General

On the shores of Loch Broom, near Ullapool, Jenny Grant is slowly weaving together a life and business that reflects her deep connection to the land. Her enterprise, Croft and the Loch, launched in 2021, is not just a croft but a holistic project that brings together food production, environmental education, and art.

For Jenny, the seeds of this journey were sown in childhood. Growing up, she was captivated by natural heritage, eager to help neighbouring farmers with lambing and assisting her mother in growing vegetables. “Anything to do with the land and being outdoors fascinated me”, she recalls. Alongside this passion was a strong creative streak: she spent hours sketching animals, merging her love of nature with artistic expression. These two elements—land and creativity—would eventually become the backbone of her crofting vision.

The path to establishing a croft, however, was anything but straightforward. After years of travelling and searching for a place to settle, Jenny realised how difficult it was to secure a croft tenancy. She attended courses, asked for advice, and persisted, even while raising her young son. “It was a real moment of determination”, she says, describing how motherhood fuelled her resolve. “I wanted this not just for me, but for him too”. Eventually, a series of fortunate turns led her to the land she now manages—a stunning croft with ancient oak, ash, birch, and hazel trees, flower meadows, and a shoreline that runs directly into the sea loch.

Since then, Jenny has been steadily developing the project. She has fenced the land, planted fruit trees and bushes, and is preparing to install a polycrub to extend her growing season. She also raises seedlings from native trees to enrich biodiversity. “It doesn’t make money yet”, she admits, “so I fit it in when I can”. Alongside crofting, she works, studies to become a teacher, and raises her son as a single mother.

What makes Croft and the Loch unique, Jenny explains, is its interwoven nature. It is not a single activity, but a network of interconnected elements. As an environmental educator, she incorporates her expertise into the croft through illustration, nature journaling, and wildlife books. She envisions the site becoming a place where people can not only learn about nature but also connect with it on a deep level. This could mean schoolchildren discovering crabs on the shore, individuals seeking mental health support in a calming space, or visitors contributing to the project through agritourism.

“The golden thread is the land”, she says. “Everything comes back to appreciating and caring for it: for wildlife, for future generations, and for ourselves”.

Innovation, in her case, lies in bridging tradition and modernity. A Highlander by birth, Jenny draws on her rural roots while bringing in ideas gathered from travel and education. She applies forward-thinking approaches to biodiversity and sustainability, ensuring her croft reflects both heritage and future needs.

Yet, the challenges she faces are significant. Chief among them is childcare. As a single mother, the lack of support systems limits the time she can dedicate to the croft. Financial sustainability is another hurdle, as crofting rarely offers immediate returns. “I could take a better-paid job and walk away”, she acknowledges, “but it’s important to me that crofting continues, and that women can continue to croft despite the barriers”.

For Jenny, Croft and the Loch is more than a livelihood; it is a calling shaped by resilience, creativity, and the determination to carve a future where land, people, and community remain deeply connected.

Karis Beattie is a dedicated crofter living on the Isle of Lewis, a remote and beautiful island in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. Since taking on her croft tenancy in 2017, Karis has been committed to nurturing the land and sustaining a way of life that balances tradition with community focus and personal passion.

Her croft covers two hectares and includes a small flock of sheep, hens, and a polycrub used for growing vegetables. Karis’s approach to crofting reflects a deep connection to the land and an appreciation for the communal aspects of rural living. She learned from years tending an allotment in Aberdeen before deciding to expand her involvement with the land by taking on a whole croft. This step marked the start of a meaningful journey toward creating a sustainable and fulfilling rural livelihood. As she says, “I feel very fortunate for how I got access to a croft, which is very difficult for a lot of young people”.

When asked about innovation in her work, Karis offers a thoughtful perspective. While some might see crofting as traditional rather than innovative, she points out that the practice requires constant adaptability. The unpredictable weather and the isolation of island life demand creative problem-solving and resilience. Karis highlights the challenge and opportunity of living on a remote island, which shapes the very nature of crofting as a dynamic and evolving practice: “Crofting is innovative in the way that you never know what the weather is going to chuck at you”.

A key aspect of Karis’s story is that she gained access to a croft, an opportunity that many young people find hard to come by. She also secured social housing on the island, which supported her transition to crofting life. Motivated by her own experience, Karis has become involved in community projects aimed at increasing access to social housing and crofts for others. She is passionate about fostering opportunities for new generations to engage with rural life, helping to ensure the continuity and vitality of her island community. “I am inspired by that and want to help others to be able to do the same thing”, she explains.

