Hey folks!

[EcoSam]

Hello! My name is Sam and I stumbled across these forums while looking for a pea pod wine recipe (although I'd previously heard of Andy and Dave) and thought I'd join up.

I live in South Wales on an 18 acre smallholding - that was acquired by my parents last September - while I finish my MSc. We've never owned much land before so needless to say it's been a bit daunting to go to this from the typical back garden! This year we've made a number of raised beds, planted some trees and put up a polytunnel and, now that we're settled and acquainted with the land, we're starting to plan our second year's activities - 6-7 acres of trees for firewood etc, another polytunnel, chickens/ducks, grains and more diverse and extensive planting of food crops. Hopefully some bees too. I'm trying to introduce Permacultural thinking into the way we do things as well.

I've started to bake my own bread, we make own booze (beer kits, wines, hopefully cider and mead in the future) and we've always made most of our food from scratch so I can cook a little as well. Once I finish my MSc I'll hopefully be able to develop some sort of income from the land and or/set up my own business so that I don't have to get a proper job (which sounds like hell to me); I live frugally and have no desire for the latest gadgets and gizmos so my intention is to work to live rather than the opposite! I think skill diversity is important in order to live self sufficientishly so I'll continue learning new things and trying my hand at various things.

Anyway, nice to meet you all!

Sam

[Mustardseedmama]

Welcome to Ish Sam!

[Milims]

Hi there and welcome

[Thomzo]

Hi and welcome
That sounds like a wonderful set up. Good luck in finding an income source, much better than being stuck in an office all day.

Zoe

[diggernotdreamer]

Hi Sam and welcome.

[MuddyWitch]

Welcome to ISH

MW

[EcoSam]

Cheers MW!