Scotland: National Rural Network
Connecting Rural Scotland - Promoting Rural Growth

The best of Scotland's sustainable food and drink will be in the spotlight at this weekend's Big Tent Festival at Falkland Estate in Fife. Big Tent is a mix of music, arts and family activities mixed with debates on social and green issues.

Food and drink from some of the country's most innovative growers, farmers and artisan producers, with much of it organic, will be available at the event's One Planet Food Village. Falkland Estate pig and beef roasted on spits, beer from the Black Isle Brewery and Arbroath Smokies are among the culinary delights that will be tempting the taste buds of festival goers. A range of food demonstrations and workshops will also take place.

Christopher Trotter a local chef, food writer, consultant, and a Celebrating Fife 2010 Local Hero organises the One Planet Food Village.

He said, "I have sourced most of the traders from a 50 mile radius of Falkland reducing the carbon foodprint. We have organic producers and award winning future farmers. On the demonstration side this year we have focused on the producer, so we have presentations from the farmers, growers and cheese makers of Fife. We have a bread making workshop each day. For children we have Liz Ashworth working with children to encourage then to know where their food is from and to produce some delicious and simple ideas. Sign up on the black board each day. Lastly the estate on which Big Tent lies is the Falkland estate and we are offering products from there as well - zero food miles! Organic beef roast on the spit, pork and eggs!"

The Food Demonstration Tent will play host to an array of interesting talks and workshops with highlights including:

• Jane Stewart talks about the St Andrews Cheese Company and Anster Cheese which she makes from her farm above Pittenweem
• Big Tent is surrounded by organic farms. Find out about them by listening to Amelia Stevenson of Falkland Farms
• Fisher and Donaldson local bakers discussing how the business was built and the new Bread Club
• Bread making workshop. A three hour workshop in which the secrets of good bread are revealed. Passionate bread baker Colin Lindsay will show you how its done and enjoy the fruits of your labour. (please note this is pre-bookable)
• Future Farmer Award winners Peelham will talk about their sustainable organic farm methods producing lamb beef and veal, with Denise Walton
• Steve Mitchell looked for a niche market when deciding how to develop his farm and hit on the idea of buffalo. He shares his story of Puddledub Buffalo so far

Liz Ashworth will be guiding a group of children and young people through some simple food and cooking ideas, making use of fresh seasonal produce. There will also be Taste Adventures with Slow Food UK.  Visitors can also find information on Falkland Centre for Stewardship's One Planet Food project, a project geared to realise a health, sustainable and inclusive food culture.

Big Tent is part of Scotland's Land of Food & Drink, which launched in May 2010 and is running until May 2011. EventScotland is supporting the year-long celebration of Scotland's reputation as a land of food and drink.

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer, EventScotland said, "Big Tent is an exciting event which we are delighted to be supporting as part of Scotland's Year of Food and Drink initiative that showcases the diversity and quality of Scotland's larder. It is a fantastic example of Fife Council's contribution to making Scotland the perfect stage for events."

The Big Tent Festival will take place from 23rd to 25th July at the Falkland Estate. For more information visit the Big Tent Festival. To pre-book the bread making class, email info@centreforstewardship.org.uk with the date and number of participants. Numbers are restricted to ten per session and operated on a first come first served basis.

The Big Tent Festival is organised by the Falkland Centre for Stewardship, and profits made go back into the work of the charity.