31 replies to this topic

[Tom Bombadil]

I have a question. What CAN one do to a field that can't later be used (in most situations) by the planners to put a stop to one doing the 28 days notice the way you wanted?

In other words, in my case, I am not in a rush just yet to put in my 28 day notice because I want to KNOW just what it is that I DO want to do. I know that I need a barn and roughly where it would go, and what it is that I am planning to do to make cash after that fact, but just what can a field owner do to their field before anything like the 28 day thing is put in place?

For me, its things like (or in other words things I want to do now rather than wait untill I hand in the 28 day notice);

Posts and rail fencing.
Planting a wood.
Planting trees.
Placing Stiles.
Placing Gates.
Repairing and clearing (I am sure that this is fine actually) paths and roads and brush etc.
Shifting the ground to flatten an area to make a small flat spot.

These are just a few things that I came up against today.

Any thoughts any one?


Nelly.

[shepie]

You can do them all if you like , fences and gates should be under 2 m and you can move your topsoil where you like , if you are to have a business up and running before you go for pd you need to be doing something :-)

[adrian007]

you need to be showing clear signs that an agricultural business is in progress - for you, that will be plants in the ground - concentrate on crops.

At this time of year, that is tricker, but you could plant an orchard (adams apples), you could plant lavender. if your soil is acid you could plant bluebrries.

Rows of crops, so when the planners show up they can say 'yep, there's a new agricultural business happening'

Watch out for rabbits on everything

By the way, if the planning folk question whether a business is happening, it was hlpful for me to be able to show them bills, invoices and bank statements all showing the business name.

With many only banking facilities, there is the option to rename your bank account... rather than apply for a new one (certainly with halifax)

You may want to prepare your business plan and evidence of your business as well.

[Tom Bombadil]

Adrian007 and shepie, I do see your points. So, there is not much to worry myself over at the moment? I don't even plan on handing in my 28 day proposition until next year anyways.

But my concern is that come next year, the posts and the trees and other minor paths will not yet be evident as 'not new, but still but me trying to get stuff in before I see the dudes in the suits'!

I mean, just planting a few trees is one thing, but I plan on at least two acres of the nutty, fruity and bushy things! All of course small and insignificant looking, but still obviously part of my plan as far as those blokes in the suits see!

Are they really nothing too worry about? (sorry to harp on!)

In truth, the only thing that will stand out are fences and gates for a few years.

[Tom Bombadil]

I might not have said that, at the moment, my future plans are to build a barn, and then in the meantime get a business going to prove the planing for a home.

But I don't' plan on putting in my 28 until next year, so can I still do all those things? and not have them held against my plans?

[Tom Bombadil]

And thats all before I have purchased that now famous pdf that is around.

Ideas might change but the general plan might not!

[shepie]

The only thing I would worry about is getting in two acres of nutty bushy things
And making it look like you haven't just done it !!
Oh and deer and rabbits and squirrels
If you are thinking of the pdf route then you won't have to worry about pd and suits !!!!! At least with two years on your side you will have some ( more) proof of LN s game

[Tom Bombadil]

The reason that I am wavering between pdf and F2F is due to the wife.

She knows that what I and Lump say is true, as I have been doing as much lawful wrangling as we can over the years, but I have always fallen short on the issues that pertain to land issues and trusts.

So I (not 'we' you note) will be buying the pdf and seeking answers there. If I think that the wife will play along, and it can be hard for some to ignore the church of the men in the suits, my wife being one of them, then I will go that route as I know that lawful always wins. Simples.

But I will always have to weigh the odds of whether the wife will be happy. She will always come first here (mostly, heh).

[adrian007]

We had no plants in the ground when we put in for pd.

We were refused.

We went and met the guy, and he said there was no signs of our business. We agreed to plant some stuff, take a photo and then he would agree we had a busines started.

The planting will help you, not hinder you. Lack of activity is your bigger danger.

