Something I've been putting off writing is how last year, towards the end of the summer, I sold the sheep.
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| Removing gates and other bits from the rented field |
I've been feeling guilty about not blogging about it but also I've not been sure what to write.
I think the trouble is I feel a bit of a failure with it all.
Last year it came to a bit of head, I was trying to work flat out on the house, I'd also taken on some carpentry work and had the sheep, chickens and garden to try and take care of. It was all a bit much.
Live stock always takes top priority with anything in my book. This means dropping anything to care for them. In the summer this can mean that other plans get pushed back at the drop of a hat.
This very thing happened when I had the sheep shearers booked in on a Saturday, I was also doing a carpentry job in the next village worth a few thousand as well, the plan being to go there as soon as the shearers were finished. They told me they'd be there by six in the morning. So I got up at five, got the sheep in, sorted out pens and had everything ready.
Then I waited. And waited. And waited.
I'd also organised for them to go on to a much bigger farm near me afterwards. Both this farmer and I were phoning them, trying to find out where they were, he had a couple of guys ready to help him who he was having to pay.
Eventually they turned up at 11 o'clock, by then though the guy I was working for had already lost his cool that I hadn't turned up (I had rung and excused myself but some people don't want to hear sheep as an excuse).
I stood feeding the sheep through the race annoyed. I was annoyed at the sheep (through no fault of their own) mean I have to drop everything, I was annoyed at myself for taking on too much work, I was annoyed that I nearly lost a job as I pride myself as being a reliable tradesman, I was annoyed at the time I put in to the sheep and the tiny amount of money I make from them.
This sowed the seed for me, something had to give. Already the garden had gone to pot, something I love and pride myself on. I know that the sheep aren't just about money, it's also about providing an upbringing to my children where they understand the food system and learn to help from a young age, also it's about knowing where our food comes from.
The trouble is I ended up working with the sheep at weird times to fit everything in. So the children would help at times but not always. They would probably hear me moaning about them more.
I decided to make a clean break of it. Sell the sheep and see how I feel afterwards. I can always get some more and the down time would let me catch up with other things around the homestead and some other projects I've been meaning to start.
A flock of 30 sheep is in the sweet spot of taking up lots of my time and yet making no money.
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| Full of promise - green fields |
One massive downside with this is that I no longer need to rent the land. I know I could make hay on it but the landlord likes to use their place for weddings and other events, so a field of hay doesn't look great for much of the year. Also my other neighbours, who keep sheep were keen to use it, I felt it would be shellfish to keep renting it when someone else would benefit more from it.
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| Kids helping - when it was good it was very good |
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| Summer festival in the field - great fun every other year, but meant grass rotation was awkward at times. |
I think the plan will be to have nothing with four legs this year and then maybe look at getting a few animals in 2020.
What do you think?
Have I made the right decision? What would you do?
What we think is of no matter, it's about you and your family. I can often find myself taking on too much, and then feeling over worked, and stressed.
ReplyDeleteOnce I retired I stopped being the 1st to put her hand up to help out, so I have much more time, and I can enjoy everything, rather than rushing about and missing so much. Your children are only young once.
That's my thoughts, I also like to help with other things like the school, playgroup and the scouts. I think if something didn't give it would have sent me potty!
DeleteYou said it yourself - you want your garden to be the main food source for your family. I think it's impossible for one person to be in charge of everything - either you garden with chickens/ducks on the side or you run herd animals with a garden on the side. One or two four footed beasts for meat works well but 30 ???? Nope. You did the right thing. And you got rid of extra expenses. I think you have more than enough work raising children, helping at school, public speaking, building for extra cash & raising food for the family. Keep it small, producing well & filling up the freezers. You can raise sheep when the kids leave home!!
DeleteThanks Sharon, it was far more than thirty animals as well by the time they lambed, more like 70 or 80 some years. And we'd make nothing from them when compared to what I could earn as a carpenter.
DeleteI think a few more chickens and ducks might be the way forward. Also I'm hopeful I might have a polytunnel on the way which would be a real game changer here.
You have mad eyes the right choice, we always said if we felt the animals were in the way of life they would go, look forward to seeing your garden come on and your poultry adventures, it takes strength and courage to step back look at the big picture see the cracks and say I need to change direction failure is when you ignore it all and bulldoze through until you crack.
