[laura_moon]

Hello all!  I have been a long-time lurker, and have decided it is finally time to de-lurk and introduce myself!

I'm not yet a smallholder - have been dreaming of it for years, but my partner and I will finally be taking the plunge in a couple of years - we have to wait that long as our money is tied up until then.

Rather than being frustrated by the delay, I'm choosing to see it as a positive, in that it gives us a couple of years to do concerted research, do courses, and plan.  We're currently investigating different areas - West Wales, Mid Wales, Brecon Beacons, Wye Valley and Forest of Dean are the main areas we're currently looking at due to position of friends and family.  We're also trying to work out how much land we want/would be able to manage...

What I'd like to ask you all is what you would do in this waiting period to get as prepared as possible for the move?  We already have an allotment and large garden so already do lots of fruit and veg growing.  In the future, we'd definitely like to have a couple of pigs and chickens.  I have a dream of a couple of jersey cows but not sure that's really practical. 

Are there any things you did to prepare thta you found particularly useful?  Anything you wish you had done in advance?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Laura

[nimbusllama]

Hi Laura
Sorry can't offer any advice but just wanted to say hello and welcome to the best site around!  I am sure someone will be along shortly with useful advice 

[Dans]

Welcome 

I wish I had gone on some more courses (but I quite like courses). I also could have had more of a go at preserves. If you hve fruit and veg growing already then you can work on jams, chutneys, dried fruits etc. You can also buy milk to work on learning how to make your own cheeses and yoghurts, and meat to make your own sausages and bacon. Trying to find time to learn new skills whilst you're setting new things up and keeping on top of the animals and growing you already have can be really hard.

Growing some stuff in our garden helped me a bit but there is so much more I still have to learn (we've been at our smallholding 18 months or so now).

If you have a large garden you could look at getting chickens now to get comfortable with them.

You could also look at buying meat from current smallholders, getting to know different breeds, what to expect etc. If you can visit smallholdings do, it really does help to walk around someone else's place and get ideas of things you like and don't like.

Good luck

Dans

[SallyintNorth]

How exciting

I'd investigate places nearby to you where you can volunteer, to learn and develop your skills.  Have a look at WWOOF, maybe take your holidays as WWOOFers from now on.

We're not WWOOF hosts here, but we are a community with small farm for our own provisions, and milk our Jersey cow.  We have volunteer weeks.  There are dozens, if not hundreds, of places who similarly grow / produce, and take volunteers.

[Steph Hen]

I'd echo Dans and get three hens for eggs just now. But then I'm biased and think hens are great! If you build a really good house and run with small mesh size wire and make it fox and rat proof, and use several feeders/drinkers, you can create a set up where they can mostly look after themselves. Neighbours rarely mind topping up a few water bottles if they get to help themselves to fresh eggs as a reward.
Also, I'd go away on holiday, as much as you can because once there's pets, poultry, cattle and pigs you may struggle!

[Rosemary]

I'd echo the above - re making cheese, butter, sausages etc. It will inject a bit of realism 

At this stage, you can do anything, but the truth is, you can't do everything - so I think what you are doing is spot on.