[MAK]

Last night showed a couple with 11 children and another on the way who want to be more self sufficient. She wants a few acres in the country and they have made a start by getting an allotement. It took them 30 minutes to dress the kids ( 3 under 18 months) and leave the house in their mini bus. The trail of kids visiting the allotement stretched across the site and the busy parents surveyed the plot covered in weeds. If that family ever get to make a go of that allotement then I take my hat off to them. A garden outside a back door would be their best bet if ever they can afford the move. Impressive how determined some people are to live the simple life and grow their own.

[happygolucky]

MAK, our thoughts too, they were very organised unlike the other family, there was another family that have a bakery business and they were comendable too.
I think they will manage as there are a few on here who love the big family life, at least, in a few years, they will be able to give a hand and I am sure they will get their house and land!!
My middle daughter only has 4 children Hi Beck, she is on here sometimes!! they had the same dream and did have a big garden, they kept pigs at one stage, then ducks and chickens and also had 5 dogs and had a cat in the past, now,  they moved to Austrailia and my son in law happened to work for a farmer as a joiner in his buiness, ended up with a house thats being done up, land, down the road from the huge farm and near a huge forest where my son in law has shooting rights and wood gathering rights, they do have a log burner, they get more animals by the day, lost count now but they have at least one horse? some sheep, I think 5 at the last count, getting a cow, got some hens, 2 cats and 2 dogs and so want us to emigrate...very very tempting......I could/can see them having a few more tinies

[Alistair]

grow their own.

Kids or food?, sounds like they've got the hang of the former

[goosepimple]

Remember The Waltons - people still like the idea - being shattered, kids everywhere, loads of laundry, sounds great     

[happygolucky]

Remember The Waltons - people still like the idea - being shattered, kids everywhere, loads of laundry, sounds great

3 was hard enough for me

[tizaala]

Sounds like they need a vascectomy more than a smallholding, just irresposible in my HUMBLE oppinion...

[in the hills]

A neighbour has 9. 

[mojocafa]

I have 7

Age 19, 15, 14, 14, 9, 4, 3


And yes I do have a tv, however never have the time to watch it!

[plumseverywhere]

Four is enough for me. We had 4 under 5 yrs - exhausting but great fun. I was still a part time counsellor, hubby full time for NFU. Much of it is a blur. Wouldnt' change it but we've only ever had as many as we can afford - afford as in financially but more importantly in time. I have a friend with 10, she struggles with time and I feel sad for the kids.

[Jackie 2]

My husband was so grateful I had c sections as could only safely have 3 as Id have had lots of kids, as it was we had an open house policy and I went on to foster.


Good for them, I hope they manage well

[happygolucky]

Jackie 2

My husband was so grateful I had c sections as could only safely have 3 as Id have had lots of kids, as it was we had an open house policy and I went on to foster.     

That is exactly my life, I had 3 girls all sections, but my husband told me to get sterilised then when I had he commented he could have a boy in the future but I could not!!!
the only boy I had turned out to be my husband
 

[plumseverywhere]

Funny you should say that Sandy, I was 'encouraged' to be sterilised after our 4 girls....wish He'd had the job done now as I haemorraghed and nearly carked it!!

[happygolucky]

wow Plumbs, that was a narrow escape, I did think that about the women on 16 and counting should be careful too, she had some sections
 

[plumseverywhere]

Daft question (not seen the programme) how's it 16 and counting if they only have 11 children?

[happygolucky]

errrr pass, I think one of the families had 16, they were very lovely and were bakers, obviousely not master bakers   sorry