As a former farmer, the first thing I'd buy, a second hand, 50 hp tractor, with a ROPS (basically a roll bar, you need that for such 'hilly' land), PTO (power take off), the second thing would be a flail/slasher, to run off the PTO and I'd have at your overgrown fields. In two weeks, you'd have broken the back of all that bracken fern, gorse and any other undesirables plants. If you only needed to tidy up the place, I'd pay a local contractor or one of your farming neighbours to do this work but it's going to be a constant battle with nature, over the next few years, to get on top of your weed problem, assuming, you don't want to use chemicals. Also, a tractor, will go where most vehicles won't, with a trailer or carry-all, you'll be able to drag whatever equipment, materials or supplies up your hilly land. It doesn't have to be expensive, a few thousand euros will get you one and tractors last for decades, generations, as long as it starts, you should be able to keep it going. Also the EU used to pay you, to make small wildlife habitats, things like hedges, if they still do it, it might something to look into? A small holding is a lot of hard work, the more machinery to help get the work done, the better. I know its not very romantic but farming, on any level, is just a lot of hard graft. Good luck, you're going to need it, it's going to be a steep learning curve but you can do it. Also, I'd rethink a cow, you don't have that much land and what will you do, with 20+ liters of milk per day, you can only make and store, so much butter, cheese or yoghurt. Indeed, as a family of three, you'd be hard pressed to go through 20 liters a week, nevermind, per day. A decent dairy goat Doe will give you at least 4+ litres a day, that's much more manageable amount of milk. Goats, are more personable and easier to manage, they also milk for two years, after they kid. Again, good luck to your wee family and I hope you enjoy, your move to my homeland. Slan.
I totally agree with what you have said about goats. They would also help with keeping any brush down or clearing out wooded areas. Some young pigs might help there as well. Not much good for milking though 😂
pigs are very useful for rewilding as they rootle and turn over the soil, apparently encouraging all kinds of helpful microorganisms, etc., plus there is the meat factor.
I agree about it being a battle to keep weeds down. Our garden area was two thirds brambles. Our builder (who's also a farmer) turned it over very thoroughly with his tractor bucket - maybe going a meter deep. The brambles still pop up. Any bit left in ground will continue to grow or re-root.
Thanks for the detailed advice, really appreciate it. Words of wisdom grounded in solid experience like your own are golden, and we value it a great deal. We knew there would be a glut of excess dairy from the cow, we intended to feed the pigs and soak the chick feed in it. Also have come across many small scale homesteaders and market farmers using a diluted milk feed in the garden. I came across a Canadian Organic Orchard owner who used Whey sprayed on fruit trees to combat fungal diseases. Thanks for following along
We bought 15 acres in NE Scotland 10 years ago, having been outbid numerous times on other plots. We did the same as you and placed an offer without viewing the place and it was accepted. One offgrid house build, many sheds and a whole bunch of livestock later and it is the best thing we have ever done. Looking forward to seeing your journey.
As a retired small holder, I would consider getting some goats. They will help you clear the land and could be a more manageable source of milk and meat than cows. They are also much better suited to the terrain that you have.
Welcome to Ireland. I love it and l sense you may also. We are a mystical people, great fun, serious survivors. Dont handshake a deal unless you are serious., as it's the contract. The seasons are comforting. Embrace the rain...as it blooms your fields. Then the rainbows emerge. Take time to embrace them. Welcome. Ireland
Gosh, the seasons are sort of disappearing... Don't be lulled into any false sense of security, there's so much unpredictability. -On the positive side, late summer has been running into milder September and October the past 5 years. If there's room for late sowings, you might get good late harvests. Springs are much milder than traditionally but late frosts STILL happen in spite of much milder weather so 'getting ahead' can turn into a lot of wasted effort after one night's frost in late April. (Heartbreaking) High winds and storms are an increasing phenomenon here. Starting in October/November - they ran through to late spring this year. -If you're building tunnels I'd aim for them to be done and secure by the end of September, or they could be blown away entirely. Actually, given that you're at the start of your project, aanything that isn't strapped down by then could be blown away!. Rainfall is no longer seasonable at all. Periods of little to no rain can occur at any time of year now, and these dry spells are often followed with heavy rain. It's not at all unmanageable - but you need to be aware you can't rely on weather conditions to do what you expect or what you need. If you know that, then you won't be caught out. Good luck!
I lived in Ireland for several years 20 years or so ago! We had an old cottage outside a rural village which my parents renovated,at the time I was a teenager and busy going out enjoying the social scene(which was always good).I never fully understood the depth of work carried out and moaned a lot about the dust/ mess /inconvenience of camping out in the property whilst making it a home….but boy was it worth it.Ireland is a beautiful country and the people are so friendly,homely and welcoming! Your videos bring back pleasant memories of living in the renovation chaos and your enthusiasm to make your plans work is great to see. Loving your updates can’t wait to see all your progress! Xx not sure where you are in Ireland but it looks beautiful!
Funny, we get a fair bit of moaning from the little one. We aren't able to appreciate these things until well into our lives, we feel fortunate we are able to do so with some energy left in our batteries. Thanks for following along.
What a beautiful property and adventure ahead for your young family. Please watch Bealtaine Cottage and link up with the owner Collette O’ Neil. She bought a 3 acre property in the west of Ireland, described as poor land, which she turned single handedly in a paradise of tranquility, wild life refuge and fertile homestead. The work she’s done, as one woman is amazing. Looking forward to watch your homesteading journey💞💐
You neeeeeed to hire a herd of goats, they’ll clear all your land within about four weeks!! Sooooo true, get hiring 🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐😁. Good luck with your venture
I was going to say the same thing. But add.... feeder pigs for tilling the land, kunekune pigs are grass/foliage feeders, so just as good as goats, friendly, and don't escape like goats, although goats are also good for milking. Highland cows could handle the elevations, but I don't think you'll be safe milking one. Sheep are good grazers but you'd need a Sheep dog to call them in because they're....well .sheepish (ie. Afraid of people). My suggestion, whatever animals you get make sure they're either bottle raised or people raised and friendly. FOOD MOTIVATED also works.
Hiring a few goats for field work is good. Raising a flock isn’t such a great idea. They are like many Houdini! I do see a small rugged off~roader too. Love your work, Susan.
Im from Ireland and bought my own homestead cottage with 2 acres of land and 2 lifetimes of firewood. Any land that is unuseable is great for goats if ye are meat eaters or else have a plantation of ash trees, eucalyptus or any faat growing good firewood. Hazel is also great. Well done and best of luck on tour new adventure❤❤
First off. Welcome to Ireland. And welcome to homesteading. I'm a small mixed farmer in the West of Ireland. Sheep, goats, bees, veg and the occasional rare breed pig. Secondly. If you have mature Elm trees on your land that is incredibly rare in Ireland. Incredibly. I've never seen one. Teagasc, our farm and ag development org in Ireland are actively looking to collect samples from mature elm. Almost every single elm was killed by Dutch Elm Disease, and if they can find resistant Elm, they want samples to help breed resistant trees. Dr Deeraj Rathore is the contact in Teagasc for Elm. If you do have elm thats doing ok, and is more than 20 years old, you might have a resistant tree. Please do contact them. There are pretty much no elm trees above 20 years left. Good luck with the renovation, with the homesteading, gardening, milk cow and dairying. The house looks amazing, and the land looks amazing too - even if it does pose challenges.
I second this suggestion! Guinea fowl and chickens help reduce tick populations. Combine that with dusting with diatomaceous earth (when it has 2-3 days to work *without rain*). Removing brush by mowing, goats, or controlled burning can help tremendously to deprive the ticks of cover.
It's absolutely IMPERATIVE that you all have tests for Lyme Disease. Lyme untreated is deadly. That is definitely a life limiting condition. You have to rule out. Musical genius Ren was bitten by a Tick, misdiagnosed for years,almost died had to have stem cell treatment in Canada (not cheap) his Songs 'Hi Ren' & 'Troubles' & 'Tick boy' and many others will give you the picture. )@@offgridirishhomestead
Just joined your channel…I would look into getting an environmental specialist round, there are a lot of grants available for having and creating wildlife habitat. You have a lot of good stuff there, but they can advise you how you could use the land along with the habitat and get paid for it. You might have gone down that route already. Looking forward to seeing more updates😀💪🏻👍🏻
Congratulations on your first homestead. I love seeing young couples doing this makes me happy. I actually have 10 acres in Alabama, US since 2015. I'm 59 and doing it all by myself. Yes it is hard work but also very rewarding and very exciting every time harvest comes in.
