Having said that, smallholding can, without doubt, be one of the most enjoyable,
interesting and rewarding of occupations; it is certainly interesting, healthy and,
when things are going well, immensely satisfying. There can be no finer feeling,
or one that engenders more self respect, than when one is able to produce an abundance
of fresh, tasty, healthy and really high quality food for the family by your own
skill, efforts and hard work. This is particularly so when working in harmony with,
and not against, nature, with the consideration, sympathy and foresight for the environment
that helps to ensure its conservation for future generations.
The ravages of the 2001
FMD epidemic have had, and will continue to have, far reaching consequences for the
whole of the UK population; Heaven knows what horrors will follow the more recent
arrival of Asiatic Bird Flu and now possibly swine flu. Agriculture is in crisis
and, although not of its own making, it would seem that the industry can expect very
little help in resolving the situation. BSE, the quite extraordinary débâcle of
GM crops and foods, FMD and now bird flu, have devastated and utterly demoralized
many of our rural communities and the diverse economies upon which their survival
depends. The very considerable changes that have been forced on all sectors of
agriculture have led to a widespread contraction within the whole industry which
has, and continues to be, most noticeable in the livestock sectors. The reasons
for these changes are many and diverse and this is certainly not the place to offer
opinions on causes and/or possible solutions. What can be said, with certainty,
is that things will continue to change; one positive outcome of the events of the
past few years is that the general public are now far better informed about the
realities of farming and the way in which their food is produced and are demanding
change. This has led to the suggestion that it is time to return to more self contained
local economies ~ local farms producing high quality food for the local community.
Such developments are creating niche markets and presenting new opportunities for
the efficient and capable smallholder.
For anyone to enter and hope to succeed in
taking advantage of these opportunities and in maintaining the lifestyle that is
involved, they need enthusiasm, determination and above all, to be as aware of, and
comfortable with, as much as possible of the appropriate information and practicalities
~ “the lore of the land” that has been learned and handed down by previous generations
when the ability to sustain ones own family and contribute to the local community
and economy was taken as read; that is what this course is about. It aims to pass
on, in partnership with hard, and essential, practical experience, as much as possible,
in terms of knowledge and competence, of this “lore of the land”.
Although, obviously,
the course can be undertaken by those presently without a holding, much of the content
needs to be 'learnt' as much as taught and those students involved with, or at least
with access to, a holding will be best able to enjoy, absorb and benefit from the
course. The term 'Smallholding' covers a very wide range of enterprises, skills
and activities and, in order to make the course as, relevant, responsive and useful
to as many people as possible, there is a great deal of choice and flexibility with
regard to the subject areas available for study.
All students will work through the
introductory modules that are designed to ensure a thorough grasp of the agricultural
and horticultural science basics upon which all the specialist subject areas heavily
depend. There follows a range of subject modules from which students can select,
on a “pick and mix” basis, those specialist subjects most relevant to their needs
and interests.
The course summary described below is typical, but, as mentioned above,
we recognize that smallholding is a particularly personal and individual undertaking
and, in order to reflect this individuality and be as relevant as possible, we are
always happy to discuss the requirements of students and tailor courses to suit.
As
with most of our other courses, students may begin at any time but it is useful to
bear in mind that, since the natural cycle of the farming year will dictate what
tasks have to be tackled at what time, planning your study blocks to coincide with,
or just precede such tasks can be particularly helpful. Your tutor will be happy
to discuss this and arrange things accordingly wherever possible. This can,of course,
only be considered when all the initial agricultural science modules have been completed.
Prospective
students should note that the course is divided into modules with most having several
separate study books, for example, module one contains three study books; modules
1,2,3,4 & 5 are covered in some ten study books. This course has always been very
popular and there is sometimes a waiting list for those wishing to enrol. Prospective
students may care to contact the college for the latest information.
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Current Fees for this course are £665:00
Go to Course Summary
Go to Course extract 1
Organic Smallholding & Livestock Husbandry
Introduction
This course was introduced some ten years ago in response to an increasing demand
from students that had little or no formal agricultural education or experience.
Most were unable to consider the traditional full-
The course has been designed primarily for practicing smallholders and those
aspiring to adopt this way of life. Smallholding is not simply a job or occupation
and we choose the phrase “Way of Life” deliberately. It is not, and in our view,
never can be, the idyllic dream fostered by so many. Hard work, long hours, (if
you keep livestock this means 365 days a year in all weathers) and limited financial
rewards dictate that this lifestyle is not one to be undertaken lightly or by the
faint hearted.