[SallyintNorth]

http://tlio.org.uk/chapter7/

[clydesdaleclopper]

So how do others do it? How did you manage? I can't believe this is the province of the rich, or those that inherit?

For us it's by one of us working full time to pay the mortgage etc.

[Herdygirl]

So how do others do it? How did you manage? I can't believe this is the province of the rich, or those that inherit?

For us it's by one of us working full time to pay the mortgage etc.

For us its a full time worker and a part time worker (plus studying allegedly full time, plus family, plus animal care and land management).  A petting farm will need a lot of 'elf and safety stuff as well.  I wish you good luck.

[Brucklay]

As above 24/7 work by both or one or whoever is fit at the time, lambing here and at the farm up the road and we basically do what we can when we can saying that we wouldn't change it for the world but then I'm not materialistic 

[Backinwellies]

And we both work elsewhere too! 

I think you may need to add planning etc permission for a petting zoo here too... Heath and safety regs alone could make this a non starter.

I wish you personally good luck with your venture ....and hope you can in some way achieve your dreams.

[john and helen]

somehow, i think you may struggle, without a farming/agri business,
we were only able to take this route when the children had fled the nest, and our wage went towards the farm instead of the children 

[Bionic]

And we could only do it on retirement.

[pharnorth]

How do other s do it?  Good question.  My family (like most others) spent at least 300 years as labourers on someone else's estate.  No evidence of anyone owning as much as an acre let alone the house they lived it until the 1900s.  Then 100 years of toil in the city and 3 generations of graft and risk and I can afford a dozen acres and a house to boot. I am slightly amused by some of my farmer neighbours whose attitude to land is a little different as they have inherited. To some extent I respect it and to some extent as a newbie I thin why should they feel superior because their ancestors just sat in one place and accumulated land?

Your endeavour will never be easy because there has always been more people wanting land and houses than room or social willingness to accommodate them. Very best of luck though because with that and perseverance you'll succeed 

[Kimbo]

We did it by waiting until our children were independent, selling the family home ( well, tbh we are currently on a hefty 2nd mortgage to buy this smallholding until our family home sells god knows when  ) and both of us continuing with our f-t employment even though my husband is now 67. Theres currently no plan for him to retire from the day job because, to be frank, we cant afford it.
We also do everything on our 9 acres ourselves, which has resulted in quite a bit of unexpected expense in plant and equipment, and we were not complete novices in land management. But its different when the condition of the land is 100% your responsibility. Its only you who will do all the jobs and remember to schedule all those jobs. And , WOW, are there one hell of a lot of jobs!
 

[fiestyredhead331]

your dream sounds lovely but such a minefield.
I know building regs/planning laws are different between Scotland and England but did you buy the land without first checking if you could build a dwelling on it? Most land that is sold up here is sold with planning already in place by the vendor.
As for the hands on/tourist thing - I have no personal experience but friends of mine had a small rare breeds farm but after one very minor incident they had to shup up shop as the insurance went through the roof, and like most of us they both have to work (she teaches, he drives a bus) to be able to maintain themselves.
One thing is for sure, it's hard work and certainly not the reserve of the rich. Is there anyone else that is doing something similar that you can visit and talk to?