Photo: Fiona in a bee suit with smoker
My name is Fiona Nevile. I want to share our journey towards our goal of partial self sufficiency. It is such a satisfying, old fashioned endeavour, that provides moments of glowing pride alongside the occasional smelly disaster.
I started this blog after we decided to invest in our future. Retirement looms in a few years time. Before I fell ill I often worked in houses where people had recently retired. Usually they were testing the water. They had plans that they had dreamt about and tweaked for years:
- Raising a few chickens
- A small vegetable patch
- Bees
- Homemade wine and liqueurs
- And the individual extras which could include stock car racing, dabbling on the Stock Exchange, breeding terrapins, planning the trip of a lifetime and dreaming about a lottery win that would finance the lot.
Watching from the sidelines, I realised that often the first four of these interests can take years to get up and running. So I decided to start early. These activities are so satisfying that within months I was peering over the parapet. Why not cure and smoke our own bacon and make salami? How about making sausages and homemade butter? And where could we find food for free?
Six years later we are investing in now as well as our future retirement.
Why just plan for the future? Investing in now can be a bumpy ride but generally we’ve found that it’s fun and our quality of life is so much better than before. Each week our horizons expand.
This website charts our journey towards deluxe self sufficiency and beyond. Our aim is to live like kings on the lowest possible budget. Visit our new forum for inspiration and ideas from our readers.
My articles have appeared online in the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Chicago Sun Times and many other publications. Use the ‘contact us’ tab to speak to me. Writing commissions are always welcome.
Some people like to visit us here at the Cottage Smallholder.
Because I have been ill and unable to work since July 09 we decided to host advertising on the Cottage Smallholder site from December 09. Click here for more details.
a brief potted history of Fiona’s career, which has ended up in our attempt at partial self-sufficiency.
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FD
Hi Luke
I do hope that you chose our recipe! The others sound tempting though…
We dined on shoulder of lamb at my sister’s house today. Excellent.
Thanks for leaving a comment.
Hi there! Stumbled across you site while looking for recipes for Rack of Lamb. Listening to our interview with the Beeb. I’m in Harrow, NW London. It’s Easter Day and it’s snowing! Now decisions…I’ve have 3 recipes I can go with. Your simple one with red wine sauce, Gary Rhodes’ one with honey & mustard glaze or one from the Beeb with a garlic & herb crust. Hmmmmm…… What will you be eating today? Luke.
Hi Sheila
I’m delighted that you are enjoying the site!
I haven’t tried dying my own wool (yet). I used to love knitting but that was many, many years ago.
I first posted re the leek and potato soup recipe but have delved further since then (I should be working) and am enchanted by your site.
Our kids have left home and we both have the option to work at home so we are planning a move to somewhere with a much larger garden for veg. I am also interested in growing and using natural dyes for knitting wool. I did some successful dabbling a few years ago following recipes in ‘Cooking with Colour’ and found it gave a wonderful sense of wellbeing and satisfaction. Have you ventured into this at all on your plot or other readers- I don’t know if it was just a 90’s thing.
Hi Lesley
I’m no veg expert. Just enjoy growing some.
Your cottage and garden sounds like a very exiting move. Wish you the best of luck with all your projects.
Thanks for leaving a comment.
I have just found your site, it is great just what i need, we have just moved to a 1800 cotage with a large garden and i will be using your site now for advice on growing my veg. i already have my broad beans,spring cabbage,onions and kale in,i have never had a veg garden before,so it is all new to us.keep up the good work.
Hi Raehippychick
Glad that you are enjoying the site!
Exciting that you have just got an allotment, there’s nothing like growing your own. Very therapeutic and it tastes better too.
Loads of people make the raspberry mistake! Even Christopher Lloyd.
What a lovely site you have here
I get my my hands on my first allotment this weekend so I’ve been madly surfing for things about veg growing etc, hence my arrival here
I was interested to read your post yesterday about mixing seasons in your fruits… things like that just don’t seem to be mentioned in my (one and only so far) gardening type book
Hello Sally,
Thanks for leaving a comment. I do hope that your meatballs turned out alright.
You can do a lot with chickens, blackberries and a greenhouse!
My first visit to the site, I stumbled in through a link looking for a lamb meatball recipe !! Am trying your one with the creamy tom sauce tonight. Not quite as self sufficient as you being in the middle of Solihull but have two chickens, blackberries and a greenhouse, its a start I guess. Looking forward to delving more into the site for tomorrows tea !!
Many thanks.