Why We Left the City for the Little Green Farm
After over a decade of city life in Edinburgh, we knew it was time for a change. We loved the hustle and bustle, but deep down, we craved space — space to breathe, to grow, and to watch our dogs roam without a leash.
The pandemic really brought this into sharp focus. Being stuck indoors, day after day, with our two dogs in a small flat wasn’t easy. The city, once exciting, started to feel crowded and a bit unsafe. We found ourselves dreaming more and more about wide-open fields and fresh air.
We’d always talked about moving back home to Ireland one day, and with travel restrictions easing, we began searching for a small cottage with some land — a place to call our own. We looked all over the west of Ireland, but the Covid travel restrictions made viewing properties tricky. We even lost out on a couple of places before we found our “little gem.”
The sellers insisted we see it in person before making an offer, so Cal booked Jo a ferry ticket, and two days later, she was standing on the doorstep. The house needed a lot of work, but it came with a big hay shed and over 1.5 acres of land — perfect for the garden, animals, and all the dreams we had.
Jo’s parents came with her to view the property. Her dad, being a farmer, had some great insight into the land and outbuildings, which was a huge help. We made an offer, and before Jo got back on the ferry, it was accepted.
From there, it was a whirlwind of selling our flat, packing up, and planning the move. We officially bought the house in August 2021 and moved back home to Ireland on April 1st, 2022.
It’s been a big transition — filled with hard work, learning curves, and plenty of muddy boots — but it’s exactly where we want to be.