smallholders

. ,Join us for a fun and informative day covering two small farm sites set in the tranquil and rural landscapes of Brittany, France.  Tour our vegetable gardens, polytunnels and orchards as we discuss the methods we use and why. In addition we will explain how we are moving towards self resilience, as a result we are making the most of our land and the animals we keep in order to assist us in achieving these goals. Learn about the do’s and don’ts for keeping pigs, sheep, goats, chickens and ducks.  This means we will go over the basics about feed, natural health and finally the animals uses and products. In summary the day should provide you with a good overview of small scale animal rearing, and will help you with the choices you need to make when heading towards your own smallholder adventure

9:30 – 10:00  Meet and greet at Bellevue

10:00 – 11:00  Visit vegetable garden, orchard and polytunnels

11:00 – 12:30  Introduction to keeping pigs and chickens

12:30 – 13:30  Lunch

13:30 – 14:00  Drive to Moustoirialan

14:00 – 14:30  Overview of our Journey

14:30 – 15:15  Tour vegetable garden and polytunnels

15:15 – 16:15  Introduction to keeping sheep, goats and ducks

16:15 – 17:00  Afternoon tea with Q&A session

• 3rd April 2021
• 15th May 2021
• 12th June 2021
• 24th July 2021
• 25th September 2021

Join us for a more indepth exploration of smallholding practises and requirements in France.
The day will start in a classroom style setting explaining all the practicalities, including: registering your land and livestock; how much land you will need; legal requirements and more.

Over two days you will tour our vegetable gardens, polytunnels and orchards as we discuss the methods we use for maximising our food production. Most importantly you will learn about the pros and cons for keeping pigs, sheep, goats, chickens and ducks. Subsequenty we will go over the basics of animal care, feed and finances. There will be opportunity for hands-on experience with the animals.

In conculsion this course should give you enough information to help you with the choices you need to make when heading towards your own smallholder adventure

09:30 – 10:15 Meet and Greet at Bellevue
10:15 – 10:45 Registration and legal requirements
10:45 – 11:30 Pig keeping
11:30 – 12:15 Poultry keeping and chicken tractors
12:15 – 13:15 Lunch
13:15 – 14:45 Vegetable garden, orchard and polytunnels
15:15 – 15:45 Herb garden – using herbs for health and kitchen
14:45 – 15:15 Firewood – splitting stacking, drying, processing
15:15 – 16:00 Beekeeping and taster
16:15 – 17.00 Afternoon tea with Q&A session

09.30 – 10.00 Introductions and overview
10.00 – 11.15 Vegetable garden, polytunnel and new orchard
11.15 – 11.45 Composting and compost teas.
11.45 – 12.15 Gates, sheep shelters, fencing
12.15 – 13.15 Lunch
13.15 – 14.15 Sheep keeping including hands-on experience
14.15 – 14.45 Duck keeping – from incubation to table
14.45 – 15.15 Overview of sustainable homebrewing
15.15 – 16.15 Preserving your produce and taster session.
16.15 – 17.00 Afternoon tea with Q&A session.

• 17th/18th April 2021
• 29th/30th May 2021
• 26th/27th June 2021
• 11th/12th September 2021

This course is suitable for anyone considering keeping farm animals as part of their smallholding.

We will focus specifically on the following animals: Pigs, sheep, goats, chickens and ducks.

This means will go over rearing and healthcare, setting up of suitable fencing and shelters. In addition we will discuss tagging, shearing and identifying and treating common health problems. Finally, will discuss how to choose a breed that suits your needs.

There will be opportunity for hands-on experience with the animals.

In summary, this course should give you enough information to help you with the animal choices you need to make when heading towards setting up your own smallholding

09:00 – 9:30 Meet and Greet @Bellevue 

9:30 – 9:45 Health and safety and biosecurity brief

9:45 – 10:30 Registering to keep animals in France plus general considerations

10:30 – 11:30 Pig husbandry

11:30 – 12:15 Chickens – feeding, general care, requirements, products

12:15 – 13.15 Lunch

13:15 – 13:30 Drive to Moustoirialan

13:30 – 14.30 Ducks – feeding, general care, requirements and products.

14:30 – 15.30 Sheep keeping – including practical.

15.30 – 16:20 Goat Keeping – considerations, health, uses.

16:20 – 17:00 Show and tell – product from the farm with tasting.

• 2nd May 2021
• 10th July 2021
• 9th October 2021