This smallholding comprising pretty semi-detached red brick cottage with three bedrooms, 1.5 acres of land and outbuildings is currently for sale in Beccles, Suffolk.

The cottage comprises of three bedrooms and bathroom on the first floor and entrance porch, sitting room, dining/sun room, kitchen and utility room on the ground floor. The property also benefits from double glazing, oil fired central heating and woodburning stove.

The property comes with 1.5 acres of land with two polytunnels and two greenhouses complete with grapevine, apricot and peach trees established within them. There is a well established vegetable plot and soft fruit with a highly productive bramley apple tree. A very sweet potting shed with a little veranda and various pens for dogs, chickens and livestock are situated around the property.

There are two wooden, purpose built stables with lighting, water and rubber mats onto a post and rail fenced concrete yard. Field shelter/barn in the paddock measuring 24′ x 12′. An old wooden, pan-tiled outbuilding with concrete floor and electric connected, a wood shed next door. The double garage is block built with pan tiled roof and finished with wooden feather board.

The cottage is on a level site on a small country road and is accessed via a five bar wooden gate leading to a gravelled drive to the side and the garage. The property has beautiful views from the front and the rear, with plenty of pretty walks, horse riding and countryside to explore.

The property offers an ideal opportunity for someone seeking a greener and more rural lifestyle and is being promoted on Greenshifters.

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

This Organic Registered Smallholding is to be sold at auction on Wednesday the 28th July at The Pavilion, Banbury Cricket Club, Whitepost Road, Bodicote, Banbury Oxon, Guide Price £150,000-£200,000.

The property has 7.8 hectares/19.25 acres of woodland and pasture with a substantial timber lodge and is situated in a private and secluded location on the Bucks/Oxon border close to Oxford and M40.

For further info on this property please contact Duncan Lang or Andrew Ranson at Fisher German by telephone on 01844 212 880, or via e-mail at thame@fishergerman.co.uk

To visit the Fisher German website to learn more about this property please Click here.

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

This refurbished, fully furnished and ready to move into 4 bedroomed property is currently for sale in Galicia, Spain.  This beautiful property offers the perfect chance to start your own smallholding and live a self-sufficient lifestyle in Spain, in a private and secluded but not isolated location.

Galicia is situated in the Northwest corner of Spain, just above Portugal. It is considered to be the “Green Heart of Spain” with the sunshine and rain. Rural Galicia is very much like Wales and rural France.

With rich lush soil, mild climate and the most truly stunning countryside, it is a good area for growing, polytunnels are popular here. This area produces most of Spain’s milk, beef and cheese. It is famous for it’s bread cooked over wood ovens, and due to the mild climate, its exceptional red and white wines.

The property consists of a country farmhouse of approximately 120m2 with 4 bedrooms and a complete bathroom on the top floor, and on the lower, a large semi covered courtyard /patio, traditional kitchen with wood burning cooking range, lounge/ dining room, and an additional room to be restored which could be another lounge.

The property has it’s own parking, an older stone house with animal pens, large original bread oven and a small wine cellar, approximately 100m2, to be restored, good now for barn/stables.  There is an enclosed garden, chicken house with walled run and adjacent land of approx 1 Acre, with good drainage, Well with pump, beautiful views with apple, pear and sweet chestnut trees.

There are some lovely natural rivers nearby and it is a good area for fishing. The property and land are surrounded by wonderful countryside and forests, excellent for walking, horse riding and fishing. This is a rural area with a relaxed pace of life.

Services to the property include: mains electricity, village mains water, well with pump, telephone and ADSL and the property is  situated 88km from the nearest airport, Santiago de Compostela (approx 1 hour drive with regular flights into London).

The Nearest town is 10 minutes drive with a health centre, chemist, schools, supermarkets, banks, vets, hotel, library, hairdressers, restaurant, cafes and bars. The village has weekly deliveries of fresh bread, wine, frozen fish, mobile supermarket and the school buses collect the children from the villages Monday to Friday.

The current owners of the property are selling due to job relocation and the property is priced to sell at 98,000 Euros (approx £85000 at today’s exchange rate.) 

This property offers an ideal opportunity for those seeking to start their own smallholding and live a more self sufficient lifestyle in a stunningly beautiful location and is currently being promoted on Greenshifters.co.uk. 

(Click here to view full particulars and contact details.)

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

This traditional croft smallholding with cottage, barn conversion, various outbuildings, sheds, 30ft hardwood greenhouse, orchard and 13 acres of land is currently for sale in Aberdeenshire.

