the daydream fund challenge thread

Davesnave

rozeepozee wrote: »

I'm beginning to feel like one of those annoying people on Location Location Location who have too low a budget and too high expectations... But we would have bought the place in Cardigan if we hadn't been pipped at the post, so we know there are properties out there that satisfy most of our criteria and that we can afford.

Yes we felt like that, and I'm sure lostinrates did too, but you have to get it right, preferably first time! Pity you don't want an 'execootive' house in the Swansea/Ammanford area, as it's patently obvious that there's an oversupply of those right now.

Our problem was always tying-up being proceedable with a 'good one' coming on the market. We tried to buy as early as late 2002 and should have bought in '03, so we certainly know what it is to have loved and lost. When people say how well we did here, I always counter with, "Well, you should have seen the ones that got away!"

The recession is beginning to bite close to home here now. Picking up my money for the peppers last week, (£4 - not going to get rich that way!) I learned that the young lady who was hoping to take over the farm shop can't get a business loan, so won't be taking it on. Then, yesterday, the lovely lady who supplies all our chicken consumables told us she expects to lose her (charity funded) job. That, coupled with the air ambulance picking up another friend for the second time in a month, made yesterday a bit depressing. We all support the air ambulance here, but no one wants to see it!:(

Meanwhile, DW has been putting the plants to bed for the winter and I've been plumbing in the water troughs in their new positions. We have redefined our boundaries on the market garden bit with our own design of post & rail/sheep fence. This means we've increased the garden by about 1/4 acre, but taking out the buildings, septic tanks etc, I still think it is less than an acre.

Next job will be to finish off temporary fencing (we can do more when we have the £) and then getting the sheep in to do what they do best.

alfie_1

troglodyte wrote: »

Alfie, you think checking the animals is sad... The first thing I do when I get back from being away is to check all the plants! Especially if the weather's been hot; when I lived in a shared house my housemate was really scared of accidentally killing something while I was away!

oh! im double sad then because yes...i inspect MY plants too... i can actually be on another continent and say "my rose by the front door will just be blooming now" . i do get odd looks !

sianster

I posted on here a month or so ago - we are in the process of buying a 3.5 acre strip of field about a mile from our house (hopefully complete tomorrow!!). :j

It's rectangular approx 75m x 200m and slopes gradually downhill with a large oak & ash tree in the middle. A public right of way runs along the top boundary.

We have a few ideas of what we want to do with it, but I was wondering what the rest of you would do?

rhiwfield

Sianster, I'll be interested to see the replies from those on here who have a fair bit of land (unlike me!).

A few thoughts:

• while it seems a blank canvas its not clear what the soil type is e.g. claggy clay, limestone etc nor what work has been done to the land eg field drains.
• not sure what your own ideas are, arable, pasture, wildlife meadow/haven or spiritual retreat
• public right of way may cause issues such as dogs off leads/theft/gates left open
• 3 acres is a lot to tend without machinery/grazing animals
• are you planning for self sufficiency or do you want a paddock for your horses

Davesnave, the recession imho wasnt long enough or deep enough. We've got an overhang of bad debt supported by rounds of QE. As a country we didnt take the medicine and so we have this lingering credit disability and a stupidly high structural deficit. And we've exported most of our manufacturing jobs abroad. Saw the new QE round in the US (and their elections :eek:) . They are in a worse state than us. As a rule I hate trying to spend my way out of trouble, it just feels totally wrong.

Anyhow, enough politics, its been pouring down here for over a day and if that wasnt enough, DW has been in and out of A&E, first with suspected DVT (wasnt thank goodness) and second with a post-op infection. She seems to be getting better (again) but its been a very tough year for her with knee ops, pneumonia, redundancy and now this.

Winter clearance work in the garden is piling up, while next doors hens did a Colditz and then dug up my woodchip paths and the newly planted garlic - will resow as soon as it dries up a bit and my neighbour says the hens will lose their free range option On our hens we're experimenting with light as their laying is just beginning to slow a bit.

Ah well, off to doctors again with DW.

Nevermind, the sun'll come out tomorrow, bet your devalued dollar that tomorrow there'll be sun

Davesnave

Sian, I will respond on your question later, but I'm off Big Town shopping......:(:(

lostinrates

sianster wrote: »

I posted on here a month or so ago - we are in the process of buying a 3.5 acre strip of field about a mile from our house (hopefully complete tomorrow!!). :j

It's rectangular approx 75m x 200m and slopes gradually downhill with a large oak & ash tree in the middle. A public right of way runs along the top boundary.

We have a few ideas of what we want to do with it, but I was wondering what the rest of you would do?

Don't just leave it, that's for certain!

Soil type, weeds and state of fencing etc are all important in making the decision. The very least you might be able t sell the grass crop to a farmer or contractor for silage, haylage or hay. Sheep deserve their reputation in general for being ''good'' for ground...but its not great for them if the ground is low and wet. Offering it for grazing for horses is lucrative, but also requires good safe fencing and far more land management: you'd have to ensure who you let it to was taking good care of it (removing the droppings, resting it, not putting more horses/pones on it that they should, in general two on that plot, but depends on soil/weather))

Just leaving it will mean the grass roots don't ''knit'' well, and when used again will not be ''as good''. It will also also toxic weeds to grow, and the grass t be choked.

If its purely for pleasure and needs some improvement then I'd be tempted to sow with an appropriate meadow grass and wildflower mixture: excellent for diversity & wildlife, still allows grazing and hay cuts, won't be as saleable as a silage crop.

lostinrates

I'm back, and far from sleeping while away I tossed and turned kept awake with what might be going on with out me. No surprise to come back to happy, fat and healthy animals who coped just fine. Feral cat has purred constantly since we've been back, but was only seen once while we were away. I guess she must be getting used to us.

choille

Sianster - I personally wouldn't have bought ground that didn't abutt where I lived, but as you mention you have thoughts on what you wanted it for. I don't know what those are - maybe planning permission for house(s). It isn't that big if you wish to keep sheep/horses because of already mentioned management issues.

sianster

Thanks for the responses...

The land we're buying is currently good quality pasture with no possible planning for housing. It is unfenced at the moment along 2 boundaries & part of the condition of purchase is to fence with stock fencing. Our plans are to use it mainly as an allotment, keeping low maintenance crops there - a fruit orchard, fruit bushes etc and several bee hives. We would keep growing veg & keeping chickens in our garden at home as they need more frequent looking after. As it is too large just for this purpose we were thinking of letting part of it for horse grazing, but need to look into it in more detail.

Future amitions may include animals but we don't have the time at the moment as we both work full time & have a young child.

As most people here have ambition to own more land in the future, I was wondering what they wanted it for?

RAS

Hi

A few first thoughts.

1. Be very careful about any arrangment that allows someone else to graze your land. If they have permission or are able to graze for 366 days, you create an agricultural tenancy and cannot remove them.

2. bees need to the attended every week from April to July inclusive to prevent swarming. Unless you never intend to go on holiday, you need to pal up with another keepr who can check them when you are away.

3. You will need some sort of shelter/tool shed if it is a mile away from home. I suggest a steel container as it needs to be theft proof.

4. In time you could grow bulk veggies on someof the land - mainly root crops.

5. Are you going to be able to eat all the fruit you grow, or to sell it?