[Coeur de Chene]

Hi everyone,
been lurking on the website for months now and finally taken the plunge! We have 2 hectares of flat land, an avenue of oaks that cast quite a shade and several old stone outbuildings in the middlish of France. We moved in last summer and had a great crop of brambles...hopefully this year we can be more productive!
We've started an orchard, a fruit garden and the field is ploughed ready for this years veg. We've just got our first pigs, Berkshires, and I think I might be addicted! I've worked on farms before and we've been growing our own veg for years, but a new area and now livestock has given me lots of questions I hope you'll be able to answer!
 

[devonlad]

 

[Possum]

What an adventure! Look forward to hearing about your progress. Don't be afraid to ask questions. There is always someone here who has good advice.

[Rosemary]

Hello and welcome from  Carnoustie 

[Tiva Diva]

Bon soir! Et bonne chance!
Berkshires are lovely pigs, you'll have great fun with them. What's the terrain and climate like where you are?
 

[Coeur de Chene]

Hi! Thanks for the welcoming words!  The terrain and climate remind me of my North Wales roots, Its all farming land around us, mainly Limousin cattle, and everyone grows their own veg. We have quite a bit of rain but lots of sunshine in the summer. Our land has been grazed since forever and in places a bit wet. Am assuming a bit acidy? Having reread my post, I'm certainly seeing our new home through rose coloured specs beacause I love it so much- we have a leaky roof, only wood fires downstairs (3 duvets and fully dressed in bed this winter!) and no loos (camping/ composting loos until we can dig the reed bed!) The male half of us has kept the day job so we have a 30 year DIY project planned. The pigs are living in the best building and we're thinking of bunking in with them if the weather gets bad!
On the other side we have the best neighbours ever, the welcome they've given us has been overwhelming. The support, encouragement, coffee and apperitifs, loans of equipment....I spent last weekend with neighbours who had home killed their pig, helping to process the meat and learning so much. Invaluable!!

[Cactus Jack]

Sounds marvellous

[Coeur de Chene]

Cactus Jack, your blog is great, what a way to live! Look forward to reading more

[benandjerry]

Hello & Welcome

[Lesley Silvester]

  and welcome.

[MAK]

Hi - we too are in the Limousin. Welcome to the forum!
You mentioned a couple of key points that are best kept in mind out here.
Climate is more extreme than the UK with up to 60 degrees range between the cold winters and hot summers.
Neighbours - they will embrace you for living like them and their parents. We have found that they share produce, labour, tools and valuable information and tips on living the simple life. Key is processing, conserving and storing of fruit and veg and as you say sharing the home kill of pigs (get them to make the black pudding jough).

Life jere is great ! Congratulations to you and welcome from La Creuse.