Advice

[SBE]

First and foremost thank you to GYO I thoroughly enjoy the magazine and all the comments, advice and support contained within it.

It wont be of great surprise but I am relatively new to gardening though I have planted a new fruit and raised vegetable gardens, and laid a new rear garden with turf.

Getting to the point - I have access to a large plot of land c. 7.8 acres attached to our property and was looking for advice on what to do with it if anything. It has to be for farming/growing purposes and is located a couple of hours North of Aberdeen on the coast therefore the growing season starts approx. 6 weeks behind central England.

Any thoughts, advice, guidance would be most useful.

Regards,

SBE

[veggiechicken]

So many possibilities but it depends on what your interests are and how much time you have to spend on it.
If it was mine I'd plant trees - have an orchard and willow or hazel for fuel. Run sheep and poultry to keep the grass down. Have bees.
Tell us what interests you and maybe we can suggest something.

[SBE]

The land has been and continues to be used to grow Barley for the whisky industry if that's of any use. I have a view to use it in a farming/small holding/commercial growing enterprise so open to all sorts of suggestions.

[Guest]

VC has said it all really. When you say access are you renting or owning? I would be put off making an orchard on rented land. Again the farming/ growing? is this just a covenant on the land or is there a contract you haven't mentioned that is a bit more detailed like deadlines and percantages. The only advise is build it up slowly so focus on poultry one year, goats another, sheep another and growing crops inbetween. Each area requires various skills, knowledge etc and trying lots at once is likely to go horribly wrong. Good luck and keep us updated

[SBE]

The land is adjacent to our house (farm) though I live at the house we rent out the outbuildings but this particular field would be rented. The only stipulation from the landlords it has to be used as stated farming/growing rather than a quad race track.

We have quite large gardens to front, side and rear of the main house, front lawns and flowers, side potato patch 15m x 5m, rear newly laid lawn, kids play area, and a fruit/vegetable area probably 50m x 30m plus quite large rustic (best way of describing that) green house.

I have thought of all sorts from rare breads, to highly prized animals/senior bulls/buffalos/deer etc./speciality crops/join a cooperative but its either not really big enough for the scale I'm considering or probably a little bit large for family vegetables.

[Nicos]

My daughter has Shetland cows- lovely gentle nature- and rare breed too . Your pasture may be a tad too rich for them, but might be worth contacting the society?

I'd grow Chestnut trees and coppice them. Good regular,annual income if you coppice areas at different times.

Had you thought of creating a fishery/lake?

Can you do tourism?

[Sarico]

K

The land is adjacent to our house (farm) though I live at the house we rent out the outbuildings but this particular field would be rented. The only stipulation from the landlords it has to be used as stated farming/growing rather than a quad race track.

We have quite large gardens to front, side and rear of the main house, front lawns and flowers, side potato patch 15m x 5m, rear newly laid lawn, kids play area, and a fruit/vegetable area probably 50m x 30m plus quite large rustic (best way of describing that) green house.

I have thought of all sorts from rare breads, to highly prized animals/senior bulls/buffalos/deer etc./speciality crops/join a cooperative but its either not really big enough for the scale I'm considering or probably a little bit large for family vegetables.

I don't know how to help you but that place you just describe with garden everywhere massive potato patch and giant green house sound my dream home. Wet me know if you will move one day I will buy it if I can lol.

[Guest]

What outlets do you have for selling things on? local butchers, restuarants, farmers markets etc. Would you be looking to sell your surplus or make lots of profit. You could also look into ostrich/emu rearing. You could cater for christmas with christmas trees, turkey/geese, mistletoe, wreaths. If you have out buildings you could have a one stop shop for everyones christmas with grotto, craft events etc. etc.

[Scarlet]

I've always fancied Alpacas, you can sell their wool. Although everyone has given good options so far, they are all life changing. Most of these options are very time consuming and if you have a full time job as well you will be hard pushed to manage it all.

[veggiechicken]

Another question is whether you want to make money from it or have it for fun?
Would you use whatever you grew/reared for your own family, sell it as is, or add value by processing it yourself in some way?
For example, if you grew fruit, you could grow enough for yourself, sell it on or as a Pick yourself business. or turn it into jam..................just my thoughts!

[Coopers]

Wow, what a dilemma. Be nice to have such large scale project.

Good luck and enjoy.

[Scarlet]

I have thought of all sorts from rare breads, to highly prized animals/senior bulls/buffalos/deer etc./speciality crops/join a cooperative but its either not really big enough for the scale I'm considering or probably a little bit large for family vegetables.

Usually keeping/breeding rare breeds starts as a hobby, something that you've been interested in, or always wanted to try and it isn't cheap to set up. You also need to know what you are doing yo avoid costly mistakes. It's always good to think out of the box but I've met many people that want to breed chickens, love all the fancy breeds etc. Three months in, after the initial excitement has worn off, they don't quite like getting up at 6 in the winter to feed the hens, or clean out on the weekend, close the coop doors at dusk, they haven't a clue how to handle them, that they need worming, or that they stop laying during winter. It's good to have some prior knowledge before you embark on a big project. Do you keep livestock now?

[skeggijon]

I'd cover it in polytunnels, but I'm weird!

[seasprout]

Fishing lake..... Just a thought....