Crofting Life [from FolkRadio.co.uk main site]

[folk_radio_uk]

A look into the life of Crofters in the Highlands of Scotland. This is an extract from a Crofter's blog which I came across after reading about a report into whether crofters can be considered the indigenous people of the Highlands and Islands and what benefits indigenous status would bring to the area. The following is an extract from Crofting Life (http://croftinglife.blogspot.com/) a blog written by Anne, a Crofter:Well January is over with no sign of a let up in the weather. We have had rain storms, thunder and lightning, snow, frost and...

Read More on the Folk Radio UK main site...

[folk_radio_uk]

Anne also wrote a fascinating story here: http://croftinglife.blogspot.com/200...1_archive.html

which tells of the Shepherds of Newtonmore. It's sad that there used to be 60 shepherds in this area and there's now only 6 left. Most of their children aren't interested in this lifestyle so the land gets sold off/divided up.

It's when you read things like this you begin to appreciate how susceptible such small communities are. They get ignored by the press and forgotten about. Take foot and mouth and the resulting government paranoia. Crofters were hit badly during the last big outbreak (millions were culled across the country) and those that normally rely on other jobs such as tourism for income suffered further.

Another example you'll read about in Anne's blog is the penalties imposed on you if you don't tag a calf within three days of its birth. Yet a cow gets very protective of their calves and in one instance Anne's husband was nearly badly injured by a cow charging him . I've seen government officials at work in rural communities such as my mother and father-in-laws, and the way they go about things is incredible and often pointless and serves no other purpose than making life even even more difficult and expensive for those that tend the land and help keep the countryside we so often take for granted looking the way it does. More needs to be done to raise awareness and Anne's blog is a great way of doing this. If anyone else knows of similar blogs let me know.

Hopefully posting things like this on the site will do a small part in raising the profile of these rural lifestyles and their fragility...


p.s. this photo is Kylerhea Crofthouse on Skye, it's not Anne's Croft:)

[Fudged]

Interesting coincidence on the theme. At the moment I'm reading about the island group St Kilda, mainly from The Life and Death of St. Kildaby Tom Steel. Another example of what happens when those in authority (in this case, first the church the the state) try to improve a community or a way of life that's been managing just fine as it is.
On the musical side. Dougie MacLean's Indigenous has some fine points to make on the subject! Hmm.. I think it's time I indulged in some nostalgia with my mp3 player :)

[folk_radio_uk]

Interesting coincidence on the theme. At the moment I'm reading about the island group St Kilda, mainly from The Life and Death of St. Kildaby Tom Steel. Another example of what happens when those in authority (in this case, first the church the the state) try to improve a community or a way of life that's been managing just fine as it is.
On the musical side. Dougie MacLean's Indigenous has some fine points to make on the subject! Hmm.. I think it's time I indulged in some nostalgia with my mp3 player :)

Isn't that a coincidence...;)

I do happen to have that gem of an album as well, there's a surprise. I'll have another listen tonight and put some tunes on for next week. How old is that Tom Steel book? I've got a good book on Kilda at home but I can't remember what it's called...

I'll report back

[folk_radio_uk]

The book I was thinking of was "A Very Civil People: Hebridean Folk, History and Tradition" by John Lorne Campbell

There are some great stories transcribed from tape of Mrs Neil Campbell, a well know Gaelic Storyteller in the book which is the only volume of essays and short articles that John wrote.

It's published by Birlinn which has a great site which includes an article on Hamish Henderson you'll no doubt enjoy:

http://www.birlinn.co.uk/articles/details/51/

[Fudged]

The Tom Steel book was first published in 1974. There have been a few revisions since then and the introduction tells me there's a fair bit added about those who've lived on the island since the evacuation and about what happened to the islanders who left (haven't got that far in the book yet, though).
I never knew much about St Kilda but decided I should after the Opera we discussed here last year (some stunning footage of the cliff dance and lots of other information is now available). I finally got round to buying a book just after Christmas.

[folk_radio_uk]

The Tom Steel book was first published in 1974. There have been a few revisions since then and the introduction tells me there's a fair bit added about those who've lived on the island since the evacuation and about what happened to the islanders who left (haven't got that far in the book yet, though).
I never knew much about St Kilda but decided I should after the Opera we discussed here last year (some stunning footage of the cliff dance and lots of other information is now available). I finally got round to buying a book just after Christmas.

Glad you reminded me of that, I saw the cliff dance a while ago but for any listeners who haven't click on that link, it's amazing, there's also something about the whole history of those cliffs and the rituals of manhood make it all the more magical.

Let me know what you make of the book as I may need to hunt a copy down....:)

[folk_radio_uk]

Another example you'll read about in Anne's blog is the penalties imposed on you if you don't tag a calf within three days of its birth. Yet a cow gets very protective of their calves and in one instance Anne's husband was nearly badly injured by a cow charging him .

I was talking to my mother-in-law earlier...they have to now put two identical tags on lambs now (DEFRA new rules)

Why they insist on three days which is the worst time, I've no idea...

[Fudged]

It's published by Birlinn which has a great site which includes an article on Hamish Henderson you'll no doubt enjoy:
http://www.birlinn.co.uk/articles/details/51/

Thanks for that Alex - yet another book to add to the long list of must haves!
Timothy Neat is a fine biographer and film maker. The recordings of Sorley MacLean Martyn Bennett used in Hallaig were from Timothy Neat's film of the same name. The film was recorded in English and Gaelic.

I'm wondering now where MB got his recording of Hamish Henderson on the first CD - will have to check when I get home! (maybe he recorded it himself)

[folk_radio_uk]

Dug this thread up as I remembered talking about St. Kilda before now and it has always held a fascination for me.

There are some very good educational sites which explain about life on St. Kilda. I just posted an image on my blog of the approach to St. Kilda. You can see how rough the sea is. If it wasn't for the birds (Fulmars) that nested there the islanders would not have had musch in the way of food as they ate very little fish.

Ever wondered how people living so remote stayed in touch with the mainland?

The St Kildans generally had very little contact with the mainland - their main method of communication was by attaching little wooden vessels to an inflated sheep's stomach which was then sent out to sea. This method saved the islanders from starvation on more than one occasion. They had no running water, electricity or gas; few books apart from the family Bible and no radio or television. They enjoyed music and games like horse racing and a form of shinty. They grew potatoes, some barley, oats and corn in the thin soil and they also kept a few cows and chickens. Until the mid-nineteenth century they kept horses to carry fuel (peat or turf, no wood) but mainly they carried everything on their backs. Blackface sheep lived on Hirta and Boreray and ewe's milk was used to make cheese. Sheep's wool was used for clothing, blanketing and tweed.

and their diet:

Although the people of St Kilda lived on an island, they ate very little fish. Their meals were taken at unusual times and lacked variety and balance (often resulting in indigestion!). Breakfast was between 9-10am and consisted of porridge, milk and sometimes the flesh of a fulmar which was boiled in the porridge. Dinner was at 4p.m. and was usually mutton, fulmar or gannet flesh with potatoes when available. Tea was at 9p.m. in summer and 11p.m. in winter when they worked on into the night. This was tea with bread and cheese, the flesh of a fulmar and sometimes porridge.

I may put some more info on the blog if I get a chance later...