[HappyHippy]

I'm all the way up in Scotland and keep mainly pigs and children (and the pigs are cleaner & tidier  )
Any pig you raise yourself, if kept outside and given a good varied diet will give you the best pork you've ever tasted. The key is finding a breed you like, but have fun trying all the others in the process - I like Kune Kunes for a starter breed, but only cos they're smaller. friendlier, cheaper to keep, easier to handle and don't trash your ground the same - the drawback is they're smaller and take a bit longer to grow. But any lop eared breed will be fairly straightforward (they can't see how to escape as easily  ) and we all have our particular favourites. The main thing is to do your reseach before you buy, go to a good, well respected breeder (who'll help & guide you too) and be prepared for loads of laughs - pigs are great fun 
Welcome to TAS 
Karen

[Fowgill Farm]

Thanks for posting guys! It's great to see what and where your doing it!!
Any one in my area (west mids) got any rhode island reds in the pure form at pol? Or anyone local want to convince me that there pure breed of pigs is the best for great meat? And they might have a pair up for sale soon...
Thanks again for getting involved it's very interesting.

There are loads of pig breeders in the West Midlands and over the Three Counties borders so you're not short on choice as a GOS breeder i have to tell you to check out the members section of the GOS website and you'll no doubt find someone near you, pity but i'm up in North Yorkshire or i'd invite you round
All the best Mandy 

[lilac-unicorn]

hi
  welcome to south bham.    i am at wythall/hollywood but animals are about 4 miles away. they are ponies,ducks,geese,guinea fowl,chickens and peafowl  and 2 dogs and 1 cat at home.

     where about are you

[chairmanphil]

hi there, names Phil and i moved back to Oxfordshire 4 years ago when my mum died. since then we have been battling the planting habits of my mother over a 45 year period. cut down 59 trees and have been working on improving the Oxfordshire clay for that length of time too. I was a country boy by birth, this very patch of land no less. moved to london for 20 years and worked in the music buisness for those 20 years. had a top time and laughed and partied for a living but working on the land and selling my courgettes and chillis on the markets last year is right up there on my list of the best things i have done. so this year is poly tunnel and much more farmers markets selling our food and living the good life!

[in the hills]

Hi,

For pure Rhode Island Reds you could try Shaws Pedigree Utility Poultry. They are in Shropshire/Warwickshire ....01926 420962. Not sure how close they are to you. My father bought us some from there. Had them as growers for a reasonable price. My father had some of their white utility wyandottes and has been really pleased with them. Hope this helps.

[arwelcoed]

hi
  welcome to south bham.    i am at wythall/hollywood but animals are about 4 miles away. they are ponies,ducks,geese,guinea fowl,chickens and peafowl  and 2 dogs and 1 cat at home.

     where about are you

We must be close I'm guessing as we are only down the road from wythall!

Thanks for that info "in the hills" I will give him a ring and see what they can sort for us.
It's great to have had so many people write a bit about themselves I can see that this site is a one stop shop for information on anything of the home farming variety

[SteveHants]

Perhaps, rather obviously I am in Hampshire. Im on the Hants, Dorset, Wilts border and I have a few chickens at home. I am a grazier and have sheep on various bits of other peoples land totalling roughly 100ac. Welcome to the forums!

[Millwood]

We're in Oxfordshire & have a 3acre market garden & chickens! Hopefully be getting some piggies soon depending on outcome of our bid for a shop, also house  in the orchard from our beekeeping neighbour, oh and Marmaduke the maurauding mouse munching moggie Loving the good life!