Welcome to Ireland!! As a country lass brought up on a farm on a border county, i did not appreciate how peaceful and beautiful it is till now. Still live in the countryside, and now know i could never live in a built up city, ever! I know it rains, but i love the freshness, and would actually love to live beside the Atlantic over in Achill Island area and has the wind and fresh breeze hit my face everyday. As you grow older its lovely for a slow life. Best wishes to you 3.🏠
I was in the same situation to clearing a lot of acreage of weeds and brush. I got a bunch of Goats, and just rotate them around using a portable electric fence powered by a lithium battery
You'll be surprised how many rescue ponies and horses there are at rescue centres. They often have ones that can be ridden. I'm sure your place would be heaven for a couple of rescue ponies.
Totally. Bring the best of what you have to offer but don't underestimate the Irish. The education system is amazing, most kids have A levels and usually a college degree and have travelled the world.
I think the ticks business is just our latest panic. I come from an extended family of almost exclusively dairy farmers and not a one ever caught Lyme disease. Seems to be a disease that only affects some townies on their only ever rural picnic.
@@winterishere9828that's a fair point - but this suggests the farming community has built up immunity. A family new to Ireland won't have that... So as much as I'm not one for worrying, I wouldn't be dismissing it.
Treasure the Blackthorn and the Bramble (Bramble is the mother of the Oak as it provides protection as it grows). Scrubland is our most valuable habitat which nearly every human being is unaware of.
@@winterishere9828 I think you'll find that's not true if you do your research. Down in Kerry there are a good number of non-townies whose lives have been destroyed by Lyme disease.
You should get a proper farm horse for your daughter. She will live her dream of owning a horse and you will have so much help with those hillsides. My grandparents had very hilly land and thier horse was priceless. She could handle hills that no tractor could manage.
@@offgridirishhomestead your welcome. Also camper vibes, who have just moved to Ireland and are renovating an old stone cottage with lots of problems and solutions. Would be my dream ,but too old now so I love watching others achieve it. All the best to you both ☘️
Was just coming here to make the same suggestion. Instead of clearing the land, plant trees and adopt forest gardening. Ireland was once almost entirely forested and badly needs more trees to be planted, not cleared.
Honestly, I see no issue with this plot at all. It has character, seems private, much more enjoyable than a flat field, and it's perfect for someone willing to put in a bit of work. Get some goats and let them loose 😄
@@offgridirishhomestead You might want to keep some of the blackberries, maybe along just one stretch of wall. At least if they taste good. Good luck on your property!
Great tour guys. Ever considered hiring a herd of goats?? May save you a lot of time & effort clearing those fields. Much less destructive and they don't blast around the seeds again from the strimmer etc.
I agree they can protect themselves better than sheep . A donkey is very important but get it when it's young so u can have them mind better But they are very protective of the animals on the farm . Being a farmer is the best you guys will do great. God bless you both .
So happy with your comment about being mindful of what’s there and not destroying it. So many ‘clear out brush’ without seeing any value it possesses intrinsically, as wildlife cover, animal food, and even bloom and beauty in the various seasons, all on its own. Managing vs. mangling. Also, using goats to clear what will be grazing land is far easier than removing yourself.
SUGGESTION: Please, let your daughter get proper horse training, by a certified trainer, before getting a pony. Often time children are uncomfortable at the size of the horse and form fear instead of confort. A horse is an animal that can be unpredictable and intimidating. With proper training, she will learn how to ride the horse, take care of the horse… feeding, brushing, bathing, scoop the poop and etc. Proper teachings/training is essential.😊
You are absolutely correct. She has been fortunate enough to have been doing riding lessons and pony management for a while now. Thanks for following along
Great video, love all that land as I have horses! The cow barn/shed should be ample protection for a horse/pony to shelter in when necessary, don't worry too much about stables but you obviously need somewhere to bring it into for grooming, vet, farrier etc (go bare foot, much better and a lot cheaper to maintain) , good luck! 😁👍
At 21:57, you talked about tilling. I'd recommend looking into the 'back to eden gardening' or the 'ruth stout' method. They didn't till. They just did a deep mulch. I laid about 6 inches of woodchips down on an area thick with grass and put some chickens on it. It killed the grass and probably added good nutrients to the soil from the dead grass.
Hey, yes we would ideally do everything no dig - @charlesdowding is like a gardening god for us. Sometimes time and resources mean there are few options left but to just dig.
I agree with the comments re tractor & slasher, plus get a contractor to give you a quote to bulldoze a proper access road to the high property so it can be accessed and utilized fully.
Love the fact that you show that you can disagree with each other - that's life. And love the ups and downs of the land. Looks great, as do your plans.
Hiya guys good luck with the project first thing you need to buy is a small 4 wheel drive compact tractor with loader with a flail mower it will go anywhere
Our city just brought in a herd of goats to 'clear' city land that is overgrown with invasive plants. Apparently they are great for maintaining land. Definitely consider asking the local farmers if they would be interested and if it would be possible. It might help you out until you get your own animals. BEAUTIFUL property!!!!
Exciting new channel!!! Careful with ticks if you get cows, if they ingest them, they can actually die. Happened on our farm in Ireland. Exciting plans, sure it will change/be refined hundreds of times! Best of luck and get well soon.
I am excited to see what is revealed as you clear away all of the bramble! Do you watch “ The newbys?” They bought a totally neglected, overgrown farm in Portugal and the things that they revealed with clearing the land were amazing. Now their farm is beautiful.
@@CG-99 No the extra daylight, particularly in the finer months. There are 19 hours of daylight. One thing about the weather. It does not rain all the time. It is much the same as any northern climate. What happens in Ireland is that it rains UNEXPECTEDLY. Another is the warm climate. It never gets too cold and it never gets too hot. This and daylight leads to great growth. If it rained all the time I am afraid there would be no growth!!
Viewing from Taiwan. Native of USA. Grew up on a farm in Indiana. Lots of cows, chickens, and rabbits. Jealous of your move to Ireland! Stepped land gives a variety of options. Great energy between you.
Hi there, I live in Mayo, so I know the winds and all that overgrowth thing... What I enjoy the most, is when I see that you have humour, a lot of it! It's the only way through life and I am absolutely sure that you will, over time, use this land in ways you cannot imagine right now. Other people have done similar things in this and other parts of the world and over time they turned it into something special. I am sure this is going to be the case as well for your land. Best of luck and keep giggling! 🙂
For the steep path up you can maybe get or make a tracked (like a tank) buggy, with a big diesel engine, a loader, seat , and controls. I have seen them a lot in Asia. They can trundle up and down a lot of things, though I don’t know your angle of elevation. Love you spirit. Do think about a forest garden of native trees.
Guys consider availing of the native tree area scheme. Plant 1ha od land in total and get a yearly payment of 2200 for 10 years. Can be one complete parcel or several discrete parcels. R
personalities and work ethic of (in this case the new land owners). A sense of humor is essential! This should be fun, educational, and endearing following you two on your quest. Have subscribed and looking forward to your adventure! ❤
You should consider getting a contractor with a tractor mounted hedge cutter to cut the brambles back in some of those fields. It would open up the place for you and make life much easier. The land doesn't look too bad. It's just been neglected for years. Best of luck with it.
chickens in a secure movable area will help clear the flatter areas and goats for the more rugged areas. Also consider advertising the nettles and wild herbs and small producer soap makes for example might come and collect (pick) for free 😊
Good luck with your new homestead and may all your dreams come true. Wishing you both good health and happiness as you begin this new chapter of your life. Mossy bottom channel shows how a man used a couple of pigs to clear ground for his first potato patch. Goats eat any greenery but it's hard to fence them in so they might wander. Vera in Northern Ireland ❤
I am so glad I found y’all. I live in the USA and have had obsession with Ireland since I was 5. Seeing or more so moving to Ireland before I die is the only thing on my bucket list. But every one tells me it is so hard to move there coming from the US. So for now I’ll live through you. Thank you for sharing.. ❤
Your most likely obsession is what you seen on tv Hollywood nonsense. I’m not having a go but I can speak from first hand experience. It amazes me that there’s no mention of the corruption in Ireland mass migration that’s taken place right now house crisis and the natives told to shut up by the government who are in the pockets of the eu please do visit but don’t think it’s Ireland of yesteryear will it be unreasonable in a very few short years but hey they tell you I’m right wing 😂 so listen to me
Try and keep as many wildlife habitats as possible, and make a pond if possible, nice to have secret areas and privacy for your selfs also. Looks like a paradise ❤❤
Great start. Started a similar journey a year ago in Portugal. The hardest physical work, but very rewarding. I have realized that it is worthwhile taking one step at a time- observing, learning and testing what works, rather than doing too much too soon and getting stretched to breaking.
