Perthshire community farm’s roots of success

CO-OPERATIVE: Jonathan Agnew details blossoming popularity of Taybank Growers

Q. How and why did you start in business?

I wanted to grow food in a way that has a positive impact on the environment.

I also wanted it to be a business that involves and supports the local community so moved to Blackhaugh Farm in Spittalfield in 2016 with a vision to start a community farm.

Along with two other people, we set up a workers’ co-operative in 2017.

Q. How did you get to where you are today?

We applied for a Young Farmers’ Start Up Grant, which is an EU fund delivered by the Scottish Government and this was key to getting us going as it covered all our capital costs. There’s a lot of equipment needed to get a market garden started.

Q. Who has helped you along the way? We have had amazing support from family, friends and dedicated supporters who have been buying our produce and attending events from the start. Growbiz have really helped with practical business advice, enterprise support and mentoring.

The Scottish Government grant was crucial for us in getting started, as was the New Entrants Capital Grant which funded a much needed deer fence around the growing area.

Q. What was your biggest mistake? From a market garden perspective, we put the polytunnels in the wrong place and this has made it difficult to manage the beds with the tractor.

It’s only through experience that you start to find out what the right layout is.

Q. What is your greatest achievement to date?

Delivering our successful veg box scheme every week to 75 households – it’s great to see so many happy customers. Projections show that the business is becoming more stable, the infrastructure we have put in along with blood, sweat and tears is all coming together to create something substantial.

Q. How has coronavirus impacted your business?

We already had a client base, but had to redirect our produce direct to old and new customers after our wholesale business vanished overnight.

Our veg bags are very popular with people who are wanting to either limit their contact with supermarkets or who are shielding.

Q. What do you hope to achieve in the future?

Along with my colleagues, Lynsey Payne and Freida Sweeney, we want to build a successful and sustainable business that remains true to our values and makes a difference locally.

Q. Do you want to recruit in the future? Yes. Our team will need to grow in order to support the growth of the business, especially in terms of seasonal staff.

Q. What is the hardest thing about running your own business?

The buck stops with you.

The success of the business is fully dependent on your own actions and that’s a huge responsibility that it takes time to get used to.

Q. Any advice to wannabe entrepreneurs?

Make sure you have solid financial support to get you started.

Freida Sweeney and Jonathan Agnew of Taybank Growers Co-operative.