ReplyDeleteI think I was close at times! Thanks dawn, I worry because I want to do so much but at times it all comes to a head. You're a smallholder who I look up to and I see how many animals I have and think i must be doing something wrong, but I think I was just spread too thin.
DeleteConcentrate on your 5 acres, carpentry and talks. Livestock just causes more problems.
ReplyDeleteI think you could be right! The garden is truly where my passion lies so that's going to be my focus now.
DeleteThe best thing you have done is consider the problem and solved it. Your ego must be healthy! you can admit you were stretched at times and I have often thought " How the devil does he fit it all in " Your children are beautiful and healthy and learning all the time. Your carpentry is awe inspiring, I loved the library you made at the childrens school. If you feel in the future that you would like sheep then go ahead, but I really feel you have done the right thing. Love Andie xxx
ReplyDeleteI think it took me so long to admit because maybe my ego isn't that healthy! I don't like to give things up, but something really had to go, especially with taking up with the scouts and learning aikido twice a week, my time was getting more and more stretched.
DeleteI love my carpentry work but want to concentrate on other things so when the youngest goes to school I have a choice of what I can do when I go back to work. I want to make sure whatever I do is based at home and can work around picking the kids up from school. I'd rather not be going off and working else where if I can help it. But then who knows what the future holds!
Looking after 5 acres is a huge job, done properly plants have to be grown, planted out, then watered and weeded before the reward comes in the form of fruit and vegetables that need processing.
ReplyDeleteA couple of years ago you had the veggie baskets that you sold. Those seemed to give you a great deal of pleasure. Giving up the sheep gives the chance to do the baskets again.
Helen
Hi Helen, Yes, it's a huge job and one that I was probably not doing as well as I should, especially when I take into account the number of hours spent ont he house last year! The veg and fruit from the garden is my real passion and I'd like to do more with that and write about it more. With lots more experiments in growing if I can.
DeleteYou've got nothing to feel guilty about, you don't have to tell us anything. You shouldn't feel like a failure either - you're not superhuman, you can't do everything. I'm sure your children have a fantastic life as it is. More time on your hands will benefit all your family.
ReplyDeleteI know I shouldn't feel guilty but I do and guilty to the people that follow this blogging adventure as well. I felt really bad I hadn't told everyone as I try to be open here and it was such a major deal for me. I've no regrets though and the extra time has been great so far but in April I'll really notice it as I won't be up every few hours!!
DeleteI think you made the right decision Kev. I no longer have cattle because they made no profit and my single farm payment wouldn't even pay for the silage to be cut. If I was you I would develop your tree nursery and sell your timber products. Good post!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dave, I wasn't going to do more trees this year but I think I will, maybe just 50 or something, keeps the skills there and I really enjoy it. I just want to make sure that I'm working from home next year when the youngest starts school.
DeleteWhy do we always feel we've failed when we can't do everything?! In my opinion, you absolutely made the right decision regarding the sheep and rented fields. If you knew how many times we've made this very kind of change over the years, you'd realize how not alone you are in this dilemma! I believe one of the biggest mistakes we can make in life is to not be strong enough (mentally and emotionally) to let ourselves make changes that, in the long run, are beneficial to self and family. Good move, Kev!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I think it's in part the way I've been brought up. Dad would always take more and more on to make ends meet. Even my brother used to say never turn work down, but I need to be smarter with my time. These took so much of it up! It's only now I've got rid of them that I realise how much they played on my mind and how much effort they were. I guess they kept me strong in my body but at times I'd check them on a summers morning, see one twitch and cruse them that I'd have to get them in that day, call in baby sitting favours, to treat them for strike or whatever. Dad has made some similar changes with his farm and I'm fairly sure he's happy with his decision.
DeleteReward yourself for what you did, don't punish yourself over it! You did great! But life changes as time goes on (ask me!) and we adjust with new things and new ways. You are teaching your kids - and maybe yourself - how to adapt and try new experiences. Let them learn along with you that some things in life are temporary, but all things in life should be good, and fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tim, Life sure does change. And as the children have got older they've got easier in some ways and harder in others. Also it's not much fun for them watching dad trim sheep muck off thirty bums. I think reminding myself that some things are temporary is essential, but on the whole it should be fun. Thanks for that.
