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Post by brigadier on Mar 18, 2014 10:03:43 GMT
Ive actually started this thread here as we dont seem to use non horsey chat that much.
Recently I was told of some benefits of running a small holding, mainly tax etc. So after a little research Ive come up with a duck/sheep/bee plan.
Benefits for me right now are that I can improve my land to benefit the small holding business, making investment in fencing, field shelters, planting etc.
Initially (five years) I dont have to show profit, although the aim is that at some point I make the venture pay for itself there is no huge pressure in the short term.
Ive already got some ducks and apart from them being very messy they are a joy to have, friendly, funny and the eggs make yummy lemon curd! I also have chickens and George the turkey, the chooks are good layers but the turkey is useless but great fun, especially when he chases my hubby on the mower!
Tomorrow Im getting some sheep, my boy has named them so Snowflake, Diamond, Fluffy and Daisy will take up residence. They are little Soay sheep, natural shedders so no shearing just collecting. Ive gone for some retired ladies as I dont want to rear meat, the thought of sending my ladies or boys to market for a certain fate turns my stomach, although I eat meat! (Yes i know Im a hypocrite!) these ladies faced also faced a trip to market so Im glad they will be getting a retirement with me.
The bee hives come at the end of the week and I have time to familiarise myself with their keep and the hives before attending a course in July and collecting my bees.
But seriously there are some benefits to doing this (not just ecological in terms of bees- they are in crisis at the moment), if you have a little land and a partner that works it could be beneficial for you too, or if you are thinking of moving and want to work at home and have a little of the 'good life' then you can do it. Idont want to elaborate too much on this thread but happy to share benefits via email or message. But its also hard work too so it is a lifestyle choice not just a fad.
For meit means I can spend time with my animals, my horses are spoilt and I enjoy the toil, knowing it isnt all just work.
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Post by racaille on Mar 18, 2014 12:47:51 GMT
I am seriously envious. I always dreamed of a smallholding and for years subscribed to a wonderfully old fashion magazine called Country Smallholding. It was hilarious (a bit knitted sandals) but full of brilliant advice. It breaks my heart to throw them all away for the move .... Love bees and what a good idea to keep them, wish more people would/could. The sheep will presumably keep your grass in good condition for the horses? And I LOVE ducks. I still mourn my girls - I love them as pets (better even than my chickens) but their eggs are sublime, especially for cakes. (Wondering if I can get some more .....) Will you be growing veg? That's certainly my plan! Nothing better than a warm, sun ripened tomato ....  |
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Post by solomon on Mar 18, 2014 13:05:23 GMT
Have messaged you. Rac don't you have any chooks now?
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Post by zara on Mar 18, 2014 13:15:34 GMT
Sounds a great idea Brig and so happy that you've "saved" the sheep. My Sister and her friend kept bees for quite sometime and they made some excellent honey and lip balm. Sadly though the hives were on the friend's land and she became very allergic to bee stings so they haven't continued but they loved doing while they could. Good luck and I look forward to hearing how it progresses.
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Post by brigadier on Mar 18, 2014 14:55:50 GMT
Ive heard of that happening Zara, apparently the more you get stung the more hypersensitive you can become.
Rac, Ive moved my awful inherited veg patch and am constructing a raised bed area at the top of the garden, where with hindsight I should have put my stables!! My chooks and ducks are nearby and Ive planted a small orchard and fruit garden. I got some great leeks last year but not much else, this year Im planning on being a bit more structured and vigilant as the cabbage whites wagered war on me!
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Post by rainbow on Mar 19, 2014 8:12:12 GMT
I would love this idea. We have a veggie patch at the bottom of our garden. Never grown anything before so this year is a first, hopefully we grown some stuff that's edible!
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Post by racaille on Mar 19, 2014 11:43:49 GMT
Sol, I do have some choocks and I'd hate to be without them! But I didn't replace my ducks after The Massacre.
Brig, this is what worries me about planning my new horsy installation - what if I put it all in the wrong place? Here it is best to put a field shelter facing south so avoid the mistral (comes from the north west) and the east wind that brings rain. Other than that ... close to the house or further away?
