How To Fail At Farming: Part 1

[@parccarreg]

Part 2 Now Available: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHytgnh3nrOpsKM

[@andrewkirkby2722]

It would be great to start a GoFundMe or another crowdfunding platform so your customers and fans can help out this winter. Much love from South Africa!

[@derwrobertson-jacobs6539]

“Adopt a duck” - people could name it and make a annual payment to cover its feed each year. As a reward people could receive a semi regular egg subscription?

[@kidsgang4410]

Love this idea!

[@parccarreg]

Cool suggestion Derw. We are looking in to different options for support. In practise, adopting a duck will be a bit tricky for a number of reasons. We have to maintain a productive flock as primary food producers. We'll definitely look into it though.

[@kidsgang4410]

Sharing challenges is a great idea, there is no shame in struggle and in fact honesty is respected and I’m sure you’ll have so many people helping in any way they can. I had some eggs from you and my three little ducks bring me so much pleasure every day 😊

[@jonathanwilson5999]

Hey Abi and Josh, its Jon, Sam, Orion and Storm! We are so sorry to hear you guys are struggling so much, you should try live streaming on twitch and youtube, there would be loads of people interested in watching you farming! Probably make a decent bit of money from it too!

[@parccarreg]

thanks guys! good idea

[@parccarreg]

If you'd like to help us out please LIKE our video and SUBSCRIBE to our channel. Please also SHARE the video with anyone you feel might be interested.🦆🦆🦆♥♥♥

[@emilysyme3663]

Really sorry to hear that you’re struggling. I’ve had your duck eggs from Abel and Cole and they were amazing. As others have said on here, I’d also be happy to contribute to crowdfunder / patreon or something more like a small regular donation model? Good luck x

[@parccarreg]

@@emilysyme3663 wow, thanks so much for the offer of support. I'm looking into our options, so will update everyone if we decide to go that route

[@ramiresdorrflesch8948]

try to plant some sunflowers or anot er plant

[@popcod]

Amazingly honest video. Really appreciate how open you're being, and presenting things how they really are. Fingers crossed things turn a corner for you. Dalia ati

[@parccarreg]

Thank you 🙏

[@claudia4880]

Rooting for you! Found one of your videos a few months ago maybe, am thinking about a tree change ourselves , something towards permaculture but we are 100% city folk so super scared and worried we don’t know what we don’t know. Thanks for being so open, you inspire and touch lives

[@parccarreg]

I'm glad you've found us. There is a lot of hype out there about self sufficiency and small scale ag, We want to warn people of the huge financial risk involved. Keep watching I will be talk a lot more about this

[@kimloonyong6599]

Substitute or to reduce feed 1. Buckwheat 2. Black Soldier Fly Larvae 3. Sorghum 4. Azolla plant 5. Snail 6. Fish 7. Grasshopper 8. Pumpkin 9. Papaya 10. Sweet potatos

[@emilijaalegzdina6042]

Really hope you manage to get through the winter with everything going on! Its great to see your farm through these videos! Whatever happens, lots of love!

[@lindascreen4101]

hope you can find a way through - so difficult!!

[@lambsquartersfarm]

Wishing you the best of luck with many subscribers! Feed costs are out of control. I have had success with growing sorghum and sunflower for feed top ups, plan on adding hulless oats next year

[@robaw1]

Hope you pull through. Small scale farming is brutal. We buy retail sell wholesale so are incredibly vulnerable to price changes the big farms can absorb these challenges small farms can't. Have you looked at Welsh government agri schemes there are some good ones out there.

[@parccarreg]

Thanks. I've not looked recently at any grants. I can't bring myself to face all the paper work, although I should

[@timstadlmueller58]

I agree with the gofundme suggestion, I'd be willing to contribute.

[@parccarreg]

Thank you 🙏 Watch this space

[@kingding-a-ling1217]

Sorry to hear your headin into a lean winter, but glad to see your working the problem. Might seem counter productive but, could you take the cuttings from the blueberries winter pruning. Make them into clones to sell? Also not a quick income stream but when the ponds get finished. Aquatic plants like azolla and duck weed could be good secondary protein sources for animal feed. Chins up

[@edmondodriscoll6794]

Hi Josh, Sorry to hear you're having tough times. Really hope its only a blip. Where can I find the details of your Airbnb ? Cant see it on your website

[@parccarreg]

Thanks Ed! Here you go airbnb.com/h/parccarreg

[@edmondodriscoll6794]

@@parccarreg Cheers! Hopefully can book sometime in, always wanted visit! also just a thought, noticed that the link between your blog and able & cole is a direct link. you might be able to get referral cash for sending traffic to them.

