Hi all

[dudley]

We have 12 acres and once farmed pigs commercially but came out of it quite a few years ago as our 50 sow herd could not compete with the big boys.
I retained a couple of sows and purchased 3 Dexter heifers and with chickens some geese and a couple of milking goats supply a good proportion of our food for the household. But I have never grown my own animal feed stuff or even had much success with growing garden vegetable for the kitchen.
I am twice married and in the 16 years I have known my stepson he has never shown any interest in getting involved in the farm. Now at 25 and with a high IQ he sees what is around the corner, oil running out, costs of everything soaring, and is desperate to become self sufficient from arable and livestock to energy and water supplies.
He has chosen to give up his highly paid IT job, sell his house and live on the farm with his fiancé and work here full time with me so that we can really build up to being totally self sufficient, if that's possible. For the last year he has been here virtually every weekend learning how to farm. I am so pleased we never sold the farm as we nearly did once or twice in the past.

I think you may hear a bit more from us in the future as we learn how to do the full self sufficiency bit.

Thank you, Steve in Kent.

[red]

welcome

sounds like you are pretty well set up!

[Smallholder1]

Welcome to the site!

[ina]

Hiya Steve - welcome to you (and your stepson!)

[Millymollymandy]

Hi and welcome!

[WendyHouse]

Hi and Welcome

[Mainer in Exile]

Hello. My father in law went through the same thing, with trying to compete with larger farms. It's thanks to him I have a bit of land on which I can make a go of being selfsufficient-ish.

[Dori]

Hi Steve
Sounds like you and your stepson will do a great Job. I'm very envious!
I hope he enjoys it.. you can't not really can you!

Katie x

[Thurston Garden]

Ahoy Steve!

[oldfella]

Hello

[marshlander]

Hello dudley
Wow! all that space

[gigglybug]

Hi and welcome Steve

Amanda