About Country Smallholding

Country Smallholding is based at Exeter Airport Business Park, near Exeter, and is published by Archant South West, a regional branch of Archant, the largest independently owned publisher in the country.

Archant South West is committed to supporting diversity in the rural community and produces a wide range of newspapers and magazines, including farming titles.

Country Smallholding was purchased by Archant Devon in March 2001 and was originally started as a bi-monthly by David and Katie Thear in 1975.

In 1975 the whole climate was one of intensive, chemical farming. Following David's redundancy, they moved with their young family to a smallholding in Essex, and learnt the hard way, how to cultivate the soil organically and to raise animals and poultry humanely. The fact that Katie came from a Welsh smallholding background helped, but it was hard work, with few rewards.

Many people then thought that what they were doing was eccentric, but not John Seymour, the self-sufficiency author, or Lawrence D. Hills, founder of the Henry Doubleday Research Association, the UK's main organic society, or Dr Schumacher, author of 'Small is Beautiful: A Study of Economics as if People mattered'. All were very supportive of the Thear's ideals, and gave their backing to the new magazine that David and Katie started in their spare time.

The magazine was initially called Practical Self Sufficiency, then changed its name to Home Farm. It was immediately successful, providing a focus for the sharing of information and experience that was so desperately needed. It was described by The Daily Telegraph as "the smallholder's bible" - a distinction that it still holds. Many of the original subscribers still take the magazine today. "It's like being part of a big family", is a common remark, a situation that reflects the magazine's ethos.

In 1994, the magazine was relaunched as a monthly publication, carrying colour for the first time, and with an extensive bookstall distribution. Now called Country Smallholding, the magazine still retains its ideals of small-scale living and caring for the environment. As a well-established smallholding and organic magazine, it is essential reading for a network of people all over the world.

Subscribe to Country Smallholding online, by clicking on the SUBSCRIPTIONS button. Alternatively, you can order it at your local newsagent.

• Katie Thear owns Broad Leys Publishing Limited, a small company that specialises in publishing books for smallholders, homesteaders, poultry keepers and organic gardeners. Don't forget to visit her website, at: www.kdthear.btinternet.co.uk

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Country Smallholding is published by Archant Regional Limited

Company number: 19300
Registered in England
Registered office: Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1 RE
VAT Number: 711 5185 62.

www.archant.co.uk

 

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