Karis does not focus on radically differentiating her products. Instead, she is dedicated to learning and preserving the traditional practices of crofting from her village and neighbours. She emphasises managing the croft well, handling sheep properly, and working collaboratively within the community, values that underline the social fabric of crofting life.

Challenges certainly exist. Funding, for example, can be a significant hurdle, as accessing Crofting Agricultural Grants (CAGS) requires upfront capital that not all can afford. While this is not a challenge unique to women, it is a significant barrier for many aspiring crofters. However, Karis is quick to acknowledge the strong support she has received from her local community, which has helped her overcome obstacles and feel welcome in the crofting world. “I find the community has been incredibly supportive of me coming into crofting anyway”.

What Karis enjoys most about her work is the sheep. She describes working with them as a source of happiness and fulfilment. The connection to the land, the physical activity of walking the hills, and the daily interactions with neighbours enrich her life. This joy and sense of belonging are core motivations behind her dedication.

Community involvement is central to Karis’s vision. She actively participates in the local community council. She supports projects that aim to build social housing, improve early years education, and sustain vital community services such as the shop, hostel, and café. She believes that working collectively through group projects is key to keeping rural communities vibrant and resilient.

For women starting their rural businesses, Karis’s advice is practical and encouraging: learn from others, collaborate, but also be brave enough to try your way and innovate where you see fit. She stresses the importance of taking breaks and recharging, recognising that entrepreneurship is a demanding path that requires balance and self-care.

Jenny Hart is a passionate crofter living and working in the south-west Highlands of Scotland. Since moving to the croft in 2021, Jenny and her family have dedicated themselves to regenerating the land and producing local, sustainable food for their community (Cormonachan Croft). Their journey reflects a commitment not only to agriculture but to preserving a way of life deeply connected to nature and local traditions.

When asked about the origins of her business, Jenny admits that it was “what I’ve always wanted to do”. The opportunity to establish their croft was a fortunate moment that allowed her to follow this lifelong ambition. From the start, the goal was simple yet powerful: to grow and produce food sustainably for themselves and their neighbours, creating a living that is closely tied to the land.

What distinguishes Jenny’s products in the marketplace is their transparency and authenticity. Customers have the unique advantage of knowing exactly where their food comes from. They can visit the croft, meet the animals, and witness first-hand the care and respect given to every aspect of production. This openness has garnered positive feedback, particularly about the quality of the meat and the other products derived from the croft.

Innovation is also a significant part of Jenny’s crofting approach. In 2022, they expanded into beekeeping, despite facing difficult weather conditions that prevented a honey harvest. Rather than letting this setback discourage them, Jenny and her family seized the opportunity to utilise the by-product of beeswax creatively. They developed a small line of beeswax-based cosmetic products, transforming what could have been a loss into a valuable new offering. This kind of resourcefulness is emblematic of the adaptive and sustainable ethos that underpins their business.

Navigating the crofting industry as a female entrepreneur has not been without challenges. Jenny acknowledges that entering a traditionally male-dominated sector meant facing a lack of confidence and difficulty in accessing industry knowledge and networks. Finding reliable sources of information and connecting with supportive groups took time, but these efforts were crucial to building her confidence and advancing the business.

Jenny emphasises that peer support is crucial for growth, especially for women in rural entrepreneurship. “Having a network of other women doing similar things is the richest source of support, enthusiasm, and inspiration”, she says. Financial challenges are also a reality, especially for small innovative projects. Jenny emphasises the difficulty in securing funding for grassroots ideas, which is crucial for transforming visions into tangible outcomes.

Beyond the business side, Jenny cherishes the lifestyle that crofting offers. The daily experience of working outdoors, caring for animals, and breathing fresh Highland air is “enriching for the soul”. Living in a small community naturally fosters daily interactions and connections, creating a network of mutual support among local businesses. Jenny notes that local establishments, such as pubs and bed-and-breakfasts, have taken an interest in and shown support for their work, reinforcing the sense of shared purpose and community.

Jenny Hart’s story is one of dedication, innovation, and community spirit. It offers a hopeful example of how rural women can thrive by blending traditional practices with modern entrepreneurship and mutual support, enriching both their lives and their communities.

