The Final Diary Entry
Posted: Monday 3 November, 2025
After over two decades, this will be the last diary post on The Accidental Smallholder.
Dan and I started this blog in 2003, three years into our smallholding life, and made it part of our website The internet was in its early days and social media didn’t exist, as it does today. Both of us contributed to the diary in the early days; later it became my baby, and a pretty much weekly routine.
In 2007, the forums were added to the website. Over the years, TASers (careful with the capitals) have shared their ups and downs, asked and answered questions and engaged in some robust discussion. We produced TAS T-shirts and badges with a very nifty design; there were local TAS meets. Social media, sadly, has diminished the forum activity but there is still a huge reservoir of information held there, and it will remain meantime.
Now that we have sold the cattle and the sheep, given up pig rearing and are now owners of just seven hens, we can no longer claim to be Accidental Smallholders – more deliberate retirees. So apart from reminding us of when we carried out some garden tasks, the diary doesn’t offer anything much to smallholders any more.
So time to retire it too. It’s been a blast.
Wishing smallholders everywhere all the very best,
Rosemary & Dan
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Comments
SallyintNorth
I too have loved the weekly look over the hedge at what you've all been up to. You'll be active retirees with 7 hens and all the growing you do, not to mention the dogs!
This site is a hugely valuable resource, between your info pages and the forums. I still look things up on it and direct people to it. Thank you both for everything :love:
Beth
Oh, no, I am so sorry to hear this! I have loved reading about your weekly adventures and seeing photos of the gardens and the cats. I'm sad to see you go from here, and I'll miss reading your diary. Thank you so much for all these years of reading! Wishing you all the best in your retirement!
Teresa
I have enjoyed reading your diary very much from afar (Texas) over the years. Sad for myself that there won't be an interesting diary to read at work anymore. Happy retirement and wishes for the best of luck in your work for Scotland.
Jen A
Thanks for giving the rest of us an inside look at your smallholding life. I found you several years ago and have enjoyed reading from afar (WI, USA) ever since. I wish you the best in retirement, though I'll miss reading about your adventures!
Possum
Well, I knew this day had to come but it is still a sad one for the hundreds of people who have read your diary for so many years. Like Sally, I have referred many people to your diaries. They are an invaluable source of practical knowledge for anyone setting out on a smallholding journey. And I still refer to the forums from time to time when something unusual happens with our (reduced) livestock.
Thank you to you both for setting up and maintaining your website and I hope it remains live for people to refer to for many years to come.
Susan x
Penninehillbilly
Oh No, I have to admit I haven't read them weekly, but when I do, I go back several weeks at a time, always interesting reading, so sad to see you retiring, but wishing you the best.
Hoping the forum keeps going, Its like a little private corner where we can trust replies and advice. :-).
Thank You Rosemary and Dan
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Rupert the bear
Monday 3 November, 2025 at 6:52pm
I have followed your diary posts since I joined the site and I have always enjoyed them.
Things move on though, seven hens may not be newsworthy but I will miss the " look over the hedge" to see what others are doing.
I trust when you say retire you mean just the diary and the site will continue on.
Even with chickens you haven't properly retired.
All the best for the future.Rupert the Bear