18 November, 2011

Over recent years, more and more people have given up city living, escaped the 'rat-race' and moved to the countryside in search of 'the good life'. Here in the South West, we are lucky enough to have some of the best countryside in the UK, so it is not uncommon for people to do just that and change their lives forever!

For many, the idea of running a smallholding conjures up idyllic images of spending time among lush green rolling hills in the sunshine, lots of animals, being self-sufficient enjoying home grown produce, and a laid back way of life.

But running your own smallholding is no mean feat - be under no illusion, whilst it can be extremely rewarding, it can also be hard work! It is a big investment in terms of money, time and commitment and you need to be sure that you are making the right decision. 

There are so many things to think about. Although it is not an exhaustive list by any stretch of the imagination, we have put together a small number of serious considerations anyone about to take their first steps towards running their own smallholding should think about first…. 

Most importantly do your research, make sure that you get to know people who have done the same thing to better understand the challenges and practicalities involved. Talk to other smallholders, farmers and breeders as much as you can. Visit your local agricultural show to see how things are done, read books and scour the internet and attend smallholding events or taster days to increase your knowledge and skills. Spend some time on someone else's smallholding before taking on your own. 

Managing a smallholding requires a vast amount of knowledge and skill. Try and get some training, perhaps by taking a smallholding course at your local agricultural college - Cornwall College, for example, offers a specialist pathway in smallholding as both a full-time Foundation Degree or for one day a week, working towards a Higher National Certificate.

Decide whether you want to run a smallholding as a hobby or as a commercial venture. Many people will want to live off their land, but you need to think about whether being self-sufficient is really practical. Are you going to continue working to bring in an extra income or do you intend to make the smallholding your full-time passion? 

Think carefully about your location, property and land - you will need to decide where your smallholding will be located, how large it will be - whether it is two or twenty acres, the type of holding, the layout and the house and buildings. Obviously different areas of the country will be better suited to different types of farming - consider what is best for you. Decide whether you are going to live at the smallholding or whether it is practical to make regular trips there each week. 

Decide on the livestock  you want to keep  and the fruit, vegetables or crops you want to grow. Whether you want to rear cattle, keep chickens, rare breed sheep or goats, each will require specific knowledge and training in order to be successful. Again, there are courses you can go on to better understand animal husbandry. Knowing about breeds, housing, feeding, equipment, health and well-being is critical. Land management is also a huge area for consideration - there are many things to think about including design and location, soil, crops, pests and pest control, maintenance, harvesting and preservation. 

There will almost certainly be more work to be done than you think, so will you be able to manage it on your own? Running a smallholding requires teamwork and is a 365-day a year job, so if you want to be able to take holidays, you need to make sure you have someone reliable to run the smallholding while you are away. 

Many people think about running a smallholding as a way to escape the stress of their current jobs. Although there are a lot of enjoyable aspects to running a smallholding, like every job, it comes with its own problems and stresses. Problems which may cause stress include finances and worries about animal health. 

If you are looking for an easy way to make money, running a smallholding is almost certainly not going to be it. Income and profit can also be very hard to predict - anything from unexpected weather conditions to animal diseases can drastically impact on your financial situation. 

For more information about running a smallholding visit www.smallholder.co.uk, www.countrysmallholding.com orwww.smallholdingcourses.co.uk