Sound advice, looking forward to slowing down - just have a 13month deadline for the first phase of the work for the grant - ua-cam.com/video/YGdRLIWAqRA/v-deo.html
It’s quite a adventure but I love how you are passionate about it, I can see how quickly your place is going to be transformed and can wait for the next video 😊
Get a good digger driver in. They will do 3 times the work that you could do hiring one yourself. Clearing it back by hand might seem like fun now but it will get old fast. Get your parameter fences established. Trust me. Getting a call that your livestock are on the road is no fun. You have a live times work ahead of you there so give yourself a head start. And good luck!
Hard to grow trees if you have any deer about. My homestead is in Co. Galway and they come in at night and eat all my new trees 😞@@offgridirishhomestead
I completely understand your purchase. We currently liveaboard (11 yrs now) and bought a lot online in Nova Scotia. Putting the boat on the market next year to head east and build a little house and grow a garden with chickens and bees. Happy adventures!
Hi Corri enjoyed your farm walk,few things to consider I farm a medium farm firstly fields 4-5 are best suited for grazing or hay- silage for winter feed,not suited for oacherd due to its remoteness’s, I have a n acres of fruit beside my house, almost fails to keep crows at bay,sloping hillside with shelter is ideal for fruit production. Ferns only very productive land , a few hours to make road to hill field kind regards Sean
Look at glamping, you have proper remote locations and could be some quick money stream, with hopefully not to much setup cost. Then the glamps can be taken down as needed.
This is so fun! We bought land with 2 similar slopes (Missouri, USA) and bought sheep and goats and chickens for it. They've been eating the weeds and vines, and everything for a few months and already its looking different. I'm putting a perrenial garden (fruit trees, bushes, asparagus, etc). On another slope. There's so many ways to farm a slope. Keyline plowing, swale on contour, etc. You have to do some earth works but people have been doing (without machines) for centuries. Good luck!
Hi guys good on you for setting out on such an adventure . As someone said be care full of ticks with cattle they can get red water and die .clear the fields of brambles and ferns . Lime the land helps with ticks.Improve the soil . Good fences make good neighbours. .slainta
Pay attention to suggestions of what people have done before you. You are the first one to try and adventure on a hill and how to get your stuff there. I’m sure there’s videos of developing a mountain home similar to yours. Were excited for you. You seem to be a really sweet couple.
Love watching you two. We bought 5 acres on top of a mountain in Tennessee, not one flat spot. We do raised bed gardens. Goats are a good idea and a good tractor. Your land is wonderful 👍🏼🇺🇸🍀❤️. Get your fruit trees planted asap takes years to get a harvest 😊
Where on Vancouver Island are you. Cori is from Saskatchewan. We went on a road trip through the rockies to Vancouver, then over to stay in Tofino. Loved it!
Please save a couple of those meadowlands, they are gorgeous, full of amazing plants and they are an important habitat too, as important to save as your “secrete garden”. The big honking duck was probably a wild goose. Wishing you health and happiness in your lush valley 💜
loved the tour, your land will be amazing; do small spots of clearing, one fence at a time; citrus might do well at the top of that very steep paddock you might want to find another way up to the top of Hilary rather than the causeway, water will take the easiest path down the secret garden sounds wonderful & am glad you're leaving it for now as some have suggested perhaps hire a few goats to clear up some of the worse of the over growth, couldn't hurt you'll have to find out what wild flowers & herbs grow naturally & spread more seeds of these, the fields will be wonderful bee & bug attractors Danu's Irish Herb Garden is a good one to watch & you can ask her lots of questions about leaving things & adding things to the wild, very informative looking forward to the next tour or reno thanx for sharing
Hi guys. Now that youve gone in head first and purchased the land. Might be a good idea to get a Lidar Map of the whole area with 1m intervals of the topography to make planning of the farm layout easier.
Careful of the Ticks this time of year guys, its uncommon but Lyme disease is contractable from Irish ticks. Homestead looks beautiful, best of luck with it
I am in the USA on 2.5 acres of land in the countryside, so I admire your courage to take on this large property, as I have similar wild growth issues taking over on a smaller scale. I visited Ireland and Scotland last year for the first time. Some of my heritage is Irish too. I loved it there and hope to visit again. I'm really enjoying watching your journey and best of luck!
Where in the US are you ? Some of the landscapes in Scotland and Ireland mirror each other, which is understandable given the proximity. Glad you got the opportunity to travel and soak up some of its beauty. Thanks for following along
What a lovely couple. I look forward to more updates. Get goats. They are the best at clearing above ground. And they do it so fast. Pigs are great at turning over soil.
Small steps. The smartest move you are making is to live and watch the land. You have to understand the water, weather, and life around it. What roams at night and will eat the plantings? You will need fencing options and #1 a guardian dog and cats. Enjoying the channel from GA in the states.
Unfortunately / fortunately depending on your point of view not many predators or pests here. Foxes, rabbits and SLUGS! No pine martins in our place we have seen. So relatively straight forward to deal with. Did I mention SLUGS.... never seen so many in my life. Spotted a couple of tiger slugs too. Amazing looking creatures, didn't know slugs could get so large. Thanks for following along
Watching the land is so important though. The value of it is vastly underestimated. I'm an avid gardener. I once moved house and was desperate to get into the ramshackle garden but I got sick. I couldn't do anything for 12 months. It turned out I learned just as much about my garden looking out the window as I would have done being in it. I couldn't believe how much I'd 'missed' with my initial assessment -even with all my experience. By the time i was well and ready to garden my entire plan had changed because I'd learned what the garden was already doing for me. -How it was interacting with itself and how the wildlife was interacting with the space. In the end, it cut my labour by a LOT.
@@offgridirishhomesteadre slugs... The slug situation in Ireland is ridiculous! They're not only plentiful, they're athletic. They'll stretch over an inch gap just to get to something tasty! Having battled to protect my bedding plants for years here are the natural tips that actually work: the best is seaweed. A generous line of seaweed will keep them out of beds/tunnels -and act as fertiliser as it breaks down. Broken eggshells are good for smaller areas. You need 3/4 of an inch wide and 1/2 an inch deep - which is a lot of eggshells but they last 2-3 years. -Broken seashells are supposed to be good too but i never had access. Ducks are meant to be great.
When we lived in Cork I had a kitchen garden and joined my local GIY (Grow It Yourself). Eggshells for slug barriers was one of the best tips ever! Met great people with tons of experience and local knowledge on everything from native seeds to making cider! I ended up taking on my daughters school garden which was a huge project. By the time we left they had veg beds, gardening sessions, kids growing pumpkins for Halloween, fruit trees and a sensory garden. The community were amazing - everyone helped. If there's a local GIY group you should join.
Congratulations. Great to have a challenge that benefits both you and the land. Permaculture techniques are free and rapidly improve any land. Hurray for you & Ireland.
I really enjoy watching your videos. My grandparents left England & went to live on a smallholding years ago in Ireland. I wish you all the luck in the world. Ireland is a great place & l love the people. Looking forward to the next one....❤
😊 goats. Yup. Goats. Takes care of a lot of that and feta cheese is good!! Plant lots of rosemary and mint around to help discourage flies and ticks. For good nitrogen fixing plant clover. That also calls in lots of pollinators.
Feta cheese doesn't last long in this household. Love it. I planted 49 Rosemary seeds in the propagator early spring, got a poor germination rate, managed to nurse 3 of them to survival. Little blighters breaking my heart. K
Thank you! We see ourselves as custodians more than owners. The land was here before we existed, and will outlast us and our descendants time immemorial. But for now, we are enjoying how lucky we are to enjoy our lifetime with it.