So what veg are you planning? I will only be able to plant things in early summer (May onwards) so it'll have to be fast growing stuff. Do fancy a couple f fruit trees though ....
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Post by brigadier on Mar 19, 2014 17:24:38 GMT
Ive got my spuds chitting, some multi coloured kale, toms, leeks, carrots, red onions, broccoli. Got lots of strawberry plants re planted and currants and gooseberries. Will do french beans as I dont like broad or butterbeans. Have got an asparagus plant also but dont expect anything from it for a year or two.
I think having the horses near to the house where you can see them from your bedroom window is crucial as its peace of mind, also if you can see them from the kitchen window is nice. If you have a schooling area have it where you can be seen from the house in case of accidents- again peace of mind, also if Im expecting a delivery or a customer its a pain hanging around whereas if I could see the drive it would have been better. Think also of access for big bales, you dont want to have to roll them anywhere fiddly and small bales are goingout of fashion so that's not likely to change- there is a lot I would do different;y!
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Post by rainbow on Mar 19, 2014 19:39:04 GMT
we're going to be planting leeks, celery, beetroot, sweetcorn, peas, garlic, tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, parsnips, swede, shallots I have a list but that is all I can think of from the top of my head. We have a apple tree, black currents, raspberries, rhubarb and a mass of strawberries thst the previous owner let grow wild so now have them vaguely under control.
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Post by brigadier on Mar 20, 2014 10:23:17 GMT
oh I forgot the rhubarb, I have some wine clearing at the moment from last years, will let you know what it is like as you dont need grape concentrate with this recipe. I made jam out of the currants last year but sadly the mice or rabbits got to the gooseberries before I could. I never had much success with sweetcorn, what do you do, does it need lots of water or care? I saw something on the tv about 'three friends planting'. You plant sweetcorn to support frenchbeans and squash to keep the roots weed free- any thoughts?
I did have raspberry canes but they went a bit wild so not sure I will do raspberries again although I suppose I could do some against the decking fence but would have to be strict about managing them.
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Post by rainbow on Mar 20, 2014 12:43:10 GMT
Im not sure! We just went through a book and picked out the things we most want to grow. So we shall see if we can do it  I know about companion planting where you plant certain things next to different crops to shield from bugs etc like different herbs. Yeah we have raspberry canes popping up in various places and water mint ( we back onto a canal) We only moved here last august so it nice to see what plants we have popping up. There quite a few crocuses, daffodils and tulips out the back and we have bluebells and snowdrops out the front. |
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haffyfan
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Post by haffyfan on Mar 20, 2014 19:47:33 GMT
Another here who's seriously envious.
I need to get a full time (not to mention another permanent contract) job again if we're ever going to move but i'm rather enjoying being a lady of partial leisure too!
Love my ducks to pieces, they are so amusing, they just don't have a clue they are hilarious, i'd love some geese too but i think we need more space first (ducks wreck your garden but i'm not a gardener so who cares, they have dug up all the bulbs that were planted in the borders and our immediate back garden is now full of muddy craters but they're happy ducks and thats what counts). Oh is worried about then going in bottom section as we can't see it for the conifers and thinks someone might fancy duck rolls or something.
If we ever move some kune kune pigs are my list, OH won't let me have any in garden (it's pretty big) as he's worried what the neighbours will think. We have ducks, they think we're crackers already, especially as i shout them and talk to them, but that seems to have passed him by. I have the bottom section earmarked for my piggies when i wear him down...but i will house train them too.
The idea of growing veg sounds great but the actual effort required is not for me, we have a lovely old apple tree that produces tons of cookers each year, and a small mixed variety tree...one of those hybrid types they produce with different types of eaters. That'll do for now.
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Post by brigadier on Mar 21, 2014 18:09:38 GMT
I cant get emotional about pigs so I would have them for the market, but my OH loves them so that is futile as he wouldn't want to eat one he had owned!
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for so much hard work we thank ye!!
