Liz Shankland meets a pig breeder whose day job couldn’t be further removed from his hobby
Anyone who has taken pigs to an agricultural show will know that washing and grooming them to look their best in the show ring means a lot of hard work – particularly if you’re not used to it. Kunekune breeder Kevin Kersley has a bit of an advantage – because he just happens to be an experienced hair stylist with his own salon.
Kevin fell in love with Kunekunes after buying some unregistered pigs – a KuneKune and a Vietnamese Pot-Bellied Pig – but, after moving from Kent to settle in Wales with husband Chris six years ago, he decided to venture into pedigree breeding. The Pencommins Herd is based near the coastal town of Aberystwyth, on an eight-acre smallholding which has breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside and even a glimpse of the sea on a clear day. Each day, after feeding his animals, Kevin enjoys a scenic drive to his salon, KJ’s, in the nearby village of Llanon, while Chris travels a few miles to his job as a human resources manager at an award-winning organic dairy company in Aberystwyth.
This story is from the December 2017 edition of Country Smallholding.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2017 edition of Country Smallholding.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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
