Smallhold Farming and Rural Living > Livestock and Growing on a larger scale

Can you make 8 acre profitable?

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wcah:
Just getting around to deciding what to do with our land, it has a small holder number with defra. Basical weve been doing up the house for the last 3 years and now were getting to the end of it were turning our eye onto the land.
For the last few years iv just let a neighbour graze the land in return for hedge cutting, muck spreding and given him 200 small bales hay for producing 400-500 bales so in effect weve only had money off the land for the 200-300 small bale sales.
Surley we could make more money from the land? As a kid my dad reared cows, sheep, pigs, quail,  rabbits, turkeys all for meat and also had a load of hens for the eggs, so i do have the basics of looking after such animals. So far were thinking of hatching some turkeys ready for the Christmas trade only 15-20 for friends and family (dont know if i need a licence or something?) How hard is it now a days to deal with defra? what about passports and paperwork they now require? it all sounds so daunting.
What would you peeps do with 8 acres?

the Kergan:
It might be a good idea to talk to defra, they you have the info first hand.

John:
The first thing I'd look at is self-sufficiency. Producing your own vegetables, fruit, eggs and at least chicken meat and pork will reduce your bills considerably. The less you need the more your money (and any additional income) is worth.

Raising some turkeys will produce a bit of pocket money

A lot depends on the land itself - we've only got poor pasture around here but not far away there's a vinyard. 8 acres is enough to consider that assuming it's facing the right way etc.

The trick to maximising income is not to compete where you can't win. Look to supply things people will pay a premium for - rare breed meats, home made cheese. But whatever you do, enjoy doing it because you won't get rich in money although you may well get a lifestyle that's very rich (hope that makes sense!)

Chrysalis:
There is a book called Ten Acres Enough by Edmund Morris.  Lots of info on self-sufficiency for a large family.  It details his first three years of "farming"...

It's not pricey...

Sounds like a wonderful project you've got on. :D

wcah:

--- Quote from: the Kergan on May 24, 2012, 23:41 ---It might be a good idea to talk to defra, they you have the info first hand.

--- End quote ---

Well i have spent the last 2 hours on the defra website and to be honest it has pecked my head and i know no more, so yeh might have to TALK to them to see if they an shed any light to my questions?

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