The ideas behind Comrie Croft were inspired by a hand drawn map from the 1700s showing up to 12 households living on and working the land. By the early 1990s the farm could no longer support one family and it looked like it would be amalgamated into a larger land holding and the buildings converted into executive housing.
But why should the story of rural areas be one of constant decline? We believe that rural areas can and should be resilient, vibrant places with abundant nature, where everyone can live well within an equitable share of the earth's resources. This is what we are attempting to demonstrate at Comrie Croft.
The Croft is set up as a private company co-owned by 50 employees, local people, friends and family. It was established in 2008 to buy out the previous land owner and pursue the new vision. Finance was raised through the co-owners and a large bank loan from Triodos Bank, who have supported the project from the outset.
Some of the enterprises at the Croft are independently owned and managed - Tomnah'a Market Garden and the Tea Garden at Comrie Croft being the most notable. Tomnah'a (est. 2016) operates on a Community Supported Agriculture model, leasing a 3 ha field within from which they grow a wide range of fruit, veg and flowers. Sales are made direct to local people through a veg-box scheme, flower club, local markets/food assembly and weddings. Produce is also sold wholesale to the onsite farmshop, cafe and local chefs/restaurants. The Tea Garden Cafe serves a range of homemade and 'field to fork' salads, soups, cakes and other goodies.