From our cosy narrowboat home, wander, gather, settle by this tiny life is a celebration of slow and simple living. Join us for seasonal suppers, tales from the veg patch and the joy of living a naturally richer life.

Hello! I’m Jack and I put together this substack with my partner, Gabby. We live on a rustic, mostly self-built, narrowboat, nestled in the Oxfordshire countryside.

this tiny life is our little seasonal journal. Full of recipes, natural living guides, foraging tales and wandering scribbles, inspired by a desire to live a gentler, yet wilder, life.

I suppose the best way to describe this substack, is it’s like gathering around a lovely old kitchen table in a slightly ramshackle farmhouse. There’s always something blipping away on the stove and you’re more than welcome, in fact, no it’s obligatory, to help yourself to a plate. At least one of us will be over-enthusiastically telling you about our allotment. Or how the blackberries are bursting at the seams this year. Or how we think we spotted the otter that lives in the reeds opposite going for a swim this morning... Meanwhile, Tilly, our dog, will be begging you for a belly rub whilst Gabby digs out a jar of homemade chutney or lip balm for you to take home.

There is also a very likely chance I’ll be talking a little too much about beekeeping.

In essence, this tiny life is about the joy of simple living and connecting more with nature and the outdoors. If you, like us, have a hunger to live a more seasonal, sustainable and slower lifestyle. Draw up a chair, I’ll make us a brew and welcome to this tiny life.

For those who seek to live deliberately, thank you for being here.

How does this work? What happens by subscribing?

There are two versions of this journal, the basic version is free. As the wonderful

If you decide to become a paid subscriber, more features unlock. This is like being fully on board our floating home and coming for a cruise!

You get access to all our recipes and natural living guides, plus you can delve back into the archive. We also provide recordings of our articles, so you can listen rather than read. With these, we aim to transport you to the veg path or gentle canal towpath by including a natural calming soundscape.

We’ll also be able to message, whereby we can communicate directly via chat. Again, this will only be available to paid-for subscriptions, as will the ability to comment on posts.

Get 7 day free trial

In the future, we hope to host events both in-person and here on substack. Paid subscribers will receive exclusive invites and be the first to hear about these plans, once we have them more solidly in place.

What’s more, you’ll be helping to support this wonderful community, not just our blog, but the whole of substack. Giving a voice to creatives and writers and allowing their content to thrive.

One thing we want to make certain, no matter which way you join us, we’re so grateful that you’re here. Your support means a lot.

Sometimes living this way, in a world driven by consumerism where faster is a synonym for better, can feel lonely. You add purpose and we value your company greatly. We hope you enjoy what we publish.

If you’d like to become a paid subscriber, but can’t manage right now. Please do reach out and we’ll see what we can do x

Meet the Crew

Jack Miles

Hello! I’m Jack - a writer, broadcaster, keen forager and enthusiastic home cook. I grew up in Gloucestershire, went to Uni in Leeds, spent a few years living in Devon and now drift around Oxfordshire.

I have many interests like running, walking, music, foraging, beekeeping, fermenting, self-sufficiency, environmentalism, cricket (watching, not playing), rugby (see previous), allotmenting, words, good coffee, and spending as much time as possible in the outdoors. I have a dream of spending a summer living out of a Land Rover and I tend to start projects without fully thinking them through. Oh, I’m also very easily distracted.

Above all, being in the kitchen is my favourite thing. I love food. Not just making a meal, but learning the stories behind it. The producers and growers, those that dedicate themselves to become true artisans. I think this is what inspires me to eat as locally and seasonally as possible. That, and trying to negotiate sustainability through our plates.

Our diet has such a huge impact on the world around us, from soil degradation to the carbon cost of importing fancy fruits and vegetables from every corner of the globe. Our overconsumption and reliance on processed food are affecting not only our health but, the planet’s too.

