21st Century Smallholder - Paul Waddington

[SueA]

I've just read this book after spotting it in our library. I don't know if anyone else has recommended it but it's a good read & useful for anyone just planning on starting out growing their own, keeping livestock etc. He goes through the pros & cons of various undertakings & the section on self-sifficiency in energy etc. is very interesting, I'm even considering trying solar panels for water heating when we finally get around to sorting out our heating system. As far as veggies etc. go he gives simple advice on how difficult things are to grow, how much space they take up etc. Very good book.

[A Life Less Simple]

And it has a very usefulmonth by month jobs to do planner which is very helpful for people like me who just want to be getting on with everything all the time and forget that it's not always a good idea to be sow toms in august just because I feel like it

[Alison]

My brother bought me that book for a birthday pressie a couple of years ago. Flicked through it at the time but didn't look at it much. Was tidying up last autumn and came across it and read it cover to cover - even the bits about pig keeping which I don't have any opportunity to try out!

[Jardiniere]

I bought it and was disappointed.
Prefer Alan and Gill Bridgewater : Self Sufficiency handbook and of course the John Seymour book.

[bobleponge]

Seymour is my God, however I shall get the Waddington book for myself for xmas. Thanks for the recommendation.

[bluemoon]

I've had this book for a couple of years and although it does have sections on pig-keeping and the like, there is also a lot of good information for people who are attempting to become as self-sufficient as possible. It also touches upon the legal aspects of things such as keeping chickens in your garden. The author lives in a city and the book is written for people like him who don't have vast tracts of land, but who are trying to live as sustainably as possible. I doubt that many will be in a position to follow all the advice, it's more a book to cherry pick the bits from that you as an individual can manage. From that point of view it can be more useful than many of the self-sufficiency books as it doesn't assume that your cattle will have produced you three tonnes of manure for your cabbages or that you can grow enough corn to feed a huge flock of hens. He really doesn't like goats though, and I've always wanted someone to say that keeping a goat would be a great idea.

[BrideXIII]

I've had this book for a couple of years and although it does have sections on pig-keeping and the like, there is also a lot of good information for people who are attempting to become as self-sufficient as possible. It also touches upon the legal aspects of things such as keeping chickens in your garden. The author lives in a city and the book is written for people like him who don't have vast tracts of land, but who are trying to live as sustainably as possible. I doubt that many will be in a position to follow all the advice, it's more a book to cherry pick the bits from that you as an individual can manage. From that point of view it can be more useful than many of the self-sufficiency books as it doesn't assume that your cattle will have produced you three tonnes of manure for your cabbages or that you can grow enough corn to feed a huge flock of hens. He really doesn't like goats though, and I've always wanted someone to say that keeping a goat would be a great idea.

you wish is my command.

keeping a goat IS a great idea, they don't need much space, but you will have to resign yourself to culling the kids so that you can have a constant supply of milk, same as with cows.

my mum used to have 4 in the back garden. and lots of fun they were too, Dad built them their own stable thingy down one side, and we used to talk then for a walk up the park on leads

[Alison]

Goat meat is really nice too - get it from our local farmers' market. Very lean and tasty (and cheap!)

[BrideXIII]

I wouldn't drink the milk i have to admit, although i can milk a goat no problem, just didn't like the taste much, but the cheese we used to make was fantastic.

[tootles]

I have always wanted goats, I don't like the meat and can't bear the milk. I do quite like the cheese though.
Not sure that I will ever have goats now!

I do want pigs, but Mr T is VERY against the idea.

Love the 21st Century Smallholder book too. I am giving my sister the John Seymour for Christmas.

[BrideXIII]

I have always wanted goats, I don't like the meat and can't bear the milk. I do quite like the cheese though.
Not sure that I will ever have goats now!

I do want pigs, but Mr T is VERY against the idea.

Love the 21st Century Smallholder book too. I am giving my sister the John Seymour for Christmas.

well you could always 'supply' your neighbours with it, there is a lot of call for it from people who are allergic to cows milk, as you can't sell it ( i think) you could barter it for things you do need, like feed etc.

[Jardiniere]

i want to keep goats as soon as i can find someone who will look after them when i visit the children in engerland.....i ahve neighbours who look after the chickens and cat but they are threatening to move ....so holding back on the goats for a while....

[bobleponge]

Due to my utter incompetence with computers (Bride, where were you when I needed you) I think I have managed to order 2 copies of this book, instead of 1.
If I have done so, I will give the secondhand version to the first PM asking for it.