We love hearing from you, so here is your chance. Introduce yourself and tell us what makes you selfsufficient 'ish'. Go on don't be shy, we welcome one and all. You can also tell us how you heard about us if you like.
Hi
Just to say hello to everyone. I have really enjoyed reading the topics in the forum and must say I am beginning to learn a lot already. After many many years of dreaming about having our own little plot and becoming self sufficient we have finally gone and done it and really are starting from scratch. Our dreams started a long time ago when we lived in Australia and came across a great little mag called 'Grass Roots' which we read avidly. We had friends out there that had a little hobby farm in the bush and we used to love going down there. However, having become caught up in the usual events of life - kids, jobs, mortgages etc we have had to settle for enjoying our little gardens along the way both here in the UK and in Oz. Recently we saw a little smallholding being offered for sale and we decided to plump for it - knowing that if we didn't we probably would not get the chance again. So here we are, thoroughly pleased about it and looking forward to getting stuck in. We have also joined another similar forum to this and are so grateful for the information being shared. As well as a lifestyle, we are hoping for this to be a full time occupation for us in the future but know there is a lot to do before that. I look forward to reading more posts and hope that at some point I will be in a position to share our experiences with others.
Bluebell
And congratulations on achieving the dream that so many of us share...
Btw - you say you were living in Oz and the UK - where are you now? (Helps to have an idea at least which part of the world, so that we are talking about the same things going on in gardens etc...)
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
Would you mind filling in your location in your profile as it helps for people to know what country you are in when discussing gardening etc. We have members here from all over the world!
In regards to our plot-there is nothing much on it yet but it is around 4 acres in size ( which probably sounds quite big). However, some parts of it are slightly hilly and better suited to grazing but there are some nice flat areas too which are suitable for growing. The first job is a bit of drainage work, then a polytunnel or two and we are hoping to start getting things planted very soon. We are intending having poultry too but confess to not having much experience with animals such as goats and pigs which we wouldn't mind one or two of further down the line. We would want to learn how to look after them properly first before embarking on such things. This year will be mainly focussed on plants, fruit and veges. There are lots of things we want to do but know we will have to take things a step at a time.
Bluebell
Bluebell wrote:There are lots of things we want to do but know we will have to take things a step at a time.
Bluebell
Wise words! It's very easy to go all guns blazing, but inevitably it all becomes too much and people get disheartened. Rome was not built in a day! Very rewarding though
