The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: urban farmer on September 20, 2009, 09:32:50 am
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Hi,
although I am now in an East London semi- I went to agri college in Devon and have worked in agriculture and nature conservation for many years. I have managed to fill my small but compact garden with enough firewood to keep me gas free, veg to keep me going, and my dog and ferrets end to provide plenty of Game meat in the winter.
But.. my girlfriend and I are now seriously talking about selling our houses and getting small holding in the UK or her native Brittanny. Ehat a people's thoughts please, can a modest smllholding support two?
Any help very, very gladly received
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Hello from me ;D
By way of a very quick answer to your question, it depends !
You'll never make millions doing it, but if your needs are modest and skills learned you will get by - just about !
Personally, we need to work as well (but we've got 3 kids) but everyone's different.
Good luck and do keep us up to date with your decision.
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Hi and welcome
I agree with HH - it all depends on how much you need to earn to maintain the lifestyle you want to have. And whether you want to do other things - Dan enjoys doing stuff here but he wouldn't want to give up his "real" work, because he really enjoys that too. I enjoy my job as well and wouldn't want to do this full-time.
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Hello, I suppose you should give it a go but you would probably need some extra income at times. I only have 16 chickens and 2 Ducks and I just about break even with the costs of setting up and food etc. If I had a smallholding I think I would want the back up of some way of earning that little extra for repairs, luxuries, emergencies etc etc, after all, if you did have another income you could be better off as your food and heat would be very cheap. We run a B&B and that is doing well but only keeps the house going. Welcome and hope you keep us posted and do what your heart tells you as your head will get in the way...you only live once ;)
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I think the others have hit the nail on the head. As an accountant I have to say you cannot be totally self sufficient and would need an income of some kind to support you in lean times. But Sandy has said it all in her last line -
do what your heart tells you as your head will get in the way...you only live once
I have had to make lifestyle choices as most people have - but if you don't take an opportunity that presents itself you may regret it for the rest of your life.
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Hi Urban Farmer,
I reckon all the "wise" answers have been given, but I would second the recommendation to "go where your heart leads". I'm sure it won't be easy, but then, is life ever easy? And a lifetime is a long time to be wishing you were doing something else!
I'd recommend you research well before committing to anything, to get the best security in financial terms, land rights, tax obligations and opportunities, and (?) inheritance law. And obviously, consider soil condition/fertility and 'what grows well' where you're thinking of going. And could your plot support a surplus of something to sell for cash to pay for things (like taxes and bills) for which half a pig isn't accepted!
Some others on the forum have done or are doing what you're thinking about, so maybe read back through a few posts, and maybe ask them what went well/badly, unforseen problems, etc...?
All the best, and I'm sure many of us wish you 'bon chance'; some with a degree of envy, even..?
Cheers John
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Hi from another East Londoner - Chingford, so not quite Albert Square! I was like you and wanted more of a greener life. I made the move to Ireland, but still have a job, which I did want to give up and go for smallholding, but with the economic downturn etc etc I am still working - saying that, I now live in an area surrounded by fields and mountains and when you get up in the morning all you hear is the birds and cows going for milking - it's amazing.
It is very difficult to begin with though as you have to get used to the different way of life. Shops are not on the doorstep and services not as you are used to.
I read all the others and agree, but if you are at all like me, just do it, as you will always regret it - if it fails, move on - you can't say you didn't try.
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Thank you all for your comments. We certainly will give it a long hard think before we jump in. As has been suggested - sometimes the rest of the world will not want to do business for exchange of some strawberry plants or some excess marrows!
The plan at present seem to be to soldier on for now with the view to getting a place while one of us is working in a 'proper job' full time. Who knows, fingers crossed we might be able to retire on overtime from the olympics but I doubt it!
Thanks again, off to make some gren tomato chutney now
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Hi good luck whatever you decide