Hi all, my name is Tim, and I'm an accidental smallholder - there I've said it!!
My wife and I have talked about moving to the country and getting a small place with some land for years. We have always lived in a town and had a small garden where I kept chickens and grew my own fruit/veg for years. So I guess this move has been the next logical step.
Unfortunately due to the current financial climate and house prices etc, it was impractical to sell up and repurchase, so we decided to rent our house out to our son, and then rent a small country cottage with a large garden and an acre paddock right next door.
We did this in March of this year, and I have to say it's great - quiet, secluded and
GREEN! No more miles of tarmac everywhere, or drunken brawlers passing the house at 2am.
Our noisiest neighbours are the birds and a nearby brook.
My chicken count has increased from 5 to 16, we now have 3 sheep, 2 goats and a polytunnel, which next year hopefully will be full of goodies.
I think now with a few questions / issues on the horizon, it's time for me to join TAS for some advice, experience and words of encouragement.
Tim