opportunity in Bulgaria for someone looking for an adventure...with pigs

Pig farming opportunity in Bulgaria.

I have an interesting proposition for someone with experience of traditional pig farming or someone who would love to get to know pigs and who would be up for the challenge of relocating to Bulgaria.

I currently have responsibility for around 6000sq metres of land in a lovely little village in Bulgaria. Half of this land is currently in use but I’d like to put the rest to use. I don’t have time to take on another project his year but I do need to use this land and I thought that pigs would be a good option…..but I don’t know anything about pigs!

So here’s what I thought and here’s my offer:
I’d like to farm pigs with the long term intention of preserving the meat (there are some interesting and tasty local techniques) to sell to deli’s in the UK
The pigs will live outside - lots of issues like 45degrees in August and -30 in January, wolves, jackals and stuff like that.
I can offer a house rent free with  large plot of land to grow  vegetables.
The house has plenty of barns and outhouses
I will buy the initial stock ( I have no idea how many we are talking about).

I’m really looking for someone who wants to invest in a prospective long term business because I can’t afford to pay someone until the pigs are ready to kill. But that doesn’t have to be a money investment - its about time. But because I really know nothing about pigs and pig farming , I’m hoping that someone will be interested enough to start a conversation here so I can learn - basically I have a business idea, land and a house and enough money to buy some baby pigs - I need some help.

Some background info - I live in a small but endlessly interesting village in Northern Bulgaria, about 60k south of the Danube. Life has traditionally been subsistence farming with most people owning around 2000sq metres at their house and then various other holdings outside the village where the main crops are sunflowers, maize and wheat.  Farming techniques range from ploughing with a horse to a fairly sophisticated cooperative system for the use of big machinery. There’s not much in the way of organic or sustainable farming methods in this area except where foreigners have had an influence.  Animals are goats, sheep and cattle which are grazed on common ground with a shepherd.

If you want to check out life in a village, please go to www.stjamespark.biz

Look forward to hearing from you
Kathy

well, there's been a number of people viewing this opportunity but no enquiries - I wonder if that's because i asked about 'pig farmers' - I've been thinking about this and I guess it it doesn't have to be someone with experience. I'm happy to support someone in their learning if we can just get this off the ground.  So, if you're enthusiastic and interested in pigs and relocating to Bulgaria, get in touch.
Kathy

Just a reminder that this great opportunity is still open. This is such a great place to live and this could be a great income generating opportunity in the future. Please pass it on to someone who you know who needs an adventure.
Kathy

So much wish could just pack and get there!!! no body took this op yet?

I know!! I've had two conversations about it from other networks but none of them worked out - there must be someone out there who wants an adventure???
Kathy

I just joined a permaculture group and I'll let as many of them know. I'm also attending a conference on Biodiversity end of this month and I can put your email up about it - if thats OK with you of course.

I would love to move to there myself but my fiancée is a hardcore vegetarian.

thanks about the poster and I'm sorry your girlfriend wouldn't be into pork but i understand - i was a pretty radical vegetarian for about 35years!
there's no real hurry for this, I guess I'll wait till the right person comes along but it would be good to get it going this year.
kathy

You know, that adventure sounds like a great time. Were you completely set on just farming pigs there? It seems like there has to be something more you would like to add to the equation. The vegetable garden would certainly benefit from the manure but would pigs really be the most ideal investment?

I have plenty of skills with mycology and bulk grows would have a riot of a time utilizing freshly made compost which in turn would be a prime food for the garden crop.

I need to look at a map quick, I cant quite remember where Bulgaria is located.

I seriously have no job right now and this seems like it could be a good experience. 

I've had a few enquiries about this now and people are asking me if I really want to farm pigs and why not something else!! and some people talked about 100s of pigs - I obviously wasn't clear enough in the first place - the main reason for doing this is to get the house and land used. Pigs are very useful in turning over ground - cows are not, sheep are not and goats are not. Thats why I wanted to get pigs so this land can be used - its not enough land to graze cattle ad besides, cattle graze on the common land. I want to have pigs because I also want to preserve and sell the meat -as in deli meat - cured pork using local traditional methods to produce wonderful dried meat that would be very marketable to delis. I want to do this with pork.

I am not looking to set up a large scale farming exercise - I'm offering someone the opportunity to live in Bulgaria in exchange for an involvement in a small scale operation involving pigs - not cows or sheep or any other animals!

This is really aimed at someone who wants to live in Eastern Europe, who, for whatever reason, isn't interested in buying property and who is interested in a small income that will not appear for a couple of years and is willing to be creative and flexible about how they live in the meantime.  This is not a big business venture!

kathy

I am interested in your proposal. What part of North Bulgaria are you in as I also have a property in NW Bulgaria. I have a few sheep that I am currently rearing by organic methods.

I have put this idea on hold for now - many other pieces of work are taking priority. I live in Voditsa, 60k south of Rouse - my website is www.stjamespark.biz..