Yet there’s one pursuit, challenge, and interest that can often hold sway over even the most urban-raised people, and that’s the chance to run a smallholding. Smallholdings are, for the most part, labors of love. There’s little chance that this will be a fully profitable venture, although selling meat, eggs or other considerations if approved, can help somewhat. That being said, running a smallholding for those who are interested in natural and rugged living can be one of the most satisfying, if complex pursuits ever adopted.
When we first move into a rural home with a relatively humble yet exciting amount of land to play with, we start thinking of all the possibilities we could encounter. The chance to keep horses, or to construct an outbuilding, or to simply spend more time in the countryside as part of our natural living experience rather than a luxurious treat once in a while can truly motivate us to the core.
But how can you equip yourself for that smallholding potential with care and optimism? How do you avoid charging into things without caring for the right procedural effort? With the following advice, we’ll guide you to those ends with warmth:
How to Set Yourself Up For A Smallholding
Protecting & Treating Your Land
It’s important to protect and prepare your land for whatever utilization you have in mind. Agricultural spray nozzles are a worthwhile investment for this, as are the best fence posts with thick and deep foundations necessary for laying fencing that borders the surrounding of your perimeter. It’s true that in rural environments not all property lines are marked as well as they could be, and a smallholding can motivate you to fix this issue on your property.
Legal Protections & Adherence
It’s also important to consider the legal protections you hold. Applying to your local council and understanding the registrations, qualifications, and fees necessary to establish yourself as a smallholding with little to no commercial ambition is important because registering the animals you purchase through this lens will help you retain your best legal standing. This can also help you apply for other licenses, such as a shotgun license if living in the midst of a rural environment. Even in heavily gun-controlled countries such as the United Kingdom, these tools are permitted for purposes of land maintenance, such as protecting your chicken coop from foxes.
Healthcare Maintenance & Farmyard Care
The maintenance of your farm animals is paramount, and best practice is to be followed. Cleaning out their sty, pen or stable each day is important, as is ensuring that water is untainted and that food troughs are cared for and insulated. Additionally, ensuring you have the right vaccinations paid for in association with an excellent specialist veterinarian is important. You need to factor in healthcare costs into the overall budget of the smallholding, because they require careful attention both in diet, de-lousing, and other maintenance requirements to ensure that diseases do not spread, or that conditions to not leave your animals to deteriorate. This can be a full-time job, and it’s important you follow it.
Final Thoughts on Running a Smallholding…
With this advice, we hope you can properly equip yourself for that smallholding potential. You deserve it.
