Homesteading v Smallholding

This really is a bit of a blog ramble and I'm not quite sure of it's purpose but whatever. 

I recently came across something here on t'interweb about the difference between the terms smallholding and homesteading and the ideas behind both. I like both these but after reading over a few things I think we are more of a homestead than a smallholding.

Our property doesn't have purpose-built housing for animals on site, although our buildings could very well be converted into animal accommodation - we prefer to make money from them via humans!

We are using the land at the house mainly for sowing and growing because we plan on making use of the three acre field we have up the road from us, in part, for some animals - hopefully pigs first. I really must take a picture of that sometime, but here you can see what the shape of the land looks like; a bit weird I know!

The narrow part is what I always refer to as the walk way, although it is wide enough to get a car down it once there is a decent layer of hardcore or something similar put down; the road shown going straight up from the narrow end is a five minute walk to our house.

However, back to my original thoughts. Homesteading is also about using the things around you to make other items you may need. All the way through our time together Jon has always been very good at reusing and recycling. He always likes to keep things 'in stock' just incase they come in handy. (We had a coffee table that we didn't know what to do with and it is now the base for the school chicken house he is building.) Therefore around the house and garden we have chairs, seating, clothes peg boards, tables, the housing for the chickens and soon to be ducks not to mention my Poly House, amongst many more. 

Anything to save money and not waste what we have come across/acquired along the way! This is a way for us to be self-reliant because we don't have to buy everything we need and also we don't have to pay for tradesmen; this is for simple things like replacing a lock on a door or decorating the rooms to rent, plumbing jobs etc; we are so lucky we rarely have to pay out for that kind of thing.

I am keen to preserve more of what I will, hopefully, grow each year so that I don't have to grow the same things thereby trying different food. Last year was my first attempt at preserving anything and I did manage some great pickled beetroot, apple sauce, a good supply of onions which kept very well in the cellar store room and turnips were a great addition to meals along with courgettes, cucumbers, salad leaves and lots of herbs. I have some root vegetables growing this time along with potatoes so this will allow us to be more self-sufficient when it comes to food shopping.

Oh this really IS a ramble - sorry but my brain is ticking over, sorry!! 

At this point I could say that for the first four months of the year we had 519 eggs from the 11 chickens; this works out at 47 eggs per chicken. We are selling quite a lot, about £26 worth last month. We use some of the money to buy feed but as it seems it is the only way the boys are going to save money for their summer holiday we are buying things like grit for the girls, but at least we are doing something towards spending less of our own money at times. The ducks may come before we go away, depends if the supplier calls Jon again.

In other areas spending is not quite the same but we hoping to have the next Airbnb room done as soon as we can and that takes a bit of investment; but that also has been of great benefit since we began renting it out. Financially of course but also that we are confident people will return when we have more space - we already have our regular business gentleman who has been to us three times already since last month!

So right now I think we're homesteaders; whatever the description we are beyond happy.

I think I'll stop just now or you may get p***** off with my epistle!

Bye for now.

Lou.xx

Into The Weekend From Here.

Good morning. Here is Jon with the next stage of the pizza oven; we hope Sunday will be dry meaning it should be finished this weekend...

I've done a bit of baking the last couple of days. Harry has decided to go back to packed lunches so I am baking a bit more bread, plus Jon has been doing some house renovation for his boss in Aber this week instead of being at the sawmill so he has been taking butties for his lunches, too.

At the weekend I really hope to get the last of the soft fruit trees in. I'll need Jon's help with the holes. Only seven to go so very few compared to some peoples' fruit campaigns.

This is the new smaller veg patch alongside the fruit area.The edging needs finishing and it is about 10x8 feet so, as usual, I am feeling paranoid about my spacing when it comes to planting out!

Now can any of my faithful followers?! tell me what these small berries are? They are growing around a couple of the trees at the bottom of the garden, actually near the top right corner of the new patch I just showed you.

