The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: ducky2108 on March 13, 2008, 10:05:01 am

Title: Hello peoples
Post by: ducky2108 on March 13, 2008, 10:05:01 am: Hi all,

I've posted one post so far, but thought I'd say hi anyway. I'm Paul

Currently living in a flat in central glasgow (I know, hardly a smallholding), but am currently looking to buy somewhere in the suberbs with a garden big enough for a veggie plot and a few chickens. From tiny acorns and all that.

When I grow up (read retire, or at least get near to that point) I dream of owning a small holding of my own.

Paul

Edit: P.S. When the time comes for me to get these chickens, I'll be tapping you all up for advice and where to buy and the like. At the minute, I'd quite like some marans, for no other reason than I think they're pretty. I've picked out the names they're going to have too.
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: stephen on March 13, 2008, 10:08:58 am: hey and welcome to the forums! ;D
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: Hilarysmum on March 13, 2008, 10:49:45 am: Hey Paul, living in a flat, rear a few tomatoes and peppers in pots, its the start on the road to your organic smallholding.
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: Pebbles on March 13, 2008, 01:40:19 pm: Hi Paul.

Welcome.

We too live in the centre of Glasgow - our fledgling farm is in Strathblane. Anytime you want to get your hands dirty give us a shout - we have 35 ewes in lamb, 2 rams and a couple of HUGE pigs who all love a bit of human company! :D

You'll get lots of information here - just ask!

Pebbles
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: Blinkers on March 13, 2008, 02:07:09 pm: Hello and welcome. :) Even if you only have a balcony, you can grow potatoes in a tub or bag. Dead easy and incredible flavour. ;D
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: Dan on March 13, 2008, 05:09:01 pm: Hi Paul, and welcome to the forum. Can't wait for you to get your chooks, it'll be great. ;D

Dan
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: Rosey on March 13, 2008, 05:28:59 pm: Hi Paul

Welcome. Scotland is a great place to start on life with a smallholding. I have worked up there and love it. Are there any allotments available?
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: ducky2108 on March 13, 2008, 05:37:18 pm: Thanks for the warm welcome guys. Don't have a balcony, so growing anything large is out, and all of our windows are hinged upwards and outwards, so anything grown on a windowsill would just get knocked off. We can't even grow herbs indoors as the cat just sees the plantpots of soil as adventure playgrounds. This may change with the house move that's coming up.

As for allotments, they're more difficult to come by than hen's teeth in this city, and the waiting lists are years long (if they're not being closed down *cry*) although we have tried. Most waiting lists are so long that we've been told they're effectively "closed". The rest, you need to be a member of the bowls-club mafia.

And finally, Pebbles. Thanks for the offer. It's very kind, and one day soon (when I'm not having to move house or anything) I may take you up on that offer and pop up and say hello. I think I know where strathblane is, and my grand plan involves pigs too. What sort do you have?
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: Rosemary on March 13, 2008, 06:55:51 pm: Hi, Paul

Welcome to the TAS forums - especially as you're a Scot. We're becoming a minority breed!
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: Francis Bacon on March 13, 2008, 07:13:01 pm: Hello Paul,

I'm sure you'll really enjoy this site ;D
Donna
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: Guy on March 13, 2008, 08:00:43 pm: welcome and enjoy
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: ducky2108 on March 13, 2008, 09:28:07 pm: I'm not a true Scot. I was a student here for four years (until 2002), and I came back in 2005 from Nottinghamshire.

I'm sort of an honourary semi-Scot (if such a thing is allowed)
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: Pebbles on March 13, 2008, 11:17:34 pm: Hi again,

We've got a couple of 6mth old Oxford Sandy & Blacks (we'll be breeding from them soon) they are such characters and so funny. Once lambing is out of the way and things have settled down again, we'll be moving on to chickens, geese and ducks! We saw a lovely new born calf the other day too - ohh tempting! You start off with something small and it just keeps getting bigger!!! :D

Strathblane is just outside of Milngavie - seven miles from where we are in Kelvinside. You're welcome anytime!

Pebbles
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: Rosemary on March 14, 2008, 07:50:26 am: You are, in my book, a Scot by choice! Dan's a "Scot by choice" except when there's football on!
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: Malc on March 15, 2008, 06:46:35 pm: Hi Paul,

Great to hear of another man with a plan, but why wait for retirement? Carpe Diem and all that stuff. In the mean time an allotment is a terrific way to get started and get your confidence. And I'd take Pebbles up on her offer - a great way to learn.

And I'm not a Scot - I'm an Orcadian (thanks to my great grandfather). . . except when the rugby's on and I'm very Irish.

Malc
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: ducky2108 on March 19, 2008, 01:44:19 pm: Well, I now have somewhere to live for the next six months, whilst we look for somewhere to buy. Woohoo. It has a little garden, and whilst I'm not sure that the landlord will let me dig up her rather nice lawn to turn into a carrot patch, I've spoken to her and know she's not averse to me planting a few herbs. I may even try and grow some spuds in bin bags on the patio.

From tiny acorns...
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: Pebbles on March 19, 2008, 05:57:45 pm: Well done Ducky

Really happy for you - you've started!! ;D

Pebbles
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: Blinkers on March 19, 2008, 07:20:49 pm: If you've got a patio.....you've got room for tubs ;) LOADS of stuff can be grown in tubs. Go for it.
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: Rosemary on March 19, 2008, 07:35:16 pm: We started with "mini veg" in the front garden. Don't think the neighbours were very chuffed but it actually looked quite nice - neat rows of mini veg.

Good for you, Ducky.
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: Fluffywelshsheep on March 21, 2008, 06:06:53 pm: Quote from: Rosemary on March 19, 2008, 07:35:16 pm
We started with "mini veg" in the front garden. Don't think the neighbours were very chuffed but it actually looked quite nice - neat rows of mini veg.

lol i didn't ak the landlore if i could dig the garden over in our 1st house up here i just did it and he was oky with it as long it was keep tidy and the house was kept in a good state

:)
hiya from fws aka linz
Title: Re: Hello peoples
Post by: ducky2108 on March 24, 2008, 07:22:48 pm: Well, my new landlord owns a gardening business and has said that if we want to do a bit of gardening then we can go for it. I'm going to plant a rosemary bush, and then the herbs in pots and things. As we're looking to buy a place though, I'm not really willing to invest that much effort into it as we'll be moving again in six months. She might get a bit annoyed too if I dug up her immaculate (but minute) lawn.