Travel of Sorts

 The Farm Shop Post

It’s a sad day when a morning shopping trip becomes the highlight of a travel blog, but such are times. Along with yesterday’s shopping trip to a neighboring town, I’m including a shout out to a similar spot in Scotland which we are missing. Now to the story of mundane travel in the times of Covid-19.

Yesterday Anne and I drove over to Bauman’s Farm and Garden, just a couple of miles past Woodburn on Hwy 99E—a trip of about 15 miles one way. Huge for us under current conditions. Bauman’s farm was started by Elizabeth Bauman in 1895 and became a small family-run farm market at its current location in 1988. The farm shop now sells produce year round, particularly apples, corn, and berries. 

The farm bakery specializes in pies (berry, peach, apple, among others) and anything made with marionberries. 

Known for its apple cider, both natural and hard, the farm also contains a seasonal gift shop. 

The Harvest Fair, a fall celebration each year, had to be cancelled this year because of Covid-19 restrictions. We came home with veggies, pies, cookies, cider, and a few other treats—

The clerk is separated from customers by a plexiglass shield.

all-in-all, a good shopping trip.

Our Bauman’s trip reminded us of our favorite farm shop in Scotland. When we’re in Scotland we visit many of their farm shops such as Broadslap Farm (Dunning), Balgove Larder (St Andrews), and Storehouse at Foulis (on the way to Dornoch), but the one we go to most often is Gloagburn Farm in Tibbermore near Perth, about 20 minutes from our home base in Crieff. 

Opened in 2003 by Ian and Alison Niven, Gloagburn Farm is a working farm with a cafe, gift shop, farm shop, and deli. 

The cafe, serving breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea, serves food mostly prepared on the premises. The farm shop has an assortment of veggies, meats, and prepared food, as well as a full compliment of deli treats. 

Outside we’ve been able to get up close with pigs, sheep, the popular Highland cows (hairy coos), and some of the 4500 free-range chickens. When we visit Gloagburn Farm it is mostly for a delicious lunch or sweet in the fine cafe.

We hope you have been keeping yourselves safe and have found ways to enjoy a little travel, even if it’s just to a special shop.