Yesterday we sold three boxes of eggs, can the girls keep up we ask? We have sold £10 worth this month but all of that was really since Sunday so fab result! We don't have room in the hen house for any more as we have 8 actual boxes in the house and 11 chooks. We'll have to stick with what we have for now, but there is always more room at a later date to have a bigger run in the field. (Also some very sweet people have been leaving me empty egg boxes; they don't know I have about 300 in the cellar storeroom!) Weather here is a bit overcast so need to pick my time for cleaning out the chickens. 

I am calling about the ducks today and we really hope Jon can collect them at the weekend.

And..


I went to my new Welsh lesson last night and really enjoyed it. There is always somebody who talks too much or somebody who wants to race ahead in the progress - we had both of them, but some very nice people, too and it was also great to go with somebody I knew! The class is much bigger than the last one I went to which means practicing conversation is easier. I have a proper class and homework books so will now be able to put time aside a few times a week to work on it all. I may have said in the past that I want to be able, amongst other things, to go into the post office and ask for my stamps. Simple things!

Just been reliving part of my youth by listening to Take That on Chris Evans' breakfast show. Fab.

Ok, best get on with a few jobs as the weather looks like it is trying to improve. Look forward to hearing about what everybody gets up to over the weekend.
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BREAKING NEWS
I had a message through my blog yesterday from some people saying Jake has been moved on to them from the lady who originally took him. The new owners have had him for about four weeks and they sound GORGEOUS. They told me he is the perfect dog for them after losing their own Collie and he is having lots of walks and cuddles. I had a little tear in my eye when I read the message but Jon and I couldn't be happier for them and Jake.
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Bye for now.

Lou.x

Sunday Sit Down.

Hi!

I sit at the kitchen table typing this as Jon is in the shed having a much needed tidy up and the boys are just starting some homework; this is the perfect time to have a little catch up with you.

I've been busy in the Poly House this week getting seeds sown and loving every minute of it. I am so looking forward to, hopefully, harvesting much more of our own food this year. Eeeek! Thursday evening was the first time we have been getting jobs done outside after tea for the first time this year. Fab! That day, Friday and Saturday I got the following done:

Seeds were sown for:

- two types of aubergine
- cucumber, to grow outside 
- some Italian-style beef tomatoes
- mixed variety of sweet peppers
- a plum-variety of tomato called Cuor di Bue
- a second drainpipe of climbing peas
- piquant peppers
- all year round lettuce (in the sink outside)
- sweet peas to go around the peas and a variety that needs no support to go in a planter at   the front door
- french marigolds for not sure where yet, and what a wierd looking seed?

and I moved the beetroot and cherry tomatoes I had in the house into the Poly House, too!

Going great guns so far.

On Friday I had what I would describe as an egciting delivery - egg boxes!

312 of them to be exact! I think they worked out at 6p a box. As egg production has gone into overdrive, 34 so far this week, we will be able to start selling them when Jon and the boys hopefully get the honesty box built next week. 

On Friday Jon came home from work with something he had his eye on, two quad bikes. This is one of the two he 'acquired' as they were not needed by the boss and apparently just taking up space....

They are big enough for me and Jon to ride on so will be useful to nip down to the field on if we need to; they need a bit of maintenance, spark plugs and a few other bits and pieces, but nothing Jon can't sort.

It does seem to be going on and on but me and the boys did some more clearing of stones on the fruit patch yesterday. I have decided now the vast majority of the large stones have been removed we are going to go for a more natural, organic look to the area. I bought a blueberry and a raspberry bush from Poundland last year, both of which have survived very well, so now they are back in stock I am going to buy a bunch of them and see what happens; this means we can get the patch well planted up so it is an established area of the garden. 

Advice request - 

The raspberry bush I have has not yet given us any fruit but is a healthy 2ft or so tall. Should I cut this down to soil level or leave and plant as is?

This morning, whilst managing to dodge most of the rain showers, Jon has worked on the soakaway pipe from the septic tank which needed some attention.

It was a dirty job, well just muddy really, but somebody had to do it and it is a blue job so.....

A Little Late But...

Happy St David's Day!

