The Cornish Lime Company is the region's leading building conservation merchant. They manufacture lime putty made from limestone sourced from Derbyshire, France and Portugal and use this putty to make their lime mortars, renders and plasters. They also sell natural hydraulic lime and associated products along with Prompt Roman Cement which is fast setting and totally natural. They also supply a wide range of breathable paints for both interiors and exteriors including mineral paints, lime washes and lime paints and also natural paints. These paints are suitable for period and new homes. Cornish Lime stock possibly the largest selection of coloured sands and decorative chippings in the South West which can be shipped in either tonne or 25kg bags. Cornish Lime offer a holistic approach to all requirements and recognises that "one size doesn't fit all". The phone number is 01208 79779.
Cornish Organic Wool comes from certified organic farms and is spun by a certified spinning mill and dyed on site - all within the county of Cornwall. All processes are done to strict Soil Association standards so the result is the most organic wool possible, with a truly tiny eco footprint. One of the Cornish Wool farmers is in Zennor while others are near Bodmin and Liskeard. Purchase online or from Knit Wits, 45 Causewayhead, Penzance TR18 2SS (01736 367069).
They handcraft all their products (rustic garden furniture, willow baskets etc) in Cornwall using, as far as possible, locally sourced and home grown materials. Much of their material is grown at Treovis Cross Farm which is situated on the South Eastern edge of Bodmin Moor, between Launceston and Liskeard.
Cornish Wools produces, markets and sells nationally and internationally its own exclusive range of sustainable and biodegradable knitting wools. Their knitting wools are made from the fleece of sheep (some of which are rare and at risk breeds) alpacas and goats that are reared and farmed on Cornish farms and smallholdings. Cornish Wools makes products that naturally biodegrade when they are of no further use, trades ethically and helps support the local economy. Their knitting shop sells not only local Cornish yarns but also an ever increasing range of accessories including knitting needles. Cornish Artisan is produced by them in their Perranuthnoe dye workshop – it's a range of yarns dyed using mostly natural dyes.
Cornwall Poultry Houses offer top quality chicken houses, chicken runs, duck houses and poultry equipment. All their products are designed for easy management and manoeuvrability. They are hand built by local craftsman from tanalised timber, which comes from sustainable sources, and covered with 19mm tanalised shiplap, making them robust and weatherproof for a long and productive life.
The company was founded by Jean Barry, an expert in complementary therapies with a belief in caring for and nurturing both ourselves and the environment. The company promotes these beliefs by manufacturing products made entirely from natural ingredients, to both nurture and cleanse the skin. Jean Barry Soaps are made purely in Cornwall. The traditional cold process uses no detergents, only vegetable oils combined with lye and water, in a process known as saponification. Once they have been stored to allow them to mature, the soaps are hand polished, before being wrapped and packaged, or displayed in the Penzance shop for sale to the public.
Knit Wits Wool and Yarn Shop is one of the foremost wool stockists in the south-west and is well known for stocking Cornish organic wool; based in Penzance it is owned and run by Julia Hopson. They have an online store as well.
Linda makes a variety of baskets using Somerset and homegrown Cornish willow. Commissions considered. She also teaches beginners basketmaking workshops from her homebase of near Helston. Small groups with lots of individual attention.
Lisa Wisdom creates a range of interior hardware, artistic ironwork and contemporary jewellery in her forge, near Falmouth. She no longer teaches blacksmithing workshops but can direct people to those blacksmiths that do. She regularly demonstrates and exhibits her work at local design fairs, contemporary craft shows and agricultural shows.
Using European Union Objective 1 funding, this company moved to Launceston in 2005. They spin and dye wool here helping local farmers to generate greater income from their flocks. They are now providing dyed wool, carefully toned to compliment the natural fibre colours.
Tino Rawnsley offers many products including fencing, garden furniture and firewood made with timber from local woodlands. Also services such as hedge laying and woodland management. He also gives demonstrations of charcoal making and training in areas of woodland management and ecology. See www.coppice-products.co.uk for links to all coppice workers.
Tree-cycled is a new business operating from near Newbridge. It is responding to the need to remove diseased Rhododendrons by producing charcoal out of this otherwise wasted resource. In addition they produce Top-Bar (bee-friendly) beehives and yurts, squirts (camping yurts) and raw-fleece bed mats which are ideal for the traveller. Where possible they're using recycled materials to make their products.