What will make the most of 3 acres

DeniseandGeoff

Hi all,
Now promise not to laugh, we are looking at buying a property not to far from Ballinasloe with 3 acres, so to make a few extra euro we have considered free ranging some chickens as well as breeding pedigree pigs for meat as well as to sell on.

Any other ideas or suggestions welcome

johngalway

Market garden maybe? Fairly decent population around that area I'd imagine, not far from Galway or Athlone either.

fastrac

Allotments might work. A bit late for 2011 but maybe next year.

Muckit

DeniseandGeoff wrote: »

Hi all,
Now promise not to laugh, we are looking at buying a property not to far from Ballinasloe with 3 acres, so to make a few extra euro we have considered free ranging some chickens as well as breeding pedigree pigs for meat as well as to sell on.

Any other ideas or suggestions welcome

It's all how you look at things.

Instead of thinking how can I make money, ask yourself how can I save money. Aferall, money saved, is money earned. The money you save on your weekly shopping bill can be spent on something else. And sure the bit of graft is good 'therapy', especially if ye are stuck inside 9-5 with the day job.


So.......

• Plant your own garden, grow your own veg.
• By all means keep hens, but my oul lad always said ' a hen always dies in debt'. She will (and don't fool yourself) get taken by the fox/mink long before she's paid for her bed and board. The phrase 'as clever as a fox' didn't come out of nowhere. Saying that you'I never see a yellower yoke or eat a tastier egg.
• Pigs are very messy/mucky. If you don't mind this, go ahead and fatten one for the house, that is, if you like pork/bacon. A good 'green' way of recycling household food waste.

Best of luck with your mini venture if you go ahead with it.

P.S B'sloe is a lovely spot!

DeniseandGeoff

Thanks all for the great replies, some really good suggestions there. I think it will be the chickens and grow our own veg, that should keep us busy enough.
Cheers
Dee and Geoff

AtillaTheHun

sounds like a pig with your own garden would work well.
pig will do next years digging for you!

dont be fooled though. veg gardens are a hell of a lot of work.
if you go away for a forthnight the place will be a mess when you get back.

best of luck with it.

ravima

if going the poultry route, try a few of the older breeds and banthams, hatch young chicks and sell them either at farmers markets or outside the local mart.

DeniseandGeoff

Yes, we do fancy breeding some chickens to sell on, and the pig doing the digging for us sounds good

I think if we start off with the chickens it's not to much initial outlay.

One other thing we have thought of is caravan storeage, but I should imagine the planning may have some thing to say as well as Insurance costs, also converting the out buildings for b and b, but we may be a bit to rural, also renting a field for campers, but again will have to look into the legal aspects.

Thanks for all the advice so far
Cheers
Dee and Geoff

Dusty87

I have chickens and pigs and a garden. TBH, the garden is the most work. Pigs are not half as bad as they are made out to be, provided youve a good set up.

DeniseandGeoff

Hi Dusty87,
Thanks for your reply, it's good to here from some one else doing what we want to do.

I know what you mean about the garden, that can swallow time. I have just been looking at Donedeal now and I was very surprised at what one guy was asking for his rare breed pork, so we may give a couple of pigs a go to see how they work out. Everyone I know who has had pigs really enjoyed the experience.

Dusty87

DeniseandGeoff wrote: »

Hi Dusty87,
Thanks for your reply, it's good to here from some one else doing what we want to do.

I know what you mean about the garden, that can swallow time. I have just been looking at Donedeal now and I was very surprised at what one guy was asking for his rare breed pork, so we may give a couple of pigs a go to see how they work out. Everyone I know who has had pigs really enjoyed the experience.

Now im no expert, but Dont go near people asking big money for piglets. They're hoping for people on the celtic tiger bandwagon to buy them. "will make great pets or for fattening". Its either one or the other. I have two landrace x saddleback pigs here which i got for 35e each. I also am getting two more pure landrace at 45e. Pay no attention to the 70e + piglets. If you want the number of the man selling the piglets for 45e give me a shout but with a bit of decent bit of searching you'll find the right pig for the right price.

Gingko

AtillaTheHun wrote: »

sounds like a pig with your own garden would work well.
pig will do next years digging for you!

dont be fooled though. veg gardens are a hell of a lot of work.
if you go away for a forthnight the place will be a mess when you get back.

best of luck with it.

Not if there in raised beds in a poly tunnel. Best way to grow by far. Cuts down on maintenance, weed invasion, pests / diseases plus 1.4 times the crop on average.

Gingko

DeniseandGeoff wrote: »

Thanks all for the great replies, some really good suggestions there. I think it will be the chickens and grow our own veg, that should keep us busy enough.
Cheers
Dee and Geoff

It's worth your while visiting The Organic Center in Rossinver, Co. Leitrim. Great cost effective and eco friendly ideas on successful sustainable veg growing. All the very best!:)

johngalway

Gingko wrote: »

Not if there in raised beds in a poly tunnel. Best way to grow by far. Cuts down on maintenance, weed invasion, pests / diseases plus 1.4 times the crop on average.

Is that .4 extra crop or 1.4 times extra crop?

Gingko

johngalway wrote: »

Is that .4 extra crop or 1.4 times extra crop?

On average 1.4 times crop if done right. You can sow or plug plants considerably tighter in a bed. Under the cover of polythene obviously helps to. Forgot to mention better drainage and quicker growth due to warmer soil. Black polythene stapled to inner side of timbers aids this. Your in Conamara? Love the place, I lived in Galway for 4 years and fell in love with North and west Galway.

Micheal H

johngalway wrote: »

Is that .4 extra crop or 1.4 times extra crop?

Wouldn't that be the exact same thing?

johngalway

Micheal H wrote: »

Wouldn't that be the exact same thing?

Yep, you're right, had a think about it. Now need a lie down :pac:

I'm no good at maths , there's a big difference if you had your crop + 1.4 times your crop, or your crop plus .4 times your crop.

Jesus I hate maths.... :eek:

Chicken Run

we have about 3 acres here - some's forestry but we have a big veg garden (raised beds make it a lot easier to work) fruit trees and bushes and a polytunnel.

If you're starting from scratch then all the better as you can lay it out to suit you.

We have hens too, in winter the hens get let into the (fenced) veg plot (had to fence it to keep out the deer) and they turn it over, fertilise it and eat the weeds and pests.

As well as the veg growing, how about planting extra seeds and selling off the spare plants - we did well with tomato plants and cabbage plants a couple of years ago... just put a sign up at the end of the drive.

Gingko

Micheal H wrote: »

Wouldn't that be the exact same thing?

Tis all in the grammar!