Situated 30 miles from Aberdeen and located between the towns of Turriff and Aberchider, both providing excellent amenities and in the beautiful Forglen area, the property is in the middle of the Castle route and just 10 miles from the coast.

The Cottage is bordered on two sides by mixed hedging giving privacy and sheltering the garden for the more tender plants, the mature garden is well established with mixed beds, rockerys, herb garden, waterfall and ponds, trellises abound with mixed Clematis and Roses, creating a truly beautiful rural idyll.

The 2 bedroomed Barn Conversion is suitable for a wide variety of uses and offers the opportunity for a second income through holiday and rental let.

The land comprising approximately 13 acres is laid down to permanent pasture and cut most years for hay, and includes a small woodland and a burn bordering one side of the property.

The property offers an ideal opportunity for the smallholder seeking self sufficiency and is being promoted on Greenshifters.co.uk.
(View full particulars)

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

Egg sales can be a profitable part of making a smallholding successful. Free-range eggs are so much better than battery-cage eggs. You can see it in the color of the egg yolk. So how to do you protect your investment in your chickens so they continue to produce the quantity and quality of eggs you need.

 Your first concerns include keeping the birds healthy, dry and comfortable, and safe from predators during the winter months. You don’t want your chickens becoming dinner for the foxes in the area. Nor do you want them to become sick.

 Keeping chickens safe from predators on a smallholding

In the UK, everything from foxes and minks to badgers and skunks would love to get to your chickens. As other food sources hibernate, there are less vermin to attract these predators. It isn’t unknown for a mink to burrow up through the floor of a coop, kill every chicken inside, and then only eat one. So what do you do? 

The best option for a new smallholder is to build a chicken house that is a half metre off the ground. This makes it difficult for any burrowing predators to hide. But if you already have a building that rests on the ground, dig a three foot deep trench around the building and line it with several rows of chicken wire. Extend the wire about 15 cm above ground and secure with heavy stapes to the chicken coop. Then fill the ditch back in. 

As part of your winter preparations, check that all the boards in the chicken housing unit are in good condition. Watch for wood that is rotting around the screws or nails. Hinges and bolts won’t hold if the wood is falling apart. The sensitive noses of the dreaded predators detect these weak spots and can paw their way in.

Install welder’s mesh in all window openings. Then fit each window with acrylic translucent panels that can be propped up if the day gets warm (Perspex is one brand available in the UK). You can also make a “screen” door for the main entry using welder’s mesh.

 Keeping chickens dry and comfortable on a smallholding

As a smallholder, keeping your chickens dry involves more than covering them with a roof. It also means preventing excess moisture from building up in the chicken house. You want the chicken house to keep the chickens warm enough, but don’t want to encourage the growth of molds or pests. Ventilation is key. Not only does the free flow of air keep dampness from building up in the chicken coop, it also keeps the chickens healthy by providing fresh air.

Raising a chicken coop off the ground helps with ventilation as well as predator control. But once again, you can work with your existing building. If you have a shake roof, consider replacing it. The felt that is used under the shingles harbors red mites, which can multiply aggressively during the winter months.  Replace the shingles with Onduline roofing panels. The profile of this rubberized roofing creates natural vents at the ceiling, while it provides a level of insulation. Twist aluminum screen into the gaps between the perlons and the roofing. It will keep mice from coming in.

 Keeping your chickens healthy

Your chickens will stop laying eggs during the winter. This is for two reasons. First, egg production drops when the chickens molt—usually in the late autumn and early winter. It also falls off as day lengths get shorter than 14 hours.

While the chickens are actively molting there is no reason to light the chicken coop. They won’t lay any extra eggs. All their energy is focused on replacing their feathers. But once molting draws to a close, you can use lighting to extend the apparent daylight hours to increase egg production.

Some smallholders place lights on timers to add light at both the beginning and the end of the day. Others just keep the lights on in the evening. The goal is to expose the chickens to 14 hours of light each day. Using full-spectrum lighting simulates the sun’s rays. Both incandescent and electronic bulbs are available. Incandescent bulbs cost more to run, but add heat to the coop if this is needed. Otherwise, compact florescent lights are the most cost effective over the long term.

To protect your chicken’s combs and wattles rub them with a little Vaseline^®. The thin film of oil helps prevent frostbite.

Water is another concern during the winter. Plan to refresh the water several times a day when weather is really cold. Or purchase a bowl with a heating coil that prevents the water from icing over. Adding a liquid vitamin and mineral supplement to the water is a good winter practice as it boosts immunity.

