Crofting

Do you want to help secure the future of crofting?

The Crofting Commission elections will be taking place in March 2017.

At a crofting roadshow near you you can find out more about the elections, the role of the Commission and Commissioners and the importance of making your voice heard.

The roadshow will also have short talks from different crofting organisations addressing key crofting issues, followed by a Q&A session.

Horticulture Course

Animal Husbandry Course

By the end of this course, you will be able to correctly & safely catch, restrain & perform a health check on sheep, pigs, goats & poultry as well as gaining ‘hands on’ experience for routine healthcare procedures. This will cover techniques involved in routine animal husbandry which will include; foot trimming, shearing, ear tagging, milking (Goats), administering medication.

Permaculture Design Course

Learn how to creatively (re)design your croft using permaculture principles, with the result that you will get more diverse yields. Permaculture is a sustainable, resilient process which replicates the way nature works - come and find out about it.

The course will be held off site at a permaculture ScotLAND project with students travelling by minibus from the museum.

Please bring packed lunch. Tea & Coffee provided. 
Please bring warm and waterproof clothes.

Local Course Director: Julia Hamilton
Tutor: Ed Tyler

Introduction to Sheepdogs Course

This will be an introduction to the care and working of sheepdogs. This will be a practical course where the tutor will demonstrate simple commands. Attendees will be able to under-supervision work the tutor dog. 
If you wish to bring your own dog please make arrangements with course organiser first.

Please bring packed lunch. Tea & Coffee provided. 
Please bring warm and waterproof clothes.

Local Course Director: Janette Sutherland
Tutor: Jimmy Lamont

Dry Stone Dyking Course

A practical outdoor training course spread over 2 days. The course will be held off site, meeting at Kilmartin Museum.

Please bring:
steel toe capped boots/wellies, waterproof clothing, suncream if a hot day & plenty of bottled water, some heavy rubber type gardening gloves, eye protection - eg builders goggles, these don't need to be worn all the time, just during hammering.

Please also bring a packed lunch, drinks & snacks each day .

Introduction to Felting Course

Felting native wool fleece - practical uses for small scale felting projects. We will be using a range of Shetland, Hebridean, North Ronaldsay , Blue Faced Leicester and Texel wool. Teaching transferable skills of wet felting
and needle felting on this experimental workshop.
Lots of samples and ideas to be inspired by.

Tutor: Liz Gaffney-Whaite
Local Course Director: Julia Hamilton

Supported by the Prince’s Countryside Fund

Introducing equipment & processes involved in spinning wool (& other natural fibres): starting with raw fleece to making yarn, with plenty of hands-on experience during the day. Discussion of application choices, with some
examples to see & feel, with tips to improve techniques.

Tutor: Bridie Pursey
Local Course Director: Julia Hamilton

Supported by the Prince’s Countryside Fund

Contact: training@crofting.org to book your place!

Learn the basics of scything for cropping and rush control, peening and use of sharpening stone.

Scythes also available for sale.

Tutor: Steve Tomlin
Local Course Director: Christine Crook, West Highland College

Contact: training@crofting.org to book your place!