[langdon]

i have been keeping for the last 2-3 yrs an average one acre smallholding, pigs at the beginning with goats,chucks and veg.
i have to say i love it, with all the different challenges that come on a day to day basis esp learning new skills.
the whole family has benefited from this lifestyle and we are going to continue this.
but i still feel there is something missing, like i feel i have connected in some way with this lifestyle but still dont feel wholly
attached.its kinda frustrating feeling to have but yet its what makes me more eager to fill the missing gap.
have to go, sorry if this is boring but thought i might as well put my feelings on ere and see does anyone else feel the same or had ever
felt like this on their holding, i feel a bit weird now!

langdon 

[OhLaLa]

What do you think is missing? Have a quiet moment to yourself with a beer and think of ideas you might want to take a closer look at. Maybe you are yearning for expansion, a change in direction, or would like to get a bit of an income from it. Only you will know.

[langdon]

got the beer bit right!
i dont think its size wise as we are not in a position to expand so i have accepted that, as for income, we went on a buisness course and half way through
we realised that doing it for a income would mean the pleasure would be taken out of what we are trying to achieve here.
i think it might be a thing of really geting in touch with nature more and spending more time out there.
i may sound like a hippy but im not! i just want to use the space that we got ere and natures supplies to the best of my abilites.
i think thats it, that seems to make more sense, and hopefully to any of ye that read this post earlier.

langdon

[deepinthewoods]

creativity? make something beautiful, with time and care.
that always does it for me. 

[YorkshireLass]

How about growing something other than food?
Herbs for medicines/cosmetics?
Willow for basket weaving?
Plants to dye fabric?
A change of "tactic" to forest gardening, or permaculture, or...something??

[Fleecewife]

I think one aspect of our place which really makes it feel 'ours' is the hedgerows and trees we have planted.  It somehow makes what we are doing permanent and ours.  We really love the growing hedges - the first year they were big enough for birds to nest in, the section we 'layed', the wild fruit for us and the birds, and the fact that now the whole world can't see in    We now feel firmly planted on our piece of land    One acre could easily be overwhelmed by surrounding it with hedges and trees, but perhaps you can get some ideas from what we have done to make this place really ours and to feel totally comfortable here.

[Roxy]

I think you should only do what makes you happy.  Just because other people do this, that or the other with their plot of land, no one should feel they have to do the same, or more.

Me, for example, from a farming background, has lots of cockerels running about, cos she is too soft to eat them!!  Yes, people will go past and think I am mad, but so what?!!  I started out with lots of good intentions, about being self sufficient, but having a close vegan friend, has changed my ideas a bit (although I am certainly not a vegan!).

In an ideal world  I would be self sufficient, but at the moment, I do what I can, growing fruit and veg.  I have the goats for milk, chickens for eggs, which  I sell.

I think everyone goes through the "restless" stage probably a few times, thinking they should be doing something else.  But most people don't do anything about it, or maybe cannot for various reasons.

If there is something else you want to try, then do it, but do not feel pressured to do the whole smallholding thing.  Its meant to be enjoyable, not a worry (although having livestock there is always something to worry about!!)

[langdon]

hi roxy thanks for the reply,
interesting to read what you said and i agree wholly, if you knew me as say a freind or so you would know that i am not the person to just copy others
for the sake of it.
please believe me i am happy with what i got and what i am doing, as you have read many times on ere when im out and doing my bits and bobs i just
think about things ( probualy a bit too much ! )
as you said to be wholly self sufficent means to be of grid completly and thats a big ask for the majority of us, we can only do what we can.
i guess what got me of on this track was i was out on the veg plot one day and i seen a bunch of nettles and i was thinking why am i not using these for nettle
tea!!!! like i am trying to lose some weight and get healthy so i know that nettle tea is good for you, and for me geting healthy and living a healthy lifestyle go hand in hand with smallholding and using any natural sources that are there ready for the taking.
i dont know, am i going mad or what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Roxy]

   I was only looking at the nettles we have round the place today ..... I could drown in nettle tea if I used them all.

It is a waste not to use the nettles though.  Have been meaning to make nettle compost - but as with a lot of things, not got round to it yet.

[Fleecewife]

Nettles make excellent liquid manure if you can stand the smell while they are steeping    You can also use the young tips as a spring green - traditionally used as a post winter pick-me-up.  We used to have them as a veg when times were particularly hard in the 50s.  You can get a constant supply of young growth by cutting them back before they flower.  And if you are really keen you could ret them like flax to spin and weave your own jeans  (I'm joking - you would need to be totally committed to self sufficiency to do that but I expect someone somewhere does it)
Do remember the butterflies  though and leave some nettles standing for the caterpillars of the small tortoiseshell - that's my excuse for all the nettles around here.  I do use them in tea (nettles not butterflies), made a bit more palateable with a sprig of mint.

[wellywearer]

I expect that fleecewife is right, someone somewhere spins nettles into jeans! But I think what we are all saying is - do your own thing, spin the nettles, eat them, drink them, dig them up or just leave them! Do what is right for you and your family and don't feel that you "should" be doing more. We all can only do what we can do and I know that sometimes I read of the amazing acheivements of others on this forum and feel inadequate but we all have our own pressures.... you sound busy enough Langdon with goats and hens and veg and a young family...slow down and accept you're doing a good job, the best that you can for you and yours.

[OhLaLa]

Nobody is suggesting anyone copies anyone, we are just putting a few suggestions forward to try and help. Difficult when we don't know the person involved.

I've removed my post which gave a few ideas, well meant though it was.

[Sandy]

I think that your deep thinking is making you question everything, I suppose that it is rare for people to get excatly what they want in life, some come close and a few may have it all, BUT, live for today and enjoy what you have. I get fed up doing the same jobs daily but at least I am my own boss and can sit and have a break when I like or walk around half dressed (or undressed) Growing anything is interesting. Sounds that in order to clarify your thoughts you need to list things in priority and tick them off to see just how good things realy are on my list health would be at the top!!!!!!!!   

[Fleecewife]

Nobody is suggesting anyone copies anyone, we are just putting a few suggestions forward to try and help. Difficult when we don't know the person involved.

I've removed my post which gave a few ideas, well meant though it was.

It's a shame you removed it OhLaLa.  We all get to questioning what we do from time to time and I certainly found your input helpful  What I have written here was not meant as a 'this is what you should do to be a smallholder' either, just some thoughts around the subject.

[Sandy]

I just read the post again and can see me in there....I wanted to write a novel and hated reading any other books as I did not want to copy or be influenced.....I love being individual and doing my own thing too!!! I also hate being told what I should do, mind you, i do respect advice from some one who knows what they are talking about!! I know nothing much, just been dealing with people most of my life and so pick up feelings easily, I still have to stop myself from worrying over nothing and just today, saw a photo of myself and now feel down but I shall put that to the back of my mind and enjoy this sun!!!!