Stonehead Croft lies almost at the end of a ridge a little over two miles out of Insch, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
While the croft itself is little more than 100 years old, the neighbouring Stonehead Circle dates to the late Neolithic period and lends the agricultural surroundings an air of continuity that reflects the fact this area has been occupied for thousands of years.
The main part of the croft house and the entire steading are built from local stone, mainly round granite boulders although much of the original and local slate roofing has been replaced in recent times by Welsh slate.
Several of the boundaries take the form of drystane dykes, again built from stone taken from the fields, while the whole ridge is a huge mass of stone, split by a fault running roughly east-west.
We have a six-acre field that extends to the west and north (out of sight in the photo), which is largely used for grazing sheep, for making hay or for sileage.
Our pigs, a herd of pedigree Berkshires, are on several smaller fields and pens created out of the larger one, but these post-date the aerial photo.
Tucked in between the L-shaped windbreak and the backwall of the steading is the Chicken Fort, the small brown shed just in front of the trees.
Dwelling within their stout, electrified perimeter fence are most of our flock of chickens, a mixture of Scots Greys and ISA Browns.
Within the other L-shaped windbreak is our vegetable patch of 14 beds. We also grow other vegetables in the fields in rotation with the pigs.
The steading itself, the L-shaped stone building, consists of (starting from the road to the south) a generator room, workshop, byre, hayshed and an old cottage. The cottage is currently used as a lumber store and to house the broody coop.
The house runs east-west across the front of the steading and is a mish-mash of old stone walls, various extensions, a converted garage and a roof extension. Visitors are always surprised by its Tardis-like nature as they wend their way through the various room.
The workload is relentless, particularly after one of our regular gales, but the rewards are fantastic as we slowly see a self-sufficient croft re-emerging from its slumber.
We are not trying to create a profitable smallholding or farm in any of the modern economic, social or cultural senses, but nor are we trying to lead an alternative lifestyle.
We’re trying to lead a more traditional lifestyle while also minimising our impact on the environment around us. Our life is hard, but it’s ours and it’s a lot more fun than being a wage slave tied to the consumerist treadmill.
So while the croft once supported four families and their livestock and is not likely to do that again, it’s a real pleasure to have one foot in the past and another in the future.
Hi Stonehead
Having left comments on other strands of your site I thought I had better leave one here too – obviously we have nothing to do and all jobs are up to date on our NZ lifestyle block – like hell they are!
We wanted the ‘alternative’ lifestyle and had to move to NZ to get what we wanted – 10 acres, stream with eels bordering the property, pond, 7 acres of grazing, 2 of bush and woodland, and one of garden (why do we have so much garden?)
We alternate between sheep and cattle on the property, managing to fill the freezer with ‘homekill’, plus growing hay, as well as having horses, chickens and ducks.
Love the pics of your place in Scotland, and its just a shame we had to move out of the ever more populated UK to get what we wanted.
The joke here is that a ‘lifestyle block’ is also known as a
‘LIFE SENTENCE BLOCK’ – but we do love it – where else would you have a pet sheep walking through the house and ‘running’ with the dogs!
If anybody wants any advice on migrating here we are happy to explain the pitfalls first!
Good luck with the pigs – its 33 degrees here and I long for cold days.
Regards
Mat Bowman
Just found your site today – Our family is doing the same thing in the US. My grandparents immigrated from Germany in the 1880′s and we are on that farm. For the last 3 years we have been concentrating on being more self-sufficient, instead of selling so much product. I look forward to going back through your archives – I think we are probably using some of the same methods. Best to you and yours!
lovely farm, i’m glad to have stumbled on your site while on a quest for elderflower cordial recipes after discovering an enormous patch of blossoms.
yes we’re some of those “americans” of irish/scottish/british/quebecois decent but we’re respectful and would try not annoy the locals with abnoxious tourist behavior.
we’re currently working with just over ten and a half acres of very rough and wooded land at the base of a mountain range that hasn’t been touched since over 150 years ago. it’s all either up or down steeply with huge boulders and several small springs and streams. we raise and forage/hunt vegetables, fruits, herbs, trout, mushrooms, and entirely too many chickens. eventually we plan to bring in some surefooted goats and sheep to help reclear a pasture area.
our biggest trouble is the climate, our section of northern vermont can be bitterly cold and snowy. this winter it touched the roofs! the oldtimers joke that a year up here is nine months of winter and three of bad sledding.
the bears, raccoons, weasels, coyotes, and bobcats can be a bit of a nuisance too. mainly they just irritated the dogs at all hours though.
best of luck with the harvest!
Full of admiration for your way of life. Wonderful croft in a beautiful area. My oldest and best friend’s brother and wife have a house out your way – Matt and Kat Rhodes -and I always love it when I have a reason to visit them.
Like what you say about: We’re trying to lead a more traditional lifestyle while also minimising our impact on the environment around us. Our life is hard, but it’s ours and it’s a lot more fun than being a wage slave tied to the consumerist treadmill………………………………., it’s a real pleasure to have one foot in the past and another in the future.
Urgh! Jealous, jealous, jealous! What a fantastic place, our dream would be a place like this. Doubt very much that we will ever have as much land as you but we do hope to have some…someday.
For now our massive garden will be our starting point, along with a small flock of laying hens. I can hear the sheep in the field every morning and late evening, I shall keep dreaming on!
Keep having those green dreams folks.It took me years to get the acres and I ended up on the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia.Prices are still so much cheaper than elsewhere and the living is great.
Hello from the fingerlakes region of upstate New York State where my husband and I retired to live in an old farmhouse on 12 acres. We have a greenhouse, barn and workshop, and several garden areas. It’s been a funny weather summer (cold and wet)and our harvest includes lots of potatoes and peaches, but no apples …and few tomatoes as a blight hit this area early. We are new to growing quantities of foodstuff, and needed to know how to store the potatoes! I think we will modify your method to a small bin and crumpled newspapers, and hope for the best!
Greetings from Canada,
I came across your site while researching some family history. My great, great, great-grandparents came from your area. My data says that William and Jane Chapman lived at Insch at the Skirts of Frondland in a thatched cottage, circa 1841. I don’t know what skirts of Frondland means, and the only thing that comes close on a google map is Foundland House. My great great grandparents lived in a croft in Insch and my great grandfather Alexander Pirie found work at Balhalgardy. He eventually retired in Oyne. I wish I could find address’s so that I could visit the actual crofts if they are still around. Seeing yours was lovely. Thank you.
HI!!!!!!!!!! You still there?
Erm, yes, but your name doesn’t ring a bell—even after following the link to your stud up on the coast. How do you know us?
What you are doing is almost exactly what we are doing here. Weather is better here I suspect, but a lot of rolling hills so fields are very small and scattered.
Check out our website and give a call.
Blessings
a
I love your blog and you are an inspiration. I hope you don’t mind a little shout out from my own.
Here is an Aussie to say that while my grandfather didn’t come from your area he did come from Fenwick where for generations they had been farmers. My Dad raised Wessex Saddlebacks for stud, winning many championships at the local agricultural exhibitions and as I get older I do miss them. I have enjoyed hearing about your Berkshires. Haven’t seen any of them since I was a kid too. I live in suburban Tasmania although I came from Brisbane, Queensland, and attempt to live sustainably and grow vegies. A delight to discover your blog.
Shirley
Living on a similar sized piece of land in Woodford County, Kentucky, though not farming. Appreciate your blog!