Back to River Cottage Courses

Smallholder Day

Smallholder Day

£165.00 Inclusive

Book this course
dates left
No dates available
1 day
Adult
Close
10:00 - 17:00

Overview

Join us down on the farm for a day and learn how to start your own smallholding – River Cottage style.

Fancy living the good life? Designed with rookie smallholders in mind, our one-day course is a brilliant introduction to the skills, equipment and knowledge required to raise classic livestock. Having farmed his whole life, our farmer Jim will be taking you through an interesting day of all things livestock.

Learn the basics in animal husbandry, put the theories into practice and get hands-on with the livestock here at River Cottage HQ. As well as the chance to explore our idyllic surroundings in the heart of the Devon countryside, you’ll be served a local, seasonal lunch and plenty of that famous River Cottage hospitality. Bring your enthusiasm and get stuck in!

MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME

You will meet your host and settle in with a seasonal smoothie as you get an overview the benefits of starting your day with a nourishing drink.

THE BASICS

Firstly, we’ll start the day with an overview of setting up a smallholding, including the tools and equipment needed for farming. There’ll be demonstrations and the opportunity to have a look at some items more closely.

ANIMALS

Your day will focus on three types of livestock; pigs, sheep and chickens. You’ll discuss different breed types and their suitability, to ensure you’re picking the right animals for you.

HOUSING

You’ll head up 'Pig Lane' and see our chickens, pigs and sheep. Jim will advise you on picking suitable locations for your livestock and show you the housing needs for each animal, to meet the high welfare standards needed for happy livestock.

LUNCH

Lunch will feature a colour array of delicious flavours made with River Cottage garden veg and local ingredients like ferments, pickles, pulses, nourishing grains, and a micro green herb oil. Alongside lunch will be a huge garden salad with a probiotic dressing and prebiotic ingredients, and to finish the meal off you’ll make an herbal tea and some tahini fudge with dried lemons.

FEED & HEALTH

Your attention will then turn to making informed choices with organic feed, to keep your animals healthy and well nourished. You’ll also learn how to handle and transport your animals with minimal stress.

LEGALITIES

Jim will discuss the process of taking an animal to slaughter and cover the legalities around keeping your own animals .

Departure

You'll have the opportunity to ask Jim any burning questions and chat with your fellow smallholders before heading home, excited to start your own smallholding!

Highlights

  • Learn the tools and equipment needed for keeping sheep, pigs and chickens.
  • Discover the housing requirements for your animals.
  • Discuss different breed types and their suitability.
  • Learn how to keep your animals healthy and well fed.
  • Discuss the legalities of keeping animals so you can be prepared for your journey ahead.
Gardening and Outdoor CoursesRiver Cottage Courses
Can’t find the right date? Click here to receive an alert
when new dates are released for this event.
10:00 - 17:00
|
from £165.00

Proudly Accredited & Award-Winning

Proud to hold the ICSA Centre of Excellence award, we uphold the highest standards in culinary education.

Overview

Join us down on the farm for a day and learn how to start your own smallholding – River Cottage style.

Fancy living the good life? Designed with rookie smallholders in mind, our one-day course is a brilliant introduction to the skills, equipment and knowledge required to raise classic livestock. Having farmed his whole life, our farmer Jim will be taking you through an interesting day of all things livestock.

Learn the basics in animal husbandry, put the theories into practice and get hands-on with the livestock here at River Cottage HQ. As well as the chance to explore our idyllic surroundings in the heart of the Devon countryside, you’ll be served a local, seasonal lunch and plenty of that famous River Cottage hospitality. Bring your enthusiasm and get stuck in!

MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME

You will meet your host and settle in with a seasonal smoothie as you get an overview the benefits of starting your day with a nourishing drink.

THE BASICS

Firstly, we’ll start the day with an overview of setting up a smallholding, including the tools and equipment needed for farming. There’ll be demonstrations and the opportunity to have a look at some items more closely.

ANIMALS

Your day will focus on three types of livestock; pigs, sheep and chickens. You’ll discuss different breed types and their suitability, to ensure you’re picking the right animals for you.

HOUSING

You’ll head up 'Pig Lane' and see our chickens, pigs and sheep. Jim will advise you on picking suitable locations for your livestock and show you the housing needs for each animal, to meet the high welfare standards needed for happy livestock.

LUNCH

Lunch will feature a colour array of delicious flavours made with River Cottage garden veg and local ingredients like ferments, pickles, pulses, nourishing grains, and a micro green herb oil. Alongside lunch will be a huge garden salad with a probiotic dressing and prebiotic ingredients, and to finish the meal off you’ll make an herbal tea and some tahini fudge with dried lemons.

FEED & HEALTH

Your attention will then turn to making informed choices with organic feed, to keep your animals healthy and well nourished. You’ll also learn how to handle and transport your animals with minimal stress.

LEGALITIES

Jim will discuss the process of taking an animal to slaughter and cover the legalities around keeping your own animals .

Departure

You'll have the opportunity to ask Jim any burning questions and chat with your fellow smallholders before heading home, excited to start your own smallholding!

Highlights

  • Learn the tools and equipment needed for keeping sheep, pigs and chickens.
  • Discover the housing requirements for your animals.
  • Discuss different breed types and their suitability.
  • Learn how to keep your animals healthy and well fed.
  • Discuss the legalities of keeping animals so you can be prepared for your journey ahead.
Gardening and Outdoor CoursesRiver Cottage Courses
Can’t find the right date? Click here to receive an alert
when new dates are released for this event.

Reviews (4)

5 / 5 (4 ratings)
4
0
0
0
0
  1. George
    –

    Brilliant chef for the day, it was amazing thankyou, and really appreciate the hard work and effort that must go on behind the scenes everyday to organise all you do, as well as to do the day itself thankyou.

  2. Zoe
    –

    Well organised, relaxed, great environment to learn – I enjoyed the course and it was inspiring too!

  3. Jeanette
    –

    Great food and all fresh and local, fabulous staff, we picked up plenty of tips

  4. Diana
    –

    “Our chef teacher was enthusiastic, friendly and very helpful and informed. I love cooking and I really enjoyed myself. However long you’ve been cooking you can always learn new things and the dishes we made were all delicious.”