Daydream thread continues.....

rhiwfield

Hi Twigleteer and welcome!

There will be better qualified people replying but you've already identified that a smallholding is not going to provide a living for the family and that a separate source of income is essential. Hubby's part time job might need to be more full time than you would like.

But a house with a large garden area might be an option for poultry and veg? If you are buying more extensive land with trading/letting income the capital cost may be too high unless you can add value by obtaining planning permission.

Davesnave

Rhiwfield, I'm so sorry to read about your dog. I know that when the time comes, there's no choice, except the right one. I've been a cat person since our last dog had a stroke at the age of 14, but I still feel that in comparison with dogs, cats have limitations.

Twigleteer, you are right that smallholdings don't usually generate enough income, at least in the early years, to pay for themselves. Those of us on this thread lucky enough to own more than an acre of land, have a separate income or a pension coming in.

I know of people running smallholding-friendly businesses, like a local company that makes jams & preserves, but that is probably like a full-time job in itself. In cases like that, there might not be much time for animals.

I agree with rhiwfield that a house with a large garden is the best way for many people to dip a toe into smallholding and get a feel for which aspects they might like best. A well-planned and managed garden plot can generate a small income too. e.g. cut flowers.

The next step, to acreage with some 4 legged animals, means some serious extra investment, which may take a long time to pay back

choille

Rhiwfield - I'm so sorry for your loss. It's a hard one. What a good innings though. I'm sure they had a great time in the Rhiwfield household over the years.

Thanks RAS I'm sure you're right - I'll look at the link tomorrow. Many thanks for that.

choille

Welcome Twigleteer,

You can't survive on a smallholding income at all - your money will disapear. Well mine's did...........

It's a way of living & if one of you can still retain a regular job then that will help a great deal.

I think you've already narrowed things down well with knowing where you want to be. We set of for France & ended up living in the Highlands....so that was a bit unplanned really.........

All the best

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Rhiwie/Mrs Rhiwie my heart really does go out to you, I know how it feels.....soooooooooooooo heart breaking:o

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Any just a quick post as I need to get back to the ranch:D

We have pigs!!!!!!!!!!!

here they are at the auction



and here they at home:D





will tell you all about them tomorrow

lucielle

I want some piggies!
L

rhiwfield

CTC, you did it!!

So pleased for you :T

rozeepozee

Rhiw, sorry to hear about your dog. The only dog I've ever owned was put down over 20 yrs ago aged 14 and I've not had the heart to have another dog since

Twiggie, I smiled at your post. We bought our Smallholding last year at auction after many years of searching and dreaming. The bits that match the fantasy are that we have 5 acres of land, on the edge of a village, within a lovely community, a short drive from a decent market town. We've rolling fields on our doorstep, a distant sea view, about half an acre of woodland, a gorgeous single dell running through it complete with stream and a fair size paddock, enough for a good few grazing animals. So far, so idyllic.

What wasn't part of the plan was that this would cost £50k more than we'd budgeted for and that we're looking at living in a static caravan for the next year whilst we renovate the house, which is gonna cost at least another £100k....!

How we afford to live here: we have an independent income from a business. Even mortgage free, we couldn't cover our living expenses from what we could produce on the land, certainly not without putting in many hours for many years beforehand and then it would be a meagre existence.

Am I being too harsh? Realistically, I think most people need at least one other "normal" income, wherever that comes from. Unfortunately, well paid jobs are hard to find round here and there's not much to commute to as its fairly remote.

I wouldn't change it for the world. I feel so lucky. But we came here cash rich and, as I think it was Choille said, this lifestyle eats up your money

rozeepozee

Hats off to you CTC with your pigs. I'm still trying to persuade OH that the time is right to buy a few hens :}