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An Honest Project: the Honesty stands of Ynys Môn - Part One

If you ask me, there's something quietly radical about an honesty box or stand. Generally unmanned yet the feeling of connection they foster is palpable, just a container, a few coins (or QR code or card machine nowadays!) and a simple agreement between strangers who often become friends. Often housed inside a wooden shed, stacked with cakes, eggs, jam jars or vegetables still carrying the smell of the soil, these humble setups often feel like they belong in another era, and yet, they persist, thrive even, in this modern world. Don't get me wrong, some are beautifully modern which in itself has a charm and draw.


Having an honesty stand was something that has appealed to me since childhood, the simplicity of nipping to the next farm over to pick up some eggs or selling your wares at the end of the driveway to someone merely passing through... don't get me wrong, I also had ambitions of being a stunt woman or zoologist too (variety is the spice of life and all that) but I always came back to something simpler and, to some extent, slower, so we knew a honesty stand had to be part of what we did in the future.


Two weeks ago we opened our honesty stand and the response was heart warming. I've always had a slight anxiety when putting any aspect of the business 'out there', especially if that involves social media. But I took the plunge and it was so worth it, the comments and interactions I had with the local community made me realise how import these sorts of stands are. They're more than quaint rural traditions. They're living proof that trust, when given space, can still function... and flipping 'eck that's reassuring in the world today! So I reached out to the people of Ynys Môn with the idea of this blog series to celebrate the honesty boxes and stands of all shapes and sizes, and here we are! Hopefully the series will serve as a bit of a directory as well, a catalogue of honesty stands if you will.



When I asked on social media for any honesty boxes that would like to be featured, the over all response was wonderful, with owners sharing stories of community and connection however, as is the way with social media, there were a couple of people suggesting that advertising honesty boxes was a sure fire way to attract the untrustworthy and ask for trouble. I understand this, I really do, but to avoid celebrating such effort and enterprises from hard working people because of the potential of a couple of bad apples would be such a loss for the community. Honesty stand owners should know the risks, and have things in place to mitigate these, which most do and you never know, maybe in the community becoming more aware comes with it a sense of security and protection. Wouldn't it be nice to have people that actively look out for and keep an eye on these spaces when they drive past.


Behind each honesty shed or box is a person, or often family, whose resilience and quiet determination keeps it going. Running an honesty box isn't as passive as people think. It takes consistency to restock produce, maintain quality, repair the inevitable wear and tear, adapt to customer habits and of course, comply with all the rules and regulations involved. The decision to keep showing up, knowing that not everyone will play fair, is an act of tenacity, again one that should be celebrated.


There's also a skill involved, though it's easy to sometimes overlook. Knowing what to grow, when to harvest, how to present goods so they invite rather than demand. Pricing becomes an art, fair enough to value and sustain but accessible enough to keep the spirit of the system intact, even in a world where things have become monetized to a point that is almost exhausting. For some, honesty boxes represent a section of a business, with a delicate balance being struck between livelihood and generosity.



In my opinion, there's few things in the world today that create moments of connections without requiring or forcing interaction, but honesty stands are one of them. Equally, when we travelled around the island the other day, visiting the first group of honesty boxes to be included in this blog, we had the opportunity to chat to some of the owners, it was a pleasure to have some truly nourishing conversations! Through this connection there is a subtle sense of participation and inclusion (the type of inclusion needed for communities to thrive), you're not just supporting local people and producers, you're upholding a system built on mutual respect... The simplicity of that almost feels restorative. Maybe you don't see it, but buy from one of these sheds and you'll feel it, what these small set ups give back to their communities is disproportionate to their size.


Of course, there are those that take without paying, (unfortunately though this isn't reserved to honesty stands, we chatted with a shop assistant in one of our local stores the other day, as she explained she'd just watched a man steal a fish tank ornament... another of the many reasons I prefer animals to people!) but to focus on that minority is to misunderstand the whole point of honesty boxes and this blog series. If we let those who abuse the trust dictate how we structure our communities, we end up designing systems around suspicion, and friction becomes the default. To fall into this trap would, in my opinion, mean we've lost something important. Honesty boxes push back against this idea, asserting that trust is both a moral idea and a practical one, reassuring us that, most people, given the chance will do the right thing... plus even when they don't, the system can still work effectively. This resilience is important, not just the resilience of the people running the stands but the community as well. Trust that strengthens each time someone is honest, every positive transaction reinforcing the good. We were taught as children to still do the right thing even if no one is watching, so why as adults should we stop teaching that if someone does the wrong thing, every positive transaction makes the whole system of honesty boxes a little more durable.


