Would you do it???

[organic]

I'm sure you've got the answer you were looking for () already but just to add this...
...if you can afford it, want it and will need it - I wouldn't hesitate. How often does land with an orchard, milk quota and all that space to raise the livestock you want to raise come up for sale within walking distance of your home?

If you have the money, want it and decide not to get it - I think you're mad. Of course, circumstances might dictate that you can't get it now, but if that were the case, I have a feeling you wouldn't have posted this thread in the first place!

Good luck.

[di]

So when's the field warming?

Sounds like fate to me...2 mins walk,available shortly after you sold your house.....go for it!

[Bren In Pots]

If you don't buy you know you'll only regret it, its not like a piece of land like this comes up for sale every day.

[shirlthegirl43]

Why haven't you bought it already?

[Nicos]

I know!!!!!

The only complicating factor is that we'd actually prefer the field behind our house- where it'd be very easy to keep an eye on any livestock. It's quite a bit smaller and so not so much of a commitment (Fencing is new, water access direct from our house)!
Problem is- (and yup- we could afford both pieces IF we could persuade the other farmer to sell) is that the two families have a massive feud and if we bought the first plot we'd vastly lessen our chances of getting the field we really would prefer.

Hmm..but we might never be offered the other field anyway- so ........

[Rossa]

Sounds like everyone is in agreement. Even if you don't use all of it straight away you can do things a year at a time as it can be labour intensive looking after the livestock etc. There have been reports in the UK of people handing in pigs to animal charities because they didn't know how big they would get and what they needed for their health like getting their trotters clipped. One man didn't even know he had to shear his sheep every year so they were all matted up. They see things on telly like the Dream Farm programme with Monty Don but don't realise what's involved. Make friends with your local vet is probably the best advice.

Rent out the bits you don't want to use and if you don't want the milk quota you may be able to sell it to another farmer. That's what my uncle did when he got rid of his dairy herd. Don't know what the rules are in France.

We stayed with an English guy in the Cevennes in 2003 who had land with chestnut trees. He did B&B with arts and crafts courses during the summer months. He was designated as a peasant farmer because of the crop of chestnuts. He got various tax concessions for the crop that he could set against his income from the B&B.

Maybe a good idea to research what the tax situation is for you if you farm the land. French farmers are renowned for getting all sorts of help from the CAP so you may be able to get help setting it up or for buying livestock etc.

Are the trees cider apples? Normandy is known for it's cider and calvados so maybe you could make your own.....in which case we'll hire a coach and all come over at harvest time.

"... I went from adolescence to senility, trying to bypass maturity ..." - Tom Lehrer
Earth Wind and Fire

[Bigmallly]

Go for it Nic, rent it out & see what life throws at ya........

[pipscariad]

Would I do it??? Absolutely

We expect the next post to be telling us you have done the deed ....

[Brengirl]

I know!!!!!

The only complicating factor is that we'd actually prefer the field behind our house- where it'd be very easy to keep an eye on any livestock. It's quite a bit smaller and so not so much of a commitment (Fencing is new, water access direct from our house)!
Problem is- (and yup- we could afford both pieces IF we could persuade the other farmer to sell) is that the two families have a massive feud and if we bought the first plot we'd vastly lessen our chances of getting the field we really would prefer.

Hmm..but we might never be offered the other field anyway- so ........

Nicos are you on friendly terms with the owner of the field at the back of you? If yes, speak to him about your dilemma it may encourage him to sell to you while he still can.

[Brengirl]

We stayed with an English guy in the Cevennes in 2003 who had land with chestnut trees. He did B&B with arts and crafts courses during the summer months. He was designated as a peasant farmer because of the crop of chestnuts. He got various tax concessions for the crop that he could set against his income from the B&B.


"... I went from adolescence to senility, trying to bypass maturity ..." - Tom Lehrer
Earth Wind and Fire[/QUOTE]

I cannot resist asking if the English guy's name happens to be Wakeham. A nephew of mine is doing just the same (B/B and studio. I think it in the Cevennes but I lost his address.

[lizzylemon]

3 well worn cliches spring to mind:

Life is short
You never know what's round the corner
Regret what you did, not what you didn't do.

So go for it.

It might be not be for sale in 5 years (ever again etc etc)
Work might finish quicker than 5 years (for positive reasons of course)
Something else might eat the money (it always happens in our house)
The field behind you might never be available (and if it is, sell the other plot and buy it)
You can always sell it, if in the future, it's not right for you, lifestyle and aspirations.

[SarzWix]

I agree with Bren - if you're on friendly enough terms with the farmer whose field you'd prefer to buy, go and say to him "this field has come up for sale, and we're thinking of buying it, but really, we'd prefer to buy your field that adjoins our house, because we'd much rather give you the profit" or some other similar ego-boosting waffle, and see what happens If nothing comes of it, buy the other one - it's close enough at 2 minutes walk, and I'm sure you'd find something to do with the extra space - extend the orchard maybe? Grow some wood for coppicing to feed your wood-burner?

[scarey55]

I would add my voice to the do it brigade. Even if things change and you don't want it in 5 years time you can still sell it. It shouldn't cost you anything if you just leave it as it is and, as others have said, you could always rent it out.
Ah gwan, gwan, you know it makes sense

[SueA]

Buy, buy, buy!
Unless you can get some sort of agreement now about the field you would prefer I'd go for the one that's for sale now, you could always sell it later if the other becomes available & the 'feuders' might never know!

[phil the shed]

can you lease out the milk quota like they do here in the uk.....
it would allow you the funds to re-fence start on a store while OH waits to retire