Nestled just south of Inverness, Beth Rose runs Birch Wood, a croft that reflects both the resilience of rural life and the creativity of its people. What began as a desire to “work the land” has evolved into a multifaceted business, and a way of life, that includes livestock, crops, wool, preserves, and community-led initiatives.
“Our main product is beef from the cows”, Beth explains, “but we also keep sheep, grow crops, use the wool, and make by-products like chutneys and jams. It all depends on the season and what’s needed in the community”.
Beth’s croft is a story of adaptation. With no single focus, she responds to local needs, allowing the business to remain flexible and sustainable. This responsiveness is especially evident in the way she applies innovation. One unexpected tool in her arsenal is Strava —a fitness tracking app typically used by runners. Beth uses it to log her time on the tractor, which helps her calculate the actual cost of producing hay. “Otherwise, it’s hard to know how to price things,” she says. “Strava helps me keep track of the hours spent on each task”.
Her journey from nursing to crofting wasn’t just a career shift; it was a lifestyle transformation. Like many women in rural enterprises, Beth has faced the challenge of juggling work, family, and community responsibilities. “Probably the hardest thing as a woman entrepreneur is just managing everything—childcare, work, and the community work I do at the hall”, she says.
That community involvement is a central pillar of Beth’s life. She volunteers at the local hall and helps run a community café, a space that brings people together and ensures inclusivity. “The croft is part of it, but the community is what helps us all thrive”, she reflects. “Doing things at the hall makes it a functioning place. It secures the future not just for now, but for the next generation”.
The GRASS CEILING project, which aims to empower women in rural innovation, has played a pivotal role in shaping Beth’s perspective on her work. “Before the GRASS CEILING, I saw the croft as a business, but I didn’t have much knowledge behind it”, she admits. “Now, I use my time better and I’ve become more business-minded”.
Support tailored to small-scale and diverse rural enterprises like hers remains scarce. “Most farming training and support is aimed at much bigger, commercial farms”, Beth says. “What we need is help with pricing, marketing, and knowing how to take an idea forward”.
Although Beth doesn’t have a strong network of business peers in her immediate area, the GRASS CEILING project has helped her forge new connections. “Locally, there’s not much, but through GRASS CEILING, I now know other women running businesses and we share advice and ideas”. With a unique blend of innovation, adaptability, and a commitment to her community, Beth represents a new kind of rural entrepreneur, one rooted in tradition, yet looking to the future with creativity and purpose.