Replacing the missing link in the local food chain
A look at Bowhouse, East Neuk of Fife
Our Substack today is somewhat different from our usual format. So far, we’ve mostly gone down the slow journalism route - sharing easy conversations with creatives, makers and those from the wider Scottish food scene. These are some of my favourite pieces to write - I love hearing people’s stories and creating a space to publish them (and have many more of these in the pipeline). This piece however, is more to do with spotlighting a place that is encouraging positive change in the community and the food and drink industry more widely. It’s about sharing their ethos, showcasing their onsite community and giving a shout-out to some of the events they have lined up over the summer and early autumn months.
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About Bowhouse
Bowhouse has been on my radar since we featured a piece on Baern Cafe in Issue 01 who have a space onsite there. Food for me, is all about connection - it’s so much more than the actual food itself. Bowhouse ties into this idea beautifully, aiming to replace the missing link in the local food chain. The thought behind it is to connect small growers and producers with restaurants and customers - celebrating (and using) produce that the East Neuk has to offer.
Bowhouse is part of the Balcaskie Estate, which is in the heart of East Neuk and historically, the industry there would have been fishing. This has dwindled in past years but the East Neuk continues to produce some of the best ingredients from the land - from malting barley, oilseed rape to wild roe deer. Much of the produce would leave the East Neuk for the central belt but what Bowhouse are trying to do is disrupt this pattern so local people can directly connect with local growers. Fundamentally, they are trying to encourage a shorter, local supply chain - helping people to understand how their food is grown or reared and the people who are behind it. In their words, ‘Bowhouse is a gathering place for people who really care about food’.
What’s particularly special about Bowhouse is the variety of different businesses that have taken residency there. From East Neuk Garden - a 4 acre, small scale farm growing over 50 varieties of vegetables and fruit to Butchery at Bowhouse - which provides a vital link in bringing meat from the field to the table to Scotland The Bread - a collaborative project to grow better grain and bake better bread with the common purposes of nourishment, sustainability and food sovereignty. Keeping the Plot, Futtle and Fit to the Core are also part of the Bowhouse community, along with Baern (mentioned above), Bothy Kitchen and Angrykulture.
Their market weekends are renown for being bustling and for welcoming some of the best local food and drink traders from across Scotland.
Spots on my apples
The event that inspired this Substack piece - an annual summer festival at Bowhouse that’s about celebrating all things organic. We were really kindly invited to attend last month and had a wonderful day dipping into talks, conversations, tastings, cookery demos, book signing, workshops, walks and tours and music in the evening. It’s named in tribute to the Joni Mitchell’s protest song Big Yellow Taxi referencing the lines, ‘Hey Farmer, Farmer, put away your DDT now, I don’t care about spots on my apples, Leave me the birds and the bees, Please…’ Despite Joni writing these lyrics in 1969, the lyrics still ring true today in 2023 as we think of ways we can protect nature and biodiversity. At its core, the festival is a chance to celebrate the amazing work done by so many organic growers, farmers, chefs, producers, activists and writers.
The festival was founded by Stephen Marshall and Lucy Hine who are partners in life, work and beer. Together they run Futtle, a company that makes a small range of seasonal, organic beers from Bowhouse, a former stable block in the East Neuk of Fife. They also run a record label, Futtle Records, in the same space as the brewery.
The festival is definitely one to bookmark for 2024!
Dates for your diaries
A big focus at Bowhouse is education and they welcome talented makers and instructors to share their knowledge with groups. Manager Rosie Jack writes, 'We wanted to host these outdoor crafts and activities as a way of reconnecting people with the landscape in a multi-sensory way.’
Here’s what is coming up over the next couple of months:
Friday 4th August, 10am: Foraging and Fortitude, Men’s Ocean Training
(Ticket: £135)
This is an event to promote men’s mental and physical wellbeing. Jayson Byles is a sustainable seaweed forager and chef, who will host a foraging walk and cook up the ingredients over a campfire. Drew Smithsimmons of Cold Water Training is a professional therapist and cold water exposure coach who will guide a safe wild swim in the North Sea before demonstraing cold water immersion in a -5 ice water bath whilst revealing its physical and mental benefits.Saturday 12th-13th August: August Market Weekend
(Free)
The theme of this event is ‘Meet the Maker’ and the market will feature an array of Scottish food and drink traders.
Friday 18th August, 11am: Spoon Carving with Louise Forbes at Bowhouse
(Ticket: £70)
Wood-worker Louise Forbes will teach attendees how to carve spoons in this hands-on workshop, with all materials provided. Refreshments and lunch will be included from the Baern Bakery and Café.Saturday 16th September: Mushroom Alchemy: Cultivation workshop
In this introduction to mushroom cultivation workshop attendees will learn how to grow mushrooms in their own home, and will come away with all of the materials that they need to get started.
You can find out more about Bowhouse and the producers here.
Love the market weekends at Bowhose - there's always something new to try, and the food trucks and live music really add to the experience!