oliver peter Nock wrote:Hello to all the friendly permies in Ireland
I am writing on my son's login, hope that's ok.
My children and I have had a smallholding in France for years where we are working towards being as self sufficient as we can. We are thinking seriously about moving and are looking at our different options. Ireland is very near the top of the list as it was when we first chose to come to France. The problem is I haven't been there for many many years and it is almost impossible at the moment to take a trip to do some proper research.
We would be very grateful for any words of wisdom and practical advice about areas that would be most suitable and affordable for us to be able to carry on with our projects and develop them. We have a long list of important requirements, obviously some more important than others such as (ideally) commutable distance to university, plenty of trees and natural resources, sheltered but not damp and dark, friendly people and active communities etc etc
We do research online too but it is much nicer to hear from real people and hopefully make some nice contacts who are already living the same lifestyle as us. If it looks like being a real possibility - and we can find a proper competent farmsitter - we will plan a trip to have a proper look around
Thank you so much !
(Also smallholding/small farm for sale in France if anyone looking!)
Hi oliver,
You wrote a few months ago, so im hoping by quoting your message youll receive an alert and see my reply.
Ive been living off-grid/rural/cropping etc in remote Ireland area for almost 15 years.
In comparison to the climate of France - even ‘dull’ brittany (lol!) - you’d be FAR better off staying in France for off-grid, food crops and animal rearing, than being ANYWHERE in Ireland, as an ‘easier’ climate really does make outdoor lifestyles easier!
Climate is SO important for this lifestyle. Dont underestimate the massive impact a less-than-desirable climate can have on achieving this lifestyle.
If there are very important reasons you absolutely HAVE to be in Ireland, then i would recommend the counties that are south-east (ignore wet rainy wicklow mountains though).
Ireland is a damp emerald beauty with plenty of harsh weather blasting this little gem from the gigantic atlantic ocean we are exposed to.
Ireland really shelters the uk from a lot of the harshest atlantic ocean south-west winds.
Im inland some 10 miles from galway area - the wild west!
It rains at least 2/3rds of the time., average year. Rainfall is @ 2000-3000mm p/year depending on whether youre high valley or low valley.
I have done detailed mappings of my particular climate here - there’s worse areas than my location in sligo and mayo.
The sunshine hours are around 600-800 per year. Compared to 3000 of south france - it’s a vast difference.
The global climate data websites give averages that are from a few key places, so the true picture of climate is distorted by websites.
Plants absolutely need sun for photosynthesis! Not just dull cloudy UV light. Plant growth is painfully slow, compared to the relatively blissful climate of midlands uk i lived and worked outside before moving here.
Most plants do best in polytunnels here to protect them from the abundant rain and wind. The growing season is very short.
It’s an extremely challenging climate for growing multi-tillage crops.
Better suited to sheep farming, like north west scotland.
The type of lifestyle/person this climate would ideally suit would be a hunter of the huge amount of wild deer, and raising of sheep/chickens for meat…a woodsman with a chainsaw and axe for heating the home. A very rugged hardcore woodsman/woman hunter type who loves the brutality of the wild, and the challenges that the climate or nature can throw at him/her.
I’ve met a few like that here, to be fair, and those types thrive and love it.
It depends on your personal constitution and smallholding aims. If a mild, warm , sunny blue skies, fairly dry climate is your absolute preference, then ireland is definitely going to fall short of providing that.
I’ve altered my small-holding aims to suit this climate - rather than try to constantly fail at my preferred horticultural attempts/aims.
We can only achieve what the climate will allow, when it comes to crops and farm animals health.
Its a stunningly beautiful country because it is so wild and unspoilt - its unspoilt because not many can tolerate living in these rural wild regions…mainly due to the wet climate.
Climate has to be given top priority when searching for land to farm the land with varying crops and animals. Not too wet, not too dry. Not too exposed, neither buried in a valley 🙂
Feel free to message me if you want to know more.
