Homeland-Scotland

Working together, local growers can overcome difficulties –– whether wind or waterlogged soil –– and return land to productive horticultural use. That was the message of a two-day horticultural training event held in Tarbert and Buonavoneader last week.

Over 30 people, mostly living on Harris, attended the training, held 15 and 16 February. This group of current and aspiring horticulturalists heard a detailed and engrossing presentation from two experts in their fields: Scottish Agriculture College soil scientist and lecturer Norman Stephen and Dr Audrey Litterick, formerly of SAC and now an environmental consultant at Earthcare Technical Ltd.

At one time more than 1800 acres on Harris were cultivated, Stephens said. Cropping fruit and vegetables on the Outer Hebrides can be testing, Litterick acknowledged. Yet the elements can be braved and tamed by enthusiastic, cooperative small-scale growers.

Participants were also given useful information on problems to anticipate and overcome, whether soil pH levels and poor nutrient uptake to ground- and pest-borne diseases. They were told a combination of crop rotation, good soil and plant hygiene (especially under cover), and informed application of soil improvers all can contribute to sustainable food production on the Outer Hebrides.

In the evening Litterick and Stephen were joined by crofter and land use expert Donald Murdie (formerly of Great Bernera) as well as Tarbert crofter and leading citizen John Murdo Morrison. The quartet engaged in a lively question and answer session, which revealed among other things that a relatively short 11/2-foot screen will protect carrots from root fly and too much manure can be added to soil, when a more modest amount will suffice.

On the morning of the second day, participants descended on the fertile polytunnels adjacent the Harris Hotel to see a bit of soil analysis in action. They then moved on for a site visit to an impressive fruit and veg garden in Buonavoneader. Here they saw how shelter and drainage have combated the elements of an exposed south-facing location.

Special thanks go locally to John Murdo, Angus Macleod, and Peggy Briggs for generously assisting on this rare and impressive two-day training in Harris, which was only made possible by the support of SAC and the Scottish Crofting Federation.

The event also set the stage for more hands-on horticulture workshops organised by the Lewis and Harris Horticultural Producers, which runs the farmers market. For more information on those Get Growing workshops, contact Barry Shelby, project officer for Get Growing, at 01851 612 239 or by email at barryshelby@mac.com.