Culrain bakers' new honesty box is a hit for hall
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Two neighbours in a tiny Sutherland community are “over the moon” about the success of a home baking honesty box they have set up to raise funds for their local hall.
Marieke de Jong and Kristina Fonseca have sold out almost every day since the wooden honesty box was set up in the grounds of Culrain Hall.
People are now making special trips to the hall to pick up baking and are ringing the women to ask when a specific item will be in the box.
“We are slightly overwhelmed - everyone has been so nice about it,” said Marieke, who moved from the Netherlands permanently to Culrain with her partner Christiaan Maris two years ago after falling in love with the area on holidays.
It was their neighbour Kristina Fonseca, a keen baker, who first came up with the idea of an honesty box. She knew Marieke was a bread maker and felt that between them, they w ould have no problem stocking the box.
Kristina, a carer, is married to Portuguese native Duarte and the couple are keen climbers.
“We wanted to do something that would help with the upkeep of the hall,” said Marieke.
“There used to be ceilidhs held there which raised money, but of course with Covid these are not happening any longer. We asked for permission from hall managers and I thought they might be sceptical but they were very enthusiastic.”
Local joiner Jason Foster was enlisted to help make the large box.
While in a rural spot, the hall is on a walking route near Carbisdale Castle and is next to a bridge, giving easy access to Bonar Bridge residents.
The women fill the box on a daily basis with some of Marieke’s bread - sourdough is her speciality - and some 10 sweet treats made by Kristina such as flapjacks, muffins, sweet and savoury scones and ginger slices. Word about the box has spread on social media.
Nothing is priced, which caused some consternation initially.
“We decided to make it an extreme honesty box so that people could just leave what they felt the goods were worth. It caused a bit of a fluster but it is working pretty well,” said Marieke.
She added: “We're doing much better than we had anticipated. We thought it would just be used by residents in our own small community but people from elsewhere are taking the time to walk over to the box or drive there specially.
"We're now getting special requests asking us when such and such will be available. Sourdough now goes in the box every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. We are also aiming to celebrate the weekend with a special cake on Saturdays."
