[egbert]

Hi

My partner Adrian and myself are looking at the possibility of becoming more eco friendly, self supporting and generally starting up a small holding. We have 2 young children, so are hoping to grow our own labour  and teach them something about the environment and food produce at the same time. Adrian is very keen on natural fuels, mainly I think for the cost savings, and has spent the last 3 years on the old and draughty house, putting in insulation, fuel burners and is currently planning his heat pump.

I am given the task of sorting the outdoors - as Im currently on maternity leave this seems the ideal time for me to get set up and put the hours in - small babies just dont keep us busy enough  .

So - we have got the raised beds started for our veggie garden and are planning on the first plantings now. We also have a 10 acre field at the back of the house we can rent, however, the problem now is where to start. There is just so much information available on the internet, and rather than read it all I was hoping you lovely people could help me by pointing to your favourite dog eared books or much perused websites. . .

I would like to keep some pigs, I think some lambs would be lovely but am a little put off by the amount of treatments they appear to need against worms etc, plus do I hire a shearer etc. I have for some time been drawn to goats - particularly pygmy, although I think these may be more pets than useful animals . . . and I am trying to convince everyone that we should have ducks, as I believe they can live with a nice big paddling pool and dont need an entire lake?

However, not only does the small holding need to be self supporting - ie do you actually make enough money from your lambs and pigs to pay for their food through the year and do you just buy new babies to raise into meat, or do you breed your own, in which case fees for insemination or hiring of males - but also is there any profit to be made from it? I would like to become part time at work so I have the time to maintain it, but then some income would be nice.

As you can see - lots of questions so really I need some idea of where to start looking for the answers.

Thanks
Gayle

[sandy]

Hello and welcome from Central Scotland, Clackmannan, the wee county!!! working with nature has so many more benifits than financial ones, from growing a few herbs on your window sill to fileds of sheep, smallholding is great stress relief, great for excersie and excellant for the sole (better than going to the church.......muich better!!!) The stress comes if it's your main income!!!

[Rosemary]

Hi and welcome.

Have a look around the forums for more information - there's loads on every topic under the sun.

[little blue]

hello and welcome, cant think where to start answering your many questions... !! So have a read and a smile at our forums!

[Hilarysmum]

Welcome, with so many full time farmers going out of business, it would certainly need a lot of thought before committing to making a smallholding your main source of income. 

It is possible to run at a profit, its not easy.

[doganjo]

Hi there - also from Clackmannan, down the road from Sandra and Steve.  I only have ducks and chickens but their eggs pay for their food and any extras they need, straw etc.  There was a little capital outlay for the sheds and fencing. I have been led to believe that if you raise three weaners (pigs) the third is for yourself and the other two pay for the keep for the three of them.  But I've never kept any myself.  You see I am a woos, a wimp, a scaredy pie.  I can eat anyone else's animals but not my own
Good luck - you'll find all your answers on here and we are a lovely lot!

[egbert]

Thanks for your replies.

To clarify - this wouldnt be our sole source of income - Adrian is working and I would hope to carry on PT. But I would hope the animals would at least pay for themselves - I know profit would be hopeful 

[Fergie]

Thanks for your replies.

To clarify - this wouldnt be our sole source of income - Adrian is working and I would hope to carry on PT. But I would hope the animals would at least pay for themselves - I know profit would be hopeful 

Another welcome from Lanarkshire.  We've got 45 Hebridean & Soay sheep spread over 19 acres, with a bit put aside for hay.  I'd be delighted with a profit, but I don't think it even breaks even.  The quality of life (and the taste of the meat) is unbeatable however, but I think you need to keep your day jobs!

Enjoy,

John

[Gary]

hello and welcome

[Hilarysmum]

I would hope the animals would at least pay for themselves -

Can only really speak for pigs.  A lot depends on your circumstances.  How much you pay for the feed, whether you will be able to supplement their feed with home grown veg ( 4 kilo veg can replace up to 1 kilo of feed), who would buy your meat.  There are loads of regulations if you are selling meat, can you meet them all.  Ad infinitum.

Best to start by producing fantastic quality meat and veg for yourselves and close family. (Keep 2 pigs as a minimum its far more cost effective).

[JulieS]

Hello and welcome 

[Hilarysmum]

Sorry that sounded negative.   

[Daisys Mum]

Hello and welcome from me too, I can't say that I am making any money from my sheep or pigs but to comply with health regs etc I have the slaughter house deliver carcases to my butcher who then butchers the meat and packs it, some of my customers then collect their own from him and those that cant I deliver. I keep shetland sheep and they probably do pay their own way as on average they produce twins and being the breed they are they require very little suplementary feeding, I have a very nice farmer neighbour who gives me wormer for them and shears them too.