Tinker's Bubble

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

File:Norton Covert - geograph.org.uk - 1045009.jpg

Tinker's Bubble is an intentional community located at Norton Covert in Little Norton near Yeovil in south Somerset, England. It was established in 1994 on {{convert|40|acre|m2}} of land consisting of about {{convert|20|acre|m2}} of woodland as well as orchards and pasture.{{cite web |title=Tinker's Bubble |url=http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/tinker.pdf/$FILE/tinker.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627002209/http://www.forestry.gov.uk:80/pdf/tinker.pdf/$FILE/tinker.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-27 |accessdate=18 November 2012 |publisher=Forestry Commission}}{{cite web | url=http://www.evnuk.org.uk/wessex.html | title=Tinker's Bubble | publisher=Eco-Village Network UK | accessdate=18 November 2012 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206095428/http://www.evnuk.org.uk/wessex.html | archivedate=6 February 2012 }}{{cite web | url= https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jul/03/the-rise-of-woodland-off-gridders-it-makes-more-sense-than-a-nine-to-five | title=The rise of woodland off-gridders: ‘It makes more sense than a nine-to-five’ | publisher=The Guardian |accessdate=20 March 2024}}

The woods are mostly Douglas fir and larch but with patches of native species such as ash trees. Much of the pasture is maintained traditionally using scythes for hay making. Tinker's Bubble earns a small income by selling organically grown produce at local farmers' markets and selling sustainably produced timber which is felled by hand,{{cite web | url=http://www.localfooddirect.co.uk/producers.asp?producer_id=151 | title=Tinkers Bubble | publisher=Local Food Direct | accessdate=18 November 2012}} logged by horse and sawn by a wood-fired steam-engine driven sawmill.{{cite web | url=http://www.economads.com/log20020524-20020531.php | title=Tinker's Bubble | publisher=Economads | accessdate=18 November 2012}} The community has a ban on the use of fossil fuels on site (with the exception of lighting such as paraffin lamps) and use solar powered 12v electricity.{{cite web | url=http://www.diggersanddreamers.org.uk/index.php?one=pnv&two=det&sel=tinkers | title=Tinker's Bubble | publisher=Diggers and Dreamers |accessdate=18 November 2012}}

The buildings are temporary structures built with a very low environmental impact when compared to conventional housing.{{cite web | url=http://www.tlio.org.uk/chapter7/book/export/html/8 | title=Planning Precedents | publisher=The land is ours | accessdate=18 November 2012 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728163030/http://www.tlio.org.uk/chapter7/book/export/html/8 | archivedate=28 July 2013 }} The community fought very hard for planning consent for dwellings on the site and now has permission for temporary dwellings with limitations such as to the number of vehicles owned by the community.{{cite web | url=http://www.monbiot.com/2004/08/23/living-with-the-age-of-entropy/ | last=Monbiot | first=George|title=Living with the Age of Entropy | publisher=Guardian|accessdate=18 November 2012}}

The community are WWOOF hosts and accept working visits from WWOOF members as a chance to experience their way of life.

Nine‑year‑old Eve, from the community, features in a short documentary depicting her daily life, her school experiences, and a speech she made at an environmental rally in London.

{{cite AV media

| author = Gallivant Film

| title = Eve: the off-grid life of a nine-year-old climate activist — Guardian documentary

| date = June 2021

| work = The Guardian

| location = London, United Kingdom

| issn = 0261-3077

| url = https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2021/jun/01/eve-the-off-grid-life-of-a-nine-year-old-climate-activist-video

| access-date = 2021-06-18

}} Video 00:21:06. A production by Gallivant Film. Features the Tizard family, the Community of Tinkers Bubble, and Castle Primary School.