Liz Shankland continues her new smallholding venture in west Wales, but still finds opportunities to relax, from time to time.
When I run courses for aspiring smallholders, I always warn them not to take on too much, too soon. I’m a firm believer that, if your responsibilities become so great that you’re not enjoying what you’re doing any more, it’s time to have a serious re-think.
Having said all that, I don’t always practise what I preach. I find it difficult saying ‘no’, and I have a real problem with asking for help from people I don’t know very well. Consequently, I frequently overload myself with stuff and end up getting stressed out, worn out, and completely burned out.
I should know better by now. I had thought that, when the college summer holidays arrived and I didn’t have to devote one entire day to sitting in a classroom being taught how to be a teacher, and another to getting some practical lecturing experience under my belt, things would get a lot easier for a while. But Parkinson’s Law – ‘Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion’, is, sadly, very true. In reality, we just find other tasks or distractions to fill the spare time, without really realising it.
I had promised myself that, once term ended, I would get out more, explore new places, go to local events, and even visit the coast – which is only about 20 minutes away. And what did I do? None of the above! I have pottered about, tidying up rubbish, lighting bonfires, making trips to the council tip, and selling unwanted items on eBay and Facebook.
I did get to a show….
Denne historien er fra September 2017-utgaven av Country Smallholding.
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Denne historien er fra September 2017-utgaven av Country Smallholding.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The Secret World Of The Honey Bee
Who knew that honey bees are the best builders? Nicola Bradbear from Bees for Development reveals how they build their parallel wax combs with extraordinary accuracy
Tip the light fantastic
The latest offering from Ifor Williams Trailers is the Single Axle Tipper, which is simply perfect for small-scale farmers
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
‘The hens took shelter under the pig trailer in the paddock'
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
