[Catbaloo]

Hi there,

Well, I have 14.5 acres, approx 8 acres hay, 4 horses, kids now flown the nest, so just me and my old maw.  Needing to find info on how to manage my land.  I've been here for 7 years since my husband died.  Farmer used to do the hay field for previous people, so kept the same arrangement.  He did the fields and took half the hay which usually was about 60 bales (120 total) although last year only 90 and this year only 60!!  Turned out last year when I digitalized my fields the farmer had the 6 acre as his and was getting paid for it, so last year thankfully he had already cut the hay but wouldn't put it in my barn as he did in previous years.  So, upshot is a friend gets a contractor for his hay and I did the same.  Late hay for the horses and best I've had.

Spring it was sprayed with organic seaweed, so I'm trying to spray now but only have a back pack so will be doing it till christmas at this rate.  Any tips and advice will be greatly appreciated.  My son is never here to help as works abroad, girls now in Glasgow, so can't really hitch my old maw up.  Anyhow, great to be able to find a forum for a smallholder.

[lachlanandmarcus]

Hi Catbaloo! welcome!! Im also in Aberdeenshire and have a menagerie of 2 horses, 25 sheep, 5 geese, 7 chickens, 2 dogs and 2 cats. Soon to be one small mule hopefully too :-)))

We made hay ourselves for the first time this year, just 100 odd small bales because we dont have the storage for more until the shed goes up. But happy to share experiences. Do you have big bales or small ones made?

Whereabouts in Abs are you, what sort of land? We are right on top of a hill near Ballater/Aboyne and have a few decent fields and a few boggy ones plus a lot of rough. All very exposed but truly beautiful.

If you havent already, you must show us the horses (theres a thread in the horses section), we love to see the naglets!

[Pony-n-trap]

I'm in ABerdeenshire too! Near Stonehaven.  Our hay was a disaster this year, rained and rained and rained so now I have a nice crop of mushrooms and plenty of padding for muddy gateways!!

Welcome to the forum! Look forward to hearing your stories! 

[morri2]

Hiya!  And well done you for going it out alone.  Hay everywhere has been a problem this year (see posts on Horses thread).  In Wales here its probably only marginally better that there.  Given the area of land you have to treat have you thought about buying a small (second hand) tractor and necessary attachments?  There are some bargains on ebay for two wheel drive machines - more expensive for the four wheel variety. Good luck and welcome to the site.

[Rosemary]

Hi and welcome from Carnoustie 

[Daisys Mum]

Hi and welcome from the Borders 

[ballingall]

Hello and welcome from me near Falkirk.

Beth

[Catbaloo]

Hi Everyone!

Thank you for the warm welcome.  I'm in an area called North Millbrex, near Fyvie.  Temperature drops about 4 degrees from the village to me, so we can have snow and Methlick definitely doesn't, although Fyvie might!!

Can't remember if I said on my original post but we also have 2 dogs and 5 cats which includes a black Maine Coon called Rolo and Lily our Bengal.

Can't afford a tractor at the moment.  Could have when I first came up here but I did for about 4 years a Nutritional Cancer Therapy and what with tablets and organic food my savings disappeared.  No I don't work, but have a small pension through my husband, and although I thought I'd be fine, it hasn't increased since I got it in 2000!!  Happy days!  I'm meant to be poor but happy.

I am hoping to plant my own lettuce etc., this year.  When I first came up from Glasgow in 2003, in 2004 my son planted lettuce, garlic, radishes, onions and some others.  All that blossomed was the lettuce and radishes, but they were fab and did us all summer.

My daughters did me a little website so horses can be seen on www.bhaltosarabians.co.uk just for fun and just a dream which came far too late in life...I'm 57, but couldn't stand the thought of living back in the city.  My daughters want me to move nearer so they can help me, but hey, they have their own lives.  My son says to do what I want to.

Well, I'm just in to get my soup as I'm knackered after dealing with two mares who hate their feet being picked up and trimmed.  That's what one gets when taking on rescues and cheap horses with problems.

As I said in my first post my hay is the best I've had since I came up here.  Read on a dressage website in Germany that they always do late hay as it's better for the horses.  Well, mine wasn't done until September due to the weather and the horses are eating it as though they've never been fed!  Hoping now that I'll have enough for the winter.  Although I was down on yield this year again the seaweed being sprayed in the Spring must have done something for the horses to clear up every little bit and be eating more than they normally do.

[faith0504]

hi and welcome

[Hilarysmum]

Welcome from Brittany.

[darkbrowneggs]

Hi - and welcome from Worcestershire

Sue
Dark Brown Eggs

[ser3dan]

Hi  and welcome from the North West ( although hoping to soon be not too far from you! ) 

[HappyHippy]

Hello from me in South Lanarkshire 
I lived up in St Katherines at Fyvie for a few years then moved back down to the family farm 5 years ago when the kids came along  Since then it's been a SLOW process getting everything back in order (my folks stopped farming and the land was just left to look after itself )
Would your contractor not come back and spray your fields and take something in return other than money ? It's got to be worth asking !
Anyway, I'll stop rambling !
Welcome to TAS
Karen x

[Hardfeather]

Hi and welcome from Angus

[Catbaloo]

Hello all and thank you for the lovely welcome.

Hi Karen, I live just past the Donkey Sanctuary through North Millbrex near Blackpool Farm.  Small world.  Not sure the contractor would take Hay in payment, although need to ask.  This ear I only got 60 bales, used to get 120 bales, last year only 90, but used liquid seaweed and the best hay I've had since coming up here.  Don't need to feed loads of extras to the horses.

Need to get the horses earning their keep.  Just a pity no Ahmish around as they make their own equipment.