The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: Malc on October 23, 2007, 10:21:09 am

Title: Hello from Orkney
Post by: Malc on October 23, 2007, 10:21:09 am

Hi everybody,

I'm Malcolm and I moved to the island of Westray in the Orkneys in July. We have eight acres, a barn, large shed, small stone shed, two byres and a very rundown cottage. I used to be a sports journalist - perfect preparation for a career on a croft!

We have two weaners and five hens so far. The pigs' mother was a Tamworth/Oxford Sandy and Black cross, the AI boar a Duroc. They are hungry boys and growing fast on a diet of pencils, tatties and barley in the large shed (they will get time outside once all the parts of the electric fence arrive (one of the joys of living on a small island).

The hens are resolutely refusing to lay at the moment. I suspect three may be past it and two not quite ready. They are on probation while I consult the recipe books.

I spend most of the time not having a clue what I'm doing, winging it on a very grand scale.

Thanks for starting the forum, hope it will be a valuable source of advice and comfort when things go wrong (as they do on a daily basis).

Title: Re: Hello from Orkney
Post by: Dan on October 25, 2007, 11:29:30 am

Hi Malc, you're very modest, we follow with interest your adventures at The Edge of Nowhere (http://www.the-edge-of-nowhere.blogspot.com/).  :D

Good to see you here, I'm sure you have a lot to offer!

Title: Re: Hello from Orkney
Post by: natasha on January 03, 2008, 06:51:09 pm

hello,i too had a rush to the head and moved all the way up to shetland from london!!We must be mad but so far so good.I've just read some of your blog which is great.I also am hoping to keep pigs,just waiting for my holding number to come!! ::)

natasha

Title: Re: Hello from Orkney
Post by: Hilarysmum on January 05, 2008, 11:45:39 am

Hi looking forward to hearing how things go.  Is it very cold there?

Title: Re: Hello from Orkney
Post by: Pebbles on January 06, 2008, 04:39:34 pm

Hi Malc

We love your site too - informative and funny  :D

Look forward to hearing all about your news - might need to pick your brains about Pigs and Chickens.

Hope the weather isn't being to harsh.

Pebbles

Title: Re: Hello from Orkney
Post by: jan on January 09, 2008, 08:20:27 pm

Sorry this is late Malc, but better late than never, a warm welcome to the forum and hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Jan

Title: Re: Hello from Orkney
Post by: Townie on January 21, 2008, 11:02:42 pm

Hi from me too  :)

Title: Re: Hello from Orkney
Post by: Malc on February 12, 2008, 06:22:22 pm

Blimey, hadn't checked this for. . . well, since I wrote it I suppose.

So apologies for not returning the greetings sooner - hello to you lot as well.

Everything is going pretty well. Pigs are getting bigger (two in-pig sows are on the way next month), hens are coming up with the eggs and Mrs Malc has a job (one of us had to).

Even in winter, Orkney is a fantastic place to live. Can't recommend it highly enough. We've even got a half-decent rugby club. I'm a happy boy.

If anyone wants to know anything from my very limited experience, feel free to mail - contact from the outside world is always welcome!

Title: Re: Hello from Orkney
Post by: Rosalie on February 13, 2008, 09:22:06 pm

Hi Malc I think you'll find that most of us started out on the same way, did you find a good recipe or are your hucks forgiven

Rosalie

Title: Re: Hello from Orkney
Post by: Francis Bacon on February 14, 2008, 08:18:52 am

Hi Malc,

Welcome from me too  ;)

Donna

Title: Re: Hello from Orkney
Post by: Blinkers on February 14, 2008, 11:20:15 am

Wow and double Wow - what a stunning place.  :o Welcome and look forward to hearing more and more and more.
 :)