Crofting Today

After the Second World War, there was a gradual breakdown in the traditional crofting calendar as described here. However, many of the chores described above were carried on rigorously in Staffin until the 1970s. Today, crofting is still a unique form of land tenure within Europe. If forms the foundation of a very precious lifestyle that should be preserved at all costs. But the vital difference for today’s crofters is that our crofting lifestyle is to some extent optional, whereas to our parents, it was fundamental to family existence.

 The way that we use our crofts is completely different. The old cropping rotation has gone. We make silage mostly, and we buy in feed for our sheep. Many crofters have 100 ewes. Few of us have cows now. The sheep are mainly on the crofts in the winter, and on the open hill in the summer. Some of the townships have gone in for apportionments. The increasing wetness in our climate has not helped the workings of the land. Lime is vital here for fertility, where we have so much rainfall. We have begun the work of planting shelter belts. Crofting is on the threshold of major changes and hopefully this time there will be a long term plan.