In January 2010, a new European Union grant was announced, aimed at improving rural internet access in Wales. Despite advances in broadband and wireless technology, many rural areas in the UK still have problems with the internet access which is increasingly vital for individual communications and business development.

Even in the twenty-first century, some very remote rural homesteads in the UK have only been connected to the electricity and telephone grids for a couple of years. And with broadband signals only able to travel along conventional phone lines for a short distance, special technology and planning is needed to get the furthest-out smallholders and farmers online. Isolated Welsh lamb and dairy farmers have been forced to give up trying to sell to some processing companies and wholesalers, because as email becomes the standard means of communication for most businesses, they simply can’t keep up.

Rural Communications Solutions, a Cumbria-based firm specialising in getting internet access to rural ‘not-spots,’ cites bypassing by mainstream internet service providers as a problem. Getting services to remote houses, villages and smallholdings simply isn’t cost-effective for web providers geared to supplying cheap broadband to urban mass markets. Suppliers like RCS have to find ways to get strong wireless internet signals to remote sites, without resorting to the kind of controversial and unsightly aerials used by the mobile phone networks.

But as Ieuan Wyn Jones, Deputy first minister of Wales, said of the EU grant, “In the 21st Century, it is vital that people in all parts of Wales gain access to a high-speed internet service, and it is essential that businesses are fully equipped with the right information communications technology (ICT) infrastructure to compete successfully in a global market.” As well as the ability to access the web, good internet connections also offer rural communities the opportunity to run their own websites, communicate via email, and save on phone costs by using VOIP (voice over internet protocol) calls.

And for smallholders looking for ways to maintain a livelihood from rural locations, the internet is becoming non-negotiable. According to Isobel Davies of Izzy Lane, a designer clothes company which uses wool from sheep kept on her own small farm in Yorkshire, “the website is vital for sales. I think any smallholder will find that if you try to sell through shops the mark-up they have to put on products can make them unsaleable. With clothes, retailers often mark up 250% so if you have a high-quality, high-cost product to start with, the prices become ridiculous and in a recession no shop is going to take that kind of risk. Which is why the internet is brilliant, because if you sell direct to consumers you retain that margin instead.”

Chris Bailey, who with wife Suzie runs Whithorn Lodge B&B from his smallholding in Dumfries & Galloway, also depends on the internet for much of his trade. “Most people come because they see the website, they see that we have the rare breed animals running free range and that’s what sets us apart.” Although the Baileys do get some B&B trade via word-of-mouth and repeat custom, being able to access the internet is key to their business, and to many other rural enterprises. And this is a tool which is still unavailable to many inhabitants of rural areas, especially in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the North and West of England.

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

Article by Sarah Irving for Rural Smallholdings Magazine

Photo Courtesy of East Devon Guide

This rural smallholding equestrian property with 2 bedroomed detached bungalow and 2.5 acres is currently for rent in Climery, Builth Wells, Wales.

The unfurnished bungalow comprises good size kitchen/diner, utility room, living room, 2 bedrooms, family bathroom with shower and a large storage room off the utility area. The property also benefits from double glazing and oil central heating.

The smallholding property is set in a beautiful location offering lovely countryside views and comes complete with detached garage, 2 loose boxes, large barn, field shelter, a garden and 2 paddocks (each approximatey 1 acre).

The property is available now and is currently being promoted by Swift Relocations Letting Agents.  (Click here to view full particulars)

 Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

  ]]> http://www.rural-smallholdings.co.uk/smallholding-properties/2-bed-smallholding-with-2-5-acres-for-rent-in-climery-builth-wells-wales/feed/ 0 http://www.rural-smallholdings.co.uk/smallholding-properties/3-bed-bungalow-with-10-acres-for-rent-in-pontlottyn-bargoed-wales/ http://www.rural-smallholdings.co.uk/smallholding-properties/3-bed-bungalow-with-10-acres-for-rent-in-pontlottyn-bargoed-wales/#comments Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:16:48 +0000 Rural Smallholdings http://www.rural-smallholdings.co.uk/?p=1871

This 3 bedroomed fully refurbished detached dormer bungalow which comes complete with the use of 10 acres of land for grazing purposes is currently for rent in Pontlottyn, Bargoed, Wales.

The unfurnished bungalow comprises 2 ground floor double bedrooms, lounge with laminate flooring, patio doors leading to the side garden. newly fitted kitchen with enough space for a small dining room table, leading to a newly fitted large bathroom with a separate single shower unit, with the large master bedroom in the eves of the property. There is also a garden, large garage and driveway parking.

The property is located in a beautiful semi rural setting overlooking acres of land, but is within walking distance of the village of Pontlottyn with it’s shops and amenities. There is also a train station and bus service nearby for commuting purposes.

The property is currently being promoted by Martin & Co Letting Agents.