You want to be sure that the chicken’s feed remains dry and fresh. Damp feed can harbor pathogens. Consider adding sweet corn to their rations to help the chickens maintain their body heat.

Mites and lice can really take over during the winter, so it is important to treat the entire chicken house for these pests. If you don’t get this done before winter sets in, the next best thing is to treat the chickens with a lice powder. There are both organic pesticidal and inorganic pesticidal options.

Still looking for Your Smallholding? Visit Greenshifters for the latest smallholdings for sale, rent and exchange.

Click on the links below for more info on learning to care for your chickens:

‘Omlet’ Chicken Course – Hen Party for Beginners – Christmas Special

‘Omlet’ Chicken Courses – Advanced Poultry Keeping

Chicken Keeping Courses Countrywide

Go to ‘Chicken School’

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

Firstly, we would like to thank everyone at Rural Smallholdings Magazine for publishing the original article about our Eco Hamlet project in Croatia, the response has been fantastic!

Within three months of the article being published, we received over a hundred enquiries and they are still coming in each month, it certainly seems as though we have hit on an idea that appeals to many people.

By the end of October we have already welcomed some twenty people to Croatia interested in viewing the Eco Hamlet project and the first three properties have been sold, with one couple having already moved over, and several more planning to do so early in the New Year.

There are three more properties available for sale within the hamlet itself, as well as nine others very close by, so any interested readers are still welcome to get in touch.

At the moment anyone with general building skills would be of great benefit, as would those with marketing and business development experience in the rural tourism sector.

A recent development has been the opening of a small hotel, restaurant, horse riding centre and fishing lake complex, just down the road from the eco hamlet, so people are really getting on board with the Eco tourism aspect of the project.

Thanks to the success of this first project, we have now found another village ideal for creating a similar community, which we hope to get under way by the summer of 2010, just as Croatia is likely to join the EU and a very special party is sure to be had!

Thanks once again to all at Rural Smallholding Magazine, your help is much appreciated.

Keith Pierce

Please click here to visit the Inland Croatia site.

This post was submitted by Keith Pierce.

The current recession and ‘credit crunch’ has led to more and more people seeking smallholdings in order to live a more self sufficient lifestyle and escape the confines of city life.  But with smallholdings and property with land for sale being more popular than ever, how do you get ahead of the game and find one for yourself?

With the number of people looking for smallholdings far outnumbering the number currently available, any advantage you can give yourself in your search will help to ensure you are at the top of the list of potential buyers or tenants.  So what can you do to gain that advantage? 

First, ditch the mainstream property portals as many owners of smallholdings and properties with land are seeking a more direct approach to finding a buyer or tenant for their property.  You could waste hours searching through the property listings on these sites, with only a slim chance of finding the kind of property you are looking for.  Owners of smallholdings and properties with land are far more likely, particularly in the current climate to advertise on specialist smallholding property portals such as www.greenshifters.co.uk.  Websites such as Greenshifters.co.uk specialise only in smallholdings, equestrian properties and property with land and so are far more targeted than mainstream property sites who may only list the occasional property of this type.

On Greenshifters.co.uk owners of smallholdings, farms and properties for sale with land place an ad for their for sale and for rent property and there are also ads  for anyone looking to exchange a property, an alternative to consider if you are having trouble selling your current property.  You can sign up for regular updates by email which will let you know as soon as a new property is listed in any of the smallholdings for rent, smallholdings for sale or for exchange listings.  This will give you an immediate advantage unlike others who are searching for a smallholding who just visit the sites regularly hoping to spot their dream smallholding, because you will be notified instantly when a property is listed.

As well as signing up for updates you can place a ‘Wanted’ ad listing the type of property you are looking for and your requirements and let potential sellers and landlords know a little about yourself and your smallholding experience and plans.  This can be an added advantage because often owners of smallholding properties do not advertise their properties and instead do the research themselves to find a potential buyer or tenant.  Placing a ‘Wanted’ ad on Greenshifters.co.uk means those smallholding owners or owners of  property with land can contact you directly, giving you an even greater chance of securing the smallholding of your dreams and the fact that you have placed a ‘Wanted’ ad shows you are actively looking and are less likely to be a timewaster or ‘daytripper’.

Give yourself the best possible chance of finding your dream smallholding property by placing a ‘Wanted’ ad on Greenshifters.co.uk and/or signing up for regular updates on newly listed properties. 

Please click here to visit the site.

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

An opportunity to buy a 3 Bedroom Traditional Cumbrian Farmhouse, with an attached 1 Bedroom Holiday Cottage and all set in approximately 2 acres of land.

