All posts by anediblelife

The importance of Land

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All this talk of Land got me thinking today.

We are lucky enough to live on a small croft, not mine but my parents – but we are just starting to use it. Yesterday we spent the afternoon working in and around our polytunnel, the boys played in the burn, got soaked and had great fun. We dug and planted – my eldest who has just started to write, wrote the names of the plants on their tags – my youngest dug holes and ended up black with mud (he looked fab!) Today my partner is breaking up wood he got for building a fence – and his son is out with the loppers cutting back rhodedendrons and whin bushes. He’s 13 – and it occurred to me that if we didn’t have this space, this land at our fingertips, he would most likely be inside playing his Xbox or watching tv. But he’s out there, and is enjoying himself immensely!

Look at what they are learning, how to plant and grow, how to write, how to maintain the land, all while getting exercise and enjoying themselves.

Land  – so important its got a capital L!

Meetings, meetings, talks and meetings

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Been a while since I blogged so here goes as a few things spring into my mind.

Firstly, we had our first meeting in an outlying area , in Onich. The hotel we had it in was very accommodating, and although I always worry we’ll have nothing to talk about, we ended up running over! Loads of vibrant chat about campaigning, and educating, and empowering ourselves. I always come away from these meeting feeling more enthused, more inspired, by the amazing women that gather – to continue getting out there and keeping the fires burning! Saying that – here’s what we are doing next : –

LWFI Social Media

Then we held our first event, where Lesley Riddoch visited us as part of her Highland White Blossom Mini Tour. Everyone helped out with setting up, baking, making teas and coffees, promoting, arranging PA’s, making leaflets, taking tickets, and clearing up – making it a very successful night, with approx. 100 attendees. This was just the sort of thing Lesley talked about, co- operatives and making things happen – people power. Lesley is a very strong speaker and spoke with authority and humour. She spoke about a lot of the subjects in her book ‘Blossom’ (i’ll touch on some briefly, read the book!) – including the community buy out of Eigg, and West Whitelawburn Estate – where the tenants basically bought their own property (using a grant available at the time) as a co-op and now use the rents to improve it. All pretty amazing stuff when you think that just ordinary people achieved these things. Not lawyers or politicians, but ordinary folk – clubbing together for the better good of their  communities. Makes you wonder. And Land Reform came up, which Lesley has been recently campaigning strongly for. With just fewer than 500 people owning half of Scotland, we should all be taking an interest and getting involved. (Land festival anyone?)

Unfortunately I missed the Jim Sillars talks, but from all accounts he was incredibly inspiring and brought a tear to the eye! I will also be away for Ivan McKee when he’s here on the 10th of April – again a well versed man who will be talking about The Economic (and Social) case against Austerity.

I was also at a Lochaber Greens meeting, where local man John Hutchison was also talking about Land Reform – having been involved in it for many years. John was involved with the community buy out on Knoydart (and Eigg) and is also involved with The Scottish Rural Parliament now. I’ve only just recently met John, but he is extremely knowledgeable on the subject (and many other things to boot!) and is a good advocate for talent on your doorstep!

And after all that – we have Tommy Sheridan and Lesley Jarrett in Ballachulish on the 18th of April! Love or loath him – you can’t deny Tommy is a powerful speaker!

So, generally a busy time here – and having never been involved in politics before – i’m wondering now – is it always like this? Do we normally have all these talks and meetings in the area in election year, or are we really in changed times? I hope its the latter, everyone seems so engaged, the campaign is vibrant and exciting – how could I have missed this in the past?

Nationalism: specifically, Scottish nationalism

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Lassie Liberty

Today, I have one tiny thing I need to say: I am sick and tired of people condemning Scottish nationalism like Scots are a bunch of terrorists needing to be stomped out, but having no problem with any other form of nationalism.

In America, no one bats an eye at the sight of an American flag in front of a house, nor criticises someone for wanting to protect and defend our way of life, nor proclaims openly how much they love their country–and that’s coming from a country that really has no definitive culture of its own since it’s made up of immigrants who brought over all of their own traditions and cultures.

In the UK, British nationalism seems praised. Not as highly as in America, but still to be proud of being British doesn’t seem like something anyone is shamed for. And I’d even argue that the English are…

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The day the Scottish Parliament came to town

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Just recently, I’ve become, I guess, an activist. This started after the Independence Referendum – well – I was a ‘keyboard’ activist prior to that – by maybe a couple of months. I’ve always had strong beliefs on certain issues, as you’d see from my facebook statuses, but not when it comes to running the country, or even, running the community –  to be honest, i’d never really thought about it. Then, something funny happened. We had that Independence Referendum, which to my disbelief, we lost. But that wasn’t the funny thing. The really funny thing,  was my sudden interest in politics! If, you’d said to me at any time, in say the last 6 months even, that i’d be excited about the Scottish Parliament coming to town, well, you probably couldn’t publish my reply! So far, this new found activism has culminated in, joining the SNP,  helping to set up a local branch of Women For Independence – and lots, and lots of tea, biscuits, and meetings.  And then today, I attended a Community Engagement event at Lochaber High School, hosted by the Scottish Parliament, about the Community Empowerment Bill. I must admit, when I walked into the room, filled with mainly suited and booted men, I thought –  I really shouldn’t be here. Sat around a table, with John Wilson MSP as spokesperson for the Local Government and Regeneration Committee, we were to engage in conversation about the bill – and I really felt out of my depth. Luckily, John G (Caol Community Council), spoke up about the planning of the new Gaelic School sports hall in Caol – and the lack of consultation with the residents, and Liz P who I also knew (but only recently since attending all these meetings!) spoke up about planning issues in her area, amongst many other issues. I didn’t contribute much, but I did listen as a lot of really valid points were brought up. Basically the issues centered on the local communities having a voice, making their own decisions, and being consulted instead of being told what was happening in the local areas – for instance, proper consultation on pertinent planning applications. It was suggested that if, the forestry for instance, was selling off land , the local community should have first refusal. There was talk of more allotments being made available, and possible community run market gardens where it was suggested they could sell their produce. We also touched on whether air weapons should be licensed but that was all we really had time for. All in all, it was a pretty positive meeting, the MSPs seemed interested in our views and were taking them with others to the formal meeting in the evening. I didn’t stay for more tea and biscuits, and ducked out as the meeting ended, but was happy I attended, and will hopefully be more at ease the next time! Next stop, Faslane – tbc…………….