Beautiful location and would you consider some of the land for a 'wild type camping/glamping site' and Cori you could run bread making courses. Welcome to Ireland and may your daughter make many friends and special memories growing up in such natural surroundings.
what a wonderful couple ..and I so admire them ..they laugh so much together..it's so lovely..a hundred thousand welcomes to you . from Co kerry..🎉🎉🙏🙏🙏🙏
As a lifelong horse owner ( family owned boarding facility ) make sure you have a vet and farrier in your area before you buy a horse. They can be a bit more delicate than people realize. I spend more on my horses vet and farrier bills than I do their food. Also remember you need to have a companion for it and the majority of horses will not bond with a cow. Some will with a goat or donkey. Horses do teach amazing responsibility to kids and I can’t imagine life without them, but they basically eat money 😂
glad to have found you two, you're very engaging I like the realness of your interaction with eachother; and I can hardly wait to see what you're up to next.
Your ideas for your home sound amazing and adventurous! I will be following along as you guys work hard to make it happen. I watched your previous channel (which I enjoyed) but I gotta say I love to watch Kayvan talk and you two joke around and be authentic together. Cannot wait for more content. Thank you!
💕You should get some goats they will eat everything just move them around with electric fencing around them so they don’t escape 💕You can milk goats & make cheese yoghurts & more OR just use them as munching strimmers MEANING YOU don’t have to get rid of the cuttings💕
Lots of work ahead. Good luck on your endeavor. Pay attention to what you're doing and stay safe. It's easy to become so engrossed in your activity that accidents can easily happen.
Their so many good and helpful suggestions here. Take them all into consideration. They have already worked out the kinks for you. Goats are a great suggestion. Fruit trees on the sloping field are also a good suggestion, as is the rotating of the hens and electrical fence. Are you planning on any beehives? Nettle harvesters are also a good idea.😊 I am looking forward to your progress. Blessing and good luck.🍀
Incredible property!! Your editing skills are really good. One suggestion is to pull back on the harsh cuts to clip out bits as y’all are speaking. It’s pushing the flow to a faster pace than you are speaking and feels less natural. Sometimes it feels like it’s been speed up. You two are endearing, so don’t try to speed up the final product, let us see the real you. A little breathing room is good. 😎 Keep up the good work, ignore the harsh comments, excited to watch the journey y’all are on!
Appreciate the feedback. I praise Cori for her edit skills often. Mostly because I am no natural on cam, and waffle a fair bit - so she has a job on her hands to make it flow. Hopefully with practice I improve where it doesn't cause the need to chop. Thanks for following along K
Agree with the comment about you two being endering! You are extremely watchable. Don't cut back on your silly times and yes show the bloopers. It's not just content (and yours is good) but also personalities that draw people to a channel. You have personality in spades! Use it!!
I really hope your daughter gets her horse!!!!!!! You two are absolutely a hoot… Love Love Love your content your Chanel down to earth personality and definitely your giggle 😜 I cannot wait for all the projects to really get going!!!!!!! God Bless you all I’ll be anticipating your videos…Much Love My Friends
It’s a tonne of work but I’m so envious. I’m from Cork and I would love to retire to the countryside. I was thinking during the video and i saw a comment saying the same but goats would help you get rid of so much of the overgrowth and then maintain it.
As a former farmer, the first thing I'd buy, a second hand, 50 hp tractor, with a ROPS (basically a roll bar, you need that for such 'hilly' land), PTO (power take off), the second thing would be a flail/slasher, to run off the PTO and I'd have at your overgrown fields. In two weeks, you'd have broken the back of all that bracken fern, gorse and any other undesirables plants. If you only needed to tidy up the place, I'd pay a local contractor or one of your farming neighbours to do this work but it's going to be a constant battle with nature, over the next few years, to get on top of your weed problem, assuming, you don't want to use chemicals. Also, a tractor, will go where most vehicles won't, with a trailer or carry-all, you'll be able to drag whatever equipment, materials or supplies up your hilly land. It doesn't have to be expensive, a few thousand euros will get you one and tractors last for decades, generations, as long as it starts, you should be able to keep it going. Also the EU used to pay you, to make small wildlife habitats, things like hedges, if they still do it, it might something to look into? A small holding is a lot of hard work, the more machinery to help get the work done, the better. I know its not very romantic but farming, on any level, is just a lot of hard graft. Good luck, you're going to need it, it's going to be a steep learning curve but you can do it. Also, I'd rethink a cow, you don't have that much land and what will you do, with 20+ liters of milk per day, you can only make and store, so much butter, cheese or yoghurt. Indeed, as a family of three, you'd be hard pressed to go through 20 liters a week, nevermind, per day. A decent dairy goat Doe will give you at least 4+ litres a day, that's much more manageable amount of milk. Goats, are more personable and easier to manage, they also milk for two years, after they kid. Again, good luck to your wee family and I hope you enjoy, your move to my homeland. Slan.
I totally agree with what you have said about goats. They would also help with keeping any brush down or clearing out wooded areas. Some young pigs might help there as well. Not much good for milking though 😂
pigs are very useful for rewilding as they rootle and turn over the soil, apparently encouraging all kinds of helpful microorganisms, etc., plus there is the meat factor.
They said they wanted to raise a calf for meat so part of the milk will go in feeding the calf and can be also fed to pigs.
I agree about it being a battle to keep weeds down. Our garden area was two thirds brambles. Our builder (who's also a farmer) turned it over very thoroughly with his tractor bucket - maybe going a meter deep. The brambles still pop up. Any bit left in ground will continue to grow or re-root.
Thanks for the detailed advice, really appreciate it. Words of wisdom grounded in solid experience like your own are golden, and we value it a great deal.
We knew there would be a glut of excess dairy from the cow, we intended to feed the pigs and soak the chick feed in it. Also have come across many small scale homesteaders and market farmers using a diluted milk feed in the garden. I came across a Canadian Organic Orchard owner who used Whey sprayed on fruit trees to combat fungal diseases.
Thanks for following along
We bought 15 acres in NE Scotland 10 years ago, having been outbid numerous times on other plots. We did the same as you and placed an offer without viewing the place and it was accepted. One offgrid house build, many sheds and a whole bunch of livestock later and it is the best thing we have ever done. Looking forward to seeing your journey.
Always better when sweat and tears go into a project and makes it yours.
What value as iam looking to get a plot for retirement
Welcome to ireland
Where in ireland is it t@@offgridirishhomestead
@@Anthony-oq9qc Thanks a mil! We are down in SW Munster
As a retired small holder, I would consider getting some goats. They will help you clear the land and could be a more manageable source of milk and meat than cows. They are also much better suited to the terrain that you have.
🐐Goats are definitely getting the popular vote!
@@offgridirishhomestead You can also lend/rent goats to people with overgrown weed problems.
@@offgridirishhomestead100% more easy to handle.
Goats milk u can sell its very helty milk
Welcome to Ireland. I love it and l sense you may also. We are a mystical people, great fun, serious survivors. Dont handshake a deal unless you are serious., as it's the contract. The seasons are comforting. Embrace the rain...as it blooms your fields. Then the rainbows emerge. Take time to embrace them. Welcome. Ireland
Gosh, the seasons are sort of disappearing... Don't be lulled into any false sense of security, there's so much unpredictability. -On the positive side, late summer has been running into milder September and October the past 5 years. If there's room for late sowings, you might get good late harvests.
Springs are much milder than traditionally but late frosts STILL happen in spite of much milder weather so 'getting ahead' can turn into a lot of wasted effort after one night's frost in late April. (Heartbreaking)
High winds and storms are an increasing phenomenon here. Starting in October/November - they ran through to late spring this year. -If you're building tunnels I'd aim for them to be done and secure by the end of September, or they could be blown away entirely. Actually, given that you're at the start of your project, aanything that isn't strapped down by then could be blown away!.
Rainfall is no longer seasonable at all. Periods of little to no rain can occur at any time of year now, and these dry spells are often followed with heavy rain.
It's not at all unmanageable - but you need to be aware you can't rely on weather conditions to do what you expect or what you need. If you know that, then you won't be caught out. Good luck!
