The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: chriso on April 04, 2010, 03:55:30 pm

Title: How do
Post by: chriso on April 04, 2010, 03:55:30 pm

Hello from Cumbria everyone. I am reading loads of posts for information as I am very much a novice. I grow my own veg in part of my garden and I am thinking of getting some hens for eggs and table. I would like some pigs but don't have room but I might enquire about renting some space in the fields behind me from the farmer. I would love my own smallholding but they seem expensive for small run down ones around me. :-\ For now I'm enjoying learning from everyone elses posts, thanks all. :wave:

Title: Re: How do
Post by: doganjo on April 04, 2010, 04:29:42 pm

Welcome to teh forum, Chris.  I'm in Clackmannan on just an acre, presently plain old grass mainly, but trying to roughen it up a bit.

Title: Re: How do
Post by: CameronS on April 04, 2010, 05:10:58 pm

Welcome from fife  :wave:

Title: Re: How do
Post by: Rosemary on April 04, 2010, 06:02:14 pm

Hi and Happy Easter from sunny Alloa!

Title: Re: How do
Post by: ballingall on April 04, 2010, 06:50:16 pm

Hello and welcome. You'll find lots of like minded people on here.

Beth

Title: Re: How do
Post by: MiriMaran on April 04, 2010, 09:06:17 pm

Welcome from Derbyshire. :wave:

Title: Re: How do
Post by: Daisys Mum on April 04, 2010, 09:51:59 pm

Hi and welcome from the Scottish Borders  :wave: I am rubbish at growing veg seem to just get weeds and I forget to water them. I'ts really strange cause I never forget to do the animals just the veg. Perhaps if the baa'd or neige'd then they would get water.

Title: Re: How do
Post by: chriso on April 05, 2010, 11:17:40 am

Thanks for the welcome all you lovely folk. I might have a small hen ark coming today so will be on the look out for a few hens.  ;D

Title: Re: How do
Post by: little blue on April 05, 2010, 06:14:02 pm

hello and welcome from Derbyshire... bet most of us started with "just a few chickens!"

Title: Re: How do
Post by: Rosemary on April 05, 2010, 08:16:27 pm

Hi and welcome from windy Clackmannanshire!

Title: Re: How do
Post by: sandy on April 05, 2010, 11:04:32 pm

Hi from Clackmannan :wave:I know that few chicken thing!!

Title: Re: How do
Post by: Hilarysmum on April 06, 2010, 07:18:27 am

Welcome from Brittany.  Be warned pigs are VERY addictive, even worse than hens.

Title: Re: How do
Post by: Annie22 on April 07, 2010, 01:25:34 pm

Hi I'm new too.  Hope to help in the future.  Hilarysmum is right pigs are very addictive.

Title: Re: How do
Post by: garden cottage on April 07, 2010, 02:38:38 pm

Hi very welcome.......................... :wave: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :sheep:

Title: Re: How do
Post by: chriso on April 08, 2010, 12:09:58 pm

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone :love:, I'm sure you will all be able to give me some good advice sooner or later. Clackmannan seems a popular place, sorry for my ignorance but where is it ???.

Title: Re: How do
Post by: Rosemary on April 08, 2010, 05:58:22 pm

Shock, horror, probe! You don't know where Clackmannanshire is? The centre of the universe? God's country?

At least you admit it.  ;D

We are the smallest county on mainland Scotland, bounded by Stirling, Falkirk, Fife and Perth and Kinross Councils. Ochils to the North, River Forth to the south and with enough whisky stored here to pay the national debt (well, prior to the recent crisis  ;D)

Home of William Alexander of Menstrie, founder of Nova Scotia; the Erskine family, Earls of Mar and Kellie, hereditary keepers of Stirling Castle and close buddies of the Royal Stuarts; lowland home of the Clan Campbell and home of Alloa Athletic Football Club, currently top of the Scottish Second Division!

Title: Re: How do
Post by: Farmer Pete on April 08, 2010, 08:55:58 pm

Hi Chriso

I knocked on doors in my village and found a 2 acre plot in someone's garden. They were only too happy to have some animals in there and help to keep it down.
I started with pigs and they are so easy. The landlord also loves the fact that they can recycle their waste as well and their kids (as well as ours) love going to see the pigs.
The owners of the land now take it in turn to feed and water so it's brilliant. The deal is I source, take responsibility, slaughter, butcher and present them with their half a pig. they help feed and generally muck in. I sent them a tex the other day saying to look in their field as they had some new tenants.
I'd bought some lambs and mother ewes. It's so easy, such fun and everyone loves helping out. BRILLIANT

Title: Re: How do
Post by: chriso on April 09, 2010, 09:21:42 am

Nice one farmer Pete :farmer: I will have to approach the farmer who owns the fields behind me to see if I can rent some space with a similar deal.