The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: country soul on February 15, 2021, 01:39:21 pm
-
Do you think there are many people looking to get into smallholding /shepherding I m about to expand my sheep enterprise significantly due to taking on a lot more ground...I wondering if I could find someone to get involved.Iknow location would be key(I m in Yorkshire) but has any one done this/thoughts
-
It has been said that if you want to get rid of an enemy, then give him a smallholding. The theory being presumably that running a smallholding is likely to use up most of his time and money and therefore he will no longer be a nuisance to you.
You have asked a somewhat open question country soul. What exactly did you have in mind? Are you wanting someone to help buy the extra sheep you will need to fill the extra land?
Do you want someone with experience to help you with lambing?
Or are you looking for someone with no experience to help you at peak times, for little or no money as they will be gaining experience as they go along?
I have, in the past, had someone help me with fencing, foot trimming etc as he wanted to gain experience. He was more trouble than he was worth as appeared to have little natural ability and it took me longer to supervise and redo what he'd done wrong than if I'd done it myself in the first place.
I also had a sort of partnership with a neighbour many years ago. We owned a couple of acres of land each and decided to get a few Ryeland sheep, and share the care of them. We got them home and I trimmed their feet as they'd been a bit neglected. He was going to do the next trim. It never happened. I also gave them their initial vaccination and he was going to do the second one. That also never happened. I wormed them all, and for some of them that was the last time they were wormed as by then I could see how this was panning out, so suggested that we separate them and each look after his own. Even that involved me alone as I had a sheep dog and a decent trailer and he didn't. But it wouldn't have been insurmountable for him to have at least been present at the gathering to open and close the field gates, if nothing else. But he had to go shopping at that exact time - even though he was retired and could have gone any time.
So my personal experiences of any sort of partnership are not good.
But all circumstances and people are different, and you can never say "never".
However, I am mindful of some advice I was given many years ago which is "The worse ship in the world is a partnership." Obviously not always true, but like in any relationship, it's easy to get a long way in before you realise you have chosen the wrong person, and then it is difficult and stressful getting free again.
-
Could you take on an apprentice? Do you have a spare room and could feed him/her in return for assistance?
-
("also had a sort of partnership with a neighbour many years ago. We owned a couple of acres of land each and decided to get a few Ryeland sheep, and share the care of them. We got them home and I trimmed their feet as they'd been a bit neglected. He was going to do the next trim. It never happened. I also gave them their initial vaccination and he was going to do the second one. That also never happened. I wormed them all, and for some of them that was the last time they were wormed as by then I could see how this was panning out, so suggested that we separate them and each look after his own. Even that involved me alone as I had a sheep dog and a decent trailer and he didn't. But it wouldn't have been insurmountable for him to have at least been present at the gathering to open and close the field gates, if nothing else. But he had to go shopping at that exact time - even though he was retired and could have gone any time. ")
This reminds me of the the time we reared our first weaner pigs. We were friends with two other couples both of whom wanted to buy a pig (once butchered) to share. They asked if they could contribute to the feeding by way of giving us leftover fruit/veg from their gardens, allotment, apple trees etc and also "pop up from time to time to help out". We agreed and rather naively said, as they were good friends, they could have the pig "at cost".
In the end the total veg contribution amounted to 3 marrows and the helping out never happened. The one time I asked if someone could pop up to feed the pigs at tea time as we were away for the day 200 miles away at a family party and wouldn't be home till late I was told that they couldn't manage it as they had family round and it would be difficult to pop over. They lived less than a mile away!
-
Thanks for sharing your experiences it's a shame it didn't work out .I guess it does depend on the party involved .My situation is pretty flexible and I ve more land than I need really (rented and owned) and am reluctant to let some of it go and hence my initial question...I think part of the problem is lack of aspiring younger people which is a shame.
-
..I think part of the problem is lack of aspiring younger people which is a shame.
I dont think there is a shortage of young people .... but they will need a proper income to live off
-
While you ponder your predicament country soul (and not wishing to give up any of your land - rented or owned), can you not rent-out for grazing or haylage for what ever time you need to work out a means of expanding your own enterprises ?
-
Just wondering country soul - whereabouts in Yorkshire are you? Anywhere near Goole/Selby?
-
..I think part of the problem is lack of aspiring younger people which is a shame.
I dont think there is a shortage of young people .... but they will need a proper income to live off
Totally agree.
I think the first thing is to decide what you want and how you might achieve it so you know what sort of partners you are looking for. It is possible to work in partnerships but everyone needs to be clear about what is expected from them and have contracts in place. You can't expect anyone to come and work for nothing (not that I'm saying you expect this).
If you have accommodation or it could be found locally you could offer placements to vet/farm students.
There are lots of people who have money and ambitions to farm but have no land so I think you could find people who would love this opportunity.
-
..I think part of the problem is lack of aspiring younger people which is a shame.
I dont think there is a shortage of young people .... but they will need a proper income to live off
Yes there are soooooo many young people who really want to get into farming but have no access to land. They would love to get in some sort of partnership.
I still would be weary of this though...
Be very careful when doing any type of business partnerships.
-
..I think part of the problem is lack of aspiring younger people which is a shame.
I dont think there is a shortage of young people .... but they will need a proper income to live off
Yes there are soooooo many young people who really want to get into farming but have no access to land. They would love to get in some sort of partnership.
I still would be weary of this though...
Be very careful when doing any type of business partnerships.
Yes be careful. Take legal advice. There are always the scare stories but there are also the success stories too. You might decide it isn't the way forward for you but equally once you've explored the options you might find something that works.
-
Thanks for sharing your experiences it's a shame it didn't work out .I guess it does depend on the party involved .My situation is pretty flexible and I ve more land than I need really (rented and owned) and am reluctant to let some of it go and hence my initial question...I think part of the problem is lack of aspiring younger people which is a shame.
There are aspiring younger people. OK not on every street corner or in every field gate but they are out there.
-
Thanks for sharing your experiences it's a shame it didn't work out .I guess it does depend on the party involved .My situation is pretty flexible and I ve more land than I need really (rented and owned) and am reluctant to let some of it go and hence my initial question...I think part of the problem is lack of aspiring younger people which is a shame.
I suggest you have a look on the,https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/sheep-grazing.332496/#post-7259029It may be a more commercial venture, but it would give you an idea of what's involved.