[sandspider]

Hi all

Bit of a variable question I know, but how long roughly do you spend managing your land / small holding / animals / plants on a monthly or yearly basis?

As I said, I know this will vary a lot depending on what you have, what you do, how you do it, and how much of it you do! But I'm wondering how much time is required to run / maintain a small holding? In my case, it will hopefully be a largely tree (woodland) and grass based smallholding, maybe 5 acres in total size. I don't intend to keep many animals, due to the time and costs associated with them. (Though never say never!) So I'd think that a couple of hours a week would keep the woodland in reasonable shape (once established), and a couple of hours mowing of paths etc. a month maybe would keep my grassland accessible. I've probably forgotten a few things - hedgelaying, fencing, maybe cutting grass off wildflower meadows to keep fertility down...

Can anyone give me an idea of time taken to manage just your land, and just your creatures too?

Many thanks.

[Jukes Mum]

I don't intend to keep many animals,

When you say not many animals, do you know roughly how many and what?
This will impact greatly on the time.

[Bionic]

I would be surprised if a couple of hours on each, each month would be anywhere enough during the summer. Once the grass starts growing its a never ending task keeping it reasonable even with some sheep to 'mow' it. We only have 2.5 acres and OH spends quite a lot of his time doing something. Triming back hedges, repairing fences, mowing the fields, getting rid of unwanted weeds, dock, thistle, ragwort, buttercups, dandelion........
You need to keep a hand on it or else it will get away from you.

[sandspider]

I don't intend to keep many animals,

When you say not many animals, do you know roughly how many and what?
This will impact greatly on the time.

I would anticipate probably a dog and a few chickens at most! Not much at all, as I imagine the animals to be the most time consuming part...

[sandspider]

I would be surprised if a couple of hours on each, each month would be anywhere enough during the summer. Once the grass starts growing its a never ending task keeping it reasonable even with some sheep to 'mow' it. We only have 2.5 acres and OH spends quite a lot of his time doing something. Triming back hedges, repairing fences, mowing the fields, getting rid of unwanted weeds, dock, thistle, ragwort, buttercups, dandelion........
You need to keep a hand on it or else it will get away from you.

I hope to have mainly woodland, which will require less time (and mowing) than grass. If we do end up with grassed areas, I'd only mow an immediate lawn regularly. Any meadows / fields would have the odd path chopped out of them every so often with a tractor and topper / flail, but otherwise be left to grow mainly. Perhaps fully chopped once a year, or lent to others to graze from time to time, perhaps.

I'm looking for a smallholding which isn't too time or labour intensive!

[benkt]

If I don't spend a few hours a week out with the strimmer, our six acres runs completely out of control - that's before animals, veg and the rest of the maintenance.

[Fleecewife]

When does a piece of land become a smallholding?  When he stopped farming, my father kept on about 10 acres of wooded land, but he was not a smallholder.  He spent as much or as little time as he wanted to with the trees, but then he loved them for themselves so wasn't just maintaining them.

[sandspider]

True.

But I thought I'd better call it a smallholding or I'd be shunned from this fine forum!

[Backinwellies]

Hens are probably my most time consuming animal ... need to let out and put in every day (early..ish and late) .... feed and clean out.  .... need to be near your house preferably.   

 Not really sure what you want the land for?  If it is just to be able to get out and enjoy some woodland/countryside maybe you could volunteer with  BTCV or woodland trust.

[sandspider]

Thanks for the comments, all.

Maybe not chickens then! Don't want to commit to too much.

I'd like to have my own woodland so I can spend time there, plan it, nurture it and watch it change as my plans come (hopefully) to fruition. I have volunteered before, but it's not quite the same.

Anyone here mainly do woodland?! I assume not...

[Fleecewife]

True.

But I thought I'd better call it a smallholding or I'd be shunned from this fine forum!

We never shun anyone on TAS 

[Ghdp]

Does this help? We are novices and do not have any animals yet. Our 3.5 acres is split into 1 acre of garden and the rest hill side  paddocks. We tried the mowing of grass paths only but quickly realised we were going to be over run. We now do about 25 hours between Mrs Ghdp and I each week just  keeping on top of MOST of it but we could easily do more hours. Not having grazing animals yet is both a problem and a deliberate choice. Hedges are a constant challenge.
We may speed up but we agree with Bionic. It is an endless but thoroughly enjoyable task.

Another way of looking at it is that in 12 weeks I have gone from a 38 inch waiste to 34, have lost over a stone and sleep like I have not slept in years!

[benkt]

Just to add to ghdp's point- I spend less time overall now we have sheep - they're quick and easy to look after each day but keep the land under control with no effort - although that comes (for us) with a lot of extra work with lambing/shearing etc. but at least that's confined to a few weeks a year.

[clydesdaleclopper]

Sending more tree love    as all are welcome here 

[devonlady]

Sorry to put a tiny note of controversy in this (I can't get any emoticons up to soften anything!) but I hope you would spend more than a few hours a week with your dog?