SMALLHOLDING AND COUNTRYSIDE FESTIVAL, WALES
From tractors to hand tools, from practical advice to fun side hustles, from rescue dogs to pedigree cattle. If you’re a smallholder these are the things that can light up your world!
Owning a smallholding has long been a dream and in 2018 that dream became a reality. And it has more than lived up to expectations. But, and yes there is a but, there’s a lot more work to do than I ever imagined. Even without the addition of my adorable rescue animals and growing a few vegetables, just looking after 45acres, an old house and gaggle of out buildings feels like a full-time job (and I already have one of those!)
So, I am always in the look out for tools, ideas, hacks… well anything really, that will make my life a little easier. And the Smallholding and Countryside Festival (2022), hosted by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society in Builth Wells, seemed like a great place to go hunting for new ideas and solutions.
So, what did I find?
Well, for a start there were plenty of stands offering advice on where to get advice! I know that sounds a bit roundabout, but actually knowing what resources are available to you is a big first step.
In my case I am looking to rewild a lot of the land, so advice on who to talk to about wild flowers and when to plant them, as well as knowing that I can book a support call over Zoom or pay for a full assessment of the land, are all good pieces of intel to have. Exactly what help is available will depend a lot on what you plan to do with your smallholding and how much land you have. But even having a few people to talk to about the options is a good way to get started. And there is more help and advice available then I was aware of.
Then there is the machinery. From manual hand tools to petrol/diesel and battery operated ones, to the larger vehicles like tractors and diggers – it’s a good place to do your initial research. And to dream! Overall, though, the machinery did feel as though it were more skewed to small farms than small-holders. Yes, I’d love a tractor, but with just 45 acres (which is a lot in smallholding terms) even £15,000 for a tractor is an extravagance. More useful, I think (although perhaps not as fun) would be information on chain saws and battery operated wheel barrows etc. In other words, those smaller, more affordable items, than can help with a variety of jobs. I have certainly found that my small Stihl chainsaw has been worth the money I paid for it many times over. And much as I’d love a tractor (who wouldn’t?!) my second-hand Kawasaki Mule is so versatile that I use it almost every week and we often find ourselves commenting on how much easier a job is thanks to the Mule.
Then there’s the livestock; sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, hens, and cattle. I am not a big fan of these animals being transported many miles, and then stuck in pens surrounded by constant noise and curious people wanting to touch them. I can only imagine how stressful it must be for many of them. There is also a very clear sense that all these living creatures are purely commodities to their owners. It’s all about selling adults for breeding, or young for eating, and above the animals’ pens you’ll see nothing about the animal his/herself, but plenty about the taste and the cuts of meat, and how productive the breed in terms of the flesh you can eat after butchering. I guess as someone who doesn’t believe in eating animals you could argue I am over-sensitive to it. And perhaps I am, but I do feel a show like this could be such a great opportunity to educate people about the different breeds, their needs, and how to look after them. Finding any of this information, even the name of the breed, was close to impossible.
That said, there was also plenty of inspiration at the show. Whether you enjoy buying, or making, craft items, you were spoilt for choice. From peg looms to felting, from pottery to painting, let your creative side reign free.
And food. Every show needs food. In terms of food to eat while there, there wasn’t a very wide choice and vegetarian and vegan options were scarce. My advice is to save your money and bring your own lunch (I have a thermos flask that I pack with a hot meal before I leave in the morning and it stays warm until I want it). In terms of fancy foods to buy, there was much more choice (although again lacking the planet-based choices); fancy oils, vinegars and chutneys; artisan gins, jams, and cheeses; and brownies, cakes and ice creams. And, of course, much of it was locally produced in Wales.
Overall, I enjoyed the show. It was a good place to get ideas and do some research and I intend to go again next year. A one-day ticket was enough, unless you are very keen to watch the shows which include best cow/pig/sheep, pig and dog agility, traditional Welsh dancing, and show jumping.
FACT BOX
For more information see: rwas.wales/smallholding-and-countryside-festival
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chantal Cooke is the founder of Rohillemu Haven, an award-winning journalist and broadcaster and co-founder of PASSION for the PLANET. You can follow her adventures on Facebook and Twitter @chantalcooke and on Instagram @Chantaldcooke.