[naynay]

Hi guys  Im new to this website which I stumbled across this afternoon.  I live in Liverpool so definately not on a smallholding but my mind keeps drifting to hens goats,  and pigs...I have 2 bunnies, a greyhound and 2 goldfish for starters.  So really interested to see how people get going when they think ultmately its probably just a dream that will never happen.....

[Ina]

Hi naynay, and welcome.

You have more "livestock" than I do - don't give up dreaming, you never know! 

[Bionic]

Hi naynay and welcome to the forum from Carmarthenshire 
It took me until I was 58 to realise my dream so don't give up
Sally

[darkbrowneggs]

Thought become things - keeping thinking about what you really want and who knows
 
Mind you I feel goldfish farming may be a limited opportunity business     But what do I know.  Go for it 

[naynay]

encouraging statements  am approaching 57 but the mind is young and the spirit willing!!

[Rosemary]

Hi and welcome from sunny Carnoustie 

[Lesley Silvester]

  Hi and welcome from Shropshire.  It's amazing what you can keep with just a small amount of space.  I have three goats and three dogs, grow fruit and vegetables and only have a large back garden.  Would love to have hens as well but I'm now disabled so am being practical.   

[naynay]

how wonderful  I don't think I could cope with masses of land as am on my own but a very large garden would be amazing  dividing it up into animals and vegetables as I know what a goat would do!!! somewhere more rural than where I am at the moment in the middle of a city with a back yard.  Also councils don't act too kindly where livestock are concerned. 

[Beeducked]

Definitely don't give up!


I moved from Liverpool to Shropshire less than 6 months ago. It is amazing what you can do even in a semi in Allerton. We had ducks, quail and bees plus a very small veg patch.
We now have 2.5 acres an have added some sheep and geese. Maybe a full smallholding isn't for you but a "micro holding" is always possible if you want it. Be careful though, it's addictive and I can't believe how small 2.5 acres looks all of a sudden!

[naynay]

so inspiring  would like to find an intro to self sufficiency course now... happy days with your sheep and geese and fresher air..

[in the hills]

   Hello and welcome from a chilly Powys.

[Lesley Silvester]

how wonderful  I don't think I could cope with masses of land as am on my own but a very large garden would be amazing  dividing it up into animals and vegetables as I know what a goat would do!!! somewhere more rural than where I am at the moment in the middle of a city with a back yard.  Also councils don't act too kindly where livestock are concerned. 

I live in a town.  The council haven't told me not to keep goats.  Mind you, I don't think they know yet.      I did ring and ask before we moved to Shropshire.  I ws shunted from department to department and nobody seemed to know if it wasn't allowed.  The only comment I did get was that if the neighbours complained about the smell they would have to look into it.

We have an ex-council house built in the 19402/50s when council houses had big gardens.  I have a yard and a shed for the goats, a fenced off patio for the dogs and all the rest for me.

I  have a holding number (legal requirement) and someone came out from the council to inspect a few years ago.

[Possum]

Well, 50-something seems to be a good age to start a smallholding.


 We bought our smallholding last April and we were 52 and 53 respectively. We had been thinking and hoping for about 5 years, but all of a sudden, everything fell into place.


So don't give up hope.

[naynay]

may be you're really never too old  you just take on what you can manage and when the time is right i will know.  In the meantime its just finding out and learning and things like that.  listening to others is the best learning curve though for anything new in life.....

[plumseverywhere]

Hello Naynay

I was born in London and only moved to the holding we are on now 3 years ago, so started smallholding at 37, hubby was 46. we juggle it with 4 small children and my disabled mum so perhaps can't do as much as we'd like yet.
Maybe look into renting some land if you could? Helping out on another smallholding nearby-ish to get some hands on and see if you still like the idea?
we have a plum orchard and make jams, chutneys and some ultra strong wine. We keep sheep as lawnmowers, 4 goats for soap and cheesemaking and the remains of a flock of hens (thanks Mr Fox) who will hopefully start laying again and we can sell on the farm gate.

If you want to do something badly enough, don't let anyone or anything put you off!! Go for it!!