Farming is a fundamental part of North Isles life and so was a significant theme throughout the interviews.
Folk were keen to talk about significant developments over the years, including the changes from manual to mechanised tasks. This included working “wae horse”, the introduction of tractors – the “peedie Fergie”, the increased use of the large machines of the present day, the amalgamation of smaller farms into large ones and the impact of the roll-on roll-off ferries on farming.
- 🔊 Farming way of life: Marina Cursiter, Papa Westray.
- 🔊 Peedie Fergie: Ernest Miller, Eday.
- 🔊 Impact of ferries on farming: Jimmy Lennie, Sanday.
- 🔊 Farming in Shapinsay: Kenny Meason, Shapinsay.
“…the mainstay farming on Sanday is absolutely excellent. And, more importantly, and I say this coming from a background of crofting, mainstream crofting, the co-operation level is phenomenal.”
Robin Calvert, Sanday
“…we got a binder then and in 1948 we got wir first tractor…A grey Ferguson and I still hiv it. It was the biggest boon that ever was in farming when the tractor cam in and hid made life so much easier. It also allowed folk tae keep more cattle wae no hivin the horses tae feed. It actually made the farm more profitable as you wad say.”
Irvine Miller, Stronsay
“Well, I worked the horse. When my father died I was just 17 and I was drilling with the horse and just working the land with the horse…It just got then, y’ken, that especially with Loganair, you couldn’t really work the horse. They had to go. I had the last pair of working horses in Sanday.”
Jimmy Lennie, Sanday