Situated within the Lake District National Park, on the popular Coast-to-Coast route. With Stunning Views of Ennerdale Lake and the Western Fells, Swinside is a traditional Cumbrian farmhouse which has been recently redecorated throughout.

Swinside is situated inside the Lake District National Park about 7 miles from the historic Port of Whitehaven, which is famous for it’s Maritime Festival. Also, there is instant access to the Lake District fells surrounding the tranquil Ennerdale valley. The property is ideal for someone wishing to enjoy the beautiful countryside, with the added bonus of a regular income from the rental of the attached holiday cottage.

The property boasts many period features including exposed beams, original meat hooks in the kitchen and wood-burning stoves in the 2 downstairs public rooms .  In addition the property has a LPG Central Heating System.

The property comprises of a slate tiled Entrance Hall, a large Lounge (4.8 x 4.6m),  Sitting Room/Dining Room (4.5 x 3.7m), Farmhouse Kitchen (5 x 4m) including a fitted kitchen with a dual fuel, 8 ring double oven stove, Utility Room which could also be used as a study / office (3 x 2m), Downstairs toilet with washbasin (2 x 1m), and under stairs wine cellar.

Upstairs the property comprises  Bedroom 1 (5.2 x 4.5m), Bedroom 2 (5 x 4.1m), Bedroom 3 (5 x 3.3m), a Family Bathroom (3 x 3m) with Corner Bath.  There is also a large attic, (partially floored area 25m2) which is accessed from Bedroom 2. Upstairs rooms are all accessed from the stone staircase.

There is also an attached Holiday Cottage, which currently generates a substantial annual income. The cottage comprises of Lounge (4.5 x 4m) with multi fuel stove for Central Heating System and hot water, an open plan stairway leads to a gallery bedroom (5 x 3m) exposed beams and wooden floor, Hallway (3 x 1m) and fitted Galley Kitchen with electric hob (3 x 2.2m), and a shower room, with washbasin and toilet (2 x 2m).

The property also includes: Driveway with parking for several cars. · Animal Shed with 4 pens (5.3 x 2.8m), a Potting Shed (1.5 x 1.1m), · Large Workshop (3.8 x 3.8m), 2 Wood Stores.  Mature Gardens to the front, side and rear of property with trees, shrubs, flowerbeds, fruit trees and bushes, vegetable plots, hedges and a wildlife pond. The property has private water supplies from spring and borehole (no water rates) and a septic tank.

The property is set in approximately 2 acres of land with Chicken Coop, Animal Shelter and planning permission granted for an Animal Shed (8 x 4m) currently under construction.

A great opportunity for someone seeking a more rural, self sufficient lifestyle, with the added bonus of an income from the attached holiday cottage.

The property is being promoted on Greenshifters.co.uk (view full particulars).

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

Opportunity to purchase a substantial and beautiful 4 double bedroomed family home situated on the outskirts of the village of Marshland St James.

Alder Lodge offers spacious accomodation set in 32 acres of grounds comprising approx 1 acre formal grounds and gardens and a further 31 acres of pasture, apple and plum orchards with wildlife walks and private riding. The numerous trees and orchards surrounding and within the land offer a lifetimes supply of free logs. Perfect for self sufficiency.

This is a registered small holding in receipt of the single payment and is suitable for a wide variety of uses.

Alder Lodge is a fine country residence in good order set in its own 32 acre estate with easy access by road to the A47. 8 Miles from Wisbech, 8 miles from Downham Market ( Direct train to Kings Cross London ). 12 miles from Kings Lynn also with trains direct to Kings Cross London. Short drive to Sandringham estate and the coast.

The village of Marshland St James is 1 mile from Alder Lodge and has a delightful primary school with a school bus to the high school. A Post Office, Public House, farm shop (selling locally grown produce), hardware store, van hire, village hall, Methodist Church, fishing lake, riding school and a number of small cottage industries.

The spacious accommodation includes front hall, kitchen, lounge, drawing room, dining room, rear hall, downstairs cloakroom, pantry/utility room, morning room, downstairs office, utility room, 4 double bedrooms, wc and seperate bathroom.

The property boasts many period and character features including open fires, an inglenook style brick built fire place with heavy bessemer beam over, stable doors to front and rear garden, brick arches and views of open countryside.

From inside the property a lobby with 3 doors leads to the downstairs office, utility room and the garage with loft hatch to 2nd loft area ideal for conversion to seperate living accommodation.  Next door to the garage and attached to the building there is also a boiler house which houses the oil fired central heating boiler.