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

This 4/5 bedroomed Farmhouse, with useful outbuildings and about 10 acres of pasture in 2 enclosures/paddocks is currently available to rent in Carmarthenshire, Wales.

The unfurnished 4/5 bed farmhouse comprises fitted kitchen, utility, lounge, living room, and bathroom. The smallholding is positioned privately about 14 miles North of Carmarthen with stunning views and will be available early/mid September, viewings taken now.

The property offers an ideal opportunity for someone seeking a greener and more rural lifestyle and is being promoted by Cornerstones Letting Agents (Click here to view full particulars)

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

This Grade II listed Georgian Farmhouse, with modern & traditional buildings, stabling and 47 acres is currently available to rent in Carmarthenshire, Wales.

The Farmhouse has been sympathetically restored, is part-furnished, and in a truly beautiful spot adjoining the river Teifi. The property was also featured on a 10 part Discovery Channel TV series.

The property has a productive vegetable garden, cider orchard, and a large Victorian-style glasshouse, along with 47 Acres comprising 35 acres clean pasture, 8 acres woodland, and 800m of single bank fishing on river Teifi.

This working smallholding is currently run as a fully certified organic beef & sheep farm, with herd of Hereford cattle.

The property offers an ideal opportunity for someone seeking a greener and more rural lifestyle and is being promoted on Greenshifters.co.uk. (View full particulars)

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

Interest in local and heritage varieties of fruit trees has grown significantly in recent years, according to Hamid Habibi of the Keepers fruit tree nursery in Kent. Sarah Irving talks to him about growing apple trees and why growing fruit is a good path for the smallholder to go down.

“The growth of interest in local produce has motivated people with a bit of land to try and grow fruit,” says Hamid Habibi. “Fruit is a crop which you can produce as a semi-amateur, if you like – it’s not like trying to grow wheat or other major crops. It can be done on a small scale.”

Habibi has run Keepers Nursery for nearly 20 years, since founder Mike Cook retired.

“It started as a hobby for Mike,” Habibi explains. “He worked for Morley Research Station and was a fruit tree enthusiast. After a while, people started asking him for unusual varieties of apple trees – old varieties or new ones which weren’t commercially available – and he built up a reputation. My wife and I got involved in 1991 because we had some land that the nursery could use.”

Over almost twenty years, Habibi has witnessed the growth of interest in heritage apple varieties and in locally sourced food more generally. He attributes public interest in growing food to rising food prices and then to the current recession.

“Apparently people are spending a lot more time in their own gardens instead of going out and spending money,” he says. “Obviously it makes sense for economic reasons, but its also more interesting to grow things that you then eat.”

This widespread engagement with growing food has meant that Keepers Nursery and other selling a broader range of edible plants have bucked the recessionary trend. “We’ve seen a surge in demand in the last three or four years,” says Hamid Habibi. “And the reports I’m hearing from fellow nurseries is that many of them have had a bumper year too. It’s only December now, which is fairly early, but we’ve already almost sold out of many of our trees this year.”

For aspiring fruit growers – whether smallholders or individuals looking for just one or two orchard trees for their garden – Habibi has some words of advice.

“If you go to your local general nursery or garden centre, the choice you get is extremely limited still and it is mainly pot-grown trees, which are quite honestly not as good as bare root apple trees,” he says. And despite Keepers Nursery’s huge collection of over 600 varieties of apple trees, as well as pears and plums, he urges new growers not to “get too hung up” on the idea of growing local or heritage varieties.

“It’s most important that you pick trees which are going to give a good crop, that are disease resistant and which have nice apples that you and your children are going to like,” he says. “That’s not necessarily going to be local varieties – some are very good, but some are quite indifferent. Quite a lot of commercial varieties are also not that good for small-scale growing, because they don’t have resistance to disease and need spraying. So for an allotment or smallholding, by all means go for a local variety – but only if it fits those other requirements.”

Despite this pragmatic advice, Habibi remains concerned about the fate of some of Britain’s heritage fruit varieties. “We are lucky in this country in that there is still a big national collection at Brogdale, although it’s constantly under threat of extinction from lack of funding,” he says. Keepers Nursery, says Habibi, continues “to try to fill that gap,” supplying unusual types to local authorities, National Trust properties and conservation organisations with a commitment to preserving the huge diversity of Britain’s traditional fruit trees.

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

Article by Sarah Irving for Rural Smallholdings Magazine

In case you missed our previous posting, the BBC are currently seeking participants for an exciting new Smallholding/Farming series to be shown on BBC2. There is still time, just, to apply so if think you could fit the bill and be one of the couples they are seeking, apply now by sending an email with your name to:

farm@splashmediatv.co.uk

an application form will then be emailed out to you. The deadline for applications is 28th April 2010. Good luck!

