Hi there
We're new to the topic of smallholding and are looking for some pearls of wisdom!
Please can I ask if anyone has had the experience of buying a
very overgrown/
very rundown smallholding that needed completely clearing before starting from scratch?
Unfortunately, we aren't in the financial position to afford anything close to all done & ready to go in our area (or in neighbouring counties) - so we feel the only option we have currently is to buy a project as anything else is way too expensive (we can't relocate due to dh's work/other family commitments)
So, with that in mind, I have a couple or three beginners questions if I may?!
- What would be the best method to clear & restore up to 10 acres of pasture that had been left for many years to become mostly inaccessible & totally overgrown with trees, bushes, giant weeds, thorns etc?
- Roughly how long would it take for almost 10 acres of such overgrown land to recover to the point where it could be potentially used for a small number of livestock and grow some veg - organic if possible?
We've recently seen a plot that is surrounded by good productive agricultural land on all surrounding sides, but the plot itself is like a mad crazy neglected jungle that needs to be tamed!
Is it even a doable prospect for beginners??!! I grew up working on farms with horses, sheep, pigs, poultry & goats, but haven't owned/run a smallholding. We wouldn't want anything too big for ourselves - but we would have a longer term aim to supplement income with a small camping/glamping (or similar) business on part of the land - hence why we would like the extra acreage.
Lastly, does anyone have any links or recommendations for books, blogs, You Tube channels etc, by people who have done something like this successfully?
Advice would be very much appreciated - thanks so much for your patience with a complete novice newbie!