the paddock by hut 1

Our various feeding stations are topped up each evening before dark. We don't expect our visitors to be out wandering around after dark as we are simply a stopover, not a campsite or holiday park. Here at Frugaldom, the animals come first and our primary function is as a nature and wildlife conservatin project with an animal sanctuary. We currently have 8 ponies and a goat - Vincent Van Goat - to look after. All funds raised from our visitors contribute towards the care of the animals and wildlife.

Badger cubs

We have at least 2 female badgers in the clan who currently have cubs. (Our visiting fox seems to have just a single cub.) The cubs have just begun to come out at nights, often seen in the paddock or creating merry mayhem on the deckings of huts 2 or 3, where we have badger box feeders. These have been a great addition to the project, allowing our happy hutters the opportunity to sit watching the badgers feeding outside the hut windows.

Some of the badger clan

If you are planning a stopover at Frugaldom, we recommend you bring along some peanuts. Everything here seems to love peanuts, even the goat and old Ginger, our thirty-something year old retired pony. We may not be posh or fancy, we may not have modern conveniences and we may not be to everyone's taste as an overnight location but we do this out of a love for nature and justice for abandoned and abused ponies. If we can raise a few pounds to help provide them all with a little safe haven then you are all welcome to join us in our quest to achieve this on a frugal budget. The following are some helpful links:

CONTACT DETAILS, LISTS AND LINKS

Contact details and other information, including social media, Amazon Wish List, Ko-fi break updates, website and fundraising links.

Address: Frugaldom, Kirkcowan, Newton Stewart, Dumfries & Galloway, DG8 0ET

Tel/WhatsApp: 07795 870688

What3Words///Photo.Regal.Fencing

Social media, most places, username is @Frugaldom

www.instagram.com/frugaldom

www.twitter.com/frugaldom

www.youtube.com/@frugaldom

Become Friends of Frugaldom: www.ko-fi.com/Frugaldom

GoFundMe page: https://gofund.me/b56f6009

PayPal.me/frugaldom or email frugaldom@gmail.com

Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/29CPYAW8MPZ3F

Web address: www.frugaldom.com leads to this blog, which is http://frugaldom.blogspot.com/

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SUPPORT OUR PROJECT

Baby badger lands on his head and then gets told off by parent

Frugaldom Fresh Aire, Nature and Wildlife

Feeding station

 

Here at Frugaldom, we have several feeding stations set out for the various wildlife that frequent the land. With over 12 acres of wilderness deicated to nature and wildlife, the project comprises grassland, woodland, orchard, wetland and the pony tracks where the sanctuary equines live. 

Campervan/Motorhome Bay 1

The yard has designated parking for three campervans or motorhomes (max. 7.5m)  Parking bay 1 is in the corner of our yard. It is edgd with hawthorn and dog roses and we do not keep a tidy garden - this is a wildlife haven so everything is kept as wild as possible.

Corner plot

Across the fence, there is a wildlife feeding station, made up of bird feeders, bird bath and a platform that the wildlife can go under or on top for feeding. It is a simple structure built from recycled pallets and old water pipe. The badgers often walk through the pipe and the pine marten can occasionally be seen on the platform if you leave him out an egg and some peanuts for his supper.

The Rearing Horses

In front of this parking space is the sculpture of two rearing horses, 'Balius and Xanthus', the immortals. As well as the mythical connection, they are in memory of the Galloways, a breed once common around these parts but bred into extinction in the development of the Thoroughbred racehorses of today.

The yard

The yard is fairly flat but not perfectly level. We are toally off-grid so no services are included in the £5 parking fee. Campervans and motorhomes must be fully self-contained with on-board toilet, water and waste containers. Frugaldom is about affordability, simplicity and getting back to nature so we expect our visitors to respect the property, the wildlife and the rules, of which there are a few. We are not a campsite but as long as you have everything you need and leave no trace, you are welcome to come along, park up and experience Frugaldom. 

Badger at feeding station

As a sanctuary and nature project, we do allow well-behaved pets but they must be on short leads and in for the night before wildlife surveillance begins. You are welcme to bring along your own trail cams and peanuts are always appreciated. Frugaldom is not for profit, we operate voluntarily. We have a Friends of Frugaldom support group you can join from as little as £5 per month, then visit us anytime you can.

Wildlife Watching at Frugaldom from your Campervan or Motorhome

When visiting Frugadom in your campervan or motorhome, you are likely to encounter some of the wildlife that we feed in the garden and orchard around the yard. Bay 1, a corner pitch, overlooks a wildlife feeding station so for any photographers, wildlife watchers or nature fans, feel free to bring along a rail cam and set it up ouside your van. I left a camera out there last night just to see what is visiting.

The badgers were active, snuffling around the feeding station for quite some time, rooting for peanuts that we always put out for them and the pine marten.

Frugaldom is also home to several feral cats that roam around after dark. We very seldom catch sight of them during daylight but we know thet are out there in the same way we know the badgers, pine marten and fox are out there - caught on camera. This is Macaroon, the black cat. She is often seen along with Socks, a tabby and white male. Most have ben neutered under the catch and release scheme so we shouldn't see kittens. 

The fox is here most nights and we think she is nursing cubs somewhere nearby. Unlike the badgers, who have already brought a baby along to Frugaldom, she hasn't ventured within camera range with any cubs, yet. It could be soon - it could be while you are here watching.

