[Ray]

Hi, I'm Ray. An Irish man with an English wife living in West Wales with children who sometimes get confused!

I too had a dream of a smallholding for years, and finally, 61/2 years ago, we took the plunge. We have four acres with a further ten acres that we rent locally in the summer. We have a Jersey cow who is refusing to be put in calf, 7 ewes and a ram, we have just started lambing, three weaners, all the other pigs are in the freezers, some chickens and bees.

I have been taking part in a forum in the USA for some little while and came across TAS by accident. I'm looking forward to a good time as you all seem to be enjoying it.

Ray

[mad dogs and us two]

Hi Ray
We've just posted our introduction too.  Although we (Steve and Jill) now live in France, would like to know where in west Wales you are as I (Jill) used to live in Pembrokeshire where I first lived on an part of a "stately pile" with a four acre victorian walled garden.
A very helpful forum.
Good luck with your venture. 

[Rosemary]

Hi, Ray

Welcome to the TAS forums - hope you enjoy them. I am full of Jersey-envy (although not the problems of not getting in calf).

[stephen]

hey and welcome 

[pigsatlesrues]

Welcome from Normandy as well!

Kate

[Pebbles]

Hello & welcome.

Looking forward to hearing all your news.

Pebbles

[ducky2108]

Hi there.

I've always been intrigued by beekeeping, I must say. Do you get much honey from them?

Paul

[Hilbillie]

I love honey and its supposed to be good for hayfever sufferers (I'm one) to eat honey from local bees.  Unfortunately I'm petrified of anything that buzzes!    Welcome Ray!

[Hilarysmum]

Welcome

[Rosey]

Welcome from Lincolnshire. Danndans from Wales too, currently busy with lambing. I meanwhile am waiting for mine to start, they look close but so far nothing!!!

[carole]

Hello and welcome to this great site, where in west wales? as a child I spent all holidays on my grandparents farm about 10 miles from Aberystwyth, ha maybe thats where all this animal madness came from.

Carole

[Blinkers]

Hello and Welcome - currently West Sussex, but moving to West Wales in........fingers crossed.....possibly about 6 weeks 

[danndans]

hiya yep me from from west wales to   right on the coast

[Ray]

Thanks for all the welcomes. we are actually living in a little village about 4 miles north of Newcastle Emlyn, or to give it its proper name, Castell Newyedd Emlyn.

Yes Jersey cows will always get my vote, the one we have volunteered to mind all the lambs for their mums, and this included feeding them! Quite a sight.

Bees I have had for over 20 years, and the amount of honey you get depends on where you are and what sort of summer you get. In a good area in a good year I have had 150 pounds from a hive. Last year, we got 80 pounds from 6 hives.

I ommitted to mention that we also have 6 young Jersey bulls that we are rearing for meat.

No doubt there will be lots more to say over the coming weeks.

Ray

[danndans]

whats the meat like of a jersey, is it marbled ect?