Thanks, I just quickly looked at your videos very interesting stuff, I literally just got my first book on canning so I’ll have to watch those you’ve done on the subject
I am checking out your introduction and I'm sorry I didn't catch your name. I'm Peggy and I live in Windermere, Florida zone 9b USA 🇺🇸 You seem to be well on your way to becoming more self-sufficient. Your 20 raised beds could really produce a lot of your veggies. I'm glad your kids are giving you "the nudge" to start a RU-vid channel 👍
Hi Peggy I’m Phil Yeah I’m actually enjoying doing the channel although It’s very amateurish compared to some but it’s just me and my phone camera and I don’t write anything down just ad lib it, as you can probably tell 🤣 but I like it like that it feels more natural
Hi there. I just found your videos and am just starting on a similar journey. Really nice set up you have judging by this first video. I look forward to watching the rest of them.
Definitely find it interesting buddy, I have just over 5 acres we started a Cattery but not done much in the land and looking for ideas thinking in starting with some Ducks and would like to plant some fast growing trees 🌲 love what you have done there very inspiring.
It’s amazing to find someone else who is into this. I have really small piece of land compared to you. Will definitely enjoy these clips of what you do.
@@SmallholdingUK yes, but it’s my first year and the field has a lot of stones, no clear neighbour boundaries or anything. And I am not even sure I can put a fence up as government has article 4 and many other things on that land in order for it to be used for anything other than agriculture. So will see what will grow there as there are deer also there.
Hi Phil, I've just come across your channel and what a brilliant first episode. It's like a dream set up. No doubt there's been a lot of hard work put in there by yourself. I'm sure this will be inspiring and nudging others in this direction. Only bit of land i currently have is my back garden and a large allotment plot, which I'm entering into third year of no dig, and I have to say has been the best move I made. Looking forward to catching up on the rest of the episodes and following on. This to me at least is a lifestyle to aim for. Thank you. 👍🏼
A very good first video. My wife and I have just bought a five acre field (mainly for her horses!!) but I am allowed to have about 1/4 acre for growing fruit and veg. I have little experience in this but I am learning a lot from youTube videos and I hope you can add to this. We will be fairly off grid but have the advantage of mains water, although currently it is only feeding a water trough shared between us and the field next door. We only completed on the sale last week, so we have a long way to go.
1/4 acre plot is bigger than my new no dig area 👍 You can grow loads in that space, you’ll love it mate and having water is massive it’s a real pain for me with just rain capture, like now I’m having to take 250lt a day down as we’ve had such a dry April I hope it all goes well for you, keep us updated 👍
Hi Phil, great that your children have encouraged you to start your own channel. Mine did the same, but for personal reasons, I have "dried up" for the moment. I'm fascinated to see what you have done and what you are hoping to do in the future. I would love to be in the same position. Perhaps one day. Meantime, I will enjoy watching your channel. Long may it continue. All the best, Dilly
Hallo Phil! I'm doing much the same as yourself. I have ten acres, nine under ash trees which must all be cut now because of dieback. Replanting with oak, hazel , birch, cherry and chestnut - plus lots of cider apples. Icurrently have 20 and am able to keep myself in cider! I also have twenty beehives and grow all my own vegetables. I lose a lot of hens to foxes but keep breeding replacements. Five big Embden ganders are a help in deterring the old fox! Good luck with your enterprise - you'll have setbacks from time to time but it's a great life!
Thank you, sounds like your well set for firewood 🪵 My apples usually get hit by late frosts but this year I’ve got a good load if a bit on the small side due to the heat and lack of rain, I’m looking at fruit presses right now as I’ve got 4 yarlington mill cider apple trees with their first big crop on them and nothing to extract the juice 🤦♂️
You will need some housing in the poultry cage, useful also to wire about 50cm below the bottom and lay it (peg it /bury it) horizontal to stop foxes digging under. I have found the automatic door sold by 'Omlet' to be a labour saving device!
Yes they have a house in there 👍 and the wire is overlapped and pegged not buried as I move them every now and then but the whole area is in its own electric fence system so hopefully no foxes get close
Exactly what we were looking for. Subbed. I'm interested in the Strawberry planter as I've managed to salvage around 30 plants which have been in the family for over 30 years. What size pots are you using and what potting mix. Also how do you achieve the watering side of them as I would think they would dry quite quick. I'll probably find you have answered these in another of your vids. 🙂
The pots are 5lt and I used my homemade compost Your right they did dry out quite quickly and I ended up taking them down and planting in borders but if you have mains water it would be a good idea
I’ve got 30kg of bentonite clay granules to do a small test pond at some point as I would like to do a nice big pond, say 30-40 feet wide at some point, it’s just having the time
@@SmallholdingUK We dug a 100 foot by 12 foot pond with the machine. No clay although we are on loam. Line it heavily with cardboard to get glay (yes glay not clay) production started, you ducks and other detritus will take care of the rest over time. The next big thing is to build a wind driven water pump to circulate the water through a reed bed back to the pond. Pond water then also for the field. We have a second pond in what will be the duckling nursery but again also for plant watering. Feel free to give me a shout if I can help.