Contractions and Expansions

Launching Our New Events with Crowdmatch

Late last summer I messaged the estate we live on, to tell them we were stopping events.

We had hit road block after road block. Our Victorian plumbing and septic system wasn’t coping with the extra burden of visitors. Catering out of the tiny kitchen with the very old Rayburn was a struggle. Consumer behaviour had changed and folks were booking things last minute, which meant planning was hard, especially in amongst our other responsibilities like Kevin’s job, children and laundry. A knee injury meant that after the events we did run, I would spend days in bed.

It was time to go big or go home…and I was going to bed.

Both the factor and our laird sent me very lovely messages, suggesting that I just hold on to the commercial lease for now, just in case things shift.

At the time, I told Kevin that I couldn’t see a way through this. The changes to keep operational needed investment we didn’t have…I’d already been working for free for almost two years to pay off refunds we’d made through COVID. We were done.

But in our done-ness, we couldn’t stop planning fictional events in our heads…”wouldn’t it be great to have an exhibition?” “Wouldn’t it be fab to have Jane teach some of her beautiful eco-printing?” “I can’t believe Eilidh won’t teach here again!” “Oh next issue of Life in the Making, we could have a Farm to Table dinner with the recipes and a launch party” “We need to get M’s ESOL class out!” “Oh I will miss the GCFN folk” “We could have a community potluck!”

It seemed impossible, insurmountable. I simply couldn’t see a way to bridge the gap between where we were and where we wanted to be.

Crowdmatch To Help Us Grow

The potential solution came to me via a Facebook advert. Creative Scotland was launching its 2023 Crowdmatch. It is a scheme where Creative Scotland, a national funding agency, will match purchases £ for £ made through the crowdfunder platform. Unlike a traditional crowdfunder, the premise is that through April 17th you make bookings and purchases that you usually would through our website, through the crowdfunder platform, Creative Scotland will match every purchase. So if you make a £20 purchase or donation to our cause, it will be matched with a £20 pledge from Creative Scotland, effectively doubling your donation. They do limit their donation to £250 per purchase and only for a customer’s first purchase.

It seemed like the solution we had been looking for. Crowdmatch enables us to leverage our work in a way that brings in additional funds to get capital investment we wouldn't normally have access to as a small rural business. 

Our Plans to Make Your Visit Even Better

photos by Clem Sandison

With the funds, we plan to build a set of outdoor loos to take the pressure off of our existing septic system - making visiting the farm a more enjoyable experience all around.

Then will make a few improvements to our event barn - adding some weather proofing and improving the electrics so that we can better utilise the space.

Most exciting on that front is that we are partnering with Lucy Pattinson from The Fodderation, a chef specialising in open fire cooking. Lucy will be sharing our space, not only helping us get more of our produce to the table for folk, but also running her own range of workshops and events from the field kitchen in the event barn.

Three Simple Ways You Can Support Us

1. Book Now

The Crowdmatch Fund is live now. We have a range of purchases in our crowdmatch shop, including the next edition of Life in the Making, our favourite enamel cups, and lots of workshops and events. You simply book as you normally would on our website, but via the crowdfunder site.

2. Paying It Forward

Alongside all of this, we are setting up a Pay it Forward Scholarship Fund which will allow us to offer spaces and workshops to traditionally underserved communities and help support transport to and from the farm. If you can’t make it to the farm, but would like to sponsor someone else’s visit, simply book a pay it forward place and we will make those tickets available to folks who wouldn’t normally be able to attend, as well as supporting their travel to the farm.

For us, this bit feels like such a great opportunity to connect the dots of so many areas around food and craft, accessibility.

3. Share the Love

Even if you can’t make a purchase, sharing helps us just as much. If you can share the Crowdmatch link to your own networks, we would be so so grateful.

We are excited to take the Gartur Stitch Experience forward with your support. We promise a delightful visit while we feed, entertain and teach you. And, we’ll even let you milk a goat if you ask.

Thank you,

Kat & Kevin