I lived in Ireland for several years 20 years or so ago! We had an old cottage outside a rural village which my parents renovated,at the time I was a teenager and busy going out enjoying the social scene(which was always good).I never fully understood the depth of work carried out and moaned a lot about the dust/ mess /inconvenience of camping out in the property whilst making it a home….but boy was it worth it.Ireland is a beautiful country and the people are so friendly,homely and welcoming! Your videos bring back pleasant memories of living in the renovation chaos and your enthusiasm to make your plans work is great to see. Loving your updates can’t wait to see all your progress! Xx not sure where you are in Ireland but it looks beautiful!
Funny, we get a fair bit of moaning from the little one. We aren't able to appreciate these things until well into our lives, we feel fortunate we are able to do so with some energy left in our batteries.
Thanks for following along.
What a beautiful property and adventure ahead for your young family. Please watch Bealtaine Cottage and link up with the owner Collette O’ Neil. She bought a 3 acre property in the west of Ireland, described as poor land, which she turned single handedly in a paradise of tranquility, wild life refuge and fertile homestead. The work she’s done, as one woman is amazing. Looking forward to watch your homesteading journey💞💐
Thanks for the suggestion. Will check out her content. Appreciate you following along
You neeeeeed to hire a herd of goats, they’ll clear all your land within about four weeks!! Sooooo true, get hiring 🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐😁. Good luck with your venture
I was going to say the same thing. But add.... feeder pigs for tilling the land, kunekune pigs are grass/foliage feeders, so just as good as goats, friendly, and don't escape like goats, although goats are also good for milking. Highland cows could handle the elevations, but I don't think you'll be safe milking one. Sheep are good grazers but you'd need a Sheep dog to call them in because they're....well .sheepish (ie. Afraid of people).
My suggestion, whatever animals you get make sure they're either bottle raised or people raised and friendly. FOOD MOTIVATED also works.
Hiring a few goats for field work is good. Raising a flock isn’t such a great idea. They are like many Houdini! I do see a small rugged off~roader too. Love your work, Susan.
Sheep can live on Hilary.
I was going to say the same about the goats. But maybe rent out the fields to a local farmer. Short term lease at lower the cost of rental
I don't know many hired goat herds there are in Ireland but there's no harm in asking about, they might get lucky.
Im from Ireland and bought my own homestead cottage with 2 acres of land and 2 lifetimes of firewood.
Any land that is unuseable is great for goats if ye are meat eaters or else have a plantation of ash trees, eucalyptus or any faat growing good firewood. Hazel is also great. Well done and best of luck on tour new adventure❤❤
Thanks a mil
@@offgridirishhomestead ur welcome, do u mind me asking , what part of Ireland it is. It looks like kerry
First off. Welcome to Ireland. And welcome to homesteading. I'm a small mixed farmer in the West of Ireland. Sheep, goats, bees, veg and the occasional rare breed pig. Secondly. If you have mature Elm trees on your land that is incredibly rare in Ireland. Incredibly. I've never seen one. Teagasc, our farm and ag development org in Ireland are actively looking to collect samples from mature elm. Almost every single elm was killed by Dutch Elm Disease, and if they can find resistant Elm, they want samples to help breed resistant trees. Dr Deeraj Rathore is the contact in Teagasc for Elm. If you do have elm thats doing ok, and is more than 20 years old, you might have a resistant tree. Please do contact them. There are pretty much no elm trees above 20 years left. Good luck with the renovation, with the homesteading, gardening, milk cow and dairying. The house looks amazing, and the land looks amazing too - even if it does pose challenges.
Hi Keith, thanks for the comment. If you wouldn't mind reaching out to us by email (see channel about), would appreciate a correspondence.
If you have problems with ticks then get yourself some guinea fowl. Not only do they eat the ticks they also eat the eggs of the ticks.
Interesting! Thank you
I second this suggestion! Guinea fowl and chickens help reduce tick populations. Combine that with dusting with diatomaceous earth (when it has 2-3 days to work *without rain*). Removing brush by mowing, goats, or controlled burning can help tremendously to deprive the ticks of cover.
It's absolutely IMPERATIVE that you all have tests for Lyme Disease. Lyme untreated is deadly. That is definitely a life limiting condition. You have to rule out.
Musical genius Ren was bitten by a Tick, misdiagnosed for years,almost died had to have stem cell treatment in Canada (not cheap) his Songs 'Hi Ren' & 'Troubles' & 'Tick boy' and many others will give you the picture. )@@offgridirishhomestead
Native birds will also eat ticks
Locally known as redwater. Only stock born on the land will thrive
Just joined your channel…I would look into getting an environmental specialist round, there are a lot of grants available for having and creating wildlife habitat.
You have a lot of good stuff there, but they can advise you how you could use the land along with the habitat and get paid for it.
You might have gone down that route already.
Looking forward to seeing more updates😀💪🏻👍🏻
Hey great advice, thanks for following along.
Congratulations on your first homestead. I love seeing young couples doing this makes me happy. I actually
have 10 acres in Alabama, US since 2015. I'm 59 and doing it all by myself.
Yes it is hard work but also very rewarding and very exciting every time harvest comes in.
We get very excited harvesting anything, so we have a common understanding. So empowering growing your own sustenance.
What a lovely couple. I wish them the best. We will keep watching.
Thanks for following along
Welcome to Ireland!! As a country lass brought up on a farm on a border county, i did not appreciate how peaceful and beautiful it is till now. Still live in the countryside, and now know i could never live in a built up city, ever! I know it rains, but i love the freshness, and would actually love to live beside the Atlantic over in Achill Island area and has the wind and fresh breeze hit my face everyday. As you grow older its lovely for a slow life. Best wishes to you 3.🏠
Thanks a mil! Looking forward to building a new life and growing old here.
I was in the same situation to clearing a lot of acreage of weeds and brush. I got a bunch of Goats, and just rotate them around using a portable electric fence powered by a lithium battery
Thats how we are moving the poultry run around at the mo. Good to know the same approach can work for the goats 🙏
You'll be surprised how many rescue ponies and horses there are at rescue centres. They often have ones that can be ridden. I'm sure your place would be heaven for a couple of rescue ponies.
Totally. Bring the best of what you have to offer but don't underestimate the Irish. The education system is amazing, most kids have A levels and usually a college degree and have travelled the world.
@@Takko-t2v thank you kind bot
Lots of hard work ahead. Listen to local knowledge & feed from it. Good Luck 🍀
100%
Mind yourselves with the ticks.
They can be dangerous.
Also treasure the blackthorn and the whitethorn
They were sacred trees in Celtic mythology
We love the Blackthorn and Whitethorn. My current desktop background features them in bloom early Spring.
I think the ticks business is just our latest panic. I come from an extended family of almost exclusively dairy farmers and not a one ever caught Lyme disease. Seems to be a disease that only affects some townies on their only ever rural picnic.
@@winterishere9828that's a fair point - but this suggests the farming community has built up immunity. A family new to Ireland won't have that... So as much as I'm not one for worrying, I wouldn't be dismissing it.
Treasure the Blackthorn and the Bramble (Bramble is the mother of the Oak as it provides protection as it grows). Scrubland is our most valuable habitat which nearly every human being is unaware of.
@@winterishere9828 I think you'll find that's not true if you do your research. Down in Kerry there are a good number of non-townies whose lives have been destroyed by Lyme disease.
You should get a proper farm horse for your daughter. She will live her dream of owning a horse and you will have so much help with those hillsides. My grandparents had very hilly land and thier horse was priceless. She could handle hills that no tractor could manage.
Check out Bealtaine cottage (west coast of Ireland). What that woman has achieved on three acres of sloping scrub land is amazing.
Thanks for the suggestion, will do.
@@offgridirishhomestead your welcome. Also camper vibes, who have just moved to Ireland and are renovating an old stone cottage with lots of problems and solutions. Would be my dream ,but too old now so I love watching others achieve it. All the best to you both ☘️
Was just coming here to make the same suggestion. Instead of clearing the land, plant trees and adopt forest gardening. Ireland was once almost entirely forested and badly needs more trees to be planted, not cleared.
