The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Bigdreams on July 31, 2015, 10:41:03 am
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I've spotted a piece of land next to the steam railway line where I work. It is pretty over grown so went on the government land website to find out who owns it and it belongs to a farm down the road.
I'd like to ask them if they'd consider renting it out to me and my partner to start our pig venture on.
How should I approach asking them? It may just be left for the wildlife but if I don't ask I'll never know.
I just don't want to seem rude :-\
Advice please :D
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That kind of negotiation can take years :o For 20 years we've been trying to buy an extra 5 acres from our nice neighbour. They are always happy to chat about it, and in principal it's been agreed, but we don't have it, and we've now accepted we never will.
It's possible, as you say, that it's left for the wildlife, and the owner might get a grant for that.
I thought initially you were going to say you wanted it as a veggie garden, which is of course very appropriate to railways, which always used to have the stationmaster's veggie patch next to the station. The owner might agree to that, but I see it being a much greater problem for pigs.
You, would need to know what planning rules cover that type of business before you even approached him. There's no reason that you shouldn't introduce yourselves to him without mentioning the land at all at first. I wouldn't suggest knocking on his door, just speak when you bump into him :farmer:
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Presumably you have found out the owners name. Try to discreetly find out something about him/her, basically what sort of character they are, i.e. approachable or irrascibile, do they frequent the local pub? If they sound reasonable people, choose a time when they are not busy with their farming activities or mealtimes and go and see them in person, unless the land gives them some other benefit, you never know they may be open to renting out. After all, they can only say no.
If you do succeed, you may have to be with and reassure your pigs for a while, they might not be too keen on a great hissing, clanking and chuffing monster rumbling by periodically , if they have not been used to steam railways! (Bluebell Railway perchance? :) ).Good Luck.
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Agree, find out where they frequent and 'bump' into them once or twice making some polite conversation. It will make it easier to approach them about it if you already know them.
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Also agree, but would add, avoid mentioning that you "looked online" at who owns what :innocent:
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Why mess about? Buy a bottle of johnny walker black label, knock on his door one evening waving said bottle and ask if you could discuss renting that land. If he says no grab the bottle back and leave.
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Why mess about? Buy a bottle of johnny walker black label, knock on his door one evening waving said bottle and ask if you could discuss renting that land. If he says no grab the bottle back and leave.
Wouldn't that be great if he's a recovering alcoholic, diabetic or religious teetotaller ::). If you're going to try that, you do need to know a bit about him first. I prefer the idea of bumping in to him, or his family, a few times first. Gently gently catchee monkey :thumbsup:
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Wouldn't that be great if he's a recovering alcoholic, diabetic or religious teetotaller ::) . If you're going to try that, you do need to know a bit about him first. I prefer the idea of bumping in to him, or his family, a few times first. Gently gently catchee monkey :thumbsup:
You overthink it.. if he's any of the above then I'm sure he'd politely point that out but appreciate the gesture.... or play safe and just take a stick of broccoli :)
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Thank you all for your replies :D
Fleecewife we'd like to grow veggies and fruit too so if they said no animals we'd happily take it on. It would be a start in our grand plans!
I shall ask my friend down the road if she knows the owners (she has been here quite a while and has worked in the local pub).
Yes it's the beautiful Bluebell railway line :) my business is walking distance and land isn't much further on.
I don't think i'd have the balls to rock up to their house and ask them straight out about the land :(
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Since you live that way then drop into Mcbean's Orhcids in Lewes - if you like that sort of stuff...super plants...
There's an RHS garden around there somewhere too if memory serves..
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I'd just go and ask, I am like that-life's too short! I certainly wouldn't stalk them :o
It's how I got all my current grazing (by asking, not stalking). I probably wouldn't offer booze though, giving booze to someone else is weird :-J
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I'd just go and ask, I am like that-life's too short! I certainly wouldn't stalk them :o
No I wouldn't stalk them either. you need to find someone local and ask them who owns the land and if the owners might be open to renting it out. If in this locals opinion they might be, then go and ask. As a previous poster said, they can only say no. I hope you are successful :)
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If I hadn't gone over the head of the estate agent and approached the vendors directly we would never have got our place here.
Be brave! Whats the worst that can happen? He says " no thanks" and you can then stop wasting your time pursuing a hopeless cause.
I don't know why its weird to offer someone booze! I wish people would offer me booze :innocent:
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I don't know why its weird to offer someone booze!
cos I wants it all ;)
I might give booze if they said yes, I'd not offer it beforehand :innocent:
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Ask away, Fruity and good luck. (for some reason I can't get the emoti-thingys up?)
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..........I don't know why its weird to offer someone booze! I wish people would offer me booze :innocent:
Just say you turn up on someone's doorstep, someone you don't know from Adam, bearing a nice big bottle of strong alcohol. First off, it's so obvious that you want something, but the point I'm really trying to make is, that if someone can't or must not drink alcohol, but wants to and is struggling not to, then shoving temptation in their face is about as tactless and rude as you can get, even if you've done it with the nicest intent. Look at the statistics for alcoholic and depressed farmers and you will see what I mean.
This is my view, others have their views, so you have the option of listening or not listening.
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What's the problem with knocking on the door? (have someone along for moral support, sat in the motor?) long time since I've done such a thing but met some lovely people by just knocking and asking about something in a field etc.
