Clur Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 I've seen some people on here have smallholdings and I'm curious to know whether it's something you can ever make a living from? It's something I've wanted to do for years, but I'd want to give up my current (stressful) line of work for it, not work alongside it. People I know who have them work full time as well, so I'm just curious as to how folks here approach it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddie Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 I went back to work 25 hrs a week four yrs ago, and found keeping my allotment , working, and looking after my kids, home,garden, car clean, doing the wages for the OH business, (and the vat) etc etc too much, and we let the allotment go. After 10 yrs of doing it organically, I couldn't face having to spray, so it went. And I miss it; I think that you'd struggle to pull a living off less than 25 acres, and it would be backbreaking grind thenand it takes 7 yrs to have the soil qualified as organic i think, so until then you cant command organic prices. Please correct me if I'm wrong, there are bound to be oothers out there far more in the know, or doing it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clur Posted March 22, 2008 Author Share Posted March 22, 2008 Thanks. That's what I wondered which is why we've never done anything about it. I couldn't work full time and run a place that's for sure - with two littlies too.... Was just curious to see if anyone had made a success of it and not had to work alongside as well. Would love a career change but as the main earner I am a bit limited. Less stress would be nice though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddie Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 Less stress.... Every time I get the stress thing under control, I take on something else to raise it all up again!!! Mad, Bad and Sad, this one!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 The only person I know who will just have a smallholding is currently relocated to France to slave for a few years to get themselves mortgage free then they can just be smalholders. I doubt anyone could do it with a mortgage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clur Posted March 24, 2008 Author Share Posted March 24, 2008 Hmmm, do think it's wishful thinking on my part. Would love a career change but as the main earner, need to be on near enough what I'm on now. The things that really get me interested and excited never pay enough.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 Bron's right, if you have a mortgage then it would be difficult to make enough money from a smallholding. We have 8 acres - and a hefty mortgage - and an Agricultural Tie. The Ag. Tie casued us problems before we bought as it requires that agriculture has to provide the main income for us - not possible with the mortgage. Our local council took a very pragmatic approach and were happy for the Ag. Tie to provide a main income for just me. That really comes down to words on paper as we both continued working for our own Company as we were. It has been stressful for Carl as he has to work almost full time and keep on top of things on the farm - I work part-time on other work and part-time on the farm. Without a mortgage we could probably break-even on the farm - but feed prices are a concern as they have almost doubled in the 21 months we've been here You would need more than 8 acres - and they would need to be good land - to make any money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...