There are two main gated entrances both with white five bar gates. The first as you turn into Rands Drove leads up a long gravelled carriage drive to the front of the property. There is ample parking along the drive for numerous vehicles. This first drive is through the front formal gardens laid to lawn with shrubs and mature trees and features several pieces of antique farm equipment as ornamentation set in gravel beds.

The second main entrance is further along Rands Drove and is also through a five bar gate to the rear aspect of the property opening into a very large gravelled parking area with room for a large number of vehicles with ample turning space.

Off this drive is an attractive penned area bordered with hedging that houses a large dog kennel providing sleeping area for a good number of dogs with the advantage of a big grassed exercise space all of which is fully secured with gates front and rear.

At the end of the gravel parking area a gate leads to another gravel area currently used for sitting in summer months with views across the adjacent field and surrounding land belonging to the property.

Next to the dog enclosure at the far end there is a wood shed with metal roof used to house a tractor and is joined by a small wood barn used for straw storage.

Next to this is a triple stable and tack room. Newly constructed by National Stables comprising three loose boxes and a tack room.

Adjacent is an old portacabin used for storage.

In the middle of the land accessed by a separate gated drive off of School Road are the middle buildings. These comprise of a large concrete outbuilding with metal roof and barn doors. A portacabin toilet block (plumbed in ), a small wash room and two other storage blocks made of concrete. There is also a lorry box container also used as storage.

These buildings are accessed as stated from School Road over a small private bridge and along approx 100 metres of gravel track. This double gated entrance also provides main road access to the two fields and orchards. The first field and part of the orchards also benefit from a licence from the Camping & Caravanning Club and is a certificated site for overnight camping if needed.

The two fields of good flat pasture land total about ten acres in all approx and the rest of the land comprises of walks and rides through the private orchards of apples and plumbs. There are some formal orchard areas of dessert fruits which could be used for commercial growing and also about 1 acre of Victoria Plums which are of commercial advantage.

What was formally Bramley apple orchards of about 15 acres approx has been transformed into wide pathways of country walks ideal for rambling or riding. Perfect for cross country riding and wildlife watching and country pursuits. The whole area is totally private and you are very much within your own world here.

The property easily lends itself to a variety of uses and functions and would ideally suit equestrian or smallholders or commercial. Numerous possibilities. There is a Victoria Plum orchard containing about 1 acre of mature trees producing between 3 and 5 tons per year plus apple orchards of Bramley, Jonagold, Russet, Gala, and Saturn plus a number of other types. It benefits from being licenced by the Caravan & Camping Club for touring caravans and tents. Although this has not been capitalised on by the current owners it could easily be expanded upon as could the equestrian side of things. Numerous possibilities and endless potential. Easy enough to manage and big enough to live within your own world.

The property is being promoted on Greenshifters.co.uk (view full particulars).

Article by Rural Smallholding Magazine

EQUESTRIAN AND SMALLHOLDING OPPORTUNITIES ON THE EDGE OF EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK

BigBlackHen.com have recently been instructed to sell a number of equestrian properties with land on the fringes of the Exmoor National Park.

The first is Pleasant View, a detached three bedroom bungalow in an elevated position above the village of Brompton Ralph on the Brendons and a few hundred yards from the Park. It has the most glorious views from the house and land looking right across to the Blackdowns, Quantocks and even as far as Glastonbury Tor. It has nearly seven acres of pasture and outbuildings including stabling, is very secluded and quiet, and is on the market for £500,000.

Pleasant View on the market for £500,000

The next property is Lands Farm in Yeo Mill, near East Anstey and about half a mile from the southern border of Exmoor. This is a charming period cottage with two/three bedrooms, around seven acres of land and excellent stabling. The property has been used to run a successful equestrian business training National Hunt horses and is on the market for £495,000.

Lands Farm on the market for £495,000

The final property is Ash Park Farm, again in a rural setting around two miles from the south western border of the National Park. It is a three bedroom semi-detached Edwardian cottage with ten acres, stabling and two ponds and is a registered smallholding. It has superb views and is on the market for £325,000 with an option to buy an extra 20 acres of pasture with some 3 acres of woodland if so required.

Ash Park Farm on the market for £325,000 + Options

To see more details of these equestrian properties and many more rural and character homes that we have on the market please call Nigel and Becky on 01643-831144.

More equestrian properties and smallholdings for sale, to rent, and wanted can be found at the dedicated smallholding property shop, Greenshifters.co.uk

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