Valkyrie Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 OK so I have wanted a smallholding for a while now. We intended to move when the children either left home or went to university. Sadly neither opted for uni and although DS moved out, DD didn't. OH also was working in Frome so that equally scuppered plans, until a change to London made it sort of a possibility. Then DS moved back in temporarily in 2013 and is still with us - including half his belongings taking up the garage. So plans were on hold. Still on hold as OH decided he wouldn't be retiring any time soon. How things have changed and he's thinking of only working a 3 day week and possibly staying in London or if we are lucky, dossing with the daughter and he is also keen to retire early again. And now we have booked up long weekends in Hereford with the intention of sussing out the areas we'd like to move to. It's not much but at least I feel like we are actually doing something. Perhaps I won't be walking round my acreage with a Zimmer frame after all. Besides Hereford has a big quilt shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 That all sounds very exciting . Lovely to have something to plan for and look forward to . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Ooh, how exciting! Herefordshire is stunning, we popped over about 8 months ago to look round and found amazing properties at reasonable prices. Unfortunately, the commute for OH for his work was unrealistic, so we settled for just over the border from Brum, a village in North Worcs. Good luck with your search Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Valkyrie that's very exciting Keep us posted with tales of your adventures - hopefully the time is now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 This all sounds so exciting! I take my hat off to you and wish you success in finding somewhere really lovely!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 That's good news Val, let's hope you get sorted before he changes his mind again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Wow that's exciting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share Posted February 20, 2015 That's good news Val, let's hope you get sorted before he changes his mind again! I'm hoping it's not just to keep me quiet! As I put my foot through a glass cloche over the Christmas holidays (well I had something in my boot and was wobbling about on one leg, stepped back and oops) he did say that's it! Smallholding would be dangerous! Er I think it's just me accident prone and it makes no difference where I am! On the other hand he is so keen to have a change and work is taking it's toll that I think he is also looking forward to it. There are some lovely places. Slightly smaller grounds but there's a beautiful timbered house in Eardisley. But then there's a fair few around. We are also going to consider the surrounding counties, so Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and maybe Gloucestershire are all possibilities, but we do like Hereford and it is somewhere he has wanted to move to for some time now. I guess it's still going to be a while yet - we still need to do up the place here to make it ready to go (and still enjoy the makeover before we move). DS was a bit unsettled at work, but a change of boss has made it so much more pleasant in such a short space of time that I'm hoping he will be looking at moving out sooner rather than later. DD has a really nice guy - I've already married her off - jumping the gun a bit! But she is supposedly saving for a deposit while she can. It's all balanced on their movements at the moment though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Yeh kick the kids out! Small holding on the way keeping fingers crossed for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 Thank you Pimmsy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Oo heaven. We're moving to a house with 3 acres. Trying to work out what we need to do to make it a small holding. Got chooks and dogs. Don't want pigs, think I'd get too attached to sheep. Any ideas? We've got wild deer, badgers, rabbits pheasant, but I don't suppose they count Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Goats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Oh yes, and what about donkeys. Are they too much trouble? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Alpacas for the wool and you don't eat them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Alpacas for the wool and you don't eat them You *can* though, and they taste lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 Oooh you've tested them DM! I did hear someone down in the west country is doing alpaca meat. I did want alpacas so that I can send the fleece off to make my own batting for my quilting. Pipe dreams again. But alpacas to protect the chooks definitely. For us it would be a couple of porkers - much like Redwing does. Surprising how one piggy fills up a freezer! I did wonder about a house cow, but I think that's pushing it too far - and only then I would have to be completely certain that I would be able to handle the husbandry of her and go on courses. Which is what I'll be doing with regard to alpacas. Always do my homework first. I don't think I want to do sheep. I love the meat and there are some very attractive breeds out there, but not so sure. Actually I prefer lamb/mutton to pork. Just lately we have been testing goat meat - and while it's new to us, it is very tasty - from a local farm (I say local but it's nearer Portsmouth). But whatever we choose it will be a rare breed, apart from the alpacas in which case I just want to squidge that squidgey softness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 You could make goat cheeses as well as getting the milk and the meat They are escape artists though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 They are - I've heard a few tales about Redwing's Dave the Goat! I was also watching River Cottage Oz and the goats were amazing in clearing brambles and such. OH isn't too keen on goat milk, although it doesn't bother me. But cheese is good and he likes cheese - all sorts except blue and that's mine, alllllll mine! And before I get any livestock for food I would need to check on the abattoirs and see for myself how they operate. I wouldn't want my animals to go through any unpleasantness in their final moments. And I will have to register before getting animals too. So our priorities (as discussed at length with OH and receiving no opposition - well half Nelson's do make the other person listen and nod when prompted ) are to make sure that our house is fully decorated as to our taste and not make do with the previous owners - big mistake here as it's never been properly done and always in a state of half done - and any repairs to structure are sound. Then outbuildings - if any - need to be made good if necessary. Next the boundaries and fencing will have to be checked and made good. In the meantime the girls will be brought with us. I suspect we will only have a couple left by the time we put our house on the market, so they won't be allowed out of their run in case of Monsieur Reynard! Hubby says perhaps we ought to get rid of them so we can touch up the garden before we go. WHAT!!!! Wash your mouth with soap, man!!! But I know what he means - prospective buyers will not want to see mud where there should be grass and pwetty flowers, so I may have to find a foster home until our house is sold. This is what we will do first and then probably rent until the right place comes along for a quick sale (hah! She says hopefully!). As you can see I've had a lot of time to plan this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 Oh dear grammar - Nelson's and inappropriate use of a thingy!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 My grandparents had goats... great fun, but a always escaping, and they eat EVERYTHING We were always getting a call to come and help round them back up; they once ate the washing of the line. Alpaca is a bit like slightly gamey venison; lean and tasty. It can be a bit tough, but the gamekeeper where I used to work made sausages from it. It benefited from the addition of a bit of lamb fat to make it moister. The thing with Alpaca is that they need to be kept in a group, and they are expensive males have what they call fighting teeth, which are very sharp and really ought to be removed if you keep more than one male as they can get vicious with each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 My OH being of Cypriot stock wants goats - but not in a NW London garden I;m not so keen as I fear they will eat my smalls when I peg em on the washing line OH wants a horse too. The fact that he cant ride and I am severely allergic to them seems to have slipped his mind. I'd settle for chucks, ducks, guinea fowl and sheep - not sure why sheep just for the milk and wool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Id over to have sheep. I was offered two pet lambs by a farmer last week but can't really fit them in the garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 27, 2015 Author Share Posted February 27, 2015 They'd be fighting to find grass in my garden at the mo! Yup, I intend to start (if I do) with 2 castrated males for fox chasing. Sometimes places do packages of males that are OK for fleece but not good enough for their standards - which they are striving for even better quality fleece. I'd be happy with less perfection - it would be for my own use. I gather they have to have their teeth filed down anyway. Not to mention feet checks etc. Definitely going on a husbandry course beforehand. I can never remember the figures and microns etc, but I know if it feels light and fluffy and squishy. I remember a blog spot about a lady/family that turned their garden into an urban smallholding. She was doing square foot veggies in the front and had all manner of things in the back garden - pigs, sheep and rabbits. They were for food and the rabbits were for tanning and the fluff - she used to spin her own wool. Then neighbours complained. Last I heard they'd sold up and moved to France. It wasn't a particularly large back garden either so no wonder neighbours complained. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
