Kim Stoddart seeks out readers’ comments about beekeeping
In the last of our series on bee keeping, Kim Stoddart speaks to smallholders from around the UK about their experiences, both good and bad…Most smallholders have considered adding a few hives to their land at one time or another, whether to help pollinate their plants on the veg patch, or because they love the idea of producing their own supply of honey. It’s not a pastime to be jumped into lightly, however, as there is a lot to think about first. Speaking to your local bee keeping association or going on a course will be insightful and help you decide if it is for you. Also many bee keepers are actively looking for extra space on which to house their hives, so this could be a good, gentle way of easing yourself into the hobby.
I thought it would be useful to give the final word in this series to our readers themselves to hear what bee keeping and all it entails means to them on the ground.
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Esta historia es de la edición September 2017 de Country Smallholding.
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The Secret World Of The Honey Bee
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Tip the light fantastic
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The legacy of The Good Life
The Good Life captured the public’s imagination when it first aired in 1975. On Country Smallholding’s 45th birthday, Jeremy Hobson looks at this and other programmes with a self-sufficiency slant that have captivated urban and rural dwellers alike over nearly half a century
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A tree Armageddon frightens poultry diarist Julian Hammer’s flock and leaves him with a mammoth clear-up job
Tools of the trade
In the second part of his mini-series on tools that are useful around the holding, Kevin Alviti takes an in-depth look at the iconic scythe, a thistle paddle and forks that were once virtually indispensable to small-scale farmers
The nightclub bouncer of the sheep world
Adam Henson waxes lyrical about the Texel, which boasts such a stocky body that it resembles a box of muscle on four legs
Buying on a tight budget
As demand for smallholdings increases and prices continue to rise, is there a way to achieve your dream without forking out a fortune? In the first part of a new mini-series, Liz Shankland explores the possibilities
Crazy for crafts
In an ordinary back garden and single paddock near Kidderminster, Kay Dalloway has created both a thriving smallholding and a successful fibre business — all while working full time for the NHS. Helen Babbs drops by to find out about her ventures
Game on
A little preparation in the autumn months will help to make the transition into winter smoother and put your garden and tools on a better footing come the spring, says Stephanie Bateman
1975 And All That
Country Smallholding is 45 this month. To celebrate, Jeremy Hobson takes a look at some of the changes — both good and bad — to small-scale farming over that near half-century
