Now nearly all farms are owned by farmers, land has been amalgamated to make much larger units which are more viable economically but with costly machinery doing the work and far less people. It is very difficult for young folk who have a love for the land to get a "foot on the ladder" to buy, unless they are fortunate to carry on from their parents and this is now to be made even harder by the recent UK budget if it is allowed to stand! Cairndaie was a tenant farm, being farmed by a Birse family since 1962. When Angela Fraser (Burnett Cragie of Linton estate) died in 1993, we purchased the farm. It is quite humbling to think that the Birse generations have been in this area since the mid 1900’ s as evidenced by the 1925 voting register, Charles and Mary Birse were our great grandparents.
Holidays are not something that is on many farmers "TO DO LIST" however this summer we did spend some time on a friend ’ s organic farm in County Ofally in Eire (Republic of Ireland). Now that our batteries are all recharged and we are ready for winter daily chores . Information and pictures for this article provided by Isabel Birse at Cairndaie. FOOTNOTE: - Next time you are stuck behind a combine, tractor with a machine or load of straw on the road just think they are on their way to work too, providing food for our ever increasing population. Everything we eat is produced by A FARMER somewhere in the world.
15
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online