Sallygardens Smallholding

Making Ends Meet on the Smallholding

Dan is still getting a constant flow of orders for his hand crafted hobby horses. Making financial ends meet on a smallholding is probably the main challenge of the lifestyle change. We discovered that in our case we need to combine a range of ways and approaches ... to both decrease our expenses and also generate an income.

The hobby horses are an important part of generating income. In terms of reducing expenses we now grow most of our own veg and meat. Growing our own carbon neutral biofuel for central heating is another major saving on our pockets. Naturally, all these activities not only save us money, but are also far more gentle on the environment. Of course, we set out with living sustainably in mind when we moved here, and finding a financially viable way of surviving is part of it. Thankfully, most of the ways to reduce financial expenses, are very often also the best approach in terms of sustainability and eco friendly practice.

This summer is the first time we will be in a position to offer our surplus food for sale, thanks to the polytunnel. I plan to put up a chalk board at the farm gate, and bring a cool box of veg to playgroup. Next year, with any luck, honey will join the items for sale. When autumn arrives I get out my felt and sewing machine, and begin making items to sell at the Christmas fairs.

Finances are probably the biggest source of stress on our smallholding. Giving up regular incomes is a big gamble, and we are still striving to find a comfortable ground. Diversification seems to be the key to this (as it is with the enviroment!), but on the other hand one has to find a balance and not spread energies too thin.  Bartering has also become a viable and valuable route in our lives. For example, we recently bought a sausage making machine, which we are 'renting' out to other local people who rear pigs for their freezer, in return for a kilo of their sausages!

Winter Ramblings

Nothing quite like getting all wrapped up and out into the autumn air. Theres something about the light this time of year. This lake is less than ten minutes walk from our house. The lakes of County Leitrim are famous, there are hundreds of them. Some say theres more lake than land. Can you see the Crannog? Many lrish lakes have these. They are man-made islands, constructed over 1000 years ago where a tribe would seek refuge if under attack. They were reached by timber dug out canoes, or by a secret timber walkway built just under the waters surface. Seven of us all swam out to this one in the summer, but it was overgrown and we couldn't get on.

We can hear the swans honking from our doorstep and church bells waft across the water.

These head high plants are dead, but no less beautiful.

New Arrival

Life is about to change for the feline inhabitants of this household! Yes our two longhaired boys are about to meet a little lady. One cute little kitten is waiting in the wings to join the family, all that is required is for me to go collect her. The children are thrilled and overexcited. I am too, but a little bemused because I thought the toilet training years were finally over in this house! One of the advantages of being grown up is that I needn't plead endlessly to the adult in charge for a new pet, I can just choose to get it! Three cats are no more hassle than two cats, right? Check in next week to witness the mayhem! I'll have nobody to blame but myself either.

A Lick of Paint

I’m up to my elbows in paint. No its not art, it’s the scullery wall! NaNa and I are giving it a long needed lick while the children delight in bubble blowing.

Moose

Meet Moose, our adorable pedigree chocolate Labrador. Adorable yes. However, when I say ‘pedigree’, what I mean is she was sold to us as such. There must be at least half Labrador but plenty of something else too. Perhaps via mariner? The hound has been a bad girl, and she knows it! She found something extremely dead to roll in at the bottom of our field and now commands a 10 foot no-go stink zone. Cue the comedy dog-shampoo-and-hosepipe scenario!

A day in Kinvara, Co Galway

We are off on a family outing to visit a great friend, honorary Auntie Vera! With no brothers or sisters of my own, my two best friends who I’ve known since I was 3 are now Auntie Vera and mad Auntie Eloise to my children. I have packed the obligatory equipment necessary for a high summers day trip in Ireland at the beach … sunblock, anoraks, swim suits, aran jumpers, sunglasses, wellington boots and the family dog. The children are picking some veg from the garden to bring as a gift before we set off ... lettuce, beans, peas, onions, garlic and a big bunch of parsley and oregano.