Welcome

You have found “Tales from the Rock.”

Stable in the January Snow

Originally this was an unfinished diary, written in green ink on the back of used envelopes in my own misspelt shorthand, some progress was made when I started keeping well thumbed note books  but now after  beavering away in isolation on our Bonsai Mountain its all been  tidied up a bit with a super high-tec all singing all dancing website!

What makes Tales from the Rock unique is it’s “how not to” approach to the wonderful world of smallholding, it is in effect the antidote to all the dull advice given by experts. This is the site that tells the wannabes, the dreamers and those who already small-hold the adventures you can have  discovering the rules of smallholding.

Ben and Rocky in February

It seems a lifetime away since we gave up our three bed mid terrace all mod cons life for one that is closer to nature perched on a wind blasted rain soaked hill in Wales.

Where we got the idea from to start smallholding six years ago is still a bit of a mishap. Staring at Kune Kune piglets while you bask in the warm glow of cider and summer sunshine at an agricultural show is a world apart from trying to catch errant ponies in the dark as they canter across windswept moors. Somehow we managed to avoid the Barn Conversion phase of life’s mid point crisis and persuaded a bank to lend us an unfeasibly large sum of money to buy our dream, an old cottage nestled at the end of a long dirt track on the wrong side of a Welsh Hill.

Tracey planting seeds in March

Here we threw ourselves into the smallholders lifestyle (me quite literally, but that’s a different tale) and overcame the many disasters that befall new smallholders with no idea of how to do anything. From a background knowledge gained from reading James Herriot, inspired by watching Tom and Barbara from “The Good Life”, armed only with “How to…” books, Google and immeasurable enthusiasm Tracey and I set about creating a rural idyll.

Since moving to Rock HQ the cliff at the back of the house fell into the garden, we have dealt with the animals escaping, giving birth and exploding. Endured hill fires, floods, snow, the arrival of the credit crunch, unemployment, an outbreak of goats and childbirth. All this we managed to survive with our sense of humour intact.

First lambs in April

From the modest beginnings of a geriatric cat called Brian, a motley collection of dogs and a bucket of fish rescued from the pond of our old house we rapidly accrued sheep, goats, a horse, a vicious Shetland pony, pigs and more dogs to share our exciting new world.

With each came a unique set of problems, usually these were to do with “lack-ofs”, such as lack of fencing, lack of housing, lack of experience, lack of cash, you get the idea.  Amazingly within eight months we were able to put on our table whole meals produced by our own work, and not just boiled eggs.

This was one of the reasons why we wanted to take on this lifestyle, we wanted to know what we were eating, be more environmentaly friendly and play outside a lot.

Dealing with the rockfall in May

Our collection of beasts has grown, some would say grown too big for the space we occupy and definitely too big for both of us to continue working full time.

All our beasts have distinct characters and personality of their own that adds to the enjoyment and chaos of life here. It really does come a surprise that sheep have personality, ours have far too much of it especially first thing in the morning as they mug you for breakfast. As a result we are always busy, usually happy, covered in muck and incredibly lucky to be living here.

Thankfully we have been accepted by the local militia who farm the hills surrounding us and they have been a great source of help, advice and the occasional overpriced animal of dubious heritage. Sometimes I think  they only help us for the entertainment value but it’s always gratefully received.

Stupid Goat in June

On this site you  will discover the answer to many previously unasked questions , like “What really happens if you shut the stable door after the horse has bolted?”  “Are bee keepers wimps or can you take the top off a hive wearing shorts and t-shirts?” And perhaps most importantly “Goats. Why Bother?”

Tales From the Rock is a  light hearted exploration of life, its  feel good faction. People seem to like our approach to life, the enthusiasm with which we take on impossible tasks such as breaking a 45 ton rock with a hammer or concrete a runway for light aircraft with a electric mixer, and our attitude to the animals that share our lives.

Throughout these pages and on the blog there are gems of advice that will assist anyone

Garden Growing in July

embarking on this increasingly popular life choice, chances for you to support our animal rescue work, virtually feed the animals or download recipes on how to cook some of them. Most importantly by exploring these pages trainee smallholders will know “how not to do it”.

 We hope you enjoy reading our tales of life, the universe and everything muddy.

Amateur Sheep Shearing in August

Rock cottage car repair shop Setember

Mutton joke about it October

Early snow November

All our own work December