The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: HenLivingstone on January 16, 2013, 06:53:13 pm

Title: Greetings!
Post by: HenLivingstone on January 16, 2013, 06:53:13 pm
Hello, I'm Colin aka HenLivingstone. We're not yet landowners but have been gradually increasing our moves towards some sort of self sufficiency. Currently resident in Oxfordshire, hopefully moving south shortly.

Currently have three hens, solar panels and a potato crop with lots of holes in :-(
Title: Re: Greetings!
Post by: Lesley Silvester on January 16, 2013, 08:47:46 pm
Hi and welcome from Shropshire.
Title: Re: Greetings!
Post by: darkbrowneggs on January 16, 2013, 09:16:20 pm
Hi there  :wave:  and welcome from Worcestershire  :)
Title: Re: Greetings!
Post by: Bionic on January 16, 2013, 09:27:17 pm
Hello and welcome from Carmarthenshire  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Greetings!
Post by: SallyintNorth on January 17, 2013, 10:01:09 am
Hello and welcome from north Cumbria  :wave:

Started my journey in Oxon - look where I ended up!   :cold: North! 
Title: Re: Greetings!
Post by: sandalfarm on January 17, 2013, 07:23:07 pm
Good luck with the move. I hope you manage it. Where are you going and how much land?
Title: Re: Greetings!
Post by: Mammyshaz on January 19, 2013, 08:12:52 am
 :wave: hello and welcome from Durham.  We also have a couple of hens and fruit and veg. Still looking for our dream Smallholding  ::)
Title: Re: Greetings!
Post by: Possum on January 19, 2013, 08:31:31 pm
We started off in Oxon as well - near Thame. Moved South to Somerset last year and haven't regretted it for a moment.(Although I suppose I do miss getting the bus into Oxford and wandering around all those lovely historic buildings) Do let us know how you get on with all your plans.
Title: Re: Greetings!
Post by: HenLivingstone on January 31, 2013, 09:03:49 pm
Hello again!
@Possum - we're near Thame ourselves now
@sandalfarm - we're heading south into Hants hopefully and are looking for 5-10 acres, with a house nearby.  Getting a smallholding with land attached for sensible money doesn't appear to be an option.

Fingers crossed we'll move in the early summer.  Just the small matter of selling our house first....
Title: Re: Greetings!
Post by: MAK on January 31, 2013, 09:25:05 pm
Hi from central France ( La Creuse,Limousin)
Hope you find what you are searching for we did but had to move a lot further south  ;D
Title: Re: Greetings!
Post by: HenLivingstone on May 14, 2013, 10:28:07 am
We've finally done it and completed our purchase of around 8.4 acres this week in Hampshire. Now, just the small task of selling our house and moving close to the land. We're looking forwards to getting on the land. Woop!
Title: Re: Greetings!
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on May 14, 2013, 10:32:48 am
Hi from Aberdeenshire (near Aboyne)  :wave:  How exciting that you have your land!! Good luck with the rest of the process!
Title: Re: Greetings!
Post by: suziequeue on May 14, 2013, 10:50:52 am
Welcome from Powys. You'll have alot more than three hens soon..... they're addictive.

We started with three and now have twelve - with a clutch on the go under a silkie bantam and waiting for another broody speckledy to settle for a second clutch.  :excited: :excited:
Title: Re: Greetings!
Post by: plumseverywhere on May 14, 2013, 11:09:37 am
Hi Colin

sounds like you've made a good start already! I had holy potatoes last year too  ;)

my dad lives on a boat most of the year and spends a lot of time in Thame - beautiful.

welcome to TAS, we are in Worcs (moved here from Bucks)
Lisa
Title: Re: Greetings!
Post by: Lesley Silvester on May 14, 2013, 01:13:06 pm
Congratulations. It's all happening.  :excited:
Title: Re: Greetings!
Post by: Backinwellies on May 14, 2013, 04:10:29 pm
 :wave: from me in Carmarthenshire on the smallholding and  :wave: from OH in Oxfordshire (where he works ... cholsey area)   

Title: Re: Greetings!
Post by: Possum on May 29, 2013, 05:48:51 pm
Congratulations and good luck! What are you planning to do with the land until you move nearer?
Title: Re: Greetings!
Post by: HenLivingstone on June 06, 2013, 02:14:27 pm
Congratulations and good luck! What are you planning to do with the land until you move nearer?

We've just topped a couple of paddocks and are letting out stables about 6 acres for horse grazing in the short/medium term.  We're planning some coppice/orchard planting this winter on the remainder.  In the meantime, our house sale is now agreed at least - even if we're a long way from exchanging contracts. Either way, we'll be moving close to the land over the summer and renting if necessary from the autumn so we can get the kids into local schools.  Longer term plans are evolving, but may involve livestock next year.