A little snack for when the boys came home from school after working sooo hard in the school eisteddfod all day. Have to say the Welsh cakes were more for Alfie as Harry is not that keen on them. At the eisteddfod Harry came second in the poetry competition and Alfie was joint third in the art section. Beam!!!!

I talked about an addition to our little patch here at Bronllan and I am now able to happily share that we have acquired six more chickens; these are white and very gorgeous! We fetched them on Tuesday from the free range farm from where our original six were bought. I asked Jon about the precautions the farm were taking regarding the avian flu and he was simply asked to drive over some special mats on the farm land. As we expected the lock-down to be lifted yesterday we were happy to fetch new stock in readiness and it was no problem for the farm to supply us so everybody was happy. 

The weather was biblical by the time Jon and the boys got back but we had the girls in boxes that the farm had readied for us. We stood in the shed and Jon clipped one wing of each of them and the boys ran backwards and forwards to the hen house putting them in and shutting the door after!  Here they are, well one missing round the back, out in the open the next morning, as the new directive has said they are able to be.

We have decided to keep them all outside. We use the same foot wear for going out the back and I should be able to put netting over the pond without too much trouble. We have a separate parking area so very few cars come into the back garden now.The enclosure has lots of trees in it and in summer should act as a good shelter from wild birds but there is no way I can cover it over. Our girls have always been free range - they were always let out of the enclosure into the main garden for a scrat around and they love it but we are not doing that just now. So that is how we are managing the situation. Egg production is, of course,on the up so we have ordered boxes so we can sell the eggs; with the help of Jon, the boys are going to build an honesty box to put at the main gate. We have said if the boys are responsible for the chooks, look after them, feed, change their bedding etc. they can have the money from the sales once they have taken care of the overheads - our aim is to teach them a number of skills with this exercise.

Yesterday I fetched two bales of straw and again didn't see too much evidence of flu precautions at the farm I went to, and I did say there were for our chickens.

To say the car now needs a good clean out is an understatement! A job for the weekend I think. I had time to give the hen house a good clean out and put the fresh straw in - the last two bales we had were bought at the beginning of May so really did last - before the boys were home.

Well I have a washing and admin day today so better get on with that or it will be lunch time before I know it!

Bye for now.

Lou.xx

Production and Reduction!

Good afternoon.

We are blustery here whilst dodging the hail and rain but all cosy warm inside.

I have collected eggs for the last time this month and we are at 63. Last month was 34 so that is a great improvement, and poultry life should be back to normal for most people tomorrow with the lift of the lock-down. Yay!

That is the production, and so the reduction is in my weight. I have been attending Slimming World for three weeks now and as it is the end of the month I thought I'd let you know I am chuffed to bits as have lost 8 and a half pounds so far! I lost 6 the first week, stayed the same the next and then 2 and a half last week. Going to stick with the plan as it really seems to be working for me. Basically I have veg breath, according to Jon from eating lots of chicken and veg stir-fry!

Well, here we are at the end of another month, hoping the weather improves soon and we are planning on being able to report some additions to our little patch very soon.

Bye for now.

Lou.xx

Outside Work For Once, And Welcome Back Brownie!

Spring is sooooooo close! These are the first daffs to burst into flower in the garden....

and these are first of many to be brought into the house!

and to finish off a carpet of snowdrops at the far end of the garden. Lovely!

I'm starting this post on Friday morning and I'm going to add to it as the weekend goes along. Friday is always a bit weird as when the boys are at school I have time to get just a few things done after they leave then I head out to do the food shopping at 10am. But as they have been away all week I've much longer in the morning every day before I feel I HAVE to get to grips with the jobs of the day, and today I am not going shopping until the weekend, so even more time! The boys are only away until today really YAY! as we are soon going to the Gramps at Nantwich to bring them home!

Today there is nothing left of Storm Doris; we thankfully managed to survive apart from the odd daffodil I saw today looking a bit battered. Any damage to those who weren't quite so lucky I hope is not too serious.x

As I didn't have to go to Aber I decided to get outside as, even a bit cold, it is lovely and bright today, as you can see. 

