The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: deniseg4 on August 08, 2011, 02:43:29 pm

Title: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: deniseg4 on August 08, 2011, 02:43:29 pm
Hi All,

I live in North Ayrshire in Scotland with my husband, 2 dogs, a cat, a rabbit, 6 chickens and a highland pony.  I'm not sure we're big enough to be described as a small holding although we try to be self sufficient and grow as much of our own produce as we can.  If nothing else, we're definitely smallholding wannabes!   ;D

Denise x
Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: faith0504 on August 08, 2011, 03:20:31 pm
hi and welcome from moray  :wave:
Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: SallyintNorth on August 08, 2011, 05:21:19 pm
There's all sorts on here, from townie wannabe's, through ex-townie first-timers, through very experienced smallholders of all types, up to and including family farmers.

If you want to be here, you're very welcome  :wave:

It sounds like there are plenty of topics in which you will have experience to share - and it wouldn't matter if you didn't, you'd still be welcome.

We're in north Cumbria, beef & sheep farmers, smallholding on the side with a Jersey house cow, an in-pig pig, choox, native ponies.

Welcome again  :wave:
Sally
Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: HappyHippy on August 08, 2011, 06:27:12 pm
Hello from me in South Lanarkshire  :wave:
We've got mainly pigs, poultry and children  :o ;D
Look forward to hearing more from you
Karen x
Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: Dan on August 08, 2011, 07:30:08 pm
Hello, and welcome from sunny Carnoustie.  :wave:

I'm not sure we're big enough to be described as a small holding although we try to be self sufficient and grow as much of our own produce as we can.

If it's small, and you're keeping chooks, it's a smallholding in my book, and you're smallholders. But all are welcome here!  :)
Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: Rosemary on August 08, 2011, 07:41:45 pm
Hello and welcome from sunny Carnoustie  :wave:
Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: tazbabe on August 08, 2011, 09:08:13 pm
(http://bestsmileys.com/signs10/24.gif) from ayrshire too! :)
Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: bigchicken on August 08, 2011, 10:09:03 pm
Hi from Fife used to stay in Ayrshire many moons ago
Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: deniseg4 on August 09, 2011, 11:26:21 am
Thanks everyone for making me feel welcome  :wave:


Quote
smallholding on the side with a Jersey house cow

Sally, I'm intrigued, what on earth is a house cow? I have this strange image in my head of your jersey lying in front of an open fire  :o

Quote
from ayrshire too!

Its great to see another Ayrshire-ite, are you north, south or east?

Denise
Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: Rosemary on August 09, 2011, 06:41:05 pm
A house cow is one that is kept to provide milk for the house. Generally, it doesn't live in the house :-)

We have two Shetland heifers that will be house cows once we get them in calf and calved  :cow: :cow:
Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: tobytoby on August 10, 2011, 08:42:26 am
 :wave:Hello from a wet Dalry, you must be getting the same?
Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: deniseg4 on August 10, 2011, 11:08:37 am
I'm from Dalry too!!!  Where abouts are you?  :wave:
Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: tobytoby on August 10, 2011, 04:10:03 pm
Denise,
I stay outwith the Blair estate, still trying to buy some 4 acres at the moment and not a lot i can do with my 1/2 acre garden? Whereabouts are you?
Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: SallyintNorth on August 10, 2011, 05:37:07 pm

Quote
smallholding on the side with a Jersey house cow

Sally, I'm intrigued, what on earth is a house cow? I have this strange image in my head of your jersey lying in front of an open fire  :o

Rosemary is of course correct but BH thinks that Hillie is totally spoilt and would say that your mental image is not very far wide of the mark.  Although it'd be the wood-burner...  ;) :D  This from the man who owns the hand in this picture :

Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: Dundonald hens on August 10, 2011, 08:54:29 pm
Hi there we are in sunny ayrshire as well !! i keep chickens,ducks,2 pigs,2 lambs, a baby and the wife !!!
Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: melodrama on August 10, 2011, 08:58:00 pm
Hello from Forfar :wave:
Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: deniseg4 on August 11, 2011, 09:34:11 am
Hi Toby, I'm at the start of the moor road at Broadlie.   :wave:

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not a lot i can do with my 1/2 acre garden

I can sympathise, we also have only half and acre.  Although still having to work fulltime to keep us going, its probably best for us for now.  We've squeezed in the chickens small greenhouse and veg garden, and hope to have our 35ft polytunnel up by the end of the year.  Ducks and bees are the planned addition for next year.  I also do all sorts of crafts, but mainly knitting and crochet for now.  Its my ambition to start spinning my own yarn from locally bought wool  :sheep:

Quote
Rosemary is of course correct but BH thinks that Hillie is totally spoilt and would say that your mental image is not very far wide of the mark.  Although it'd be the wood-burner...     This from the man who owns the hand in this picture :

Sally and Rosemary, I've always wanted my own cow!  If I had enough time and space I'd definitely be looking into it.  What a really cute picture!   :love:

D x
Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: Cluckinggoodpoultry on August 11, 2011, 02:20:12 pm
Hello Denise and welcome from South Ayrshire  :farmer:
Title: Re: Newbie from Ayrshire
Post by: tazbabe on August 11, 2011, 04:07:43 pm


Quote
from ayrshire too!

Its great to see another Ayrshire-ite, are you north, south or east?

Denise

we're in east ayrshire, we have about 5 acres, containing 2 ponies, i horse (liveried here)13 hens and a cockerel, 3 geese, 4 dogs and 3 humans. we're still in the 'development stage' veg garden and greenhouse in progress!