The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Land Management => Topic started by: Howard on June 11, 2012, 08:08:10 pm
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I've always wanted some land to start a smallholding. I've come across 2 acres close to where I live. It would be ideal but I'm concerned as to what I can achieve with just 2 acres. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks.
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i don't have land yet but from my research 2 acres would certainly be a very nice start...
on 2 acres a couple of weaners a year, some poultry and a very good veg patch are possible.
maybe more depending on location and quality of the land.
trust me if i could find 2 acres i could afford currently i'd grab them in a nanosecond!!!
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I agree with David.
Our veg garden is 3/4 acre - there are 5 raised beds, 18m x 1.2m, 10 fruit trees, a 16ft x 24ft (I think) polytunnel just going up and room under the trees for poultry.
I don't think you could make a living from it but you'd be able to produce an awful lot of your own food.
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If it is close enough for walking there and back (or cycling) and you can put some animal sheds up - a couple of acres you can have some milking goats, which then feed a couple of weaners and maybe lambs (spare triplets for example), poultry of course, a smallish polytunnel, veg garden, fruit cage..., but make sure you have (preferably) water on there, electricity would be a bonus too....
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I does depend on the quality of the land. If it is 2 acres of good, fairly level pasture (with a fairly sunny aspect) then I would do much the same as Anke suggests. If it is soggy, wooded or shaded, then it will be more difficult. Is there anyone from TAS who lives nearby who can have a look at it with you?
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You can do a fair bit with 2 acres if you plan it well. Is the land for sale or rent ?
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Thanks to you all - really helpful. The land is south east facing and on a gentle slope so would drain well - it is part deer fenced and the seller is going to stock proof the rest of it when its sold. There is water available on a sub meter, no electricity. There is no shade but the northen boundary does back on to woodland so there may be a little shade from the trees at some point. I'll check it out when we get some sun!! I want to start this exercise slowly, although I was bought up on a fruit farm in Kent, my knowledge of livestock is fairly limited. Good idea to find a TAS member locally - I'm in Sussex so it shouldn't be too difficult - (This is a great website by the way) Thanks again everyone.
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Sounds almost perfect. South facing in Sussex, you can probably have a solar panel and battery to suppy you with some electricity (here in Cumbria, less likely to be much elec made from one ::))
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Sounds pretty good and if you have good access by road and can put up a few store buildings and animal/bird quarters you can do a lot with 2 acres. As others have said the intial investment in stock fence,constructions, water delievery and tools and any mechanical equipment may represent a significant start up cost but then its all relative. If you beg borrow or trade you can rduce start up costs and what the heck - if you get the same satisfaction and pleasure out of the lifestyle as most of us do maybe you can stand a bit of a hit for a year or so.
good luck ! Martin
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Do give some thought to security as well, especially if you are loving off site. Your local crime prevention officer may be able to advise.
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Rosemary, I would like to do some loving offsite too ;D ;D
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Rosemary, I would like to do some loving offsite too ;D ;D
Oh! if only I had the energy ;D :eyelashes:
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" Love is in the air " :innocent:
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nothing like a bit of AL fresco :innocent: :farmer:
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You'll want more in a short space of time I think, it's addictive.
That'll be land you saucy lot out there!!! :-* :-* :-*
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Do give some thought to security as well, especially if you are loving off site.
Oops, Freudian slip :innocent:
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:D ;D
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Ah, so this is why smallholding is so popular, now I get it! ;D
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Take it! :thumbsup: Small plots in the South are like gold dust. Water on site, fenced, you can't go wrong. A mobile field shelter (no planning permission) can be adapted for all sorts of uses... ;) let us know how you get on.