Bealtaine Cottage is amazing! Colette is an endless source of ideas and inspiration ❤
at some time in the past, folks farmed that land. How wonderful that you will renew that use and purpose!!! Thank you for taking us along with you!
Thank you for joining us
Honestly, I see no issue with this plot at all. It has character, seems private, much more enjoyable than a flat field, and it's perfect for someone willing to put in a bit of work. Get some goats and let them loose 😄
Fruit trees- infinite possibilities!! Exciting times ahead!
Love the comments - goats eat grass-
Sounds like a plan.
Oh God- ticks!
Bless you
Goats will eat grass only if they can't get anything else, and that "else" is just about anything you don't want them to eat.
@@offgridirishhomestead You might want to keep some of the blackberries, maybe along just one stretch of wall. At least if they taste good.
Good luck on your property!
sheep and cattle/horses eat grass. Goats are mainly brush eaters. Would work wonders clearing brambles and brush/weeds.
Great tour guys. Ever considered hiring a herd of goats?? May save you a lot of time & effort clearing those fields. Much less destructive and they don't blast around the seeds again from the strimmer etc.
Great suggestion, seems to be the consensus. Thanks for following along
@@offgridirishhomestead +1 on two goats, but make sure you electric fence them well.
I agree they can protect themselves better than sheep . A donkey is very important but get it when it's young so u can have them mind better
But they are very protective of the animals on the farm . Being a farmer is the best you guys will do great. God bless you both .
I'm from the USA and I love Ireland and good luck. I'm excited for you.
Love the land and your plan's. We live in Ireland and also own land so I'm excited to watch your progress 🎉
I was going to suggest the goats too they eat anything ,welcome to Ireland we came here from Essex 6 years ago and haven't looked back
So happy with your comment about being mindful of what’s there and not destroying it. So many ‘clear out brush’ without seeing any value it possesses intrinsically, as wildlife cover, animal food, and even bloom and beauty in the various seasons, all on its own. Managing vs. mangling. Also, using goats to clear what will be grazing land is far easier than removing yourself.
It supports so much wildlife, always rustling and shaking coming from all the overgrown wilderness. We love it
SUGGESTION:
Please, let your daughter get proper horse training, by a certified trainer, before getting a pony.
Often time children are uncomfortable at the size of the horse and form fear instead of confort.
A horse is an animal that can be unpredictable and intimidating.
With proper training, she will learn how to ride the horse, take care of the horse… feeding, brushing, bathing, scoop the poop and etc.
Proper teachings/training is essential.😊
You are absolutely correct. She has been fortunate enough to have been doing riding lessons and pony management for a while now. Thanks for following along
@@offgridirishhomestead Thank goodness. You guys are wise parents.
She’s a very lucky 🍀 girl😊
Great video, love all that land as I have horses! The cow barn/shed should be ample protection for a horse/pony to shelter in when necessary, don't worry too much about stables but you obviously need somewhere to bring it into for grooming, vet, farrier etc (go bare foot, much better and a lot cheaper to maintain) , good luck! 😁👍
🎉Did they say princess Ann was injured by a horses leg? Did they mean hoof? She was an expirienced horse woman.
I say too unpredictable for children.
@@offgridirishhomestead Don’t forget that horses are herd animals and should never be kept alone!
At 21:57, you talked about tilling. I'd recommend looking into the 'back to eden gardening' or the 'ruth stout' method. They didn't till. They just did a deep mulch. I laid about 6 inches of woodchips down on an area thick with grass and put some chickens on it. It killed the grass and probably added good nutrients to the soil from the dead grass.
Hey, yes we would ideally do everything no dig - @charlesdowding is like a gardening god for us. Sometimes time and resources mean there are few options left but to just dig.
get goats!! the milk is far superior and they ll do a great job of clearing, plus they are adorable companions. Great place you ve got there
Goats are great....a great amount of work just keeping track of the feckers...
I agree with the comments re tractor & slasher, plus get a contractor to give you a quote to bulldoze a proper access road to the high property so it can be accessed and utilized fully.
This!
Remember in Ireland, owning a horse isn’t posh or upper class, but owning a saddle is!
lol very true
Funny enough the little one did her first bareback hack a few days ago, was beaming from ear to ear.
I paid more for my saddle than I did for ANY of my horses!
@@lyndakling901 🤣🤣🤣
😂😂 love it, stealing that quote. Enjoy the journey guys, lovely place.
Love the fact that you show that you can disagree with each other - that's life. And love the ups and downs of the land. Looks great, as do your plans.
Let others bid where they will; you have some amazing land and visionary ideas for it.
Wind power on the hill, free energy. Zigzag paths will get a 4X4 up that hill get the digger out 😊
Someone else suggested a zigzag too. Don't need to ask me twice to get the digger !
Hiya guys good luck with the project first thing you need to buy is a small 4 wheel drive compact tractor with loader with a flail mower it will go anywhere
Now that's the kind of comment I need to get it past the financial controller (wife)!
K
Our city just brought in a herd of goats to 'clear' city land that is overgrown with invasive plants. Apparently they are great for maintaining land. Definitely consider asking the local farmers if they would be interested and if it would be possible. It might help you out until you get your own animals. BEAUTIFUL property!!!!
Thank you so much
Exciting new channel!!! Careful with ticks if you get cows, if they ingest them, they can actually die. Happened on our farm in Ireland. Exciting plans, sure it will change/be refined hundreds of times! Best of luck and get well soon.
Thanks a mil. Didn't know that re: cows ingesting them. Appreciate the comment.
What kind of ticks have you got, there?! Do chickens help?
I am excited to see what is revealed as you clear away all of the bramble! Do you watch “ The newbys?” They bought a totally neglected, overgrown farm in Portugal and the things that they revealed with clearing the land were amazing. Now their farm is beautiful.
Have not seen their content, will check them out thanks
Sunlight in Ireland is quite high. It is one of the reasons why everything grows here and why it is so green!!
@@raymonddixon7603 hmmm are you sure it’s not the copious rainfall causing everything to be so green?
@@CG-99 No the extra daylight, particularly in the finer months. There are 19 hours of daylight. One thing about the weather. It does not rain all the time. It is much the same as any northern climate. What happens in Ireland is that it rains UNEXPECTEDLY. Another is the warm climate. It never gets too cold and it never gets too hot. This and daylight leads to great growth. If it rained all the time I am afraid there would be no growth!!
Think it is Global Warming! 🌅
With global boiling rapidly increasing, perhaps planting grapevines is a terrific idea 🤔
What a handsome couple! Good luck with all your future endeavors ahead. We need more of you in Ireland, you will be a real asset to the community.
Thank a mil! Appreciate you following along.
Viewing from Taiwan. Native of USA. Grew up on a farm in Indiana. Lots of cows, chickens, and rabbits. Jealous of your move to Ireland! Stepped land gives a variety of options. Great energy between you.
Thank you so much for following along. Appreciate the good vibes
How much did the land cost if you don't mind saying
Hi there, I live in Mayo, so I know the winds and all that overgrowth thing... What I enjoy the most, is when I see that you have humour, a lot of it! It's the only way through life and I am absolutely sure that you will, over time, use this land in ways you cannot imagine right now. Other people have done similar things in this and other parts of the world and over time they turned it into something special. I am sure this is going to be the case as well for your land. Best of luck and keep giggling! 🙂
Thanks for the good vibes and joining us on the adventure
For the steep path up you can maybe get or make a tracked (like a tank) buggy, with a big diesel engine, a loader, seat , and controls. I have seen them a lot in Asia. They can trundle up and down a lot of things, though I don’t know your angle of elevation. Love you spirit. Do think about a forest garden of native trees.
Guys consider availing of the native tree area scheme. Plant 1ha od land in total and get a yearly payment of 2200 for 10 years. Can be one complete parcel or several discrete parcels. R
Have considered the ACRES scheme for sure. Thanks for following along
The more you share the process of your homestead, the more I love it!
I watch vlogs/channels for 2 reasons. First content: renovating an old farmer's cottage and land in Ireland. Second: the
personalities and work ethic of (in this case the new land owners). A sense of humor is essential! This should be fun, educational, and endearing following you two on your quest. Have subscribed and looking forward to your adventure! ❤
Thanks for the good vibes
You should consider getting a contractor with a tractor mounted hedge cutter to cut the brambles back in some of those fields. It would open up the place for you and make life much easier. The land doesn't look too bad. It's just been neglected for years. Best of luck with it.
