How Did You Learn All This?

When we first moved to our smallholding three years ago I could have written what I knew about raising pigs, rabbits, chickens and goats on the back of a postage stamp. I had a basic level of gardening and vegetable growing and a bit of an inkling about the ecological conservation and management of woodlands (thanks to my Environmental Science degree all of fifteen years ago). People who come on our Smallholders Visit always ask 'how and where did you learn to do all this?'.

Books have been a great start and on each topic there are usually one or two iconic publications. Our bookshelf is well stocked and even now we constantly refer to our books. I repeatedly revise the contents of our bookshop, adding and removing books as I, or others, use and rate them. They are very well utilised and some pages are more dog eared and soiled than others. The River Cottage Cookbook is splattered on the pate recipe and the wine making pages of The New Complete Guide to Sustainable Living are very sticky (in fact I have it opened on the Edlerflower Wine page as I type).  The internet has also been a blessing to connect with others doing the same thing across the globe. Blogs of other smallholders both urban and rural are a fantastic way of sharing knowledge and forums are also a brilliant way of tapping into ideas and meeting like minded people. Our own new Sallygardens Forum is slowly gaining momentum, and there's also another Irish forum worth checking out 'Country Talk & Tips'. Of course the infamous UK 'River Cottage' forum is always kicking and I've just heard about another good UK forum I haven't visited yet, 'It's Not Easy Being Green'.

Attending courses is also sometimes well worth considering. It's true everything you learn during  a day or two on a course could be found in various books or the internet but I generally find it worth my while attending a well chosen course. It can save months of sporadic research and in just a few hours you can be catapulted, armed with all the relevant information you need to get started on something immediately. I've found some courses at the Organic Centre, Rossinver to be excellent catalysts; Introduction to Beekeeping,  Herbal Medicine and Permaculture Design  have all been incredibly inspiring and groundbreaking  for me, with immediate results at home. Dan is all set to attend a course there next month 'Working With Horses', but that's another post.

Comments

[Lucy @ Smallest Smallholding]

Another great forum can be found at Self-Sufficientish.com

If I could afford it though, I'd be on a different course every week...

[Jean]

The new photo's great!

I'm longing to do the pig keeping course at River Cottage but when someone suggested to my husband that it would make a good birthday present he just said: Oh no, she'd hate that!

So what has he learnt after 26 years of being married to me I wonder?

[Maddy]

Rebecca would you consider writing a seasonal guide on what you get up to. My problems often occur when I decide to plant something and find I'm out of season. I think it would be so useful to be able to refer to a seasonal guide on what needs to get done and what you should be getting ready to do.

[Wild Rose]

Hi Rebecca,

I am certain that you have learnt a lot in the three years that you have been running a smallholding.

I have picked up a lot of information by reading your blog and have enjoyed following your adventures.

It has been ages since my last visit ~ life seems so busy at the moment, but I hope to be back soon ~ cute chicks in your earlier post!

Marie