Ivonne White is the driving force behind Romesdal Highlanders, a family-owned business dedicated to raising Highland cattle on a croft on the picturesque Isle of Skye. With deep roots in farming and a lifelong connection to the land, Ivonne has built a business based on tradition, care, and high standards.

Growing up around livestock, Ivonne was “earmarked to spot” from a young age; a phrase that hints at her early involvement in farming life. Although she worked outside agriculture for many years, she returned to her family’s croft and formally started her own business in 2012 after leaving her previous employment. This transition marked the beginning of a passionate commitment to the Highland cattle breed and crofting way of life.

What sets Ivonne’s Highland cattle apart is their pedigree, health, and natural upbringing. She emphasises that the animals are never forced or pushed but are “well-handled” and bred to the highest standards of welfare. This careful approach ensures that her livestock thrives in the rugged island environment while maintaining the qualities that make Highland cattle unique.

Innovation plays a crucial yet subtle role in Ivonne’s work. While crofting is steeped in tradition, keeping up to date with scientific advances and new technology is vital for animal welfare and efficient farming. She stays informed about new technical equipment and methods that can support the health and well-being of her herd. This blend of respect for tradition and openness to innovation defines her farming philosophy.

Ivonne openly acknowledges that one of her biggest challenges as a female entrepreneur and crofter has been her attitude, both within her community and beyond. Many questioned why she chose to raise Highland cattle instead of more commercially popular breeds, and some doubted the viability of her approach. Although those attitudes were often polite rather than overtly dismissive, they reflected an underlying scepticism that she has had to overcome throughout her career.

In addition to social challenges, Ivonne faces practical obstacles linked to the environment and geography of Skye. The island’s remote location means greater distances to markets and agricultural shows, higher expenses, and more logistical challenges compared to mainland farming. These factors increase costs and complicate business growth, demanding resilience and careful planning.

Despite these hurdles, Ivonne credits community connections as a vital support network. She engages with neighbours through local forest trusts and regularly meets other farmers at cattle sales. These relationships provide not only camaraderie but also valuable knowledge sharing and validation, which Ivonne found especially empowering through her participation in the GRASS CEILING project. Attending cattle shows with other experienced Highland cattle breeders reinforced her confidence and helped her refine her practices.

When asked what she enjoys most about her work, Ivonne says simply: “Everything”. She treasures being outdoors regardless of the weather and finds deep satisfaction in working closely with her livestock. This passion is the engine that drives her business forward, through both challenges and successes.

Her advice for women starting their rural businesses is straightforward and heartfelt: “Don’t be put off”. Ivonne encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to follow their passion while remaining pragmatic. She advises learning from others but not allowing negative attitudes or doubts to undermine personal vision and determination. Every journey is unique, and success often means adapting and evolving beyond original expectations.

Ivonne White’s story is a powerful example of perseverance, community, and commitment to rural traditions. On the Isle of Skye, her work with Highland cattle honours a legacy while building a sustainable future, inspiring others to pursue their dreams with passion and resilience.

In a quiet corner of rural Scotland, Seeds of Scotland is growing something rare—both literally and figuratively. Co-founded by Haley Shepherd in 2023, the small farm is the only seed producer in the country dedicated to increasing open-pollinated, organic vegetable seeds specifically adapted to the Scottish climate.

“We grow seeds for people to grow vegetables at home”, says Haley. “They’re a mix of Scottish varieties and other types selected from similar short-season climates. The goal is to grow varieties that will thrive here”.

The idea took root after Haley and her partner spent years learning how to grow vegetables commercially. “We realised that most seeds come from far away and aren’t adapted to Scottish conditions. There was no one producing seeds here anymore—something that used to be common”. Haley finds joy in her work. Her favourite part? Watching plants go through a full life cycle. “Seeing a leek grow for two years, flower, and produce seed again—it’s amazing. Most people never see that. It makes you appreciate the whole process”.

Now, Seeds of Scotland is not only filling that gap but doing so in a way that blends traditional knowledge with a spirit of innovation. “Saving seeds isn’t new—it’s a practice that’s thousands of years old”, Haley explains. “But doing it in Scotland is the innovation. It’s not easy here with the climate. You have to get creative just to dry the seeds properly because of all the rain”.

