The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: john and helen on March 29, 2013, 02:56:50 pm
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Hi we are john and helen and are looking at starting our dream, we don't yet have a small holding but are doing all our homework before starting, we live in devon and long to do something rewarding, Hard work isn't an issue, as its the life style we are after... I am sooooooooo fed up with running a small flooring business and know where my heart really is...
this site looks fantastic on what i have read already, and we hope we can build a great friendship with you all,
we will try to search as much as i can , but as you will already know ,we will have lots of questions :innocent: :eyelashes:
my aim will be to drop the flooring business over time .. and build up the new business and life style, we have no pre tense that we will make pots of money :roflanim: but hope to make enough to enjoy the animals, food and countryside
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Hi and welcome to the forum. You will find lots of people here who can help your dream along its way.
Money and animals don't go together though ;D
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Welcome and good luck :farmer:
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Hi and welcome from the middle of France. I do hope that all goes well for you both and that you can make the transition to the new life you want. Too true it can be hard and often relentless work but the freeedom , pleasure and sheer satisfaction of growing your own, rearing livestock and living much closer to the land, old ways and the elements will make up for it.
Don't be put off by our tales of woe after a long and cold winter - if you are then move south. ( UK carpet and flooring suppliers are in great demmand in these parts :D ).
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Hello and welcome from Carnoustie :wave:
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thanks for the welcome..cracking little site , really enjoying the postings and vids
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Hello - I have only been on here a couple of weeks too. I currently teach and my hubby is a one-man band gardening business. We too are looking for a change in lifestyle - we are intending to apply for a tenanted farm next month - if that doesn't come off then we will look at moving in the next year/18 months to a small holding, probably in Wales. Whatever happens, I need out of teaching - this Government have finished me off on that score!!
We currently rent a small piece of land on which we have chickens and ducks and also our first two pigs, Old Spots, which are 12 weeks old and were actually on TV just before we got them because they came from Adam Henson. :eyelashes:
Donna
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Hi Donna
good luck with the new venture, Pigs are the one thing amongst many that i know little about.. :lol; but after watching the vids , and having contact with a couple who have a small holding down here , i really want to keep..
I can't remember the last time i felt so excited about a new project that will change our lives.. I guess deep down this is something i have always wanted, ... we did buy a small farm in france with the idea on doing this, but sadly mum has now got alzheimers , so that put a stop on us moving
the prices over there are stupid..£40.000 for a 10 acre farm with house, and 3 barns (yes they all need doing up) but never the less....
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Follow your dreams and make sure u both have the same dream.. Look forward to reading your progress
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:wave: Hi and welcome from sunny and snowy Shropshire. Looking forward to hearing your news as you get nearer to your dream.
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Hi From Whitby - North Yorkshire :wave:
Good Luck to you :thumbsup:
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Go for it..... but expect to work very very hard. I've just left teaching after doing 10 years in secondary science and having married a farmer am on the farm full time looking after the 500 sheep and 900 acres of arable. Don't underestimate how hard it will be and how inventive you need to be but it's very much worth it.
Health and happiness come first, as for wealth- it's amazing how little money you actually need!
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Hello and welcome from Durham :wave:
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Go for it..... but expect to work very very hard. I've just left teaching after doing 10 years in secondary science and having married a farmer am on the farm full time looking after the 500 sheep and 900 acres of arable. Don't underestimate how hard it will be and how inventive you need to be but it's very much worth it.
Health and happiness come first, as for wealth- it's amazing how little money you actually need!
I am planning to leave secondary teaching after 10 years too within the next year/18 months. Haven't done it sooner because I am too scared of losing the regular salary but things have become so soul-destroying with the current education policies that I cannot bear the thought of doing it for another 25 years. Can you reassure me it is the right move?
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I would say it is 100% worth it. I used to live for the holidays and count down the days each term, Sunday evening after Country file always resulted in a grumpy groan as I realized the weekend was over. I went part time initially but found I was still having to do loads of work at home and not being paid so I stopped and have not been back since Christmas. I have a friend who also stopped and she does supply in Primary schools and loves it. I'm lucky that we have the farm and I can work there but even if we didn't I would still have stopped as i was at breaking point. I think as soon as you are out other opportunities will arise, I have other friends who have stopped and still work in education but don't teach, they mentor or work for county instead.
If you hate it then get out, so many teachers stay working when they are really fed up which is no fun. Go for it-i think its the best thing I've ever done! My husband says I'm a different person, happier, less stressed and better company although much poorer!! But there is more to live than money. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Jess
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I would say it is 100% worth it. I used to live for the holidays and count down the days each term, Sunday evening after Country file always resulted in a grumpy groan as I realized the weekend was over. I went part time initially but found I was still having to do loads of work at home and not being paid so I stopped and have not been back since Christmas. I have a friend who also stopped and she does supply in Primary schools and loves it. I'm lucky that we have the farm and I can work there but even if we didn't I would still have stopped as i was at breaking point. I think as soon as you are out other opportunities will arise, I have other friends who have stopped and still work in education but don't teach, they mentor or work for county instead.
If you hate it then get out, so many teachers stay working when they are really fed up which is no fun. Go for it-i think its the best thing I've ever done! My husband says I'm a different person, happier, less stressed and better company although much poorer!! But there is more to live than money. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Jess
Blimey, reading that is like reading my own story - just hope I can reach the same outcome too. I too live for the holidays and hate Sunday evening. My hubby also says I am never happier or more relaxed than when I am down the field with the pigs and chooks. We are applying for a tenanted farm next month, if that doesn't come off then we are gonna sell up and make the move, probably to mid-Wales. Thank you for your reply, really useful to hear someones story who has experienced the same as me in education.
Donna
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Hi and welcome :wave: good luck with all your plans, and may they all work out :fc:
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Hi from yet another disillusioned secondary teacher yearning to make the move to a small holding. The policy making is out of control, we had ofsted in last week and were given 3 months before they come back and decide if they will put us in special measures. It is now like working in hell as you can I imagine!
Good luck with your venture - hope all goes well :thumbsup:
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yep - my ex was a teacher and I a lonely Dad who cooked, washed,ironed, played with the kids - did everything with them at the weekend and after school whilst she was being a teacher. The obligatory bouts of sick leave that goes with teaching and visits to the GP, Psychiatrists and a baby psychologists did not help. She lost her husband to teaching but sadley lost her son and daughter. The daughter is now talking to her though. She talked the dream every summer holiday but ironically it is me who is living it.
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Welcome to the board.
Good luck with it all. Life is too short.
Helen