the daydream fund challenge thread

Davesnave

Great news from you, Stitching Witch, and a very intruiging idea! It could work too. I know a gentleman who runs an animal rescue in one of the most exclusive villages in England, and it's all courtesy of his boss, who's loaned him some stables. Both benefit, as the buildings have been upgraded and maintained.

We did a plant sale with one of the local horticultural societies this morning, so there's another £287 to add to our van fund.

We have put an offer on the smallholding we're keen on, having sorted out some of the building problems with the local planners, who are really helpful. We think we could demolish an ugly old attached garage & utility room and put the space they occupy elsewhere. The offer hasn't been accepted though, as there's another on the table, and further ones may come in, so it could go to a bidding war, sealed bids or anything yet! Very astute marketing, but we know our limits and we will walk away if the price goes too high.

Don't worry, if there's anything to report, you folk will be among the first to know!;)

Davesnave

Davesnave wrote: »

Don't worry, if there's anything to report, you folk will be among the first to know!;)

I'd just like to report, as promised, that our offer on a smallholding in Devon was accepted late this afternoon. It's nothing flash, and we'll need time to sort it out, as it's been lying untended for a few years, but there's some potential in it.

I will post more details eventually, but because it is ag-tied, I need to talk face to face with the planners, though they've told me over the 'phone that we are qualified to buy. I will only believe it when I have that in writing! When I'm sure, I'll say more.

choille

Fingers crossed.

mambury

Davesnave wrote: »

I'd just like to report, as promised, that our offer on a smallholding in Devon was accepted late this afternoon. It's nothing flash, and we'll need time to sort it out, as it's been lying untended for a few years, but there's some potential in it.

I will post more details eventually, but because it is ag-tied, I need to talk face to face with the planners, though they've told me over the 'phone that we are qualified to buy. I will only believe it when I have that in writing! When I'm sure, I'll say more.

oooh, how exciting!! Anywhere near me Dave???

Mambury

mambury

well, nothing much to report here at the moment.

I can't do anything to the garden as I have to wait for all the earth to settle down after my massive hole!
Oh, and its been raining cats, dogs, fish and everthing else for the last week or so, so I have a rather large mud bath of a garden at the mo.

I have decided to go with raised beds, all I need to do now is have a good measure, draw out a rough plan and send Mr Mambury off to the builders merchants (or as DS calls it 'The Boys Shop'!!) for supplies and start cracking the whip. I don;t think I will be getting much planting done this year as Mr Mambury will be very busy with the extension so I will concentrate on just getting the area right and ready for next season. If I can I might get some long term crops, eg asparagus, strawberries etc all sorted and the rest of the beds I will probably green manure for the winter.

I know the rain is good for the garden BUT............ I am so fed up with it now, its been days and days of heavy cold rain.

I think I might get the sewing machine out as I have a few birthdays coming up that need making for.

Thats it for now.......

Hope everyone is keeping well.

Mambury

Davesnave

mambury wrote: »

oooh, how exciting!! Anywhere near me Dave???

Mambury

Between Barnstaple & Exeter is all I'll say at the moment!

I know the rain is good for the garden BUT............ I am so fed up with it now, its been days and days of heavy cold rain.

I think you've had it worse down there than in sunny Bath, but all the rivers I've seen over the past few weeks across Wales & the West have been very low for the time of year, so it's been good for the wildlife too.

Raised beds are great; they bring the ground a bit closer, which is no bad thing after age 50 or so.;)

mambury

Davesnave wrote: »

Between Barnstaple & Exeter is all I'll say at the moment!




Raised beds are great; they bring the ground a bit closer, which is no bad thing after age 50 or so.;)

oooh, not too far from me then!!!

I though mainly raised beds cos I've been told they are easier to look after, won;t get trampled on by DS whos 5 and dd whos 2 1/2, and then theres the dog and the cat and the soon to be chickens when I get the garden sorted.

Fingers crossed for you Dave,

bonsibabe

Stitchy - I'm so glad things went well for you and hubby, hope he's getting on great and gets home really soon.

Dave - congrats!!!!

Sorry for not being on much lately. Hubby is now out of work so he has been busy getting the insides of the house sorted and our weather has been soooo dodgy lately that we havent really been outside much, although one of my pots is starting to show some movement!!! Although I cant remember what i planted in it lol.

We did have a down moment, a blooming great seagull flew into the garden and sat on the table that contained my small pots and seed trays and knocked one of the trays over. Not a happy bunny that day!!!

But hoping you are all well, speak to you all real soon xx

COOLTRIKERCHICK

WHOOOOOHOOOO!!!!

Well done Dave:T on hte offer being accepted.... first stage over with.. fingers crossed..

when everything has gone through and you have the keys, you will have to show us nosey lot some pics of the place:D

stitchy a great book for you to read is a book called the fat of the land by mr self sufficiency guru himself, john seymour. thats how he started by renting an old cottage in the middle of nowhere. I am re-reading it... as its a very good read.

Bonsi...the weather has been awfull here too so not much done in the garden. Sorry to hear about hubby being out of work, hope everything will be ok.. keep us informed.

I ordered some books of Amazon today,
this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1905862156/ref=s9_csim_gw_s0_p14_t1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=0448GH3XVA0HNEHE2S72&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467198433&pf_rd_i=468294

and this one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Precycle-Paul-Peacock/dp/1904871380/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242753146&sr=1-1

i was going to order the urban farmer too, but i will wait a while to order that one.

if you want a link to amazon there's one on my blog

Had a good day at the farm auction had just over £26:D

bought some bluebell chickens too,
and on sunday we went to the smallholders show, which was really went and windy... apart from buying some homemade chocolate, some more chickens:rolleyes: we didnt spend that much,, managed to blag some free pens..lol... and if we like cider i am sure we could have got quite merry on the free samples..:rotfl:

ooo ye and i bought a magazine called the homefarmer...

Manbury.. a good idea to get things the raised beds ready for next year.

but you could still put some quick crop things in... or even get some veg plants in boot sales etc...

Davesnave

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

WHOOOOOHOOOO!!!!

Well done Dave:T on hte offer being accepted.... first stage over with.. fingers crossed..

when everything has gone through and you have the keys, you will have to show us nosey lot some pics of the place:D

Had a good day at the farm auction had just over £26:D

bought some bluebell chickens too,
and on sunday we went to the smallholders show, which was really went and windy... apart from buying some homemade chocolate, some more chickens:rolleyes: we didnt spend that much,, managed to blag some free pens..lol... and if we like cider i am sure we could have got quite merry on the free samples..:rotfl:

ooo ye and i bought a magazine called the homefarmer...

Manbury.. a good idea to get things the raised beds ready for next year.

but you could still put some quick crop things in... or even get some veg plants in boot sales etc...

Thanks CTC. I'm pretty sure it will all go ahead now, unless someone gazumps us! We really liked the Welsh place we saw at the weekend too (did I say that already?) but it needed a lot of work and this is closer to family and has the best land/outbuilding.

I expect I'll keep a photo log of what we take over and what we do with it. I have a feeling rabbit fencing will come high up the list!

Hope you didn't get too drenched up at Builth. We came back on the A40 and saw lots of horse boxes etc heading the other way. I will miss Wales & won't even get the holiday we usually have there in November.