Subsistence Living?

[greenman 221]

No never tried. Most the coppice I cut is over stood hazel. Before the full time job i got paid day rate or the subsidy for the cutting, any big stuff I had for charcoal or my own firewood. Kept back stakes and binders for my hedging. Occasionally sell a few bean or pea sticks. Trouble is I needed the steady cash flow, making the products does add value but takes time and you don't see the return tll they are sold. Now I have a 9 till 5 job but they let me have all the coppice still for charcoal and the like to do at weekends. Knocked up a few hurdles and plant supports for myself, just hobby stuff really. Would love to be still doing it but cost of living in the countryside down south is a killer and had to think of the family.

[man o kent 269]

Tell me about it! Land, woodland or pasture is sold for highly inflated prices as an investment, or ruddy pony paddocks in Kent and Sussex. Smallholders like myself have to be lucky to find grazing

[Ideation 8,216]

Tell me about it! Land, woodland or pasture is sold for highly inflated prices as an investment, or ruddy pony paddocks in Kent and Sussex. Smallholders like myself have to be lucky to find grazing

 

 

Tell me about it! Land, woodland or pasture is sold for highly inflated prices as an investment, or ruddy pony paddocks in Kent and Sussex. Smallholders like myself have to be lucky to find grazing

 

The countryside is being killed and becoming the playground of the rich urbanite. Barn conversions, pony paddocks, and the 'good life'. It's all a bit of a joke. A sad one though

[man o kent 269]

Has no-one told joe public that the countryside is not just for mountain biking and dog walking, its actually supposed to be feeding the nation? And the reason it looks the way it does, is because of centuries of farming and working the land!

[greenman 221]

'Good lifers' are the killer round here. Between the m3 and m4 plus a direct line to Waterloo. The majority of the old farm houses have been sold with about 5 acres. Hubby commutes and the wifey at have a veg plot and a few hens, it's what one does in the country. That's 1/10 acre accounted for, maybe a pony and the rest? Well we'll buy an old tractor and top good grazing or land that could be growing veg like a lawn (well we won't we'll pay our man to do it).My grandad used to run 3 allotments and kept us all in veg. Now there is a waiting list as long as your arm yet you walk through the allottment you see plots that have been started, expensive sheds, new greenhouses the works abandoned in a tangle of weeds whem it got hard work (far easier to go to waitrose or have a box delivered). The knock on, pol costing £10 or more and try and pick up an old tractor round here? Good luck, any old nail gets a top coat of paint and sells for stupid money. Am I bitter? Of course I am. The catch twenty two is, these people can afford to pay me to lay there hedges, cut there coppice and will buy my quaint bags of charcoal. Doesn't stop me resenting them though for hindering me from living my life as I see fit. I better stop I can feel myself getting all political. Viva la revolution!

[Ideation 8,216]

'Good lifers' are the killer round here. Between the m3 and m4 plus a direct line to Waterloo. The majority of the old farm houses have been sold with about 5 acres. Hubby commutes and the wifey at have a veg plot and a few hens, it's what one does in the country. That's 1/10 acre accounted for, maybe a pony and the rest? Well we'll buy an old tractor and top good grazing or land that could be growing veg like a lawn (well we won't we'll pay our man to do it).My grandad used to run 3 allotments and kept us all in veg. Now there is a waiting list as long as your arm yet you walk through the allottment you see plots that have been started, expensive sheds, new greenhouses the works abandoned in a tangle of weeds whem it got hard work (far easier to go to waitrose or have a box delivered). The knock on, pol costing £10 or more and try and pick up an old tractor round here? Good luck, any old nail gets a top coat of paint and sells for stupid money. Am I bitter? Of course I am. The catch twenty two is, these people can afford to pay me to lay there hedges, cut there coppice and will buy my quaint bags of charcoal. Doesn't stop me resenting them though for hindering me from living my life as I see fit. I better stop I can feel myself getting all political. Viva la revolution!

 

BANG on the money.

[man o kent 269]

I know what you mean, but my grazing belongs to exactly the people who you described. They don't want the bother of mowing their acres, so are happy for me to use them for my few ewes and lambs, in exchange for some hogget. They are also the people who employ me and so pay my wages. Jealous? YES! Bitter and resentful? YES! We cant have it all mate, but count me in on the revolution