I've been looking at the seeds in the house this last couple of days so potted on the cabbages today which will be going in the prepared brassica bed, not the main one, about which I was getting myself in a twist the other day! I've put the cherry tomato seedlings in the Poly House at the same time; I'll keep an eye on them but they are looking quite strong.

By the way, these came the other day so I will know exactly what is planted where now!

I also finished the weeding on the main veg patch so both ends are now covered; maybe a bit late but all helps to warm up the soil, I think. (The hole in the yellow plastic has some black plastic underneath it so all is covered!) 

This is a great spot now; nearest end will be for beetroot and cucumbers, plus I sowed the climbing peas in a drainpipe today, too and they will go at the far end.

I've also sown a couple of lines of spring onions in the sink and popped the two trays I had in the Poly House along side them to see how they do. 

I think the reason my spring onions failed last year is because the Poly House was too warm for them.

After Jon finished work on Friday we headed to Nantwich to get the boys. We decided to stay over and go out for Chinese then come back early Saturday morning; Jon and I were awake at 5am due to an unfamiliar bed, he pruned his dad's apple trees then we left after breakfast managing to get home by around 10.45am. When home we had a quick lunch of sausage n mash then went to Aber to do the food shopping.

No outside jobs as we were all just glad to be home together!

This morning, Sunday, I made breakfast then Jon and the boys went out to finish logging the tree - has been quite a big job as a big tree. They stacked the woodpile and made a fire pile, too, ready for a drier day. I popped into the Poly House and did the second of two PH soil tests this week I was pleased to get done. I found the soil in the main veg plot to be 5.5 and the soon-to-be fruit patch was 6 - 6.5 so I guess the latter bodes well for the blueberries which have been on my mind recently. I also took a peek at the spinach I sowed the other day and it is showing its face a little!

Our water has been off since first thing so no washing-up has been done and it is piling up!! Adding to it is the tray from the chocolate brownie I made this morning. I have filled the tin and put some in the freezer for another day.

The boys have really missed them as I have been unable to do my regular amount of baking for AGES due to lack of eggs -  (it takes 6) -  but now things are on the up as we are getting back to normal. In fact last month we collected 34 and with this month almost at an end we have already collected 42 with 2 days still to go!

The weather is not good today, very wet, and the forecast is a bit the same for the coming week but the temperatures look as if they are improving  a little so we mustn't complain.

Right, I think that is it from me. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I look forward to catching up with what everybody has been getting up to.

Bye for now.

Lou.xx

(Apologies for the differing colours of typing but I cannot get it all to turn green!)

Monday Mumblings.

Hi. My last post was only on Wednesday but it seems ages ago to me.

This is a bit of a random post, no change there, with a few things I've been thinking about and doing.

Jon's cousin and other half came on Saturday lunch time and we have a great time. Our boys are away with the Gramps, thanks to our guests taking them back with them yesterday, until Friday so I have no time constraints for when they are due home, like snacks and tea making. Right here we are then.

My beetroot is shooting up well so I've decided to cram into the veg patch as much as I can when I plant it out.  Last year I grew what turned into approximately 3lbs and this made almost three jars when pickled.

I figure that as it is only really eaten in the summer if I grow twice, or three times, as much as that this year then I won't need to grow it next year; that is the plan anyhow!

I have been looking for seeds to grow sweet chilies but not been very successful so asked Dawn, you know who I mean I'm sure, and she gave me a good list to look for; this is one of the many jobs on my list of things to do!

As I got it into my head the other day to sow some spinach seeds the other day, a little thing came into my head

Think where things will go before you decide to sow! 

and

Label everything where possible or necessary

I decided to give my seeds in the house a little helping hand this week so...

this lot and those in the kitchen have been given some extra warmth; things are coming along well and can't wait to get them into the Poly House.

On Saturday I received a lovely parcel in the post; I have joined up with a Stationery Swap together with Jocelyn from The Reading Residence and here are my goodies...

In my parcel were pencils, a pen, post it notes, note cards with envelopes, a mini stapler, bookmarks, stickers, a notebook and stickers. All just lovely from a lady called Amy.

