Learning about bees started me thinking... of alternatives to the humble guinea pig as a family pet!

A man called me today to ask about Bee Keeping Courses - nothing strange in that as we have a member Assington Mill that runs many courses on country and small holding crafts, including Bee Keeping.

Often people approach Seek It Out as a first port of call, when stuck trying to source something.

It did seem odd that a gent from Aussie was asking about UK courses but that led me to dwell on a couple of things. Firstly the UK crisis in Honey Production, a hot topic in the news at the moment which the Aussie chap seemed blissfully unaware of. The UK is in the midst of a national shortage due to a terrible disease killing colonies here and in the USA plus the wet weather, bees are vital to this country not only for the honey but for polinating many crops. The second thought was that of the the hell arable farmers are going through with golden fields of wheat and barley which cannot be harvested due to the rain - from our offices we can see this sad situation first hand, its a cruel blow as finally we see grain prices rise and the crops are the years income for the farm, lose them and they lost their income, made worse by soaring fertiliser and feed prices - troubled times continue for our hardworking farmers.

Conclusion - why would anyone wish to get into the world of small production or farming in these dire times - well maybe not full scale farming, however that is the only valuable land at the moment. However, small scale production has a greater appeal now, think of how you could reduce your budget, eat well, and have the pleasure of your very own produce or meat. As we hear that food has rocketed in price in the last 8 month perhaps growing or rearing your own is more attractive than ever.

Chickens - thanks to clever inventions by the likes of Omlet are a viable option for anyone with even a tiny garden, growing fruit or veg in pots, in windows or in your conservatory - scraps of unused space could suddenly become little food factories with little effort or outlay. It can become something you can share with the family, would a chicken laying eggs not be just as cuddly but more productive than a guinea pig or goldfish - it's a thought next time the children pester you for a pet!

However, nothing is learnt over night so it would be wise to ensure you learn or buy through the experts, especially if dealing with animals - there is a huge range of skills courses available nationwide and one of the most established and respected is that of Assington Mill. Omlet is the perfect answer for those keen on fresh eggs - they are highly knowledgeable and provide all you need.

So perhaps its time to beat the big boys prices and grow/rear our own.

Assington Mill - specialists running short courses in a huge range of country and small holding crafts - from Bee Keeping to Straw Bale building and so much more, all in stunning surroundings. http://www.assingtonmill.com


Omlet = expert providers for those wanting to keep chickens, ducks or rabbits even on the smallest scale - http://www.omlet.co.uk

Central Association of Beekeepers
http://www.cabk.org.uk/

Hen Keepers Association
http://www.henkeepersassociation.co.uk/

Royal Horticultural Society - Grow your own
http://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/

Photo credits - cartoon chicken = © vectorgirl - Fotolia.com / cartoon bee =© Dean Murray - Fotolia.com / chickens=.Shock - Fotolia.com