Recreating Kailyard (Kitchen Garden)
In 2017 the Bailies were awarded a grant from the HLF to help fund a community project to recreate part of a Kailyard at one of the old Colony sites known as Shepherds Lodge, once the home of the Littlejohn family. The aim of the project was to help discover what life might have been like for the Colonists. What were their methods of farming, were they influenced by the “improvements”, what did they grow, and what problems may they have encountered? Following research our cultivation methods are similar to those we believe would have been used by the Colonists and the chosen plants are mostly heritage fruit bushes from the 19th century.
By the end of 2017 volunteers had cut back and removed unwanted herbage, dug, tested and fertilised the soil, erected a fence and planted a number of fruit bushes. During 2018 the fruit bushes put on good growth, even offering a small amount of fruit. While volunteers continue maintaining the Kailyard over the next few years, a diary is being kept from which we will transcribe our findings.
Already we are learning a little more about the Colonists. The soil is much deeper in the Kailyard than other parts of the croft and of a good quality, thus showing the amount of skill and effort put in by the Colonists. Evidence that they were using their midden to fertilise this plot comes from the considerable amount of 18/19 century pottery unearthed while we were digging. This pottery has also given us a good indication of what crockery the Littlejohns were using.
Visitors are always welcome, so if you are visiting Bennachie pop along and view our progress.
For 2019 Kailyard volunteer rota diary reports see 2019 Kailyard Reports
