Product Description

Downshifting has become synonymous with selling up, starting a smallholding and escaping the rat race. Some people are lucky enough to purchase a property large enough to ensure that the whole family is self-sufficient, but for most only enough land will be available to make smallholding a hobby. Accordingly, this book caters for those with a small amount of land and for the lucky minority with a much larger acreage. Many of the books currently available mention only the pleasures of owning a smallholding, this volume adopts a pragmatic approach and discusses the many pitfalls.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #58695 in Books
• Published on: 2009-01-26
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

About the Author
J C Jeremy Hobson is a freelance countryside writer living in rural France. As well as his numerous books [seven of which are published by Crowood], he writes an extremely popular 'Rural Riddles' column in French Property News, and is well know to readers of magazines such as Smallholder and Fancy Fowl. Resident - France Phil Rant is a retired British civil servant who now resides deep in the French countryside. He has contributed articles on gardening and related subjects to various journals and magazines over many years. His interests are woodworking, gardening and writing. Resident - France

Customer Reviews

Successful Smallholding
This book was a somewhat underwhelming read. Whilst a full range of subject areas are covered there is a dissapointing lack of detail for those who are planning in ernest or who are already involved in some small way in building or maintaining a smallholding. It is undoubtedly a useful appetizer for those dreaming of the good life or looking for a broad overview of do's and don'ts even though the references to DEFRA and other policy guidlines can make for a daunting, almost off-putting read at times. For those with a little more background knowledge or basic understanding, I would recommend 'The new complete book of self sufficiency by John Seymour' or 'The smallholder's by Katie Thear'- both these books offer a broader range and greater depth of subject matter. Given its cost, I would spend my har-earned on the former - a considerably more comprehensive offering. If you are wondering if smallholding is really for you and have never been beyond the city limits this book will give you a useful, if somewhat limited, overview of planning and maintaining a smallholding.

excellent and really imformative
really imformative and gives plenty of detail for how to set up a smallholding and what you need to do before perchasing animals.