Although I don’t believe there’s a simple, fix-all, solution, I choose to eat SLOW - Seasonally, locally, organic where possible and whole. I think there’s much to be said for getting hands-on, trying to make things for yourself and gaining a greater connection with the land and nature through creating delicious food.

One thing I also value greatly is my free time. I’m a devil for procrastination and can easily while away hours just watching the world pass by our narrowboat’s window.

Admittedly, that does sound quite lazy written down but, I’m constantly astonished by nature. Without a dose of greenery in my day I become a fidgety ball of restless anxiety. However, this feeling can also be induced if I go too long without a decent coffee.

I might live off-grid, but I’m not fully feral… Yet.

Gabby Barrett

Hey! I’m Gabby, I grew up on the coast in Kent and like Jack, headed up north for Uni (it’s where we met), lived in Gloucestershire for a bit, moved to Devon for a few years and now… We’re on the boat!

My favourite thing to grow in the allotment are courgettes, but I’m also a sucker for potatoes. Basically, anything that gives a whopping big harvest! I have ambitions to learn how to make my own clothes, which is why we MUST keep the sewing machine on the boat and if I could get away with it, I would eat over boiled broccoli with pasta and salt every day.

For most of my career, I’ve worked as a TV producer, bar a couple of short stints as a radio journalist and a magazine writer. It’s a job that I love as I’ve been very fortunate to have worked on many interesting shows.

For me, I get such a buzz from coming up with creative ideas and working to see them come to fruition. Although things constantly change and rarely go to plan in TV… It’s the challenge of having to create something out of nothing that keeps it spicy!

That being said, I’d be lost without having our little creaky narrowboat to return to. The greenery and gentler pace of life are the perfect tonic to any work stresses.

Similar to Jack, I need time and space to breathe and wander. I love being a witness to the season’s constant shifts and seek so much solace in the new rhythms and routines that each part of the year brings. Even if that does mean having to wear 10,000 thermal vests in winter (I really feel the cold!)

Becoming a mother and being able to bring up our son, Joe, in this gentler way of life is something which empowers me greatly. The wilds of the canal are simply enchanting and having nature on our doorstep is something I’ll never take for granted.

As a parent, I feel people are often bombarded with constant messages about what babies need and how certain ‘miracle’ products will provide perfect solutions to every problem.

I think there is something about living on a boat and being a little closer to the outdoors, that helps give everything a little more context. It forces you to be quite considered with your possessions as space inside is so limited You also become very aware of waste. What’s more, because our grey water drains straight into the canal, you to become very conscious of everything you use.

For the last few years, I’ve been making my own natural skincare, from moisturisers to soaps and balms. I find The number of chemicals included in off-the-shelf options remarkable, not to mention the amount of plastic pollution they create.

I do wonder, if it’s so damaging to the environment, why do we find it fine to use on ourselves?

This is why one of my big ambitions is to work on a book for more natural, sustainable, parenting. Not necessarily a how-to guide, but more a companion for other mums who may need a guiding hand in convincing the in-laws that reusable nappies aren’t gross!

As a caveat, I am not perfect. Far from it. There’s always an emergency Pampers in my backpack. But, if this sounds like something you would be interested in, please join me on my other substack: The Natural Living Mum.

Joe

Joe is our young son, who’s constantly keeping us on our toes! It’s short for Joubert which was my (Jack) great-grandfather’s name. His favourite things at the moment are bouncing in his bouncer, playing where’s-the-baby and putting anything and everything in his mouth.

He’s also just learnt to crawl and stand in the same weekend, which he’s very pleased about. Suddenly the boat feels very small!

Tilly

Tilly. The Schnozz. Noosher. Schnozzler. Matlidé. Stinker-binker. There are many names she goes by and they vary depending on how obstinate she’s choosing to be.

To be honest, we’d be lost without her. She’s the most beautifully souled dog who loves a game of chase as much as she does snoozing.

