Self-Sufficiency in Style
outbuildings
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Self-Sufficiency in Style outbuildings
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What is so exciting about outbuildings?
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Well, nothing really, until you start to
become self-sufficient. Then outbuildings become pretty important.
They shelter you, your animals, your harvest, your fuel and sometimes even your crops from the worst the weather can send. |
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Some, the most useful, will be clustered around the house. Others may be out in the fields. |
Remoter "field shelters" can be used for lambing, hay storage and general shelter for animals in winter. |
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Greenhouses are essential. |
If
you can, buy a house with plenty of outbuildings.
Stables, barns, open-fronted cart sheds, garages, wooden sheds, greenhouses, poly-tunnels - all will be useful. Even the humble chicken hut will be of value. If they are not already there, you will have to spend money providing some. |
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need not be grand. Adequate hay and wood storage are essentials.
The most unlikely buildings can be brought back into use. |
You will need a wood-shed if you want a roaring fire in winter.
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In summer it is easy to forget about winter,
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The same building may have different uses according to the season.
Wood storage in the winter, becomes a lambing shed then somewhere to keep a small calf, before reverting once again to wood storage. A poly-tunnel may, out-of-season, become straw storage and somewhere to put the garden furniture for the winter. |
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So, for you, a smallholding with outbuildings, especially of brick construction is much better than one without. You may be able to make good use of them even before renovation. Now you should think about of the other important facilities of the "right" place for you. Return to Finding a Place or take a look at what you need in the way of The House itself. |
Don't turn your nose up at derelict buildings.
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"buildings for all seasons" at the curiously named Hangman's Cottage, just to the south of Misery Corner. |
