We’ve been here for a year now, and made a tonne of progress with converting the derelict land into a working croft. We have fencing, the beginnings of a veg patch. and our cattle and duck operations are up and running.
There’s a limit to what anyone can achieve in a single year, but we have plans and ambition! It’s going take us a little more time to get everything working, but we’re super excited about a couple of additions next year: pigs and bees…
Pigs
Pigs are essential for regeneration of the soil. Their foraging habits will turn over the earth in targeted areas of the croft to encourage new growth.
We’re developing a stimulating enclosure for them in our woodland area and have built a comfy Ark to protect them from the increasingly fickle weather conditions. Our Ark is a home-brewed hybrid design, to give the ducks shelter during the harsher winter weather, and in the spring it will be given exclusively to the pigs for their comfort.
We should be all set for our new arrivals in Spring 2026!
Bees
We have three reasons for wanting to keep bees.
- They will be instrumental in helping pollinate our fruiting trees, wildflower meadows, rowan trees (their berries are super-fuel for birds and mammals through winter) and species-diverse pasture.
- Honey Bee populations are declining worldwide, so supporting a couple of colonies should be beneficial for both the bees and the species that rely on their skills as pollinaters (including humans).
- Honey. We plan to harvest only the surplus of what the bees make. This way there is less for us, but the bees should comfortably get through winter on their own supply of honey.
Outlaw Croft 