Sallygarden Smallholding - The Forum For Sustainable Living

Frank Daly · by **Frank Daly** on Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:00 pm

I would like to know if anybody can point me in the direction of alot of the information I would require to setup and manage a one acre site containing at first some chickens, pigs and a vegateble plot. I am a complete novice and am trying to educate myself as to the needs and management of the above. Thank you very much.

macconraoi · by **macconraoi** on Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:18 pm

Hi Frank,my wife was given 'The Complete Book Of Self Sufficiency by the late John Seymour when she was a child (we still have it).I don't think there is a better book/manual out there and he also explains how to manage plots of different sizes,animals,crops etc.It may all seem a little daunting but with this book and the forum members here you wont go too far wrong :wink:

Frank Daly · by **Frank Daly** on Tue Jul 21, 2009 2:42 pm

Thank you very much for your response, I shall endevour to get myself a copy.

sallygardens · by **sallygardens** on Tue Jul 21, 2009 7:40 pm

Ditto, thats a great book, still in print in a newer version, we used ours all the time for the first year and still dip into it. You can buy it on our website in the bookshop... go to www.sallygardens.typepad.com and look down the left hand column for the shop picture, click on the picture. It links you to Amazon but in the store I've built on line all the books we find most useful and are on our own shelves are list in it with a review from myself.
We also sell ebooklets that I've written on keeping goats, chickens, pigs and growing your own veg if you prefer a more succinct approach, click on the store in the right hand column of the same link.
Best of luck with your acre, it's ample space.

Regards, Rebecca

Diz · by **Diz** on Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:28 am

Hiya Frank,
Where are located?
Regards
Diz

Frank Daly · by **Frank Daly** on Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:56 am

I downloaded the book from www.scribd.com thanks anyway. and I'm in north tipp.

Diz · by **Diz** on Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:31 pm

We are up in Co Roscommon Which may be a little far to drop in for a brew and chat! But if you are up this way you are more than welcome to pop in. We can show you what we have achieved on our 1.2 acre site. To date it consists of, 50' pollytunnel, veg patch, fruit trees, 3 geese, 4 goslings, 20 chickens, 11 chicks, 3 rams on loan(grass controlers) and 2 weaners ariving on Sunday. So you can get quite a lot into a relatively small area. I think the best way forward is not to be afraid to have a go. Learn by your mistakes. Dont be afraid to ask questions. We have found that the best questions are very specific. But the big one is to enjoy what you have.
Regards
Diz

Frank Daly · by **Frank Daly** on Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:37 am

I'm certainly not afraid to have a go but I wouldn't like to be clueless and in charge of the livestocks wellbeing if you know what I mean, just because they'll be slaughtered for food doesn't mean they have to endure a miserable existance upto that point just because I'm stupid and ill prepared.

macconraoi · by **macconraoi** on Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:38 am

Hi Frank,a pig needs food, water, shelter,good ground to root up and company.From my experience they are as easy to keep as a dog.Once you start keeping pigs you will find it very hard to stop,its addictive.

paul d · by **paul d** on Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:21 pm

Hi frank I dont know about around your area but in waterford there is the waterford food producers network - wfpn.net . Or in mayo there is the mayo smallholders they both offer help and advice on all things self suffiencent

Briano · by **Briano** on Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:28 pm

Hi Frank were in Birr on less than an acre weve got a polytunnell Veg patch 6 hens 6 chickens for the table 10 young chicks and 2 saddleback pigs which are a new venture this year ,no problems so far.Were not too far away from you if we can be any help just shout. Brian

Diz · by **Diz** on Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:49 pm

There you go Frank. Plenty of help and advice out there. Why not start with some chickens. As a starting point, the Sussex in any of its colours are quite quite a good choice. Prety laid back birds which are good for the table, lay reasonably well for eggs. They are happy to free range or tolarate confinement. If you get things a little wrong they will forget as soon as you rattle the feed bucket. Look on donedeal.ie under birds. Plenty of adverts for poultry there. Also gives you an idea of prices and when the poultry bring and buys are on
PM me if you want photos of my chicken set up. I have gone for the easy to clean and simple approach.
let us know how you get on.
Regards
Diz

Frank Daly · by **Frank Daly** on Sat Jul 25, 2009 5:22 pm

Thanks for all your wonderful comments and words of encouragement, I haven't been about the last few days to answer anybody but please don't think me rude. Chickens and pigs with some veggies was my planned starting point but have been put on hold for the moment.

Anto · by **Anto** on Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:31 pm

Fank.
I was in the same position two years ago as you are now.I started with veggies as like you I would only kill some carrots at the most.Suddenly I got the smallholding bug and i'm now up to a polytunnel,hens, ducks and some pigs all in a half acre.It amazing you would spend hours just pottering around outside.I'm in south Clare if you want to pop in.
Best of luck.

PS, I also have a racing pigeon which arrived a month ago and will not leave as he is having too much of a good life.

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