Understandably attracted by the lifestyle, you are hoping to be a smallholder one day. It all seems straightforward. Just find a bit of land with ideally a habitable home, get some birds and animals and start growing crops. But are you really ready for your change of circumstances?
Some preparation and discussion within the family will help you to make the right choice for you.
Assuming you have owned a home before, you will have some experience of what that entails including the costs and maintenance involved. Owning land and animals for the first time will be very different so do as much preparation as you can so you know what you are taking on. A good starting point is to join a local group in the area where plan to move. You'll find a list of smallholding clubs on The Country Smallholder Website. This will enable you to make contact with other like-minded people and give you access to local knowledge even possibly including what might be for sale. Training may also be offered and if not, look around for advertised courses. You've already made a good start by reading The Country Smallholder magazine!
Esta historia es de la edición September 2023 de The Country Smallholder.
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Esta historia es de la edición September 2023 de The Country Smallholder.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
How to Buy a Smallholding in France- Long-time smallholder Lorraine Turnbull looks at the practicalities of moving to rural France
Aspiring smallholders are continually thwarted by the prices of smallholdings and property with land located within the UK. Even the humblest croft in Scotland comes with a substantial price tag and conditions which would make even an adventurous wannabee consider carefully. But all is not lost. For those willing to take the adventure of a lifetime, there is always Europe, and one of the most popular places is France.
Meet the Bournemouth goats and their supporters
These capricious animals are hard workers preserving the natural habitat
Still warm enough to sit outside with a Pizza
Henrietta Balcon uses fresh figs to create an unusual dish at Harvest time
Goodbye to the birds of spring and summer
If you look and listen you might be able to see them preparing to leave says The RSPB
Get ready for the colder weather in the warmth of late summer
Claire Waring advises on doing the best to make sure your colonies survive until next spring
Preparing the Veg Patch for Winter
Lee Senior says, a well-run plot can excitingly continue to produce good quality, tasty, fresh food for much of winter
Time to prepare to plant your orchard
Wade Muggleton, smallholder and author of The Orchard Book, shares his practical experience so you can create your own fruit collection
Choosing feed for the autumn
As autumn approaches, Joanna Palmer, nutritionist at the Smallholder Range, offers advice on choosing the right feed to support your adult birds through their annual moult and ensure your young birds grow and finish well at this time of the year.
Vet advice from an experienced poultry vet
Reflecting on how much the humble hen has helped people world wide plus advice on stopping the scourge of red mite
Give your hens some support
Paul Donovan looks at the right and wrong ways of handling birds