[@helengrives1546]

I never understand why people buy feed for animals. It should be that the land produces the feed. So, I would design a pond with gows the right water plants or grasland with certain plants. Wild ducks don’t eat grain, so their must be a smarter way to do it.

[@parccarreg]

On a home scale it's do-able. On a farm (commercial) scale, it's really hard - which is why you don't see many doing it. If they do manage it's at greatly reduced productivity. Your point is a very good one, and that is part of the reason we've started experimenting with Guinea Pigs. We can grow all of their food efficiently ourselves. Ducks on the other hand need large amounts of high quality and high calorie foods which introduces many challenges

[@bryansmith1871]

just really hoping it will get worked out. and cheers for sharing! i’ve been able to scale black soldier fly larvae to maintain around 20% of total daily feed requirements w no change in egg production-saves a lot. are pickled eggs a big deal in Wales to upsell? sorry to bother you w things you prob already thinking about. just don’t want you going anywhere. waiting for your GoFundMe as well … be encouraged

[@parccarreg]

Thanks Bryan. Definitely keen on BSFL, but they are a bit tricker to manage in our colder climate. To do it at our scale is challenging without the right equipment. We are in discussions with some local companies who are setting up BSFL production units. RE Pickled eggs, not so much!

[@Mandy-cn5cl]

Can you grow slugs & worms on compost for them & feed less corn ? Water hyacinth are supposed to be easy to grow & great duck food ...you've probably thought if all these ...good luck with your struggles & great to share let's hope there is help in your hour of need .. problems are solutions hopefully . A way to lower your inputs somehow . Best wishes too you ❤️

[@parccarreg]

that is a good idea. One which I've looked into before! Short answer is no, we can't practically grow enough worms or slugs for our ducks to replace all the protein in their feed. We have recently started farming worms, but for their vermicomposting skills (not practical for the ducks to ear). Also looked into things like duck weed. All of these things are a logistical challenge on a large scale, and hard to produce consistently through the year. We are however looking into black soldier fly larvae produced in some very cool shipping containers that are automated. But this is a longer term project

[@Mandy-cn5cl]

That sounds like a great idea the black soldier fly larvae very interesting. Compost tea is going to be big one day maybe that's going to help you out selling to more conventional farmers who are making the change from bag fert . But scaling up is a challenge too. Thanks for your reply

[@michelletwomey5355]

Thanks for sharing, it's very brave of you. Is there anything that I and other customers can do to help financially?

[@parccarreg]

That's very kind of you to ask. Others have asked, so we are considering our options. Watch this space

[@jenniwilliams3089]

Could you switch up your model to create a use for the older ducks... process for duck breasts/legs only maybe and keep a smaller amount of younger ducks for the same number of eggs? Will definitely follow you... we are in our first year.... daunting for sure...

[@parccarreg]

Good question. The answer is no, we couldn't sell the duck meat (for human consumption). These birds are bred for laying, and so there is very little meat on them. The labour that goes into processing would far out weight the value of the meat. BUT we have a similar plan, which we will talk about in our next video. thanks for your support

[@BusinessButlers]

Have just seen your channel and perhaps you might benefit from setting up a Patreon account and ask if some of the bigger channels might help you by giving you guys a mention since I am sure they would. Also, it would seem your ducks are very well looked after and free range. Why not approach 2 great KZbin presenters, both who are based in Wales, Kris Harbour and also ask Huw Richards who might come over and give you some screen time by visiting you and also giving you cross-channel support.

[@parccarreg]

Thanks, I really appreciate the suggestions and kind words. Hopefully I can get a mention of two from our local youtubers :)

[@knighttaylor4272]

Then sell some ducks and foster stuff that will work and try again

[@carolewarner101]

Are you from South Africa?

[@parccarreg]

Yes!

[@eurofuppington9762]

Would join a Gofundme if you launched one. Ducks are so cute. Never had a duck egg, now I think about it.

[@parccarreg]

Thanks for the support, stay tuned!

[@samahdi6972]

Grow organic veg, herbs, fruit.

[@parccarreg]

In part 3 I explain why that doesn't work. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmOqoZlmh5upoZo