Then there's the old fashioned feeling surrounding some of them. If you know me, you know I love something with character, something that holds stories and tales, and just old fashioned things in general! I think for a few, old fashioned has maybe become synonymous with outdated and ineffective, but this couldn't be further from the truth. Quite often old fashioned just means slower, which I think is exactly the point of honesty stands, a slower rhythm valuing enough over excess, trust over control and connection over convenience... although it's pretty bloody convenient to be able to pop to the end of the road and collect eggs, produced in the coop right next door, or cakes from next doors shed... adding in the benefit of consuming local produce, it's a win win!



I think in short, in a society that pushes for speed and certainty, an honesty shed or box of whatever size offers something different, a reminder that not everything has to be maximised to be meaningful (shameless plug, but check out The Considered Living Collective from Evans & Moose if that resonates). They ask very little of you and often offer quite a lot.


So if you're visiting Ynys Môn (Anglesey) and want to support and enter into the local communities, maybe it would be worth while adding in some time to explore the lanes and find the honesty sheds dotted around, knowing you've taken a small part in something really important. In this blog post and over the next few in this series, you'll find details of some of the stands on the island, this is an ongoing series so keep checking back, and if you want your honesty box or shed added, send us a message!


To the honesty box and shed owners out there, maybe some of you are thinking 'it's lovely that this is recognised' or maybe you're simply thinking, 'all I do is put out some excess eggs', but whichever it is, that little shed you've put a little part of you into, is recognised and probably makes someone's day when they see it!





Evans & Moose's Farm Honesty Stand



It would be rude not to include our own honesty stand wouldn't it! So here we go, found just down our driveway, you'll find our little green shed stocked with British flowers, woven willow created using willow grown on our farm, and smaller items from Ric's forge. Located just outside the village of Llanfachraeth, LL65 4DG, pull into the driveway and choose something sustainable and hand crafted using traditional methods, knowing you're supporting the E&M farm and it's menagerie of animals! Keep an eye on our social media for when it's open.



Carlita's Secrets



I couldn't hide my smile when we pulled up to this bright pink shed, complete with topiary dog. I think Nuka, our Lupine dog, must have known that hiding in the shed was a fantastic selection of natural dog treats because she began to sing at the top of her lungs... our apologies to anyone in the neighbourhood at that time! Carlita's Secrets has two locations, 2 Garreglwyd Road, Holyhead, LL65 1TH and Baron Hill, Cymyran Road, Llanfair-yn-Neubwll, Holyhead, LL65 3LD.



Bake Me Happy Cakeaway



Cake sheds and shacks are becoming more popular at the moment, but it's important to say the hard work involved in them means they truly deserve the popularity! Bake Me Happy Cakeaway is based in Holyhead and you can find out when they're open on their social media pages. Hidden away in a little cabin, I genuinely felt like a kid in a sweet shop (or rather cake shop!) when I walked in. My eyes were bigger than my belly, that's to be sure. After a laugh with another customer, joking about how the diet went out of the window as soon as she walked into the cabin, we bought a Maltesers Cookie, and two slices of Apple Crumble Cake. I got back to the car and presented Ric with his cookie, we then stayed parked up while Ric ate said cookie, mumbling how it looked too good to wait. Another fantastic example of skill and community.



Bryn Coch - Gluten Free Cakes & Bakes



I was already excited about this one as we started the drive to Bryn Coch, Carreglefn, LL68 0NT. Katherine has filled her honesty stand with gluten free goodies as her partner is coeliac, hoping to offer cakes and bakes to other people who might previously have had more limited options. Just another example of someone giving back to others around them. The drive over to the stand was stunning, yes it's country lanes and yes, it can be a little winding, but embrace the whole ethos of an honesty stand and slow down, make the trip part of the experience. We bought some custard tarts, I'm a sucker for an egg custard and this didn't disappoint.



Honey Honesty Hives



If you've read this far, you'll have seen I'm a sucker for old fashioned things, and with that comes an element of repurposing and giving new life into the old, so I was so pleased when I was sent some pictures of Kate's repurposed bee hives which she sells her honey from! Born, as many things have been, from lockdown when local fairs and markets were cancelled, Kate's honesty box has now become the main way they sell their honey. Located in Llanfwrog, look out for the signs by the church indicating when honey is available!



Mali's Eggs



Innovation and entrepreneurship, especially from young people should be celebrated, so we couldn't miss out Mali's Eggs. A little stand perched unassumingly on the farm wall but filled with great quality eggs from the chickens that you see free ranging on the field and yard behind. From farm to fork in a matter of metres, that's what we're talking about when we shout about local produce! You'll find this stand at Cae Bach, LL65 4AA.





As we've mentioned this is an ongoing series, celebrating the boxes on the island, so check back for the next instalment, when we've visited and no doubt purchased more lovely, local produce from some more of the honesty stand and boxes around. If you want to have yours featured or know of one you would like to be included, send us a message via our contact us page or by sending us a message on social media.


In the meantime enjoy soaking up some of the local community by supporting and looking out for honesty stands and engaging in everything they stand for.



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