Mud, Poo & Porkers Experience

Come and join Stephen and Sue for a weekend on their smallholding near Carmarthen, and get a real feel for how to start a smallholding with animals and what it is really like. On the first day we will take you through how to find your smallholding and what to look for when viewing, how to choose and prepare for your first livestock with the associated legalities, basic animal husbandry with practical emphasis on chickens, pigs and goats, and how you might make your smallholding bring in a small income. A comprehensive farm walk and other practical activities such as working with the livestock and looking at machinery will bring the theory to life, and there will be plenty of opportunity to meet and interact with our animals. Topics include: Finding Your Smallholding, Legalities, Choosing your Livestock, Organisations, Starting Out, Basic Animal Husbandry, Basic Animal Medical Care, Managing Your Land, Making it Pay. On day two help with morning feeds, then after a hearty brunch featuring Black Orchard produce, undertake various jobs around the farm to get a taste of what this life is really like. The day might include activities such tractor driving, moving pigs, tagging animals, mucking out, strawing down, scything or walking meadows, depending on what needs doing at the time. As well as the standard Black Orchard provisions of elevenses, a delicious lunch made with our own pork, cake for tea and tea or coffee throughout the day on the Saturday, and a hearty brunch, hot drinks and tea on the Sunday, the course includes a professionally printed, comprehensive and illustrated course handbook. This weekend course runs on demand so please contact us to arrange a date. It is restricted to two people, either friends, a couple or two individuals. Price £400 for two.

• Guided farm walk
• Practical activities with livestock
• Finding your smallholding
• Choosing your livestock
• Basic animal husbandry
• Making your smallholding pay
• Hands-on experience
• Refreshments included
• Meet the animals
• Expert guide
• All-weather

The farm sets its own cancellation policy — you’ll see the exact refund terms before you pay.