Country Smallholding Magazine -worth subscribing?

[Jardiniere]

I know this is a real nerve asking about another magazine on a magazine website BUT i've only seen this mag once and liked it - anyody know if its worth subscribing to? The website isnt too good....the forums arent used much...

[quark1]

The GYO mag is imho excellent - and the only gardening mag I've ever bought and then gone on to subscribing too - mabe its just my time of life and changes of interest?

Aceville also do a similar mag about living in the country - can't remember its title - but I think there is some cross-over to GYO articles with possibly a property aspect. It may also cover smallholdings in more detail. The property aspect will be of no use to you in France unless considering a return to Blighty.

If you haven't tried/seen it yet it is quite possible that if you are either a subscriber to GYO or a regular reader if you call the nice people at Aceville they 'may' send you a complimentary back number for you to try? Or perhaps someone here has a copy they no longer require? You could try the argument that you may subscribe if it tops the other magazine - in which case they've got a new customer.

Well there is no harm in asking and they can only say 'no' .....on the other hand!

I imagine that the areas which are not covered by GYO of interest to you are those relating to small-scale animal husbandry as it seems that it is only chickens covered in this publication.

If all else fails I would recommend trying to get hold of a good book about the general world of smallholding - ideally one which bridges old and new practices taking best from both - but I am not in a position to recommend a title.

[Birdie Wife]

I don't think GYO and Country Smallholding mags conflict, there are regular articles in GYO about poultry and articles in CS about allotmenteering but that's as far as it goes. I buy CS sometimes, but only after having a good flick through as sometimes they give lots of space to alpacas and suchlike that aren't relevant to me, so I like to find out how much will be interesting and of use before I fork out my hard earned cash! Whereas with GYO it's all good I think if you find the mag generally interesting but sometimes hard to find in the shops then go for it.