I'd agree unless it's someone you are aquainted with it wouldn't seem right taking a bottle, (just trying to think how I would prefer someone approaching me about land), I certainly wouldn't mind someone knocking on the door and asking, even if I would say no, but I'd be friendly about it.
saying is - 'if you don't ask you don't get'
another saying - 'a stranger is a friend you've yet to meet'
I'd go for it :) , but talk about growing things before sounding them out about pigs :)
You'll be miffed if someone else just happens to notice the same patch while you're thinking about it.
Good Luck
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Everyone is entitled to an opinion.
There comes the point where the world gets mad...next you won't be able to say hello to the new neighbours with a basket of muffins in case someone is diabetic, suffers from gluten intolerances, has blueberry allergy or a fear of gingham or wicker or has an eating disorder, gastric ulcer, might be overweight or a serial killer in denial.
Of course you wouldn't dream of taking muffins unless you had a stainless steel kitchen, a recent inspection cert and your NVQ in hygeine, food science and catering.
You can't write to him in case he's stressed over possible bills or has a terror of letter bombs. Heck he may have had a recent sex change and is no longer the Occupier.. she's now the Occupia
You can't call or phone in case he/she happens to be involved in some afternoon delight with the au pair or field hand let alone the risks of tripping over some cultural infraction involving a bizarre primitive ritual.
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I've had a few strangers asking if I will let out my grazing for ponies. I've always said no but have never been annoyed or offended. Unfortunately they have never come bearing gifts though! (come to think of it I may have found it a bit embarrassing if they had)
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..........I don't know why its weird to offer someone booze! I wish people would offer me booze :innocent:
Just say you turn up on someone's doorstep, someone you don't know from Adam, bearing a nice big bottle of strong alcohol.
Yes, and they might think that you are a raving alcoholic, not to be trusted!
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Everyone is entitled to an opinion.
There comes the point where the world gets mad...next you won't be able to say hello to the new neighbours with a basket of muffins in case someone is diabetic, suffers from gluten intolerances, has blueberry allergy or a fear of gingham or wicker or has an eating disorder, gastric ulcer, might be overweight or a serial killer in denial.
Of course you wouldn't dream of taking muffins unless you had a stainless steel kitchen, a recent inspection cert and your NVQ in hygeine, food science and catering.
You can't write to him in case he's stressed over possible bills or has a terror of letter bombs. Heck he may have had a recent sex change and is no longer the Occupier.. she's now the Occupia
You can't call or phone in case he/she happens to be involved in some afternoon delight with the au pair or field hand let alone the risks of tripping over some cultural infraction involving a bizarre primitive ritual.
??? ??? ???
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..........I don't know why its weird to offer someone booze! I wish people would offer me booze :innocent:
Just say you turn up on someone's doorstep, someone you don't know from Adam, bearing a nice big bottle of strong alcohol.
Yes, and they might think that you are a raving alcoholic, not to be trusted!
Really??? Im obviously far too simple
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I like an occasional drop of whisky but I'd be a bit unsure of a stranger turning up onthe doorstep offering a bottle.
But I think muffins would be a lovely way to welcome a new neighbour, thought would appreciated diabetic or otherwise
Anyway lets get this thread back to being helpful to 'Fruity'?
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When life gets too complicated just keep it simple. Go and ask.
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Cheers everyone!! :wave: I plucked up the courage and walked up their track and knocked on their door this morning. It's a no but they were very nice. They said there are lots of unused plots about and to keep asking around :thumbsup:
I have however spotted another piece in Ardingly. Again i've gone onto the land registry site to find out who owns it.
They live in Surrey :-\ will speak to a couple of the neighbours to see if I can get some more information.
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If you do succeed, you may have to be with and reassure your pigs for a while, they might not be too keen on a great hissing, clanking and chuffing monster rumbling by periodically , if they have not been used to steam railways!
I agree! Our piglets are raised with frequent visitors, both human and low flying aircraft from RAF Valley, but I think even they'd take exception to a railway line. Also consider how much rubbish you see alongside the tracks. How could you be sure you'd be around when someone throws a can, bottle or plastic sandwich wrapper out of the window?
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Keep trying Fruity. They can only say No...then one day someone will say YES :excited:
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Well done Fruity. When word gets round you are looking (and it will) someone will come knocking on your door. I will be intrigued to know how long that takes, perhaps we should take bets!
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Well Done Fruity, good to know they were friendly about it, now you know them you can smile and say hello when you meet them, you never know, when you've met a few times they might change their minds.
Is Surrey a long way from you then? so bit difficult to knock on their door and say you were just passing and thought.... ;D
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I would drop them a line saying you hope they don't mind you asking, but...
If it's land that's not useful to them I can't see why they'd turn their noses up at extra £££££s.
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Maybe they're going to use it sometime, or maybe they're uneasy about letting it out? Or maybe it was handed down to them with strings attached which were that they were not allowed to rent it out. Loads of plots for the immagination, I could write a mystery novel about it :roflanim: any suggestions on the title? :roflanim:
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Maybe they're going to use it sometime, or maybe they're uneasy about letting it out? Or maybe it was handed down to them with strings attached which were that they were not allowed to rent it out. Loads of plots for the immagination, I could write a mystery novel about it :roflanim: any suggestions on the title? :roflanim:
Lie of the land (a groundswell of intrigue)
Line in the ground (rail fencing)
Fallow Bella (a Mafia plot)
Tract and diplomacy (asking for land)