Thursday 25 September 2008

The Baker's Dozen

David Buscombe, 58, his wife Sara, 57, and their twelve children run The Cornish Mill & Bakehouse from Trescowthick Farm, on the North Cornish coast. It’s a place of peace and contentment: a hundred yards from the house lies a tranquil dip covered in hawthorn blossom called Snow Valley, the Atlantic glistens in the distance, and the noise is not of traffic but of ewes bleating, dogs barking and skylarks singing.
From here the Buscombes grow and mill their own flour, bake a large range of bread, biscuits and pasties, and keep Black Rock hens whose eggs are used in their baking. The family are unusual in combining traditional values and a strong Catholic faith with a versatility that ensures they succeed in an increasingly tough commercial world.

“We’ve switched to whatever we’ve needed to do rather than what we’ve wanted to do,” says David. And that means hard work. “We work from dawn till dusk and a bit more most days. But we don’t count success as how much money’s in the bank – it’s how happy you are. That’s success.”

David and Sara have had several businesses since they met in 1967 when Sara’s parents moved into the farm and guesthouse next door.

“They brought her to me!” says David. “We married 3 years later and have been in business ever since. First we took on the guesthouse where I worked as the chef. Then I worked on the Trewithen Estate, milking herds for 14 years, and as the children started arriving, we set up a business selling secondhand baby equipment, with shops in Truro and Plymouth. We rented Trescowthick Farm from the Trewithen Estate, and when the property boom came about, we sold the shops, started farming and Sara began baking.”

10 years ago they decided to take a stall in the new Farmer’s Market in Truro. “The food just disappeared,” says Sara. “Soon we had two stalls instead of one.”

“It got so busy I said you’d better teach me to bake and we went from there, got bigger and bigger.” David laughs. “It beats farming!”

Friends who run Buddy Designs designed a distinctive white Cornish cross on a black background which clearly communicates the ‘Cornish Pride’ of the business and this logo won the Benchmarks Award 2007. The Bakehouse logo can now be seen on all their produce which they sell at Farmer’s Markets in Falmouth and Truro, as well as a range of cafes and restaurants. They also sell their additive free, 100% pure flour through the markets and wholesale, to such customers as the Eden Project.

Diversification is always important to farmers and the Buscombes are no exception. “With the cost of fuel and food going up, the balance is more difficult to maintain,” says David. “At the moment people still want what we’ve got but we are a luxury food business so if there is a crunch we may need to modify the business further. That’s why we’re selling more flour.”

Like any business, there are pros and cons. “The advantage to working with family is that if there’s a problem we resolve it straight away,” David says. “The only disadvantage is doing the Farmers Markets. That’s the only time Sara’s not there.”

7 of the 12 children still live at home and all are involved with the business in some capacity. “Even the youngest (twins aged 12) clean the baskets and van and help with the stalls,” says David. “It runs in the family – my grandparents used to have a barrow stall.” Four of the other children are partners in the business which suits them all. “Why should they work for us when they can work with us?” says David. “The family working together is the strongest bond we’ve got.”

But their faith is equally important. “The faith and the family is our life,” David says. “That’s what it’s based on. If you haven’t got anything to believe in, what’s the point? You just go on day after day - for what reason?” But he acknowledges that it’s not always easy. “You have to be strong to stand out.”

David and Sara decided to dispense with a television when they moved to Trescowthick Farm in 1990. “I didn’t want my children watching rubbish,” says David. “Parental supervision is vital as children do whatever their parents do. I always say if I do it, you can do it. If I don’t, you don’t. And it works.”

This authoritative approach to raising their children clearly does work. “Here they’re always outside with the ponies or playing football or rugger. Some play in the Newlyn East band and sing with the local choir,” says David. “What better place to bring children up?”

“All the children get on very well and that’s where our faith comes in,” says Sara. “We all have this background, so if you think you’ve done something wrong you apologise and move on. We don’t brood on it.”

David and Sara also sing with the Perraners, a group of singers that rehearse in Perranporth. “We used to compete in ballroom dancing up to intermediate level,” says David. “It got political after that so we decided not to take it any further.”

They never work on Sundays because that’s their day of rest, but David always cooks. “In winter I do a roast and a barbecue in the summer. We often have twenty plus sitting down to lunch and there’s always some left over in case anyone calls by.” He grins. “Then we all go and have a game of football – the girls as well. There’s a competitive streak in our family, so we need challenges – it keeps us on our toes.”

