2nd Volunteering Saturday at Turriefield

Since my first visit, I'd told my mam all about Turriefield. I recruited her to come and help for the day. I knew she would be inspired by what they were doing. She is much more into growing flowers and isn't keen on vegetables, where as I'm the opposite.

We arrived on another lovely day. Our job for the morning was to weed the chard and beetroot patch. The only annoyance was that the wind fell away entirely. Penny and Allan provided midge repellents which was a lifesaver.

Hard at work.

This is one of my favourite pictures I've ever taken of my mam.

Hundreds upon hundreds of peas and beans. 

One of my relatives said he wouldn't want to be a weed in my presence haha. 

The sun threatening to shine! 

We were fed another amazing lunch including toasted marshmallows to celebrate one of the volunteer's birthday. Ian and Penny are fab hosts. Their bannocks are some of the best I've ever had anywhere. My mouth just waters thinking about it.

I didn't take any photos of them, but my favourite part of the visit this time was seeing the progress of the Turriefield polytunnel pumpkins. They were HUGE. Pumpkins are something I would never have expected would have been able to grow up here, even inside. But its possible!

Now if only I had a polytunnel of my own so I could grow all these wonderful things. Some day!

My first Turriefield volunteering day

Turriefield is part of the WWOOFing scheme. At any time in the summer they usually have at least 1 full time voluteer working with them. On one saturday of every month, local people in Shetland help out for a morning doing whatever needs doing around the croft.

I set off from Lerwick FAR too early, as on previous runs to Sandness I'd never timed how long it took to drive there. Leaving the house at half 8 on a saturday (strenuous!), I pootled to Sandwick in the car. Being far too early I explored Sandness first and sat on the pier enjoying the still morning near the local toilets (the beach name escapes me!).

I arrived at 10 and met the Alan, Penny and the WWOOFers. We were set to work, hoeing the weeds. I had a fantastic morning. By mid morning there was more than 10 locals helping, doing various tasks from weeding to cutting the grass. The sun came out and I being ever prepared (not), got sunburn.

At 1pm we were fed an amazing lunch of soup and bannocks. The best cullen skink I've ever had in my life. I gave 2 of the WWOOFers a lift back to Lerwick. I'll definitely be back next month.

Where we started weeding. The weeds were pretty established.

A panorama showing some of the folk hard at work

Standing from the same spot I was earlier, look how far we got cleared.

A hen trying her luck for lunch titbits

Turriefield Inspiration

I first came across Transition Turriefield, an organic Shetland croft, on the Shetland food blog. It was around early July on a tuesday in teabreak. I discovered their blog and couldn't believe that anyone else up here was doing the exact thing I wanted to do. Growing primarily vegetables organically, in quantity.

After reading everything I could, I decided my mission was to go and visit them and absorb everything I saw, haha! I took the afternoon off work on a sunny Thursday and had an adventure to Sandness to visit them.

I phoned in advance, but got no answer, but was too chicken to leave a message. So I plucked up my courage and rudely invaded them anyway. Poor folk! I didn't know at the time, but Thursday was their extremely stressful and busy packing day. I'd caught them just after they'd finished and were hoping for a rest.

They very kindly let me wander around their croft and I took photos. They have several large polytunnels full of vegetables that would otherwise never grow in Shetland.

Its heaven on earth.

Beautiful bright salad leaves

Tomato plants

A fence along which grows peas and broad beans, salad in the foreground

Marrows that would grow outdoors in england can only grow inside in Shetland

Far left, brassicas, middle onions, right leeks

Corn growing indoors

I was so inspired. Polytunnels are definitely on my Christmas list! The possibilities are endless with one.

I signed up to become a monthly Turriefield volunteer to help with whatever needs doing. It was the least I could do. And through helping I can only but learn more to apply to my own garden. Its a win win situation. :)