Ref Ukraine

[Tarrel]

Depends how far you want to go back. We were in Shetland last October, and had a look at some old Bronze Age settlements on the coast. Amazing that they managed to survive given that there was little wood and poor soil. Seafood played a major role, stone was used for building and driftwood for heating. More recently, grazing of animals on poorer quality upland soils did, and still does, provide a source of food and income. A typical crofter's income comes from breeding sheep which are then sold further south for fattening on the richer grasslands there. Areas such as Easter Ross (where we are) and Caithness are lower-lying and have very rich agricultural soils - as good as some of the best in the UK. You can pretty much grow anything there.

Then there's the venison...