Skyeberries: organic smallholding
In the idyllic setting of The Isle of Skye, one enterprising Ecology borrower combines a design consultancy with a successful horticultural business and has recently completed his own self build project, a three bedroom timber frame house, using local larch and stone from a disused quarry.
Before setting up Skyeberries Ian undertook considerable research on the Internet and had the local soil tested by The Scottish Agricultural College.
The Skye and Lochalsh Horticultural Development Association were particularly helpful, with some grant assistance and mentoring for the next three years.
Ian bought a field, decided provisional layouts, erected fences, planted shelter beds and dug ditches to prepare for the first crop.
The first crop trial was 4 blueberry cultivars in three different locations and other fruits being considered are raspberry, blackberry, gooseberry, elderberry, black, white and red currants.
To provide shelter for his organic crop, Ian has planted nine hundred native trees, aligned to minimise wind, without tunnelling it and providing flowers and fruit to divert birds and attract pollinators.
There are a number of options readily to hand, to maintain soil fertility including woodchip, pine needles, seaweed, spoiled hay and sileage.
Initially the berry business will focus on serving the local market using the local "foodlink" van for deliveries, but having just obtained use of an adjoining field for 25 years Skyeberries is ripe for expansion.
