Taking the first steps in smallholding

Don't wait until you are about to make a move, you can start right now!

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Planning starts before you move. In fact if you have reading this then you have already started. It's more than choosing your smallholding, you need to learn the right skills, understand all the legal requirements and start thinking about what equipment you would need. You can use what is around you to make a start such as putting aside an area in your garden to grow a range of crops. Or if you can take an allotment and learn on there. Many places now have community orchards which are great for learning about fruit growing and city farms are extremely helpful to get livestock handling experience. You can make a start on your dream right now.

FINDING YOUR SMALLHOLDING

Most people have an idea which area of the country they want to settle. A few are guided by what is available and the cost of smallholdings - fewer and fewer areas offer land and houses at low prices but if you decide to move for price of land alone, then do visit several times before committing yourself to live somewhere not known to you. There are still a few areas in the UK which are cheaper through there are usually reasons for this such as a lack of jobs in the area or the inability to commute easily to a larger town or city. These areas may well suit you if you don't need to earn a good salary and the advantage is that they often have strong local communities. For the more adventurous, land and houses in other parts of the world are often much cheaper but don't underestimate the language barrier and be prepared to learn it as soon as you can. Always take into consideration the local customs of anywhere you move - don't move into an area where you find any of the practices disturbing or neighbours are not to your liking. If you move next to a large industrial unit, they are not going to stop operating because you find their noise overpowering in the early mornings – even if the land is cheap.

SOURCES FOR SMALLHOLDINGS