The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: GuardianCroft on January 10, 2014, 10:26:13 am
-
Hey Guys
Enjoying the site and forum very much, and I'm glad I can now 'officially' join the 'club'. :)
I'm embarking on a complete life change, giving up a 25 year career and moving 500 miles from everything I know. All to try and live a more sustainable, less impactful, simpler and more fulfilling life. All the details and the story of the adventure can be found at www.offgrid-online.co.uk (http://www.offgrid-online.co.uk).
It would be great to receive any help, advice, encouragement and support from you all. I'm sure, once I'm in the full throws of it all, I'll be posting questions pleading for advice on all sorts of things, ranging from growing vegetables, through livestock (chickens and goats at first I think), to making cider (a very important part of the adventure!).
But, until then, I hope you enjoy reading all about the plans, preparations and place, on my blog. :)
Dale
-
Welcome from southern Scotland Dale Your new life sounds so exciting and in a very beautiful place - I wish you well. Recently I have had reason to be in Cambridge several times, and pass through the A1/A14 bit - I can see just why you have to get out.
-
Hello and welcome from Carnoustie :wave:
-
Thanks Rosemary and Fleecewife
Yes, the old home town (and surroundings) have become a real nightmare, in many ways.
And, in the words of Bilbo Baggins (in the movie not the books): "I want to see mountains Gandalf, mountains"! ;D
-
Welcome from another newbie, from Sunderland.
Looking forward to having time to take a look at your website later :-)
Chris.
-
Thanks Chris. :)
-
Just read through the blog thus far - great stuff :) looking forward to reading more!
-
Hi from Caithness :wave:
-
Thanks Simpsyla. Gonna try and get a new post up tomorrow. :)
Hi kelly58, from Cambridgeshire at moment, but the day is getting closer... ;D
-
Your croft looks beautiful. Welcome to TAS.
-
:wave: and welcome from :sunshine: Shropshire.
-
Thanks Mowhaugh & Mad Goatwoman, and everyone else! :wave:
If anyone is interested, I've just put up my latest Blog post - all about managing to stay 'online', whilst 'offgrid'.
Might be interesting to some and opinions welcome on it... :)
-
Enjoyed the new post - sounds like you might enjoy better broadband up there than we do at times... Also given you a follow on twitter - looking forward to keeping abreast with developments :)
-
Thanks Simpsyla
Great to get feedback. Bit new all this writing stuff.
Yes, I was surprised at the speed vs. price. As I said you can even get 20mb, but that's from other companies (and better the devil you - or someone trustworthy - knows). And its often around the £60-75 mark, so still a bit pricey.
Think, for the next post, I'm gonna try and do a more 'personal' one, about the reasons why for the move. Don't want every post to be a techie/know-how type one! ;)
-
Good idea - I think that will get people really engaged. I always find that I'm more drawn in by people stories. Shall look forward to reading it soon!
-
Hi everyone,
Like GuardianCroft we have just purchased our smallholding and are gradually finalising our plans for what we are going to do. After 30 years in the medical profession and 5 years being self-employed, a change of life and direction was needed, so we moved to Bridestowe in Devon. and eventually persuaded my brother-in-law that as he was spending so much time with us on his leaves from the Merchant Navy he should by a house here as well! When he decided it was time to retire from the sea, we spent a few nights discussing our options and decided to start doing the things we all liked - growing fruit and veg, making jams, chutneys and pickles and looking after a few animals.
The appalling weather down here on the Devon/Cornwall border is limiting what we can do at the moment, although we have started fencing an enclosure for our first two weaners (not yet chosen - any advice welcome!) and are planning our orchard site and the varieties and types of fruit we want to grow. Want to get these in before the end of March so that they start establishing and hopefully start to bear fruit in the next 3 years.
Well, a break in the weather - time to get outside and continue with the fencing! Hope to be in contact with many more newbies and established smallholders and sharing our journey and experiences with you all.
Good luck GuardianCroft - we look forward to hearing more about your experiences as well
-
Sounds idyllic boasley - will look forward to hearing of your adventure!
-
Hi,
From the Isle of Skye and a fellow crofter. I like the website and I have just liked your page on Facebook so I look forward to following your progress as it sounds like we are both on similar life changing adventures. We moved from the Lake District.
Good luck and don't forget there is a dedicated crofters area on the forum.
-
Hiya from ireland. Wish you all the best nd always willing to help if we can. How rural are you? Id follow your twitter but my internet can't cope. Too rural. lol ;)
-
Hey Hamish Crofter
Thanks for the web site feedback and the like etc. Very helpful and supportive. ;D Yeah, I've been having a read on the Crofters section.
Tattycat, thanks very much.
About as rural as you can get on the mainland really (if you can, do a search on Scoraig). A shame your connection isn't up to the twitter job. :-\
I posted a blog about Satellite Broadband a few days back, that might be of interest. If you are able somehow, check out the proposition of Satellite Broadband (my recommendation is HySpeed) - you might be able to improve your connection/service. Then you can follow me on Twitter, without worrying! ;D