Smallholding for beginners
Smallholding for beginners
The Humble by Nature Smallholding for Beginners course is a great place to start if you’re thinking about keeping animals, want to learn how to start a smallholding, or just fancy a day on the farm!
Spend the day with one of our smallholding experts – either Wendy, or Jack and learn:
- How to register your land as a smallholding and how to manage the paperwork involved.
- What to consider when preparing your land for the arrival of sheep, pigs and goats.
- The best breeds of poultry to choose for eggs and/or meat.
- Where to start with livestock.
- Financial planning and considerations for starting a smallholding.
The day will start with class room time, learning the essentials and covering the planning of setting up your smallholding. Then you’ll move outside for the practical, hands-on experience with our animals in our smallholder paddocks and animal barns.
A day spent with Wendy or Jack will give you the confidence to go home and start making plans for your very own smallholding. Don’t forget to send us updates!
What you'll learn
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Getting to know the basics
The day will start in the classroom learning about the practicalities, including: registering your land & getting your CPH number; how much land you’ll need; legal requirements of keeping livestock; producing meat and selling produce.
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Getting hands on with the animals
Meet the carefully-chosen livestock in our smallholding fields and find out what breeds of poultry, sheep, pigs and goats might best suit your requirements.
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Getting to know the pigs and goats
Learn about fencing, housing and how to avoid unwanted escapes! Meet the various breeds of goats and pigs and learn about their behaviour. Depending on the time of year, there may be piglets or kids running around.
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Getting hands on with the sheep
You’ll learn how to catch, handle, and understand sheep and discuss basic sheep husbandry like caring for feet.
We have a variety of native and rare breed sheep on the farm – including Jacobs, Welsh Badger-Face, Kerry Hill, and Dorset Horn – as well as a large number of commercial cross-breeds. -
Q&A
We’ll finish the day with tea and cake and the opportunity to ask any further questions.
Testimonials..
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Amazing Day! So much information & expertise shared. I feel ready for my smallholding journey ahead. Thank you.
Kerry -
Thank you so much for a brilliant & informative day filled with pigs, sheep & goats. Inspiring & educational - you are doing a great job!
Lorraine & Colin -
What a fantastic experience. Very informative, engaging and involvement from all. Thank you so much Jack!
Helen
The Essentials
Smallholding for Beginners will run from 10am until 4pm and includes a delicious farm lunch.
Much of the day will be spent outside in the smallholding fields and livestock barns. Please check the weather for NP25 and dress appropriately, including:
– Waterproof boots or wellies and weather-proof clothes which you don’t mind getting wet or dirty.
– A change of clothing for the journey home.
There is no obligation to handle our animals but you will have plenty of opportunity should you wish to.
If you or your partner are pregnant please read the advice from the NHS about lambing before booking your course. We normally lamb from February to April.
Your instructor for the day..
Wendy began working with animals at 16 years old. Her earlier years were spent in the equine world before moving…
Jack loves, lives and breathes animals. He's been working with animals for the last 10 years, including at the RSPCA and…