Her dislikes are baths. In fact, she hates anything to do with water. So ideal for boat life.

If you give her a biscuit or a carrot she’ll be your best friend for life.

Our Home

We’ve been living on the water for over 5 years now, first moving onboard our previous boat in 2019. We spent a lot of time refurbishing her, making her into a beautiful and modern living space.

However, boat life is off-grid. In the winter we would have to run our engine or generator for hours and hours to provide electricity for our batteries. We became very conscious of the smokey diesel emissions belching out our exhaust whilst we travelled through the serene landscape and began to feel that although we believed we were doing good by living ‘tiny’ we were relying heavily on diesel, gas and coal.

In the Spring of 2021, we decided to take on a challenge. Could we design and build a truly self-sufficient narrowboat?

It was an ambitious challenge, I’m quite handy but truthfully am more of a give-it-a-go-and-see kind of person than actually knowing what they’re doing. After speaking to an amazing electrician and people with a lot more know-how, we set about building Artichoke.

With 6 solar panels on the roof and an inside built using as much reclaimed material as we could get our mitts on, she is almost entirely self-sufficient.

We generate enough electricity in the summer to run the boat entirely. Our propulsion is a Lynch electric motor and all of our cooking and hot water is powered by the sun’s energy. It’s quite mad that all modern homes aren’t built with the ability to harness this incredible resource.

In the winter, things do change a little bit. The sun’s rays aren’t as powerful and the shorter days leave a deficit in our batteries.

During the darker months, we move away from using the electric hob and any other high-energy appliances. Instead, our woodburning stove becomes the soul of the boat.

A reclaimed Esse Ironheart, she is our heating, our hot water and our oven. She also provides the reassurance that only a comforting, cosy, crackling fire can on those days when the air is pin-sharp with cold.

Whilst we are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of burning firewood, we believe that it is still a sustainable, renewable fuel, as long as managed correctly.

Considering our home is nearly entirely self-built, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved. There’s still lots to finish, and whilst we’re not the speediest of workers, the whole process has taught us so much about ourselves.

Yes, parts of Arti are cobbled together and when you look closely you’ll see plenty of faults. But, they’re our mistakes. Each one has been an opportunity to learn. Each one adding to her rustic, homespun, charm.

What about the bees and veg patch?

We are fortunate to have a permanent mooring to call home. This means we don’t have to ‘continuously cruise’ which entails moving to a new location every two weeks. We’re able to stay in this spot all year round and while we miss the travelling and nomadic existence, it has opened a few opportunities to put down ‘roots’.

Our village has a community-ran allotment and we’ve been lucky enough to secure a small patch. Although only a quarter plot, it’s been plenty for us to take on as keen novices. With a thrifted greenhouse and 3 raised beds, we’ve been enjoying an abundance of courgettes, lettuce, beans, tomatoes and radishes. It’s quite remarkable the amount you can grow, even with our slightly unkempt approach to gardening!

As part of the community-owned land, there’s a nearby orchard where I have been fortunate enough to be able to keep my bees.

Becoming a beekeeper is a desire I’d harboured for a long time and after taking an introductory course, I took the plunge and took on my first hive. It’s been a good start, with 20kg of honey coming from a decent summer. I aim to have a holistic approach to beekeeping, I’m not too bothered about maximising production. It’s more to learn and spend time around these incredible creatures and to support some of our precious pollinators.

That said, it’s not the cheapest hobby! So if you’d enjoy purchasing some natural, raw, honey, a few jars will be available soon on our website

How did you get here?

Can I just say - well done if you’ve reached this far! It’s become a lot longer than I expected. So, to break it up, if you’d like to know more about our story have a read of this post - How Did We Get Here

Just something extra…

As you’ve stuck around through all our ramblings, here’s a reward:

10% off for those who take out a year’s subscription.

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It’s a pleasure to welcome you to this tiny life, thank you for popping over and being part of this little community.

Jack + Gabby x

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