Producing food from the croft has always been our main goal, feeding ourelves with nutritional fresh produce. In 2022 we have added a Timbertunnel to be able to extend the season and grow crops requring a bit more warmth. We also sell surplus eggs from our woodland ranging, grain fed hens and ducks in an honesty box next to the house.
It’s been a steep learning curve to grow our food. We discovered that to avoid wastage, it is important to know what we actually like to eat. It was tempting to try out many new things at first, but it is pointless if we don’t feel like eating them! It can seem overwhelming initially, but one jar at a time, we learn different, tasty ways to make our harvests last longer.
We also make our own wine and other brews from croft berries and even grapes. We’re experimenting with herbal and traditional beers and drinks too, to really capture the essence of the land. Unfortunately we wouldn’t ever be able to sell these, but they’re often shared!
The wilder parts of the croft play as much of a role as the no dig veg beds & timbertunnel, and we harvest berries, fungi and greens from the whole croft and the local area.
We now grow most of the fruit and vegetables we need year round, and the next phase is to step that up to include meat. Currently we just have the occasional cockerel when we breed them, but have since got ducks which will be bred for meat and eggs. In 2026 we plan to get kunekune pigs on the croft which will be reared for meat.
