Jo and Tony Knight first
joined
NewLandOwner
on a Getting Started weekend
in 2005, when they were both still in the
RAF. They were looking forward to an
imminent move to their first smallholding,
an 8-acre site in West Wales, where they
could finally realise their dream of leaving
the RAF to set up a goat dairy producing
artisan cheese.
The
Getting Started
Weekend
left them equipped with more
knowledge and confidence, together with the
practical experience to start out in
smallholding.
"We
are very grateful to have attended the
introductory course. It was extremely well
structured and informative, especially as it
concentrates on the smallholder rather than
(as so many of the college courses do) on
the commercial farmer."
"We'd
recommend it to anyone dreaming of
becoming smallholders - you can't afford to
miss
this course and should do it as soon as
possible
before you even think of looking in the
estate agents windows!"
Armed with advice
Following the
course, Jo and Tony's confidence took a
knock when they were gazumped just days
before the move. They consulted
NewLandOwner
about the possible purchase of a much larger
property - 67 acres! - but sadly lost a
bidding war on that one too.
Undeterred and armed with
advice from
NewLandOwner
the couple persevered and at last happily
purchased a 36-acre smallholding in
Carmarthenshire.
"We
fell in love with the place the moment we
saw it. Inspired by your course, we want to
embrace smallholding fully."
Their charming site includes
11 acres of deciduous woodland, fenced and
hedged pasture, and a variety of
outbuildings.
On Rob & Dave's first visit,
the Knights had wasted no time in restoring
the beautiful old dry stonewalled pigsties,
now home to several pigs.
"Over
the next year we also hope to get our own
sheep, goats and maybe even a house cow."
The couple have taken advice
from
NewLandOwner
and are to modernise the
milking parlour. They have a few hens and
intend to expand their poultry enterprise.
Both Jo and Tony feel that despite the
threat of Avian Flu, breeders should receive
everyone's continued support. They are also
working hard in the vegetable and herb
gardens and tending to their small orchard.
As soon as they are more
settled, the Knights are looking forward to
another visit from NewLandOwner to provide a
business plan and some more specialist
advice with a view to further
diversification.
"Thanks
once again for all your help, advice and
ongoing support. It has given us the
confidence to take the plunge, and the
knowledge to run our smallholding ethically,
correctly and professionally."
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