The Cottage Smallholder

Hi Bonnie, pleased to meet you, I think the nearest to a Smallholder we have, is Aly, who lives in France.  I don't think a Pensioner Plot qualifies, but am interested in every aspect to do with the Land. I grow my own Produce, and make Jam, Chutney, and Pickles. Love to Bake as well.  Very interested in how you get on. And Welcome to the Forum. Tina x

Hi Bonnie, yes, my Plot is packed !  When I moved in ten Years ago, the whole Garden was given up to old, very diseased Roses, which had to be dug out, and being old, their Roots were in Australia.      I now have a Ramp, as have a Wheelchair.  My Beds are all Raised to allow me to look after them.  Up my Ramp, as it is Stone built, I have a Potager Garden, that is Flowers, Fruit, and Herbs, all mixed. In my Mini Orchard, have three Different Apple Trees, a Plum, and in a Pot, have Loganberries, and Pears.  Along the Fence, I have Raspberries,  A Beautiful Acer has pride of place in my wide Border, and let's not forget the Greenhouse, where am growing Tomatoes, Peppers, and Cucumbers. Forgot the Gooseberry Bush, and Rhubard.  In my raised Beds, am growing, Courgettes, Marrows Lettuce, Strawberries, Spring Onions, just lifted my Onions and Garlic. phew ! never realized I had so much.  Am very interested in your 'Journey' as lived in Suffolk, on several Farms, as a Child. Good Luck ! in your new Venture . x   The dreaded Jam making Season is upon us.

Hello Bonnie and welcome   it's nice to have a new member who actually says something!

Sorry to be late to the party, we've just come back from hols in Devon....the wifi in the cottage was so slow it was virtually unusable (yes, even slower than our 1.4 mb we get here in deepest rural Somerset!    )

We were townies (well, apart from me living on a farm for about 6 months when I was a child) until we moved down here 6 years ago (  how time flies!!).  It was a (very) steep learning curve, but now I couldn't imagine ever living in a town again - nor would I want to.  We don't have a smallholding, just a normal size garden, with 2 small polytunnels and several raised beds.  We have 5 fruit trees (all young as yet), lots of fruit bushes and grow loads of veg.  We are aiming to grow (and then freeze/store) enough produce to feed us all year round.

I'll have a look at your blog later, I have one also.  I look forward to reading more of your posts.