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Re: Considering the future

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 10:47 am
by daylen
Thanks, that's a great link. I'll take a look at that and try to dig out the Countryfile episode - I have about 10 years worth on the TiVo box!

I think I would like to run some sort of business, as running small businesses is what I've done for the last 20 years or so. Thanks for thinking of me :)

Re: Considering the future

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 1:50 pm
by Ara
If you look on "Greenshifters" there are plenty of smallholdings for sale or rent so you can get an idea of what's out there. (In Europe aswell as Britain). Also have a look at "The Beechgrove Garden" a Scottish gardening programme, and see how much they manage to grow up near Aberdeen. When growing crops, you also need to take into consideration the local fauna. We have problems with deer and rabbits eating everyhting unless we use physical barriers to keep them out. I have given up trying to grow peas here as the mice eat them all. I wouldn't mind them eating SOME if they would just leave some for me!
Have you decided on what sort of business you will be running? The previous owner of our house ran it as a B&B but I think that sounds too much like hard work. (OH and I are now retired)
Enjoy the planning aswell as the implementation.

Re: Considering the future

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:07 pm
by Arzosah
Good stuff. The episode was on Oxfordshire: there were goats, crocuses (for saffron), pear trees (making perry), a pickler and a breadmaker, as well as someone on the coast who was cultivating kelp on ropes, that was fascinating. Raymond Blanc got in there as well, about foraging.

Ara, I definitely agree that a B&B sounds like too much hard work/ not the sort of work I'd do if I was to get a smallholding, I'm retired too.

I was out walking yesterday, daylen, and one thing that struck me is the amount of woodland that has mature coppice in it - such a valuable way of providing fuel and working wood for a smallholding, for plant supports and fencing etc.

Re: Considering the future

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 4:47 pm
by daylen
I've no illusions about the work needed to run a B&B. Some friends of mine did it for a decade and when asked if they'd do it again, the answer was a clear and swift "No!"

We've run some catering businesses in the passed and don't fancy the farm shop cafe route either.

I like the idea of running courses based on what we're doing. We've done that in a small way already here and had a good response. Between us we can teach knitting, crochet, leatherwork, baking, basic foraging and making hedgerow alcohol (nettle beer, elderflower Champaign etc).

Re: Considering the future

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 8:58 pm
by Arzosah
That sounds wonderful!