This Friday my blueberry bush offer arrived from my Grow Your Own mag. This morning I unpacked them and gave them a good watering, a little time yet before I get them in the ground.

A couple of photos from the garden. The herb sink is slowly coming back to life

and the garlic is doing really well.

The green picket fence, which you can just see at the far left of this photo, has been extended right up to the new gate Jon built. This is another creosoting job for me but to be honest I find it quite satisfying. When this is painted I have to do another coat on ALL of the fencing but I'll get a cuppa, my little seat and radio and be off!

Can't wait until I can see lots more things through the window of the Poly House!

I don't have photos of the process as I was too scared to look, but Jon and the boys took down a tree on Saturday morning and he is half way through logging it ready to season for next winter; he is LOVING filling up his newly positioned woodpile! (I heard about this book on the radio and I think I may have to buy it for him!


Great excitement, well at least from me, on Saturday morning. The girls gave us 5 eggs, and three today so far; things are on the up it seems.

After the boys had gone to the Gramps on Sunday Jon and I had a bit of us time in Aber. The usual, buying work socks, rodent killer and a PH soil testing kit. As you do!

We also sat and had a coffee, well Jon did. I was very good and didn't have a coffee as they had run out of skimmed milk and I watched him eat a caramel shortbread, too. (It is my weigh in tonight so looking forward to some good news and also going to the earlier meeting as don't have to get tea for the boys.)

Right, better get on. 

Bye for now.

Lou.xx

Bits And Bobs And Corn Cobs

Hi!

Today is a lovely blustery Autumn morning but not that cold for the end of September.

Jon and I were sitting at breakfast longing for when it will be properly Autumn - I can hear somebody saying "careful what you wish for".

These are the two other birthday gifts I hadn't got round to photographing.

Last week we had a really good week for eggs so made a quiche for Jon's lunches.

After last weekend being so hectic I have had a quiet-ish time this week, but the usual bread baking and cake making and managed to fit in a quick visit to my elderly neighbour - I haven't seen her since the boys went back to school. 

This morning I got the boys off and then vacuumed all downstairs and finished wiping down the kitchen shelves as still dusty after moving the boiler out and some other jobs over the weekend! Then I headed outside to the Poly House; temperature still good in there. 

A quick look round at the few things going on. The beans are growing very well but hope they live with the canes I put in at the beginning. 

My trays of sowing are coming through. These are the caulis, salad leaves and turnips. (I'm taking a punt on the last ones).

Other bits and pieces are spring onions I have growing which I think I'll pick soon. Realised a little too late that I have been mollycoddling them (sorry Dawn) and should just be growing them outside like leeks! 

I collected the eggs and anything else that was being offered up. 

You can see that I have the very last three corn cobs; they are really not the most fantastic but I grew them! I can boil them and use the kernels in something for tea tonight and the few we have had have been so delicious. This is how the bed looks now, it has been such a feature outside of the Poly House.

The girls are enjoying chowing down on some of the stems and have the others put to one side to drip feed to them. 

I have some work to so on the bed as this is going to be my brasicas bed! There are some big juicy worms in it so that is a bonus. 

Still taking up yummy turnips and the latest tomatoes plus a few to turn yet.

I have ordered some things from Thompson & Morgan using my gift vouchers and already I have received some seeds for Pak Choi and tomatoes called Capriccio which look a lovely shape and size for bottling so that is my plan for those next year.

I also bought some daff bulbs. I wanted to buy a couple of packets as I am sure I lost quite a few of the ones we had last Spring when we had the garden scraped down. I so loved being able to pick flowers straight from the garden.

These I got from Charlie's whilst asking, again, if they had their Christmas seed potatoes in yet! The answer was no last weeken - nearly out of time!

Right, I think I'm going to bake a ginger cake - first go at one of those but on Jon and the boys' list for new bakes. Oh, didn't some of the citrus meringue pies look yummy on the Bake Off last night? If the weather remains dry I think I'll try and forage another lot of balckberries for the freezer after lunch. I have the guest room to vacuum and bed to change so that is another job to be done before lunch.

Bye for now.

Lou.xx