Meeting David and Sara, it is clear how happy they are. “I wouldn’t do anything differently, David says. “If I did, I wouldn’t have what I’ve got now and that’s what counts.” Life hasn’t always been like this. “We’ve been through incredibly hard times but it’s made us stronger. In recessions and tough times you either pull together or pull apart. The Trewithen Estate have been behind us all the way and supported the business.”

They haven’t been able to have many holidays but David looks ahead to when he and Sara can slow down a little. “It would be nice to take a back seat with Sara and let the children take over more. We could have a few holidays and see one or two places. But we don’t go ‘abroad’ over the Tamar very often!

“Cornwall’s home isn’t it?” he says looking out over the land with a smile. “I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. We often go to Holywell Bay on a Sunday – and what a place! It’s always different but always beautiful.”

And while some people might find it difficult working with their spouse, David couldn’t be happier. “I wonder sometimes how we get through with 12 children,” he says. “The answer to that is with a good wife who’s a good mother. We’ve never really fallen out – I just give in!” But he is entirely happy with the situation. “I can’t think of anything better than working with those you love.”

The Old Mill and Bakehouse
Trescowthick Farm
St Newlyn East
Newquay
TR8 5NS

01637 830958
info@cornishmillandbakehouse.com
www.cornishmillandbakehouse.com

Falmouth Farmer’s Market is on the Moor on Tuesdays
Truro Farmer’s Market is on Wednesday and Saturdays on Lemon Quay

This is published in the October edition of Cornwall Today

15 comments:

Merlin's Wizard said...

A life such as that sounds great. I have had tough times in my life, but I dont dwell on them as in essence they make you appreciate the smaller things in life so much more. Well done to them all and all the best for the future.
Great Blog

Take Care
MW
xxx

Pat Posner said...

Oh, I enjoyed reading that, Flowerpot. You've really got a way with words - I especially love this:

"It’s a place of peace and contentment: a hundred yards from the house lies a tranquil dip covered in hawthorn blossom called Snow Valley, the Atlantic glistens in the distance, and the noise is not of traffic but of ewes bleating, dogs barking and skylarks singing."

What a great TV documentary D&S's life would make!

Amanda said...

How lovely, Flowerpot. Thank you for sharing. I've had a little peek at the website too. :-)

Flowerpot said...

Good to meet you Merlin and glad you enjoyed the piece.

Flowerpot said...

MW - sorry I meant to say you are so right about not dwelling on the tough times - hope yours improve very soon.

Pat - delighted you enjoyed it! You're right - they could be the next Darling Buds of May!

Annie - glad you had a look a the website. The pics in the magazine this month are amazing too!

Akelamalu said...

What a great interview FP and they sound so very happy and well balanced. 12 children though? I couldn't cope!

Catherine said...

Their ethos of measuring success by happiness is my aspiration. It seems this family have achieved all their goals!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

What a fascinating post and such inspirational people.

Flowerpot said...

Ak - they are the happiest people I've ever met - it was very humbling. But I agree about the 12 children!

Adventure mother - good to meet you and yes it's good to meet people who have met their goals.

Debs - they certainly are inspirational - makes you step back and look at your own life. Well, it did me!

Chris Stovell said...

Lovely article and so well-written. I'm pleased to see you again, flowerpot, I've been dropping by to see if you were about after your disappointing news. I think it's a question of being very persistent at the this very difficult time and I was glad to read that you were sending stuff out again. Cx

Ellee Seymour said...

I love big families. I met a woman in Ireland this week aged 42 who has 10 children, seven still living at home, along with her murdered son's girlfriend and their three kids. And she only has a two-bed house.

Flowerpot said...

Oh Chris - you've made my day! Thanks for that. Yes I've sent it out to 2 more agents and am still making some more revisions. Then I will send it out some more! Hope you are recovering from your holiday!

Flowerpot said...

Ellee - that takes some beating. Dear God. What a stalwart.... hope your trip went well.

Around My Kitchen Table said...

TWELVE kids? Nightmare. They sound a wonderful family, though, and your interview was great. By the time I'd read it, I really felt I knew them.

Flowerpot said...

Table - I have to say I only met David, Sara and Mary - the youngest twin. But they are a very warm hearted family and theirwhole approach to life really made me stop and think.