I am waiting on a local farmer to turn up with his tractor and topper as I type this. They have been busy with there own silage collection.
chickens in a secure movable area will help clear the flatter areas and goats for the more rugged areas. Also consider advertising the nettles and wild herbs and small producer soap makes for example might come and collect (pick) for free 😊
Great suggestions. Thanks for following along
Good luck with your new homestead and may all your dreams come true. Wishing you both good health and happiness as you begin this new chapter of your life. Mossy bottom channel shows how a man used a couple of pigs to clear ground for his first potato patch. Goats eat any greenery but it's hard to fence them in so they might wander. Vera in Northern Ireland ❤
Hi Vera, I watched some of Mossy's content and enjoyed it. Shame he moved on... Thanks for following along
I am so glad I found y’all. I live in the USA and have had obsession with Ireland since I was 5. Seeing or more so moving to Ireland before I die is the only thing on my bucket list. But every one tells me it is so hard to move there coming from the US. So for now I’ll live through you. Thank you for sharing.. ❤
We have some neighbours from CA. They have been here for a few years. Follow your heart
Why is it hard? I know several people who moved from the USA and settled happily in Wexford for years.
Your most likely obsession is what you seen on tv Hollywood nonsense.
I’m not having a go but I can speak from first hand experience.
It amazes me that there’s no mention of the corruption in Ireland mass migration that’s taken place right now house crisis and the natives told to shut up by the government who are in the pockets of the eu please do visit but don’t think it’s Ireland of yesteryear will it be unreasonable in a very few short years but hey they tell you I’m right wing 😂 so listen to me
Absolutely gorgeous piece of land. I love your plans for developing it . Keep it simple and as natural as possible.👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks for following along
Try and keep as many wildlife habitats as possible, and make a pond if possible, nice to have secret areas and privacy for your selfs also. Looks like a paradise ❤❤
a Pond is a great idea and wild it with plants, make it big enough to bathe in.
Great start. Started a similar journey a year ago in Portugal. The hardest physical work, but very rewarding.
I have realized that it is worthwhile taking one step at a time- observing, learning and testing what works, rather than doing too much too soon and getting stretched to breaking.
Sound advice, looking forward to slowing down - just have a 13month deadline for the first phase of the work for the grant - ua-cam.com/video/YGdRLIWAqRA/v-deo.html
Where there's a will, there's a way and with hard work and good planning you can have a very beautiful place in a few years time.☺
It’s quite a adventure but I love how you are passionate about it, I can see how quickly your place is going to be transformed and can wait for the next video 😊
Welcome to Ireland. May all your wishes come true.
Appreciate the comment. Thank you
Get a good digger driver in. They will do 3 times the work that you could do hiring one yourself. Clearing it back by hand might seem like fun now but it will get old fast. Get your parameter fences established.
Trust me. Getting a call that your livestock are on the road is no fun.
You have a live times work ahead of you there so give yourself a head start.
And good luck!
You are absolutely spot on! Thanks for following along
Definitely start planting an orchard right away. It takes several years to get established, and the sooner it’s started the better!
100% can't wait! Alas I have to, bareroot season isn't for another 4 months :(
Hard to grow trees if you have any deer about. My homestead is in Co. Galway and they come in at night and eat all my new trees 😞@@offgridirishhomestead
I completely understand your purchase. We currently liveaboard (11 yrs now) and bought a lot online in Nova Scotia. Putting the boat on the market next year to head east and build a little house and grow a garden with chickens and bees.
Happy adventures!
Exciting adventures ahead too then! Good luck with it all, thanks for following along.
@@offgridirishhomestead ❤
Hi Corri enjoyed your farm walk,few things to consider I farm a medium farm firstly fields 4-5 are best suited for grazing or hay- silage for winter feed,not suited for oacherd due to its remoteness’s, I have a n acres of fruit beside my house, almost fails to keep crows at bay,sloping hillside with shelter is ideal for fruit production. Ferns only very productive land , a few hours to make road to hill field
kind regards Sean
Hi Sean, thanks for the suggestions and thanks for following along !
Look at glamping, you have proper remote locations and could be some quick money stream, with hopefully not to much setup cost. Then the glamps can be taken down as needed.
Nice idea for sure
You can plant on any slope land using permaculture principles.
Swales are a great way to farm a slope💕
@@Jj-gi2uv 💕
You guys are adorable. True adventurers. I so admire you.
As an Irishman living in Houston, Texas, I just found y’all’s channel, so I will follow your odyssey with great interest.
Our first comment from Texas, Thanks for following along!
This is so fun! We bought land with 2 similar slopes (Missouri, USA) and bought sheep and goats and chickens for it. They've been eating the weeds and vines, and everything for a few months and already its looking different. I'm putting a perrenial garden (fruit trees, bushes, asparagus, etc). On another slope. There's so many ways to farm a slope. Keyline plowing, swale on contour, etc. You have to do some earth works but people have been doing (without machines) for centuries. Good luck!
Thanks for commenting and following along. Your own land sounds like it is coming along nicely!
Hi guys good on you for setting out on such an adventure . As someone said be care full of ticks with cattle they can get red water and die .clear the fields of brambles and ferns . Lime the land helps with ticks.Improve the soil . Good fences make good neighbours. .slainta
Slainta! Thanks for following along.
K
Pay attention to suggestions of what people have done before you. You are the first one to try and adventure on a hill and how to get your stuff there. I’m sure there’s videos of developing a mountain home similar to yours. Were excited for you. You seem to be a really sweet couple.
Looking forward to your progress! I’m anxious to see your stone walls. Good luck to you. You seem to have the right spirit!
Love watching you two. We bought 5 acres on top of a mountain in Tennessee, not one flat spot. We do raised bed gardens. Goats are a good idea and a good tractor. Your land is wonderful 👍🏼🇺🇸🍀❤️. Get your fruit trees planted asap takes years to get a harvest 😊
We luv following these kind of shows from our own island, Vancouver Island, Canada. Enjoy the process!
Where on Vancouver Island are you. Cori is from Saskatchewan. We went on a road trip through the rockies to Vancouver, then over to stay in Tofino. Loved it!
@@offgridirishhomestead we are from the North East UK originally but have lived most of our life in Nanaimo.
Please save a couple of those meadowlands, they are gorgeous, full of amazing plants and they are an important habitat too, as important to save as your “secrete garden”. The big honking duck was probably a wild goose. Wishing you health and happiness in your lush valley 💜
loved the tour, your land will be amazing; do small spots of clearing, one fence at a time; citrus might do well at the top of that very steep paddock
you might want to find another way up to the top of Hilary rather than the causeway, water will take the easiest path down
the secret garden sounds wonderful & am glad you're leaving it for now
as some have suggested perhaps hire a few goats to clear up some of the worse of the over growth, couldn't hurt
you'll have to find out what wild flowers & herbs grow naturally & spread more seeds of these, the fields will be wonderful bee & bug attractors
Danu's Irish Herb Garden is a good one to watch & you can ask her lots of questions about leaving things & adding things to the wild, very informative
looking forward to the next tour or reno
thanx for sharing
Citrus in Ireland? Mmkay.
We have lots of Herb robert and creeping buttercup. Pretty to look at, but not much use. Thanks for the comment and following along with us
Hi guys. Now that youve gone in head first and purchased the land. Might be a good idea to get a Lidar Map of the whole area with 1m intervals of the topography to make planning of the farm layout easier.
Great idea. Will have a look at this.
Careful of the Ticks this time of year guys, its uncommon but Lyme disease is contractable from Irish ticks. Homestead looks beautiful, best of luck with it
They are menaces alright! Thank for following along
I am in the USA on 2.5 acres of land in the countryside, so I admire your courage to take on this large property, as I have similar wild growth issues taking over on a smaller scale. I visited Ireland and Scotland last year for the first time. Some of my heritage is Irish too. I loved it there and hope to visit again. I'm really enjoying watching your journey and best of luck!
Where in the US are you ? Some of the landscapes in Scotland and Ireland mirror each other, which is understandable given the proximity. Glad you got the opportunity to travel and soak up some of its beauty. Thanks for following along
Make an orchard, fruit trees, get some sheep,get hens
Sheep over graze - their land will suffer as they only have 6 acres. Agree with orchard though.
