Hobby Farm

[bast1981]

Hi,

First post here. I just want to tell that i am not from the UK but from Canada. I'm no farmer. Lately i've been thinking about taking farming as a hobby.

I'm thinking about renting a field,plant and harvest. Is it something even possible to do without former education or farming experience ?Normaly farming is a family affair

I work in between 32 hours to 45 hours a week in restaurants. I've always been fasinated by farming and the freedoom of being self employed. I don't expect to make any money by farming as a hobby. I just don't want to loose to much money by attempting it.

I,ll have to rent a farm trator,machinery,buy seeds,rent a field,find a place to sell my harvest

 

[Pilgrimmick]

Think it would simplify things if you grew things you could use yourself, or at the restaurants you work at. Sell at a premium or skip the sales altogether.

 

[yellowbelly]

I don't expect to make any money by farming as a hobby. I just don't want to loose to much money by attempting it.

That's pretty much the theory that most of us full time farmers in the UK work on......

....................you should fit right in

 

[Longlowdog]

Yes you would have to buy seed but you could use agricultural contractors for a long time before you met the cost of your own equipment.
What scale do you foresee? An acre, 10, 100?
Monocrop, diverse crops?
Something of interest only to bulk markets such as grain, or, leaf/fruit/veg crops you could sell at producer markets in town?
Give us a clue and you'll have thousands of minds working on your side.
Personally, I wouldn't grow rabbit food. I'd keep sheep or rare breed pigs and cattle. Something you could market as out-of-the-ordinary. High welfare, ecologically sound, saving your nations heritage, blah, blah, blah.

 

[bast1981]

Hi,

Sorry i was busy at work and did not follow the tread. Well i was thinking of maybe growing cow corn. It seems easy to grow. I did not even look into financing,where to buy the seeds ect.. I would really like to ride the tractor at least once in my field.

I know people who grow cow corn is ussually to feed their own cattle. Me would be to sell. However i don't have a grain dryer so it's another thing to consider.Where would i find a grain dryer.

 

[7610 super q]

Well, here in Blighty, you can hire corn driers........but my goodness if your're going to rent land, and equipment, and start from scratch, it's going to be an expensive hobby. I dread to think how I'd get on without all the tools and equipment my dad bought in the 1960's / 70's / 80's.......

 

[michael N123]

It’s not really a hobby if your paying contractors to do everything is it ?

 

[Spencer]

 

[franklin]

Why not just pay me to come and drive one of my tractors for a week? Fly here and pay £500 and you can drive all sort of fancy stuff for a week; shear some sheep; shovel some cow turd. £750 and you can stay for 2 weeks. I will provide accomodation, which you wont see much as you will be working hard.

 

[yellowbelly]

Why not just pay me to come and drive one of my tractors for a week? Fly here and pay £500 and you can drive all sort of fancy stuff for a week; shear some sheep; shovel some cow turd. £750 and you can stay for 2 weeks. I will provide accomodation, which you wont see much as you will be working hard.

Sounds like a 'cunning plan'

 

[TripleSix]

Hi,

First post here. I just want to tell that i am not from the UK but from Canada. I'm no farmer. Lately i've been thinking about taking farming as a hobby.

I'm thinking about renting a field,plant and harvest. Is it something even possible to do without former education or farming experience ?Normaly farming is a family affair

I work in between 32 hours to 45 hours a week in restaurants. I've always been fasinated by farming and the freedoom of being self employed. I don't expect to make any money by farming as a hobby. I just don't want to loose to much money by attempting it.

I,ll have to rent a farm trator,machinery,buy seeds,rent a field,find a place to sell my harvest

You will lose lots of money.

 

[ollie989898]

Why not give up the resturant business and work on a farm and get paid to do what you think you will enjoy??

 

[Sandpit Farm]

grow tomatoes... then branch out.

You don't need much expensive gear, you can fit it around other work and you have a high value crop. Just put up some polytunnels.