Self sufficient living
I live with my partner in a small terraced cottage on the edge of Midhurst, West Sussex, where we are trying to be as self sufficient as possible in organic fruit, veg and eggs from our garden. We grow 45 different vegetables and 18 different fruits, keep chickens and quail for eggs. I also rear pigs on a friend’s land nearby and we help to manage a sustainable coppice woodland.
Farming the garden
With an input of 1 – 8 hours a week we can produce up to 23kg of fresh organic vegetables and 38kg of fresh organic fruit in a month from 43m² of growing space in the garden (which is one fifth the size of a standard allotment plot). With careful planning and design and by eating seasonally and preserving foods we do not have to buy eggs, veg, fruit, herbs, jam or chutney.
Inspirational “microholding”
In 2010 we won the title of “Smallholder of the Year” through Country Smallholding Magazine. Following this we joined The Permaculture Association as a LAND Learning Centre – becoming part of a demonstration n
etwork of projects growing food following permaculture principles.
Other awards include “Best vegetable garden” and “Most sustainable garden” from Chichester District Council and several awards from Midhurst in Bloom.
I aim to inspire others by offering garden tours, talks to groups, consultancy/advice and writing articles about microholding and self sufficiency.