The series will feature ten couples or pairs (married couples / siblings / friends etc.) who would like to grasp the opportunity to change their lives forever and run a farm/small holding. The programme will see the ten couples learn all the basics they need before decamping to a farm in the beautiful British countryside where they will be challenged in all areas of farm life, from animal husbandry to coping with the unpredictable summer weather.

They are looking for couples of all ages and relationships (married couples / siblings / friends etc.) who are serious about wanting to change their lives and who will relish farm life. Whether it’s a love of animals, a passion for gardening, an interest in sustainability and food provenance or a general lust for all things outdoors, they want to hear from anyone who thinks they’ve got what it takes to take on this lifestyle-transforming project.

They are especially looking for people who may already have some experience in working or volunteering with animals, food or nature, just some kind of demonstrated interest that would make them a credible and hopefully successful small holding partnership.

The series will culminate in the winning pair getting the opportunity to live and work on their own small farm.

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

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

Smallholding berry farming is one of the most profitable ways to utilize growing space. Whether you pick the berries yourself, or establish a pick-your-own operation, there is money to be made in strawberries. If you establish a reputation for having the best tasting strawberries in the county, you’ll do even better.

When choosing strawberry plants, there are several things to consider, but one of the most important is plant type. Strawberries come in three distinct types: June bearing, everbearing, and day neutral. Here are the differences:

June bearing. These strawberry plants will produce a single flush of flours and produce one crop that is harvested over a 2 – 3 week time span. Then the crop is done for the year, and the plant puts its energy into replicating itself through runners. Subcategories divide June bearing varieties into early, mid-season, and late. You can expect the largest strawberries from June bearing plants.

Everbearing. These strawberry plants will produce two or three harvests beginning in spring and extending into autumn. Because they are always fruiting, these plants produce fewer runners. The strawberries tend to be smaller on everbearing plants if they are not fed properly.

Day Neutral. These strawberry plants don’t require long days to produce flowers, so they produce fruit regularly throughout the growing season. While day neutrals tend to produce flowers in flushes, and mature the crop of strawberries before producing another flush of flowers, there will always be ripe strawberries in the patch. As with everbearing strawberries, day neutral strawberries will shrink in size if the plants are not given the right nutrients.

To maximize your profit potential, make sure you only grow the tastiest varieties of strawberries. In the UK, features such as winter hardiness aren’t a serious issue, so look for plants that yield well. Avoid varieties that tend to produce watery fruit, as these do not freeze well.

Here are some varieties that offer superior flavor with acceptable disease resistance and freezing quality:

June bearing: Gariguette, early; Honeoye, early to mid; Tenira, mid; Chelsea Pensioner, late.

Everbearing: Mara Des Bois, Fort Laramie

Day Neutral: Tribute

The flavour of strawberries is somewhat subjective, but if you love true strawberry flavour, then the varieties above will deliver. I have had wonderful results with Honeoye as a June-bearing strawberry and Tribute as a day neutral. I think they will always be my favorites. The Tribute is such a dark strawberry that you will think you canned blackberry jam instead of strawberry. I tried a day neutral variety named “Aroma” one year. What a disappointment. No organic gardening method over the next three years ever coaxed flavour out of that strawberry, and the results with chemical fertilizers were even worse.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with new releases. Breeders are always striving to improve some aspect of the strawberries available—flavour, disease resistance, shipping quality. Your best sources are online, as few local nurseries are adventurous enough to bring in an unknown variety. Purchase a few plants and see how they do. If you find a winner, you can multiply the plants yourself, or order in bulk.

For information on how to multiply strawberry plants, see the article Multiplying Strawberry Plants for Smallholding Profits.

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

Article by Denise Rutledge for Rural Smallholdings Magazine

The series will feature ten couples or pairs (married couples / siblings / friends etc.) who would like to grasp the opportunity to change their lives forever and run a farm/small holding. The programme will see the ten couples learn all the basics they need before decamping to a farm in the beautiful British countryside where they will be challenged in all areas of farm life, from animal husbandry to coping with the unpredictable summer weather.

The series will then culminate in the winning pair getting the opportunity to live and work on their own small farm.

They are looking for couples of all ages and relationships (married couples / siblings / friends etc.) who are serious about wanting to change their lives and who will relish farm life. Whether it’s a love of animals, a passion for gardening, an interest in sustainability and food provenance or a general lust for all things outdoors, they want to hear from anyone who thinks they’ve got what it takes to take on this lifestyle-transforming project.

They are especially looking for people who may already have some experience in working or volunteering with animals, food or nature, just some kind of demonstrated interest that would make them a credible and hopefully successful small holding partnership.

If you think you could fit the bill and be one of the couples they are seeking, apply now by sending an email with your name to:

farm@splashmediatv.co.uk

an application form will then be emailed out to you. The deadline for applications is 28th April 2010. Good luck!

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

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