Tips For Starting a Successful Smallholding

Many people dream of starting a smallholding. They dream of becoming far more self-sufficient, and of growing their own food, and enjoying a more natural and holistic lifestyle. But to start a smallholding, you need to be more than just a dreamer. You need to be very practical, conscientious, observant and hard working. 

Many ordering a polytunnel may be in the position of starting a smallholding for the first time. So today, I thought I would share my top tips to help you begin as you mean to go on, and set the foundations for a successful enterprise.

Design Specific to Site

First and foremost, there is no such thing as an ‘ideal’ smallholding which works in all locations. Even in the UK, conditions and environmental factors can vary significantly from one site to the next. 

Before you even begin to think about the elements that you would like to include, and certainly before you make any plant purchasing decisions, you need to get to know you site. Understanding every aspect of the site is key to creating a design that will really work, and starting a smallholding that really will fulfil your expectations. 

Factors such as sunlight and shade, wind and water, soil and existing vegetation are all key things to consider. You need to look at the climate, microclimate and topography. It is only when you have spent some time in careful thought and observation that you will be able to begin creating a design specific to the site. 

Be Clear About Your Goals

When you set out on the journey to create a sustainable smallholding, make sure that you are clear about your goals. Determine early on exactly what you hope to achieve from the project. 

Ask yourself, for example, whether you simply wish to live in a more self-sufficient way, or would like to turn your smallholding into a business enterprise. Are you aiming for almost compete self-sufficiency? Or are you content to be self-reliant only in certain areas? 

It is important to make sure that you are being realistic in setting your goals. Think about the amount of land, money and time available to you, and your own level of skill and experience. 

Think Holistically From the Outset

You may be tempted to begin by thinking about the crops that you would like to grow, and details of any livestock that you would like to keep. You might be a practical person who just wants to dive right in.

But before you hone in on the details, it is important to look at the bigger picture. You should work from broader patterns, thinking holistically, before you delve down into the details of a design. 

It really makes sense to have a holistic design in place before you begin to turn your plans into reality. A lack of clarity on the overall vision can often lead to mistakes or sub-optimal setups which can cost you time or money down the road. 

Once you have taken a look at the site as it currently stands, and identified its characteristics, opportunities and challenges, you can begin to look at the elements that you would like to include, their positioning and layout, and at how they should best be combined for synergistic effects. 

Whether you create the holistic design on your own, or engage expert advice, this will serve as a blueprint as you begin to turn your dreams into a reality. 

Build Firm foundations – Get Infrastructure and Systems in Place

Early on in the process of starting a smallholding, it is important to make sure that you build firm foundations by putting the systems in place that will allow you to maintain and sustain your growing and rearing efforts over time. 

Think about the basics of access, boundaries or fencing, water and the maintenance of fertility. Set up rainwater harvesting and other water management systems. Build roads, tracks or pathways required for access. Set up your composting systems. Having these things in place from the beginning can aid your efforts later on, making future steps a whole lot easier. 

Use Slow, Small Solutions and Build Up Gradually

Once you have made your plans and created your holistic design, you may be tempted, if new to creating a smallholding, to dive in headlong and try to do everything you have planned all at once. Stop, take a breath. It is best, no matter your existing skill level and experience, to take every new project one step at a time. 

While it can be tempting to take on too much, too soon, taking things slow and steady is a far more sensible option. The larger and more complex your smallholding grows, the more there is to go wrong, and the further there is to fall. Be the tortoise, and not the hare, to win the race.

It can help to break down your goal into smaller targets, to tick off one at a time. This way, you can keep track of progress more easily, get a series of smaller ‘wins’, and avoid becoming overwhelmed. 

Plan on Starting a Smallholding to Grow Year Round

Many smallholders make the mistake of trying to cram most of the year’s productivity into the growing season. But a well-designed, properly planned smallholding can provide for the household’s needs, and potentially generate income not just over the summer months but all year round. 

A polytunnel can certainly help food producers and market gardeners to extend the growing season. And with the right approaches and strategies, can be a productive element on your smallholding all year round. 

Beyond annual food production, it is also important to consider all the varied yields that a piece of land can provide – both for its own sustainability and for consumption or sale. 

Determine Your Yields and Markets

As you build up your smallholding, it is important to be aware of all potential yields on your property. Don’t overlook secondary yields, or more unusual revenue streams. Whether you are simply trying to cater to your own needs, or are looking to build a business from your smallholding, diversification can be key. Be sure to think beyond the basics, and look outside the box. 

If you are planning on making an income from your smallholding, be sure not to start from a point of ignorance. You cannot hope to create a viable business unless you understand what you can actually sell in your area. You need to research and understand the markets, and find avenues through which to market your produce and wares. 

Of course, there is a lot to learn about starting a smallholding and managing a smallholding. But these tips should help you avoid some of the most common errors, and help you set off on the best footing.