[dennd1906]

Hello everyone, 
I've posted a question so I must introduce myself. 
I live in Somerset with my family and 5 Southdown sheep, 2 escaping goats, chickens, call-ducks, multi-breed ducks, a dog and a cat.  We only have 1 1/2 acres so perhaps we are more of a microholder.  We have difficult land on a rocky hill and a plethora of foxes and feral cats after my chickens and ducks so my saying that I love a challenge really came back at me.   As for me, I love this life but I worry that I am not doing things right and I cry buckets of guilt when lambs go to the freezer.  I wait for the day when I am supposed to harden to it and I carry on in the vain hope that one day I will beat the odds and know exactly what I am doing.   
You have all been a great help without you knowing it when I have scanned through the forum looking for answers to problems and I am very pleased to join you. 
D x

[plumseverywhere]

Hello and welcome to TAS 

I've always wanted southdowns!! they are so teddy bear-ish 
we are in Worcestershire so not so far from you, we also have 2 goats (thank goodness they have finally given up escaping, yay!) a few bottle lambs, 14 chickens and a few cats, rabbits, g/pigs.

I think we all worry that we aren't getting it right, if we didn't then we most definately would be doing it wrong in my opinion - its good that we still care enough.  No question is considered daft here, and believe me I ask a few quite mad ones, but everyone is very helpful and supportive.

look forward to chatting more

Lisa

[CameronS]

Welcome from fife   

we are more of a microholder

Thats a new one 

I wonder what that makes me then  -- a micro-microholder?

I have the use of the top of our garden where i have hens, ducks and a few veggies.

[ellisr]

Hi from Somerset also.

I have 25 sheep, 2 pigs, lots of chickens and a horse.

[Rosemary]

Hi and welcome from Carnoustie 

[Hilarysmum]

Welcome from Brittany. 

[JulieS]

Hello and welcome from Sunny Devon 

[poppajohn]

Hi lass I am new here too! I downsized to two acres ten years ago and microholding is a grand state of affairs! Even John Seymour said it was possible for total self sufficiency on an acre and if he said it, its good enough for me! We are lucky, the kids have flown and I only bother with poultry and veg now. We have a pig club, ie share the labour and cost between four families. My beef comes via traded labour and show ring handling for a friend.
I think the secret is dont think size of a holding matters, its how you use what you have got. Plenty of families survive off allotment gardens so anything bigger is a bonus. One problem for a lot of newcomers to small farming is taking on acres and then finding it too much! Enjoy what you have! 

[nails]

Hello from Somerset as well, we have 11sheep/lambs currently bottle feedig 11 for a farmer friend of ours, 13 pigs, chickens, ducks, geese a dog and 6 cats

[Brahma girl]

Welcome, this is a great forum. lots of intresting happening and nice people.

[TheCaptain]

hello, also from Somerset (ish).  I keep Portland sheep (9 ewes, 1 ram, 8 lambs), 3 Texel lambs that are bottle feeders, 2 GOS sows, 8 piglets ATM, 3 ponies, 20 adult chickens (white/brown hybrids, Rhodies, Favorelles and Barred plymouth rocks), 12 chicks (Rhodies, Favorelles, BPR, dorkings and some crazy crosses). We do turkeys too, but only when the season is upon is 

1 wife, 3 kids (5 and under!), two dogs, 4 cats and various pets and exotic animals as my wife does animal handling sessions and parties for kids and schools covering farm, pet and exotic animals.  Life is pretty damned hectic!!!

[Cobra]

Hi from Somerset as well  Oh were increasing in numbers here 

Very small plot: 6 Pigs, Aylesbury ducks, Orphington Chickens, Dog & Cat hopeing for some wolly backs soon 

Enjoy

[gillsta]

Hello from sunny Aberdeenshire. I have 3 and a half  four  2  1  and hopefully soon some and perhaps

[Beewyched]

Hiya & welcome from West Scotland 

A "micro-holding" eh?  Good one    It's not the size - it's what you do with it 

[darkbrowneggs]

Hi there and welcome    from Sue in Worcestershire.  I have my Cuckoo Marans (of course  ) and this year am branching out into blue egg layers, and hopefully green egg layers.  And last week got 5 Wiltshire Horn yearling ewes, which I am very pleased with.  Big dog (Great Dane) little cat (farm moggy) some ducks, golden pheasants, veg garden etc etc.  Hope you enjoy it here - I certainly have