Kitchen Monkey

07 April 2008

Huge Growth Market in Hobby Farmers, (watch out for the hedgehog though!):

There is a growing new trend which is excelling throughout the UK it is in the field of ‘Hobby Farming’.

This is a growing group of professional people who are either looking at a second career in farming, or they exchange their city fast paced business lifestyles for a new life in the country, working for themselves.

Half of the farms sold in the UK in the last year were brought by ‘Hobby Farmers’. These small holders come from high powered city jobs and are new to farming hence the term ‘Hobby Farmers’. This is a complete lifestyle change from London city centre to the remote countryside for example. These small holders have to endure an enormous learning curve, but are obtaining support to enable them to do this, from long term well established Farmers.

The cost of farming land is also enduring a price increase due to this new growing trend. Land within the Cotswold area for instance is now fetching £3,000 per acre.

Anyone can set up a small holding or hobby farm. They must obtain a holding number from DEFRA, training available in small holdings and a further flock number when livestock is brought and of course a vet services, as they must have a good relationship with their vet. This all needs to be in place to contain disease.

For instance the recent outbreak in foot & mouth was initially blamed on small holdings (which is not the fault of); this single outbreak for instance actually cost 150 million pounds.

Hobby farmers are enthusiastic and very keen to learn. People who have gone down this route genuinely care for the welfare of the animals, and are learning through the web, books and other well established farmers. Experienced farmers are providing good advice to these small holdings up and down the UK.

Originally it was thought that a lack of knowledge would put the animals and others at risk; however recent research has found it to show the contrary. It showed that small holdings care and want to do a good job and do it right. Results are outstanding as they are coming in to the trade through a hobby which they enjoy and full of enthusiasm to learn, and they are succeeding to an extremely high standard. Thus they are turning their hobby in to a ‘way of life’.

These hobby farmers are a growing economic force and they are extremely passionate about what they do and it’s showing in the welfare of their life stock and there results.

We at kitchenmonkey.co.uk are proud to be supporting local farmers and producers, along with small outlets dedicated to a certain product, all produced to high quality standards as we require for our ingredients within our dishes.

Just a quick quirk for you, while driving home. I was listening to the news, and I heard how a man had been tried for assault with a deadly weapon. To my astonishment the weapon in question was a ‘hedgehog’, which he had thrown at another person with intent and the hedgehog had pieced the victim’s skin. Although I found this unbelievable and I felt sorry for the poor hedgehog, they did make me smile when they concluded that the hedgehog was being held as evidence! What a mad world we live in!!!

Send me some of your quirky stories or tell me about yourself if you’re a ‘hobby farmer’ I would love to hear from you. Email me at jacqui@kitchenmonkey.co.uk.