How to Get Started on a Smallholding – Part Four

Are you embarking on your smallholding journey? Are you building your self-sufficiency dream? Would you like some helpful pointers to get you started from someone a little further down the track? Here is part four in this series about getting started on a smallholding.

SO – if you’ve been keeping up with the advice so far, you will have moved your animals in and your vegetable garden will be under way.

This post will cover important topics, such as considering additional help and making plans for any time away from your smallholding.

Mechanisation

On the land

When we bought our smallholding, we really wanted to build a life that was as environmentally sustainable as possible. Our initial plan was to do pretty much EVERYTHING by hand to minimise our consumption of fossil fuels.

So we bought a scythe to keep the grass in the field under control, until our sheep moved in. We were cutting wood to length with a bow saw and splitting it with a maul. We really agonised over every decision about whether to employ the use of power tools.

But we quickly realised that we were working so hard, just to tread water. And that was keeping us from the projects that we really wanted to get started on.

We finally realised that we needed to work smarter, not harder, to start achieving our goals.

So my husband found a good deal on a second hand compact tractor. It came with a flail mower and a chipper. And we subsequently bought a hydraulic splitter attachment as well. This little machine in unbelievably fuel efficient and has revolutionised our ability to stay on top of the more mundane jobs on the smallholding.

In the kitchen

Similarly, for the first couple of years, I processed the fruits of our harvest entirely by hand. I chopped french beans for the freezer. I roasted, skinned and chopped tomatoes to freeze those in batches, too.

But as our endeavours in the garden grew, it got harder and harder to keep on top of the veggies coming into the kitchen every day. And the year we had our first big tomato crop, we knew we needed a new plan for preserving the harvest.

We found a vintage bean slicer, which really sped up the process of preparing any green beans for either cooking or freezing.

And after a lot of research, we settled on the Johnny Apple Sauce Maker for processing our tomatoes into passata. I’m planning a whole post about our strategy for tomato processing – keep you eyes peeled for that later in the year!

Neither of these products are sponsored. We purchased both with our own money, and have really enjoyed using them!

Workaways and WWOOFers

We often wonder whether we should advertise for some help over the busiest weeks of the year. A few extra pairs of hands would make such a difference. There are schemes where people volunteer their time in exchange for bed and board. And, of course, the chance to learn about organic farming practices and sustainable living from full-time smallholders.

This might be something worth considering if you are pursuing your smallholding dream as a solo endeavour. Or perhaps if you have a particular big project in mind and you need a little extra help.

Having some willing volunteers will of course unburden you a little, and perhaps give you enough free time to engage in some paid employment or a hobby.

We have friends who have volunteered as WWOOFers in various parts of the world, and they all speak very highly of their experience.

You will need somewhere for them to stay, and of course you will need to feed them. You will also need the time and patience to explain what you need help with. And be willing to show them around your smallholding, explaining your ethos and your goals.

There are just a couple of concerns holding us back. The first is that you just don’t know who you’re going to get. We quite enjoy our quiet, secluded life. And we have a little person to consider.

The second is that neither myself nor my husband are actually very good at delegating. We would both prefer to do a job ourselves and have it exactly how we want it. That is probably something we need to work on!

Holidays and contingencies

Having a big garden and animals are huge responsibilities. You need to make sure they are properly cared for. That includes organising cover for any planned or unplanned time away from our smallholding.

I learned at great cost that you need to carefully select the person to whom you entrust your animals and plants.

So, even if you aren’t planning any getaways at the moment, I would strongly advise you to give that some thought. Do you have family nearby? Or a trustworthy neighbour? Start a conversation with them now. You could perhaps offer your help if they wish to have a day or two away. And then ask if they would return the favour.

My second piece of advice is to prepare some written information for your understudy. It may seem like second nature to you to feed and check on your animals at particular times, or to open and close the doors of your polytunnel according to your routine. You cannot expect anyone else to know that. So make your handover packet is as detailed as possible!

Well, now you’re all set up and ready to live your smallholding dream! I really hope this series has been helpful in getting you started. Drop me a comment to let me know!