However, just planting a wood won't do it - plant tree that have a crop - nuts, fruit and syrup. Include those nuts fruit and syrup in your bsuiness plan.

Plant, say 50 of each, or 25 of each - 1 is not a crop.

Plant your woodland separately - that will be more randomly spaced trees, so not to be included in your business plan - wood isn't a crop.

You could/should, as I am doing, plant your wood in the most windbreak efficient way possible - rather than just a clump. If you are on a hill, I guess it is windy and you won't want your pollen just getting blown away.

Amongst your orchard and fruiting trees, plant the odd Italian Alder - it is a nitrogen fixing tree and will help your nearby trees produce fruit/nuts. Also, siberian pea tree, which also is a bit edible, for the same reason.

And - unless you have quite acidic soid, and you may, plant asparagus this winter - you can buy crowns at specialist nurserys very cheaply - 60p each or something - It crops for 15 years or more and takes 2 years to start... no point waiting!

[pigsmitefly]

im sure you can build chicken houses tom, as long as they are mobile, ( on wheels or skids)  

[adrian007]

smith sectional buildings do them on wheels or skids.

Just ordered one of these though - on skids. Expensive, but suits our plans

http://nfpsectionalb...ouse/8ft-x-8ft/

Says 60 hens!! but it's only 64 sq feet so we think probably 25.

[pigsmitefly]

looks good, how much is one of them adrian, bet they not cheep,

[billie]

Tom, it will also pay to register for vat, and get a CPH number, the Vat means you save 20% on your materials, and the CPH no says you are officially an agricultural holding. 

[Greenbeast]

Indeed, we registered for VAT, hoping to get back £2k on our first return which i filed yesterday, happy days!

 

We have tried getting a CPH number but they said they were rushed off their feet and to call back if we were due to get our animals imminently!

Must hassle them again soon

[j and H]

thats a great chicken shed,but we have sloping land so opted for smaller houses, plus it means we can move smaller numbers to different pastures, each different land tells its own story

[Tom Bombadil]

Thanks all. Reading them now.

No chicks just yet, only furniture, not software! I might flatten and fence-in areas, but not put the sheds in just yet, until we are ready to move in, so to speak!

I didn't look at it these ways. We have a field or two. And if we are not living there just yet then that's better for us.

Yes we will plant for fruits and nuts and also for looks as we are there to enjoy it too. Thanks for the info on the Italian Alder. And the wind break problem. We do have lots to learn still.

The plan is for working trees rather than a woody crop. Fruits sell but more important to me is that they also fill my belly. I will be using the field boundrys that I first create with posts and wire to help grow woody harvests like poles etc at a later year (seven or eight).

I will be planting willow for my mass storage heater for fuel.

[shepie]

i could make a 16 ft x 8 ft one for 100 chucks on skids and it will last 20 years for £2 k

That onduline roofing is crap it really needs vapour proof osb board under it or put a tin/ concrete roof on

[adrian007]

yeah, Di could easily build one, if she had a good workspace, like a barn.

Rather than wait, we bought one.

It's a chicken and egg thing :-)

- John - we gave that some thought, moving them is a fair point, but the costs didn't stack up. This one has doors and pop holes at each end, it will stand between two chicken enclosures that we can alternate just by changing which end is used :-)

[shepie]

Yes Adrian I see at least you have a pattern for the rest and that should have been £1 k
No problem brambles the new thinking is to keep the stats separate as they grow better and they use bales of straw to roost on it gives them something to play with
Oh all I ask in return for my wealth of knowledge on turkeys is maybe a cup of t in your kitchen one day to see how you did it :-) good luck

[j and H]

you surprise me Shepie, we found the onduline perfect, it made for good temperature control, and has lasted a good few years, it withstood very hot french summers and very harsh cold winters

 

my 15 x 8 goat shelter cost 800 pounds, thats using 18mm wbp ply, and 18mm shiplap, 

 

our pig arcs are going to be made out of dung walling

 

i like the idea of the poly tunnel BB, not an idea we could use though,