Have you ever dreamed of packing in your job and going to start a new life out in the countryside? I’m sure that most people have done just that, but very few people actually go about trying to put this dream into practice. They think that it will be an impractical life and one that is completely unacheivable. That can’t be any further from the truth, though!
In fact, it is incredibly easy to set yourself up with a smallholding, even if you don’t want to make money from it. You will still be able to become self-sufficient, though, and will find that this can significantly cut your weekly grocery bill in half.
So, ready to get started? Here’s everything that you need to know about setting up a smallholding.
Figure Out How Much Land You Will Need
Firstly, you will need to sit down and do some careful planning. You need to figure out exactly how much land you will need for your smallholding. If you want to keep some livestock, then you will need more than if you were just going to grow vegetables and other crops. However, your overall budget for this project could end up dictating just how much land you are able to buy. It’s best to start off conservative as you can always buy more land if you need some in the future once your budget has grown slightly.
Research Livestock
If you have decided to keep livestock on your smallholding, you will need to research into the best breed for you. As well as that, you will have to look into the best ways to keep and care for the animals. Each breed might have different needs, and you will need to make sure that you can successfully give the animals what they need. It’s also a good idea to look into how you buy and sell the type of animal that you want, as certain breeders might have different methods to others because of livestock regulations.
Prepare The Land
Before you move any livestock onto your smallholding or start to sow seeds for crops, you will need to prepare the land. If you are getting the land ready in the middle of summer, it could be quite dry and you might need to use a dust suppression water cart hire to bring some moisture. It’s also a good idea to test the soil before you plant anything, as this will give you an idea of which crops will grow best in the type of soil.
Consider Security
Don’t forget to think about how you will secure your smallholding. Of course, you will need to take out specific insurance that covers this type of property, but it’s also a good idea to take out a policy that covers you professionally if you plan on making money from it. When it comes to outbuildings, make sure they are always secured using the most up-to-date security equipment that there is.
So, are you ready to start your smallholding?
