[sandy]

Just had a thought, I have many wishes, some are very simple and do not envolved loads of time or money, one was to get my hair done and, hay presto, I had it done free!!! not too pleased with it but did me some good, then I thought, I bet there are lot's of people on this forum that have simple wishes that others on the forum may be able to meet, such as, one person my want to "milk a goat" or, drive a tractor or maybe learn a new skill, (it's a bit too early for my brain yet to think af great ideas)have someone do an odd job that you cannot get anyone to do....have a day or a few day's out leaving someone likeminded looking after your home and stock etc, last year, when our B&B was full we had a request from someone from another B&B on a Scottish Island, they said they would be happy to do a swap for a few day's, I thought that was a great idea, no money envolved just food costs...Any ideas and I wounder if anyone wants a go!! 

[MrsJ]

Great idea - I'd like to help with some lambing.  Anyone near Worcestershire?  Unfortunately, I work full time so it would probably have to be at the weekends.

[northfifeduckling]

Have you thought about joining your local LETS scheme (Local Exchange Trading Scheme), or if you don't have one, starting one? It's basically a barter scheme, which includes services and skills. All about helping each other out...

[doganjo]

Sounds a great idea but I'm not sure what I could offer except a listening ear and maybe help with book-keeping etc, oh, and nice eggs when I can stop the magpies diving into the sheds and stealing them.  There's my big front garden too.  I think Linz has earmarked that but I'm sure there's enough space so anyone else is welcome, too - we're in Clacks.

[xxmillyxx]

Wow - what a great idea - only problem is "I know nothing" LOL  I would be all take as there is loads I need to learn.  I suppose a helping hand may suffice at times though.
Milly

[northfifeduckling]

That's what lots of people think, lol. You can offer anything from space in your freezer to word processing, cooking, helping old folks with their shopping,  goods, kids' clothes, you name it.

[sandy]

House sitting is a good one, for a few hours to a full holiday, that may be a realy nice way to experience other stuff, and on that vain, we could collect some form of points and give them as presents!!!! If I wanted to go away I could post up some dates and see peoples availabiltiy etc.....that way we could all have our animals yet not be tied to l ooking after them ALL the time.

[pegusus pig]

What a great idea!! don't know what i could offer people mud perhaps, always makes me laugh that people pay to be covered in mud, 10 minuets down here they could have it for free and a work out at the same time!!! Any one got some jump leads my cars flat kids left light on again and my leads have gone walkabouts!! Saying that i do have a caravan if anyone wants a Holiday where they can take there pets.

[Crofter]

Anyone who wants to learn skills in agriculture/horticulture should join WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) www.wwoof.org  or HelpX at www.helpx.net  .
Both are oganizations where you volunteer to help a host, in exchange for food and lodgings.  It should be fairly easy to find a host that can help you aquire certain skills if you are a bit flexible.

We are hosts for both and can offer experience in( at the appropriate time of year) management of Sheep, Cattle, Goats, Pigs, Hens, Market garden and fencing to name a few.  This is not tuition you pay for, you have to muck in to earn your keep!
I'm also open to teaching someone basic blacksmithing if they have a skill that I would like to learn!

Oh....and we're on the Isle of Lewis!

Dave

[carole h]

What a great idea! I'd be happy to house sit - in the school holidays - and love the idea of Lewis!!
Anyone want me to teach them Maths ...about all I'm good at! Lol!

[Rosemary]

I'd like to learn to hand milk a cow. We don't have room for a cow but I dream of having one someday. I love dairy cows.

[ballingall]

Well, if anyone wants to try milking a goat, I have one milking at the moment, plus another 3 due to kid within the next 3 weeks!

 

Beth

[lordlonk]

hi dave - Im very much a newbie at having my own smallholding  and  i so much want to learn the skills of keeping sheep - cattle espiecally and  pigs - i will be doing a lot of growing too .

All last year i made great progress and had a clear vision towards what i wanted to achieve in 2009 and i made so much empthasis on it  so that i could involve myself in the exs   (who still lives with me after 12 months not together as a couple ) agricultural lifestyle . Shes works on a dairy farm - has 8 cows of her own - 4 acres rented land - owns chickens - ducks and wants pigs and sheep too.  I Love helping out when she asks me and always believed we would together have a smallholding that we would both treasure. I very much wanted to be  behind the scenes- getting involved  and helping  out on all the things that needed to be done to enable her to persue her goals.

I am still going through with my smallholding this year once ive sold my small business premises and raised the money so i can do it  free of mortgage etc and so much want to be able to get hands on experience . I would love to be able to get to know you a bit and if you thought there was some time that i could come and get my hands dirty then i would be soo pleased and so grateful to you for the oppertunity. I wouldwork hard and have a massive desire to learn.Im quite witty and easiy going to get on with- Worked allmy life in the music buisness and so much want these changes - ian aka lordlonk in gainsborough lincolnshire

[lordlonk]

This is a great thread

What a great ideayou have had here

i think a nice  cup of tea and  ginger snaps in order for thinking this one out.

 

[sandy]

 :oWell!!! I nearly choaked on my ginger nut's, I just bought some ginger nut's after not having any for years, so I have just sat down to trawl through E Mails etc, with my strong milky coffee and nearly half a pack of ginger nuts only to read Lordlonks post....SPOOOKY!! and thanks, I thought that pressie idea would be nice as well, even swap stuff like in Freecycle, (not partners), I will continue with my coffee while it's still hot, Sandy