To combat the damp conditions, the farm has added extra drying stages and is building a custom seed drying machine based on a design from the United States. “We adapted it for our needs and had someone build it here”, she says. “And we plan to share it with other small growers. It’s part of creating a more resilient network”.

That network is already taking shape. Seeds of Scotland works with other small farms across the country to grow seed crops, helping to decentralise production and support Scotland’s food sovereignty. “A farm might grow one seed crop alongside their vegetables, and we all contribute to a more resilient seed system”, Haley notes.

But running such a business isn’t without its hurdles, especially for women in farming. “It’s a male-dominated industry”, Haley says. “It can be intimidating, and I don’t always feel confident calling myself an entrepreneur or innovator, even though I suppose I am”. Beyond gender dynamics, there are more structural issues. “Access to land is complicated, and we’ve received no government funding”, she explains. “We’ve only been able to start thanks to the support of our landowner and some private charities. Without them, we couldn’t have done this”.

One dream that Haley believes could transform businesses like hers is a basic income for farmers. “It would give us stability and the ability to reinvest in the business. Weather is increasingly unpredictable, and that kind of safety net would let us build something sustainable that could outlast us”.

Community engagement is also a central part of their mission. Seeds of Scotland recently took part in an exhibition at the V&A, and they’re working with Trellis Scotland to provide discounted seeds to community gardens. “Helping community gardens grow more, and more climate-adapted vegetables is a big goal”, she says. Haley and Seeds of Scotland are demonstrating that meaningful change can begin with a single seed, especially when it’s planted close to home.

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.

On the remote and windswept Isle of Skye, Aoife Gould is quietly transforming what was once seen as agricultural waste into something of beauty and value. A crofter and textile producer, Aoife had no agricultural background when she and her husband moved to the Isle of Skye. However, their shared desire to keep sheep led them down an unexpected entrepreneurial path (Facebook).

“When we took ownership of the flock in 2020, we couldn’t find shearers because of the pandemic”, Aoife recalls. “There was no outlet for the wool, and it would have gone to waste”. Instead of letting it pile up unused, Aoife began researching Hebridean fleece —from the breed they raise— and discovered it was perfect for felting.

What began as a hobby during lockdown has since evolved into a fully-fledged business. Aoife now processes the fleece entirely by hand, using only rainwater, soap, and a considerable amount of elbow grease. Every stage, from shearing to crafting, is handled by her and her husband. “Everything is done locally, and all our fields are within half a mile of our house”, she says with pride.

It’s this complete control over the production process that makes Aoife’s products so unique. “They are deeply tied to the land. Each piece reflects the place it comes from”, she explains. Her creations —felted rugs and practical woollen items— carry the natural colour variations of each sheep, offering buyers a tangible connection to the croft.

Though she never saw herself as an innovator, Aoife now embraces the label. “I’ve learned techniques through online communities and applied ideas from different areas of life”, she says. “We wanted zero waste, so I looked for ways to turn wool, often viewed as a waste product, into a valuable income stream”.

But running a small rural enterprise comes with its own set of challenges, especially as a woman. “Self-belief and access to finance have been the biggest hurdles”, she admits. Aoife is not chasing rapid growth or big profits; her goal is simple: to make enough to contribute to the mortgage and sustain the croft. Yet, most funding models reward scale, not sustainability. “I don’t want to turn over a million or employ 20 people. I just want to employ myself. But there’s little support for that”.

All the investment in her workshop has been privately funded, something she acknowledges wouldn’t have been possible without her partner’s steady income and inheritance money. “It shouldn’t require this level of personal sacrifice to build something so valuable to the community and the environment”, she says.

Looking ahead, Aoife sees mentorship and digital support as key to her business’s growth. She’s working on launching a website —something that was previously eligible for funding but is no longer— and is seeking shops to stock her products. “I often spend more time on peripheral business tasks than actually working with the fleece”, she laughs. “Support to go digital and keep making a living would help”.

Despite the obstacles, Aoife finds deep satisfaction in her work. “I love Hebridean wool, the colours, the texture. Seeing people’s reactions to my products and the connection they feel to the animals is the most rewarding part”.

From humble beginnings and a pandemic-induced challenge, Aoife has woven a story of resilience, creativity, and meaningful entrepreneurship, rooted in tradition, driven by passion, and sustained by community.