10 things to consider before starting a smallholding.
Below you will find a few ‘food for thought’ questions for you before you embark on your smallholding journey.
Think very carefully and realistically about a smallholding way of life. Plan well and do your research.
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1. Why a smallholder’s life?
What are your main reasons for wanting to become a smallholder and run a smallholding?
2. Where?
Where would you like your smallholding to be situated? You may have to move out from your current area to find the right smallholding for you. What impact will that have on you, your family, and your friends? Moving away sounds easy, but the reality can often be a big wrench.
3. Who with?
Smallholdijg life, whilst enjoyable and satisfying, is hard work. Will you be running the smallholding with a partner / family / friend? Everybody involved needs commitment, passion, motivation. You all need to be on the same level to make it work.
4. What about your job?
Will you have to give up work? How do you intend to earn an income? Remember, your smallholding will take time to grow and prosper. Ideally you’ll need some savings as it could get tough to start off with.
5. Are you aiming to earn a living from your smallholding?
If you are, how? It may be that you want to run a small-scale smallholding, so that what you produce is just for your own use.
6. How much land do you need?
First, you need to decide what you want to be doing on your smallholding. This will help you determine how much land you’re going to need:
- Grow fruit and veg
- Keep livestock
- Cattle
- Goats
- Llamas / Alpaca
- Pigs
- Sheep
- Poultry
- Table birds
- Hens for their eggs
7. Have you thought about other cost implications?
- Worksheds / Polytunnels
- Outbuildings / Barns – if the property doesn’t already have these
- Animal housing and shelters
- The cost of your livestock / animals
- The cost of feed
- Possible vet bills
- .. and so on
8. Are you ready for the commitment?
It’s hard work, full of responsibilities. Your livestock and chickens will need you to care for them. It’s a 24 hour commitment, 7 days a week. Forget holidays!
9. Location, location, location
The location of your smallholding is also extremely important. You’ll need to do lots of research about the local area, and particularly local amenities. If you intend to (eventually) supply local businesses or householders with your produce, then is there a gap in the market in that particular area for you.
