Courses

Since I came to this adventure with no previous smallholding knowledge, the obvious first step seemed to be to get some training or practical experience. As there were no friends or relatives in the local area with any similar backgrounds, the best idea seemed to be an internet search.

In the first instance this turned up quite a few possibilities but it soon became clear that many of the websites were out of date or abandoned. There also seems to be a definite lack of courses in the Northumberland and North Pennines areas in general.

Courses at Small Plot Big Ideas

While there will always be more for us to learn, we have gained so much valuable experience already that there are plans underway to establish some courses in the near future. If you are interested in learning more about the smallholder lifestyle or livestock production then please get in touch.

Here are details of a number of places that have smallholding-related courses including some that I have actually tried and also some links to more information.

Recommended

The courses shown here are highly recommended based on online reviews and comments I’ve seen. Please let me know your thoughts (good or bad) if you use any of these options

• A broad range of courses covering general topics as well as cattle, sheep and pigs are run by Debbie Kingsley and Andrew Hubbard at South Yeo Farm in Devon in devon
• The smallholding experience day course run by Simon and Debbie at Hidden Valley Pigs who are near Lynton, Devon – the best way to understand what we were taking on was to see someone else actually doing it from feeding chickens or pigs to milking goats to making sausages and bacon.

In addition there are options for training at the following:

• • Accidental Smallholder in Angus, Scotland
  • Empire Farm in Templecombe, Somerset
  • Humble By Nature in Monmouth, South Wales
  • Mumbleys in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire
  • Swaledale Mutton in County Durham