Back to the Land: Sarah Boden returns to Eigg - in pictures

Former journalist Sarah Boden, who quit The Observer 18 months ago to return to her native Eigg to farm sheep and cattle. Eigg is part of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland Photograph: Murdo Macleod

These photographs were taken during her first lambing season. Sarah spent part of her childhood on Eigg and her father managed a Devonshire bull farm. Sarah: “Ever since spending long summers looking after calves, I had yearned for a farming life of my own” Photograph: Murdo Macleod

No need for a tumble dryer: washing hung out near a beach known as The Singing Sands at Laig. In the distance is the island of Rum Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Sarah Boden with Isla the collie. A good sheep dog can cost up to £6000 Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Feeding a pair of orphaned lambs at home Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Eigg is 15 miles from the Scottish mainland: “London was vibrant,” says Sarah, “but I was beginning to feel alienated from the self-reliant values I had grown up with” Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Catching a lamb which has become separated from its mother. The sheep are North Country Cheviots, some of which will eventually be marketed as hogget (lamb older than a year but not yet fully mature) Photograph: Murdo Macleod

The island is run by the Eigg Trust following a community buyout. It has an innovative energy scheme and the island power grid uses photovoltaic cells such as these Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Sarah: “Offsetting the start-up costs of about £60,000 for livestock and machinery alone is going to take us at least five years. Hill farming is unprofitable and heavily dependent on subsidy: the typical yearly income is only £8,000. The average age of a farmer these days is 58” Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Transporting sheepdogs Dave and Isla. Sarah: “Dave only follows commands if I speak them in the gruff voice of a man from Dumfries” Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Eigg can be reached by ferry, which makes the 75 minute trip from the mainland only four times a week Photograph: Murdo Macleod

With Dave and Isla. Sarah: “My clothes have taken on a waft of sheep’s lanolin, muck and diesel. But even on abysmal days, when I’m cold or the quad has a puncture, there’s not a great deal from my former life that I hanker after” Photograph: Murdo Macleod

The village of Cleadale and the crags of Beinn Bhuidhe on Eigg. The island is home to just 90 people. Sarah: “The internet connection is decent, as long as the receivers haven’t been blown down by gales” Photograph: Murdo Macleod