[richard@sunnybank]

Hello everyone! 

We moved into our mini-farm in South Wales just over a year ago (instagram.com/sunnybankwales).  After sorting out the immediate repairs to the farmhouse, we've set about breathing life back into the 14 acres of land.  We have 4 goats, 12 sheep and 3 pigs with chickens next on the agenda.  Fair to say the last 12 months has been a massive learning curve!

Interested to hear how others have got their land working for them - we're not expecting to make a fortune from it, but every little helps!

Richard 

[Rosemary]

Hello and welcome from Carnoustie
Our first priority is food for us, then food for local people, support rare /traditional breeds and do it all in a nature friendly way. We breed Shetland cattle, keep a few sheep, raise some pigs and meat chickens and run about 80-100 laying hens in the apple orchard. And grow some veggies and fruit. Our diary - above tells all. Well, most of it 

[LizRH]

Hi Richard  , and welcome from Upton upon Severn, not too far from you.
We also have 14 acres and are very new to smallholding - this forum has been a godsend. We have rescue donkeys, pygmy goats, 6 Shetland sheep (just got a ram so that's exciting!) and a few chickens.  Getting pigs next. Oh, and the cat rules us all. You're right about steep learning curve - and we do have paid jobs which help us out with the animals' costs.  Apart from the few eggs we sell to friends, we definitely don't get any return on our animals but when we get pigs, and maybe a few meat chickens, we might get further benefit.

Hope you enjoy it all - and keep a diary of what happens.  I'm so glad I began that - noting down all events, queries,  things on the animals I need to watch, and obviously medications (as well as in the medication book) - as I find it helps my failing memory  .

Best wishes, Liz