Post recession startups, co-ops, new business models

Skully, missed all this when you first posted. "Sausage" Ollie is me. I love charcuterie and have really only dabbled, but made a hundred chorizo and salami one year and brought a load of them down to Souths, where they went down well. I haven't stopped but I've moved (Lincolnshire) and been temporarily distracted by chickens, brewing and bees. I'm trying to start a bartering circle (eggs, veg, beer, cider, honey) within my local community. It is hard work. Chug_It, I love the sound of what you are doing. Really that much for an air cured ham, trade price? Wow. Maybe I (we?) do need to go there. I can farm pigs (well, I've a book on it). I know a disused underground vaulted reservoir, well ventilated, constant temp and humidity...

It depends what you want...to build a business or to do what you love and earn enough to get by

Nail on the head. The majority of people want to do the former and good luck to them. But if you can be happy with the second, I reckon you're much more likely to succeed. If you have your health, a bike, your friends, a roof over your head, and decent wholesome food and drink what else do you need? My wife would add a few things to that list :-)

I too dream of this and have a few ideas, but it needs care and good planning because you want to give it the best chance of success.