The Essential Guide to Making the Most of Your Smallholding
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Immersing yourself in the outdoors life might mean shifting your career and becoming a bona fide smallholder. The emergence of Covid-19 has made many people question their motivations, desires and working lives. Some people have now chosen to shun their typical nine to five desk job for a life that is more fulfilling. Purchasing a smallholding that you can make money from is no easy task. Farming is competitive, tricky to master, and even more difficult to make a living from. However, if you want to give the smallholder’s life a go, read on to discover if you have what it takes.
Knowledge
You cannot simply buy yourself a plot of land on a whim without a plan. Just like any other business, you need to home your ethos, your ideas and your vision. Consider how you want to use your plot of land. You might be keen on growing vegetables to sell at market, opting for some heirloom rarities, or you might want to keep animals for rearing and selling for meat and fleece. Consider if you can make money from these options and get researching. Draw up a plan and work out how much funding you may need from external investors. Know your gross from your net and work out your financial forecasts. This is crucial when it comes to pitching externally. The better the plan, the better the smallholding.
Smallholding Vision
If you want to rear animals for byproducts, consider venturing to GB Alpacas and breeding some beautiful soft fleeced animals. These can supply the finest fleeces that you can sell on to a range of industries. Alternatively, you might want a flock of rare geese, hens or ducks. Or perhaps you want to breed cows or sheep.
Alternatively, you might want to dedicate your smallholding to a kitchen garden, supplying some of the finest eateries up and down the country. Smallholdings rely on reputation. Consider growing organically and utilising some different techniques. Coir cocoa, seaweed and eggshells can be added to your mulch to produce high yielding crops. Consider your year round produce and invest in the right gear and equipment. Polytunnels, cloches and glasshouses are a must if you want to make a living from your smallholding.
Image by Andrew Martin from Pixabay
Network
It’s vital that you create a network of peers who you can rely on for advice and support. Smallholding is competitive but it is also friendly. Everyone wants their peers to do well. Every smallholder offers something different to the market and it is always wise to connect with your competition. You can learn from their mistakes and offer up your own advice as you become more experienced. Sharing successes and commiserating failures can make you feel less alone and isolated. The working hours are long and tedious at times, so enjoying the company of like-minded individuals is crucial.
Smallholdings come in many shapes and sizes. Take the plunge and give life on the land a go. Follow this guide and you can make the most of your smallholding.
