We have decided to give up the smallholding.
It has been an amazing, busy, challenging and fulfilling
three years since we hired a rotivator and churned up our half acre field to
turn it over to veg, without a clue of what we were doing. In that time, for at
least two of the three years, we were almost self-sufficient. Totally self
sufficient in pork, lamb, chicken, eggs, veg, herbs and most soft fruit and
apples. I won’t lie and say we managed wine (not that was drinkable anyway)
although the elderberry champers was a winner! I even made a pair of socks,
although admittedly this was for fun
rather than necessity!
We chopped our own firewood, cut flowers from the garden and
generally lived on next to nothing, but we loved it and the satisfaction it
brought.
But, things have changed. Since we started the project, we
have both changed our jobs and are much, MUCH happier. We are both spending
more time at work and getting a fulfilment that we previously got from the
smallholding. Over time, collecting eggs and going out in the pouring rain to
feed the chickens, became a chore, not a pleasure. With all this rain, the
veggie patch, dug over at the beginning of the season, became completely covered
in weeds and because it has been so wet, we haven’t had a chance to go out
there. It quickly becomes demoralising and an overwhelming task to rectify and
to be honest, I can’t face it. Having
livestock is a responsibility, and not something you do half-heartedly.
The world is a huge, fascinating place and we both felt
that, being so tied to the land, we are missing out on it. Since we bought the
camper van in March this year, we have spent more time out and about, which
brings its own satisfaction. I think we have struck a happy balance between the
rampant, soul destroying consumerism that we were so sick of when we started
the project, and the earthy, self-sufficient frugality we enjoyed during our
time on the smallholding. We are still very careful about where our food comes
from – that will never change. I don’t think we are vain and materialistic, but
we are enjoying new experiences and feeling a bit ‘smart’ for a change rather
than like a couple of peasants with dirty faces!
There are lots of things I want to experience, which aren’t
compatible with a smallholding. Travel
and walking – I used to love long distance paths and think nothing of a
20 mile hike at the weekend, seeing new places and a change of scenery. I did a
novel writing course once but never got past the first chapter – usually because
I was out mowing the grass instead. I have flirted with dressmaking recently
and absolutely love it. Oli has taken up Judo. And dare I say it, it is nice to
go out for a meal and a few drinks every now and again – definitely not something
we had money for when it was all going on pig food! Life constantly fluxes and
changes, and I am excited that my life is entering a new phase once again.
It would be a shame if we let what has been our passion and
joy for these three years become a burden. So, the pig arc and chicken house
were sold on ebay, other chicken accoutrements are in the ‘car boot’ box and we
are in the process of strimming the huge mass of weeds and nettles which once
were nice neat rows of veg, so that they can be ploughed and turned in to turf
once more. Baffled relatives, who have been with us for the whole slog, ask
whether we can’t do both – keep a small patch for some veg and do it as a
hobby. Well, unfortunately not – I am a do-all-or-nothing person and it seems a
bit futile to be growing some stuff and buying what we don’t grow from the
shops.
So, I have started a new blog and will keep the PartTimeSmallholder up just in case anyone going on a similar journey can make use of any of the information.
Thanks for reading and your lovely comments.
Adios!
*hangs up trowel*
