Smallholders of the world, unite and take over

[Unmumsymofo]

I currently live in rural Shropshire and am looking to chat to likeminded folks who are living or dreaming all things small holding! We don’t have a smallholding at the moment, just a veg garden, greenhouse and a flock or chickens which I manage alongside being a mum to DS 16m, working part time and running the home whilst my partner works from home full time. Possibly looking at having another child in the next year or two. As and when I regain a bit of me time, (possibly not until my children are much older) I would like to learn more about small holding and permaculture. How/what sorts of things should I be considering!?

Things I am already of mindful of…
-reaching out to try and buy land adjoining our property (agricultural) or else moving house as we are on about 1/5 acre plot so tight considering my current outdoor exploits!
-volunteering at local organic farm or at local housing coop on their community days. Can’t currently do as use all childcare for p/t work.
-I have had success in the veg plot but need to get more creative in the kitchen with using seasonal produce and preserving. I do jam, chutney, cordial and have got a juicer and dehydrator for apples but didn’t get round to it this year. I need ideas for storing and using gluts of produce and eggs!
-I am really draw to agroforestry and the idea of food forests and silver pasture. Would love so reading or blog suggestions?
-how do I learn about how to make an income from a small holding and any grants or funding that might be available as a registered farm? I don't come from a farming background albeit am keen to learn. I am not expecting to earn a proper income, but I would need to lose my job to do this seriously so I would need to earn something! I have run a business before and can pick u pad in side of things quickly. It’s more farming and small holding know how and connections that I don’t have and am wondering how to get in the meantime!
-I am a member of lots of FB groups that are relevant and though they can be interesting I haven’t found them that useful for making connections really, it’s a bit anonymous.

Any pointers?? I would love to hear from you if you are living the dream on a small holding or small farm.

I don't now (apart from a few chickens) but I grew up smallholding, and my parents (dad especially) were very involved in the local smallholding scene mostly via goat clubs. Realistically, the only way to make any money is to develop a skill where you can add value massively to what you grow/produce - so making goats milk soap for instance sells for hugely more than making cheese, making gin infused with an interesting fruit will have more added value than jam, more than selling just fruit. But even then you will spend an awful lot of weekend time at food fairs etc to sell them.
With eggs, you can freeze them successfully which is handy

Better to focus on one thing and do that well rather than lots of little bitty things that will take up your entire day / week and earn v little. For example, rather than have 15 hens, and a few goats and sheep, have a flock of 200 hens, and focus on marketting and selling the eggs. An enterprise such as that can be done around off-farm work as well - you don't need to be tied to them.

I kind of am, although not quite at 'the dream' stage yet as DH and I still work full time. We've got a small (run down) old farm, 8 acres with several lovely old stone barns near the house. We've been here three years and at the moment are establishing our veg garden My DH is brilliant at metal working/welding and we have a 10 year plan including putting in a walled veg garden with glasshouses. Restablish our historic orchard, put some sheep in this area. Rebuild an old pig pen, get pigs, set up smokers etc for charcuterie. We've got some old cheese presses and we want to start using these. Set up a workshop for him. Ultimately he wants to work at home making metal items to sell...garden furniture, fencing, arbours etc which we can display on the farm and I will work part time while making cheese, chutneys, jams, charcuterie and growing veg, will set up a small farm shop in one of the barns. I also want to run crafting courses.

As I say, this is the dream....at the moment we're both working full time and living in a house with no proper flooring and no heating. It's doable where we are but will take a while and money 😁

Also at the part-way there stage. Have a lovely (very) rural farmhouse in the middle of a bit more than 35 acres.

Currently weekly commuting to London, to make enough to retire on, so letting the grass-keep to neighbouring farmers in the interim.

@CMOTDibbler

I don't now (apart from a few chickens) but I grew up smallholding, and my parents (dad especially) were very involved in the local smallholding scene mostly via goat clubs. Realistically, the only way to make any money is to develop a skill where you can add value massively to what you grow/produce - so making goats milk soap for instance sells for hugely more than making cheese, making gin infused with an interesting fruit will have more added value than jam, more than selling just fruit. But even then you will spend an awful lot of weekend time at food fairs etc to sell them. With eggs, you can freeze them successfully which is handy

Thanks for sharing. What did you think of a childhood spent on a smallholding, as an adult now?

@PanicBuyerOfGin

Better to focus on one thing and do that well rather than lots of little bitty things that will take up your entire day / week and earn v little. For example, rather than have 15 hens, and a few goats and sheep, have a flock of 200 hens, and focus on marketting and selling the eggs. An enterprise such as that can be done around off-farm work as well - you don't need to be tied to them.

Poultry seems very manageable as entry level smallholder but where/how do you go about making connections as to outlets to sell at? I could sell some at the gate but I imagine that’s not going to shift many… I am guessing I can try walking into local shops/restaurants, not sure if this is the right approach!

@jiskoot

I kind of am, although not quite at 'the dream' stage yet as DH and I still work full time. We've got a small (run down) old farm, 8 acres with several lovely old stone barns near the house. We've been here three years and at the moment are establishing our veg garden My DH is brilliant at metal working/welding and we have a 10 year plan including putting in a walled veg garden with glasshouses. Restablish our historic orchard, put some sheep in this area. Rebuild an old pig pen, get pigs, set up smokers etc for charcuterie. We've got some old cheese presses and we want to start using these. Set up a workshop for him. Ultimately he wants to work at home making metal items to sell...garden furniture, fencing, arbours etc which we can display on the farm and I will work part time while making cheese, chutneys, jams, charcuterie and growing veg, will set up a small farm shop in one of the barns. I also want to run crafting courses.

As I say, this is the dream....at the moment we're both working full time and living in a house with no proper flooring and no heating. It's doable where we are but will take a while and money 😁

That sounds amazing! My partner is on board with buying a place with more land next but will be hands off in so far as working the land and keeping animals though he is ok at DIY, fixing and building etc. I am keen to move while we are both still youngish (currently mid-late 30s!) even if I have to continue to work part time for a while. Good luck with all your plans it sounds idyllic

I have an 18 acre smallholding (and rent another 6 acres). We have ducks, sheep and pigs. We sell eggs at the gate. You can't sell in shops/bakeries etc if they aren't stamped. The lamb and pork we sell in boxes (half/whole lamb and 1/4 pig). We sell locally and also send some by courier around the country. Sheep are easy if you have grazing. Pigs would be a good bet if you don't have much land but are more work as they need feeding 2 x a day.
I would say identify your market first. There is no point producing things you can't sell/can't sell at a profit. You are fortunate that at the moment there is a real up surge of people wanting to buy local, high welfare produce. The biggest that will probably affect your profitability is marketing.