I want to talk about time & space. Growing veg/flowers needs both. with a dog a cat (Scottie) the poultry & jobs it takes a bit of juggling. If #smallholding is to be good for my mental health, best not to see it as nothing but a list of undone jobs. How do you feel about time?

I’ll be honest, when we moved here my mental health was not in a good way. I moved from a busy inner city parish where I was the minister. I had been working 60 hour weeks for 7 years & had several close personal bereavements. I needed to be somewhere else, & I needed time.

I know a lot of farmers & smallholders, like me, may struggle with mental health issues. I care a lot about my neighbours. My mental well-being is my responsibility, ensuring that I live in a supportive community is part of us keeping well. What do you think?