Orchard imperative.
What a lovely couple. I look forward to more updates. Get goats. They are the best at clearing above ground. And they do it so fast. Pigs are great at turning over soil.
Thanks for following along!
Small steps. The smartest move you are making is to live and watch the land. You have to understand the water, weather, and life around it. What roams at night and will eat the plantings? You will need fencing options and #1 a guardian dog and cats. Enjoying the channel from GA in the states.
Unfortunately / fortunately depending on your point of view not many predators or pests here. Foxes, rabbits and SLUGS! No pine martins in our place we have seen. So relatively straight forward to deal with. Did I mention SLUGS.... never seen so many in my life. Spotted a couple of tiger slugs too. Amazing looking creatures, didn't know slugs could get so large.
Thanks for following along
Watching the land is so important though. The value of it is vastly underestimated. I'm an avid gardener. I once moved house and was desperate to get into the ramshackle garden but I got sick. I couldn't do anything for 12 months. It turned out I learned just as much about my garden looking out the window as I would have done being in it. I couldn't believe how much I'd 'missed' with my initial assessment -even with all my experience. By the time i was well and ready to garden my entire plan had changed because I'd learned what the garden was already doing for me. -How it was interacting with itself and how the wildlife was interacting with the space. In the end, it cut my labour by a LOT.
@@offgridirishhomesteadre slugs... The slug situation in Ireland is ridiculous! They're not only plentiful, they're athletic. They'll stretch over an inch gap just to get to something tasty! Having battled to protect my bedding plants for years here are the natural tips that actually work: the best is seaweed. A generous line of seaweed will keep them out of beds/tunnels -and act as fertiliser as it breaks down. Broken eggshells are good for smaller areas. You need 3/4 of an inch wide and 1/2 an inch deep - which is a lot of eggshells but they last 2-3 years. -Broken seashells are supposed to be good too but i never had access. Ducks are meant to be great.
When we lived in Cork I had a kitchen garden and joined my local GIY (Grow It Yourself). Eggshells for slug barriers was one of the best tips ever! Met great people with tons of experience and local knowledge on everything from native seeds to making cider! I ended up taking on my daughters school garden which was a huge project. By the time we left they had veg beds, gardening sessions, kids growing pumpkins for Halloween, fruit trees and a sensory garden. The community were amazing - everyone helped. If there's a local GIY group you should join.
@@offgridirishhomestead ,
Ducks and maybe geese for slugs . Ducks love slugs !
Congratulations. Great to have a challenge that benefits both you and the land. Permaculture techniques are free and rapidly improve any land. Hurray for you & Ireland.
Your field that is too steep for a garden might be an excellent site for a fruit orchard! Love your videos!
I really enjoy watching your videos. My grandparents left England & went to live on a smallholding years ago in Ireland. I wish you all the luck in the world. Ireland is a great place & l love the people. Looking forward to the next one....❤
Thank you
😊 goats. Yup. Goats. Takes care of a lot of that and feta cheese is good!! Plant lots of rosemary and mint around to help discourage flies and ticks. For good nitrogen fixing plant clover. That also calls in lots of pollinators.
Feta cheese doesn't last long in this household. Love it. I planted 49 Rosemary seeds in the propagator early spring, got a poor germination rate, managed to nurse 3 of them to survival. Little blighters breaking my heart.
K
It's beautiful and it's all yours
As time goes by owning your own land is getting more and more unobtainable so you have a gem
Thank you! We see ourselves as custodians more than owners. The land was here before we existed, and will outlast us and our descendants time immemorial. But for now, we are enjoying how lucky we are to enjoy our lifetime with it.
@@offgridirishhomestead I feel that land was waiting for your family
Beautiful location and would you consider some of the land for a 'wild type camping/glamping site' and Cori you could run bread making courses. Welcome to Ireland and may your daughter make many friends and special memories growing up in such natural surroundings.
Nice suggestion, will keep it in mind
what a wonderful couple ..and I so admire them ..they laugh so much together..it's so lovely..a hundred thousand welcomes to you . from Co kerry..🎉🎉🙏🙏🙏🙏
We love Co Kerry. Thanks for the kind words and warm welcome
As a lifelong horse owner ( family owned boarding facility ) make sure you have a vet and farrier in your area before you buy a horse. They can be a bit more delicate than people realize. I spend more on my horses vet and farrier bills than I do their food. Also remember you need to have a companion for it and the majority of horses will not bond with a cow. Some will with a goat or donkey. Horses do teach amazing responsibility to kids and I can’t imagine life without them, but they basically eat money 😂
Hehe, I had better get that money tree planted pronto! Thanks for the insight on bonding.
glad to have found you two, you're very engaging I like the realness of your interaction with eachother; and I can hardly wait to see what you're up to next.
Your ideas for your home sound amazing and adventurous! I will be following along as you guys work hard to make it happen. I watched your previous channel (which I enjoyed) but I gotta say I love to watch Kayvan talk and you two joke around and be authentic together. Cannot wait for more content. Thank you!
Thanks for the comment and good vibes
Absolutely beautiful site, welcome to Ireland, enjoy the peace
Thanks a mil!
I love how everyone is coming to aid in giving great advise to help you on your venture welcome to ireland 🇮🇪
Gives us hope that humanity isn't lost!
💕You should get some goats they will eat everything just move them around with electric fencing around them so they don’t escape 💕You can milk goats & make cheese yoghurts & more OR just use them as munching strimmers MEANING YOU don’t have to get rid of the cuttings💕
🐐
The honeysuckle is a medicine!!! Look into it! It kills Mersa! Nettle is also great! So happy for you! 🎉
The Honeysuckle scent is so strong at the moment, getting delirious walking through its heady aromas. Enjoying it a lot. Thanks for following along
Thanks for the lovely video. Your land is complicated but beautiful.
I applaud you guys for this journey. Life if full of "what ifs" and regrets for not following a dream. Looking forward to upcoming videos!
Thanks a mil
Oh my goodness you do have a lot of plans in your heads 😮good luck ❤
Lots of work ahead. Good luck on your endeavor. Pay attention to what you're doing and stay safe. It's easy to become so engrossed in your activity that accidents can easily happen.
Ain't that the truth! Thanks for following along
unobtainium is an excellent word; completely understandable.
IKR!
Their so many good and helpful suggestions here. Take them all into consideration. They have already worked out the kinks for you. Goats are a great suggestion. Fruit trees on the sloping field are also a good suggestion, as is the rotating of the hens and electrical fence.
Are you planning on any beehives? Nettle harvesters are also a good idea.😊
I am looking forward to your progress. Blessing and good luck.🍀
Thanks a mil!
Incredible property!!
Your editing skills are really good. One suggestion is to pull back on the harsh cuts to clip out bits as y’all are speaking. It’s pushing the flow to a faster pace than you are speaking and feels less natural. Sometimes it feels like it’s been speed up. You two are endearing, so don’t try to speed up the final product, let us see the real you. A little breathing room is good. 😎
Keep up the good work, ignore the harsh comments, excited to watch the journey y’all are on!
Appreciate the feedback. I praise Cori for her edit skills often. Mostly because I am no natural on cam, and waffle a fair bit - so she has a job on her hands to make it flow. Hopefully with practice I improve where it doesn't cause the need to chop. Thanks for following along
K
Agree with the comment about you two being endering! You are extremely watchable. Don't cut back on your silly times and yes show the bloopers. It's not just content (and yours is good) but also personalities that draw people to a channel. You have personality in spades! Use it!!
I really hope your daughter gets her horse!!!!!!! You two are absolutely a hoot… Love Love Love your content your Chanel down to earth personality and definitely your giggle 😜 I cannot wait for all the projects to really get going!!!!!!! God Bless you all I’ll be anticipating your videos…Much Love My Friends
Thank you for your kind words
It’s a tonne of work but I’m so envious. I’m from Cork and I would love to retire to the countryside. I was thinking during the video and i saw a comment saying the same but goats would help you get rid of so much of the overgrowth and then maintain it.
I hope you manage to do so! Yes, the goats seem to be a unanimous solution. Thanks for following along
Looking forward to your forever changes to come.