DeleteI'm not sure why you thinks you failed in anyway. You raised these sheep successfully for a long time and then made the best decision for your family (and the sheep). It sounds like you won this one.
ReplyDeleteThings change and life changes. There's no shame in trying something new (poultry breeding) that fits better into your life. It's exciting!
I think poultry would be a good fit for us. The kids can manage the animals if I can't for whatever reason. I've lots of experience there already and they seem to have far less problems than sheep. We'll see though. Hopefully I'm getting a polytunnel and that should be super exciting!
DeleteBeing involved with a smallholding society for many years we discovered two types of smallholders. One lot threw money at everything and started a business usually animal related and weren't interested in growing . The other lot grew their own food and kept just a few animals which didn't cost a fortune. Guess which group lasted the longest as smallholders?
ReplyDeleteHa! I know the sort. TO be honest I wish I had money to throw at it! But I don't so I'll have to fall into the latter group. I just love providing our own food. I guess it's become more essential for me since I'm no longer the bread winner, at least I'm still putting food on the table so get my kicks that way!
Deleteand I meant to say that you are about as far from failed as it's possible - I think you are a huge success!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sue, you're far too kind!
DeleteI agree with Sue’s observation about some Smallholders. I am surprised how many I know who give relatively little attention to fruit and vegetable growing. To me that’s the core activity, particularly if you are aiming at self-provisioning or self-sufficiency. If you can manage livestock in the same vein on top of that, then fine. Your stage in the family life-cycle is a very demanding time in life. You can re-introduce livestock when the time is right.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I was reading every book on the subject of self sufficiency, knowing that it was going to be my life choice. I got to the bit about gardening and I just remember thinking, well I hope I like it because that's the key subject in all this. I was about 18 at the time and I went and asked my mum if I could have a secret garden (to not tell my friends about) that I could grow some veggies in. Not saying I grew huge amounts but I certainly grew enough for some meals and that gave me a real taste for it.
DeleteI think you've done amazing with having a young family, the extension on the house and patio, your carpentry work and all the extra curricular you do with the community, the children and the school. Phew, I'm exhausted just writing it! It will be good for you to get back to the garden and chickens and not have to worry about the sheep as well. Looking forward to reading about the next step in this great adventure you are on!
ReplyDeleteThank you Janice! You're too kind! I do tick off a lot of jobs but I'm lucky I don't work full time and the kids like to get involved! (Like they have a choice). It should be good fun to concentrate on the garden though!
DeleteI have lost customers due to the same kind of circumstances. Emergency came up and I had to put them off for a few days and they got all wiggy on me. In the end then its best not to have them as customers I suppose. Four or five sheep just for your own freezer OK, but thirty has to be a ton of work. It just winds up stealing your attention from other things that you need to put first. I can't imagine having any extra time for the family with all that you have going on. You've made the right choice.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I think you've hit the nail on the head there. Frustrating as well because I always explain my working situation to people, but I can understand when they want the job done I guess. My focus is on things closer to home now and more important! Maybe sheep in the future again, but not just yet!
DeleteI can only echo what everybody else has said. You've made the right decision for you and your family and have nothing to feel guilty about. Maybe in the future.
ReplyDeleteThanks hazel, yeah I can always try again in the future, more time not he garden is what I'm looking forward to.
DeleteHey Kev, sheep are seriously hard work. Plants you put them in the ground and they stay put! Much easier to look after. we have been told we are odd in our life, but we look at things and run our life like it is a business. Sometimes you have to break it down to what you are earning per hour. If isnt making you happy and is impacting on your day to day life, it is no longer a hobby or enjoyable, it has to be cut from your life. Then you can carry on focusing on what your real goals are in the long term. Eye on the prize and all that. You should never, ever feel guilty for blogging or not blogging about something in your life. It is your life and even with "keeping it real" it is actually no one elses business and you have to do what is right for your family.
ReplyDeleteI cant wait to see what you are going to do with the land that you have. I am looking forward to seeing what ever you want to show us. Good luck. P.s I am loving your cupboards in the kitchen and your storage ideas.