This month brings a special episode, focused on the Bowhouse, in the East Neuk of Fife. The East Neuk is a coastal region in Scotland, blessed with fertile volcanic soils and beautiful fishing villages. The Bowhouse is a food hub that links local producers to customers in the community, while providing opportunity for collaboration between producers.
We hear from the founder of Bowhouse, Toby Anstruther, who initially launched the project as an extension of his farm estate, to promote links between local food production and local people. Tony chats about his frustrations with the increasingly centralised food system, and how Bowhouse has evolved as he learns more about the importance of engaging with the local food community.
We then hear from several of the producers at Bowhouse; Robert Campbell, who sells grass-fed beef from the East Neuk, Susie Anderson, a maker of premium Scottish charcuterie, Catriona Monson, who produces all-natural water kefir, Jayson Byles, a wild-foodie and seaweed forager, Clement Boucherit who provides fresh shellfish from the East Neuk, and Connie Hunter and Tom Booth, who farm a small market garden in East Neuk.
We also hear from Rosie Jack, the Market and Events Manager at Bowhouse. Most of the interviews in this episode were recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic, but towards the end of the episode, we check in with Rosie for an update on how the lockdown has changed operations at Bowhouse, and learn how they have evolved to meet today’s challenges.
This episode was produced by Katie Revell, with Abby Rose and Jo Barratt. Community support for Farmerama is provided by Hanna Soderlund, Fran Bailey, Annie Landless, Eliza Jenkins and Olivia Oldham. The theme music is by Owen Barratt.