Daydream thread... without the rose-tinted specs

rhiwfield

Interesting local ad:

LAND- ‘Owner of a 9 acre smallholding in North Cardiff is interested in renting fields and a number of outbuildings to a local single producer or collective of producers. Fantastic resource and a rare opportunity. Good connections to the City Centre. Owner interested in organic horticulture / wholefood small scale dairy or livestock’ - please email pete@staunch.co.uk DIRECTLY

lostinrates

How many 'fields can one get in nine acres? Semantics I guess....

(Please of more me, I have woken up on the wrong side of the bed today:()

Rummer

I have realised that I am most productive at the moment between 8.20 and 9.15 :rotfl: the rest of the day is a bit hit or miss!

lostinrates

Rummer wrote: »

I have realised that I am most productive at the moment between 8.20 and 9.15 :rotfl: the rest of the day is a bit hit or miss!

That's me too rummer, I get up early and am done early. The dogs get their 'supper' at three in winter and after that I stir my stumps to do out door critters and cook. Or not even cook these days.

Farmers-wife_2

Hi everyone, I've been directed here via a topic I started a couple of days ago (How do we save our smallholding). I'm currently working my way through previous posts in search of inspiration, ideas and a good old kick up the bum!

Hubby and I gave up our jobs just under two years ago and moved to our 37 acre small holding in west Wales. We have a gorgeous 1 year old daughter, 6 collie dogs, a fluffy cat and a flock of Hebridean/Shetland and North Ronaldsay sheep.

We are very fortunate to not have a mortgage, but funds are dwindling fast. We're hoping to make enough money via our land and holiday cottage to keep us in the shabby lifestyle we've become accustomed to.

We have a little capital left to put in to a project which will earn us enough money for both of us to work at home. We're currently thinking veg boxes and an autumn/winter soup and veggies stall at the local markets. We've still playing with ideas though so it is liable to change - any suggestions greatly received!

lostinrates

What was your original business plan farmers wife? One of you is a chef and one an acc right? Can you present your meat as a finished product some now, is your kitchen situated such that you could get it pass for health and safety for small scale prep at this stage? Using the bits that don't sell as something special (pies, pastries, sausages, burgers ) might be a goer?

I think what you will find is most farmers, on any but a huge scale, have a somewhat portfolio element.

rhiwfield

Welcome Farmers-Wife!

A common talking point on this thread is how another source of income is needed to live the dream, often in place when acquiring the smallholding, if not then you have to intensify or diversify

It may be possible to use your land slightly differently, perhaps a summer soft fruit PYO with a mini maze for kids, or maybe a campsite or caravan storage.

If you have mature woodland maybe logs for woodburners

Or you can move up the chain with what you do, spinning, dyeing and weaving perhaps. Or, as you suggest, sell your produce direct. I think you need to be flexible and if necessary try different things that have low entry cost to avoid using up your capital

We've tried several things, crafting for sale was just too time consuming and unrewarding, surplus garden produce brought in a bit but not much, so we sell collectables from our home and its doing ok..ish . It was a conscious choice to give up a job so we could both work together and we've rarely regretted the decision. I guess that you've got plenty of available dry storage, if so its a low entry cost option with very fast payback and a useful source of extra income.

Diversifying spreads the risk as well, important if you have a bad year on the core smallholding business.

alfie_1

lostinrates wrote: »

How many 'fields can one get in nine acres? Semantics I guess....

(Please of more me, I have woken up on the wrong side of the bed today:()

pesky light bulbs

alfie_1

farmers wife welcome.

is it possible [taking into account planning/ neighbours etc] for you to organise camping weekends with a spit roast style BBQ theme of your produce ?? [charge x per head] selling jams etc plus meat ?
dont need the electric then.
biker clubs would be interested plus any other local activities could bring in the punters if it was a group effort. so other business's would benefit plus put your produce on the map.
also if you have barns or out buildings there are always car/bike enthusiasts that want work/storage areas. again putting your produce on the network.
can you hold say a monthly car boot sale ? obviously parking is the issue there.
also car clubs often look for a field to use/camp...
get in touch with all the local clubs [there are suprisingly lots !] and see /ask what is ideal for them to get ideas.

i think land is usefull... just got to minimise out goings.
obviously insurance is a factor but our local farmer lets out his field to tents a few weeks a year and then goes on a tropical holiday !!

i have probably suggested the impossible but thats my two pennies worth....lol

lostinrates

alfie_1 wrote: »

pesky light bulbs

Of more should have read ignore.

I'm here all alone this week. We've lost three out of five bulbs in the dining room. I suppose he'll have to find something to stand on down there when he gets home tonight,

Its ruddy cold in that room, so I don't think I'll help....

But while he's at it I think there is a bulb needing changing in the sitting room too, where I'll light the wood burner this afternoon:D