This is a photo we caught of one of the mother badgers bringing her cub into the paddock a couple of nights ago. We love supporting the wildlife here and will happily accept peanuts, complete dog food or cat food in lieu of payment for an overnight stop. Likewise, you are welcome to leave eggs for the pine marten as these are his favourite food of the moment.

The pine marten is a little more elusive but if you can't see him, you ofen hear him at the feeding platform in the big tree, where the clunk of the wooden lid of the feeder signifies he is there snacking on peanuts. Leave an egg and peanuts out for him on the platform next to bay 1 and chances are that he will pop by for a late supper.

We can comfortably accommodate three motorhomes or campervans up to an absolute maximum of 7.5m but you need to have your own toilet on board and bring water as we are completely off grid with no services other than our grey water waste soakaway and a toilet tank for emptying cassettes. We have rain water harvesting to a 1000 litre tank for rinsing but during dry weather, this can run out. At £5 per night for an overnight stay, it is still well and truly worth a visit to Frugaldom. Find us on Google maps, SearchforSites, Park4Night and What3Words///Photo.Regal.Fencing will bring you to our main gate. Just search for Frugaldom or better still, join us via our support group at www.ko-fi.com/Frugaldom then visit whenever you can.

See you soon!

The Frugal Freedom to Observe Nature

 

Mama Badger

Frugal living can mean many things to many people. Some think of it as being mean and penny-pinching, ohers think thrifty and moneysaving but for many of us, frugal living simply means living well within our own means so we can afford to do things we enjoy without incurring debt, no matter how low our income. Based on certain Government 'ideals', I happily live not just below the poverty line but below actual destitution level, based on my income. I don't claim any form of benefits, I have the prviledge of being able to do what I do simply because I can. Everything else goes into savings and investing in the future, living in hope that the future will be kind to those who follow in my footsteps, be they many or few.

Bunnikens

Some people crave travel, different weather, different scenery, different climate, different people and different places in order to try and satisfy a lack of contentment. This leads to the hamster wheel of spinning out income to keep up with the costs of all these things and then, even when working flat out, that income may not cover all of the above without living in debt. Debt is the enemy, no mater what anyone tells me otherwise. Yes, I agree that if you borrow capital to invest in a business venture then that debt is good debt while the business is solvent and adequately profitable. The bigger the business, the bigger the debts and the bigger the risk of getting out of it with absolute financial security. How much is stress costing you in financial terms? If you have 'gone public' then yur business is only worth the paper it's written on if all the shareholders decie they'd rather keep their money elsewhere. Where do we invest?

3 Spot the pine marten

We invest in property and invite new tenants from nature - the wildlife. You don't need hundreds of thousands of acres of land, or forest, moorland or woodland. You can create your own tiny haven or find that haven nearby. If you are fortunate enough to have a garden, dedicate it to nature and wildlife, even if that wildlife is the smallest of creatures. Observing them in nature is worth every penny invested. If you don't have or can't find space nearby, research your local conservation projects and get involved at whatever level you can. Frugaldom now offers a monthly subscription to enable virtual participation for those who can't actually visit but for those who can, we welcome them anytime.

Foxy

Yes, we even welcome the regular visits by the fox. It's a mini jungle out there and amazing to see some of these animals interacting. The pine maren avoids the fox for good reason but the badgers don't seem to mind the company. Most of these photos are being captured on trail cams that cost less than £25 each so you don't need expensive equipment, just patience and rechargeable batteries.

Right now, as well as the wildlife, we have 8 ponies and a goat living at Frugaldom. These aren't "my" animals, they all belong to the people who care to contribute towards their keep each month, those who come and help look after those who choose to adopt, sponsor or rehome them at their own expense. Frugaldom didn't just become a sanctuary for animals but also for the people who need to stop the merry-go-round of their lives and get off for a break. A change is as good as a rest and it is absolutely amazing to see how animals and people interact when either have endured untold past events. 

Macaroon

Feeding the wildlife, for those involved here, also means feral cats. There are, as far as we are aware, four cats frequenting the place.

Socks

We have no idea where these cas came from nor where they go when they leave here - if they do. We have never seen them strolling around, they are only ever spotted on the trail cameras or perhaps a pair of shining eyes caught in the beam of a torch if out walking after dark.

Commander

We gave each a name but they will never know that. All they know is there is food for them should they chose to come to be fed here. We don't have close-by neighbours and those we do have further afield all confirm these are not their cats - they are feral. As you can tell by Commander's ear, he has been part of a previous trap, neuter, release scheme - probably the root cause of his absolute fear of humans now.

Minstrel

If anyone anywhere recognises any of the cats, please do get in contact to let us know. The least we can do is confirm he cats are alive and well, fed each night and occasionally seen on camera interacting with one another.

The next step in the frugal living, with the emphasis now on living, was to invest in accommadation for fellow frugalers to share this experience. We chose to build single-room cabins and fit wood burning stoves. They have sparce furnishings and are completely off-grid but they are comfortable and warm. No, we do not rent them out to holiday makers or the general public. These huts are for the benefit of fellow frugal living, wildlife loving, need-a-break-from-society Friends of Frugaldom

Pursue your passion and find contentment in what nature can provide. Share your hopes and dreams with others so they can help make them happen and together, we can forge our way ahead, content in the knowledge that we did our best to look after the land on which we depend entirely and always will. It's the little things that count the most, in my opinion, and those things all tend to be free when you know where to find them.