Hyperthetically speaking... if you won

[Tigerhair]

We splashed out on an organic free range turkey crown (I know, I know) at Christmas - which did 4 meals and was FABULOUS! So moist and delicious. Turkeys, when alive, are flippin noisy though!

What would we start with, pigs? To clear and "plough" the land we were going to cultivate... I guess it depends on the time of year.

So far we have:

Pigs, chooks, geese, turkeys, ducks, goats, bees, cows... what else?

[ina]

MUST have a horse - preferably a Clydesdale - for logging wood and pulling the cart if we need to go to the supermarket for a shopping trip... I'd love to do that, just to see the faces!

[Shirley]

me too!!!!

There was a lady in Hereford who died and her funeral (at her earlier request) was a horse drawn affair that held up the traffic for AGES - which was just what she wanted

[Tigerhair]

If it were me, I'd have a clydesdale or something decently stocky for logging and ploughing and heavy work, and then a few native ponies - like dales or highland - for riding, driving and lighter work - and perhaps a grumpy shetland or two for teaching the kiddies to ride and drive! As long as we were able to make plenty of good quality hay that would be fine. The natives are very hardy.

[ina]

And the Clydesdale would be strong enough to carry even me! There's somebody down our glen who rides her Clydesdale.

[Tigerhair]

I used to ride a wonderful shire horse - Could have ridden him all day - so comfy! Armchair travel!

[hedgewizard]

How did I miss this thread? *weeps* What a lovely dream! I've done this sort of thinking before. We live in one of the outbuildings round what used to be a manor house, so what I'd do would be to gradually buy up all the surrounding buildings and the big house as people wanted to sell, and some of the nearby woodland too.

I'd set up a self-sufficiency study and research centre in the big house (paying someone else to manage it, natch) and a trap-and-pony ferry service to the nearby rail station. Most of the surrounding buildings would be accommodation for staff and visitors and then I'd charge for short residential courses. Big reductions for visitors coming by rail or other eco-sound methods. Further reductions for those offering WWOOF work. The old walled garden is still there so I'd remove the house that's been built in it and get the garden working to provide the f&v for the whole project.

Surrounding fields for field-grown crops and livestock, woodland for foraging classes and timber, oh yeah and buy the fishing lakes nearby for aquaculture. I reckon I could make the whole thing pay for itself eventually. And yes MMM, composting toilets! They don't smell, but the one I used creaked so alarmingly I was afraid I might end up in the s**t!

[Hillbilly]

I know - where did this thread come from?

I would buy a mountain farm in Wales and farm welsh Mountain Sheep. Hydro power, wind power, bio fuel heating, huge veggie patch (with several poly tunnels), an underground chamber (always wanted one as a refuge from everyday life)........With the rest I would set up an alternative 'school' teaching children the essentials of life - how to respect the planet, live in harmony with it, work with wood and natural materials etc - not this carp they get fed in state schools.

*sigh*

[hedgewizard]

Er... underground chamber? I have a neighbour who has quietly built a proper fallout shelter...

[Stonehead]

Hmm, £10 million is way too much for me. I'd pay out the mortgage, buy a 50-60hp tractor and a few implements (all used), put a galvanised chassis under my Landie and treat it to a respray, buy the OH a few new clothes and a slightly newer car, get myself some trousers, and put aside about £5,000 each for the boys (enough for a start, but not enough to see them take things for granted).

That would still leave about £9.7 million though!

Hmm, I've got it - a Selfsufficient-ish Foundation. Invest the capital in proper green technologies and businesses and reinvest about 30% of the income each year.

The remaining 70% of the income would then go to people looking to becoming more self-sufficient but with a shortfall of capital - so help towards solar/wind/hydro/thermal power, pig huts, chicken fencing, rotovators (but only diesels running on WVO), home industries using traditional skills, training in things like animal husbandry, butchering, basic mechanics etc. Note - it would be help and not the full cost as I think you have to put in something yourself to really appreciate what you've got.

But as I don't buy lottery tickets, it won't happen. A shame, because I think it would be a good thing to do!

[Stonehead]

Er... underground chamber? I have a neighbour who has quietly built a proper fallout shelter...

My workshop is my fallout shelter - if I get the OH riled I run for cover....

[Hillbilly]

Er... underground chamber? I have a neighbour who has quietly built a proper fallout shelter...

Yes, made of wood and stone, peaceful, calm, quiet...with big cushions I can sprawl on and one big central window in the roof made of stained glass which cast their ethereal light upon........... the big bowl of ice cream I am eating

[AnnetteR]

I would buy a plot of land out and away from everyone else. I've debated whether or not I want an old home or if I would want to build a new home as I have some very specific ideas about the kind of kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room I would like. I would probably get a more fuel efficient car, something a bit more earth friendly. I would hunt down an old working treadle sewing machine, get some patterns and fabric and start making clothes. I would buy up some good organic yarns and do a lot of knitting and crocheting. I would plant a big garden - so long as it's the right time of year.
Maybe a horse, some chickens, some snowshoes (some handmade wooden ones).

I don't know what else.