The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: rubadubdub on March 04, 2010, 11:56:40 am

Title: Like most, hello and a quickie. :)
Post by: rubadubdub on March 04, 2010, 11:56:40 am: Hey chaps,
bit of a fork in my life at the moment (pardon the pun). I won't go into it as you would all probably fall asleep and none of you would get to the end of this post and read my question. :)

Opportunity has arrisen to buy a small plot of land. I am a keen gardener but nothing on the scale of a smallholder. I was thinking I could maybe let the majority of my land out to the locals whilst I get started on a market garden. The soil is well drained fine silty over clay, and is in the south west. I would really appreciate it if any folk from around these parts could give me a rough figure of how much I should expect per acre if I allowed sheep to graze. I'm expecting this to be a big project and to take a bit of time to set-up, so any small return of investment would be ideal. I appreciate it the prices will be totally different from location to location, and toil type to soil type, but I cannot find any material of the sort online, and a start would be much appreciated.

Cheers all,
Tudor
Title: Re: Like most, hello and a quickie. :)
Post by: doganjo on March 04, 2010, 12:43:39 pm: Hiya
You don't say what part of the world you are in, nor how much land you have, nor the state of it. lots of folk on here with ideas but that info would help I think. Crossroads in life are positive things so good luck for the way ahead!
Title: Re: Like most, hello and a quickie. :)
Post by: Rosemary on March 04, 2010, 02:43:02 pm: Hi and welcome! Can't help with the query but wish you well with your new project.
Title: Re: Like most, hello and a quickie. :)
Post by: rubadubdub on March 04, 2010, 03:25:51 pm: Sorry all. I'm in the UK. South West in the UK. Somerset. :)

I described the type of soil above. Looks quite productive. Haven't had it properly tested yet. I was wondering on a per acre return of investment. But its around 20 acres.
Title: Re: Like most, hello and a quickie. :)
Post by: Wizard on March 04, 2010, 03:27:42 pm: And you talk about me getting past it Annie
Title: Re: Like most, hello and a quickie. :)
Post by: doganjo on March 04, 2010, 03:35:31 pm: Quote from: Wizard on March 04, 2010, 03:27:42 pm
And you talk about me getting past it Annie
Would I do that, Wiz?
Anyway, 20 acres is not a small plot of land! As to the state of it, what I meant was, is it overgrown as I was going to suggest pigs to clear it not sheep.
Title: Re: Like most, hello and a quickie. :)
Post by: Wizard on March 04, 2010, 03:38:56 pm: Yeah if you thought you could get away with it ;D ;D Yes Pigs will plough it beautifully wont they.Make sure the fences are stock proof though :farmer:Sorry corrected now
Title: Re: Like most, hello and a quickie. :)
Post by: doganjo on March 04, 2010, 03:40:26 pm: If it's clay underneath it might need more than pig manure though
Title: Re: Like most, hello and a quickie. :)
Post by: Wizard on March 04, 2010, 03:44:01 pm: as I said yesterday Annie they will rip concrete up.I have had them do it ;D :farmer:
Title: Re: Like most, hello and a quickie. :)
Post by: doganjo on March 04, 2010, 03:46:49 pm: Yeah, I know but what I meant was that pig manure might not be enough for a clay soil. I've added suff yo mine but it's still pretty heavy. Might need horse manure too having more vegetable matter in it
Title: Re: Like most, hello and a quickie. :)
Post by: rubadubdub on March 04, 2010, 04:04:29 pm: Thanks for the tips so far guys. I'll keep them in mind. The land looks quite well looked after. I'm assuming its had something or other already grazing on it, but it does not look lush enough to have cows, which I imagine will bring in more cash. Do you guys know what I might get (very roughly) per month per acre for having sheep on the land? I'm only looking for a ballpark figure really.
Title: Re: Like most, hello and a quickie. :)
Post by: doganjo on March 04, 2010, 07:04:52 pm: I think it varies by area but when I had a croft in Aberdeenshire we let the land per acre for the season from May to October that was for cattle and up to 2003 it was £85 an acre. We let the farmer put sheep on it from November to February to crop the grass for winter - for nothing. But in return she kept the fences for us. Sorry I can't help in monetary terms.
Title: Re: Like most, hello and a quickie. :)
Post by: CameronS on March 04, 2010, 07:26:27 pm: helo, welcome from fife
Title: Re: Like most, hello and a quickie. :)
Post by: Daisys Mum on March 04, 2010, 08:32:34 pm: Hi and welcome from the Scottish Borders, I am renting grazing this year for 6 months and am paying £60 per acre, the field is about 5 acres so I will be paying £300.Hope this helps.
Title: Re: Like most, hello and a quickie. :)
Post by: little blue on March 05, 2010, 07:43:00 pm: hello and welcome
Title: Re: Like most, hello and a quickie. :)
Post by: ballingall on March 06, 2010, 06:37:03 pm: Hi and welcome,

Sorry, afraid I don't know how much you get for renting for sheep. Only thing I can add is that our next door field to us rented out the field for horses to graze. He charged £1 a horse per day, and generally had 2-3 horses/ponies on a 2 acre field. However that price was 5 years ago, and also is from central scotland, I suspect the going rate is a lot more where you are.

Beth
Title: Re: Like most, hello and a quickie. :)
Post by: rubadubdub on March 08, 2010, 02:13:46 pm: Thanks for all the tips and welcomes. I've nearly grown a big enough pair to make the leap. Hopefully sooner rather than later.