Thursday 14 November 2013

ROSEHIP & CRAB APPLE WORKSHOP FRIDAY 15th NOV 2013



Don't forget we have a WINTER WORKSHOP on tomorrow at Grow Mayow Community Garden.
On the Menu...

We will be making Rosehip & Crab Apple Jelly as well as fresh bread if we can get the cob oven hot enough.
We may also have a go at making Grape Jam and/or Pear & Red Onion Relish if there are enough participants.
10.30-4.30
Please do let me know if you can make it, so I can keep track of numbers.
Nominal fee to cover costs.
Please bring your own apron if you have one.
Love Vera
 
WINTER WORKSHOPS
@ Grow Mayow Community Garden
Dates for your diary
Each workshop will incur a small charge to cover costs & places are limited so please do let me know of your interest in your preferred dates.
All workshops will be held at Grow Mayow Community Garden. 10.30am - 4.30pm (approx)
NOVEMBER
Friday 15th
Thursday 28th
DECEMBER
Tues 10th
Friday 27th
JANUARY (2014)
Thursday 9th
Monday 20th


On the menu....
Rosehip & Crab Apple Jelly
Membrillo (quince cheese)
Pear & Red Onion Relish
Fruit Jams & Butters
Apple Chutney
Rosehip Syrup
Grape Jam
Chilli Jam
Butter & Bread
Hope to see you there.
Love Vera

Monday 21 October 2013

Planned harvesting & foraging events for 22nd -- 31st OCTOBER

OCTOBER EVENTS 22nd - 31st


TUESDAY 22nd AM: Pear picking in SE23 Brockley rise area. This will be an early harvest to start at 9am. Meet at 8.45am on Brockley Rise

TUESDAY 22nd AM/PM: Grow wild are having a special day event. This will start earlier than normal at 11am, meet at Peckham Library for a forage in the meadows then on to cook with the produce at the kitchen in New Cross SE14. They will possibly be cooking additional recipes with previously harvested fruits. This event workshop may be accompanied by a film crew.


THURSDAY 24th AM: Harvest of apple tree/s in Honor Oak area. Possibly more than one garden (tbc)


FRIDAY 25th AM: Apple garden harvest in SE23 10.30


SATURDAY 26th AM: Garden harvest in Honor Oak/Hornimans area with several apple trees. Call or email me for exact meeting place at 10.15am


SUNDAY 27th AM: Another chance to gather chestnuts in Greenwich Park Advice provided on how to differentiate between Horse & Sweet chestnut trees and nuts. Recipes may also be provided, but these will also be posted on the website prior to the event.
As last week, we will aim to meet just before 11am, ready for a short introduction and be ready to kick off our collecting at 11am. The event is expected to last several hours depending on weather conditions and how much fruit people want to collect.
As usual, we plan to bring a close to the event by toasting each others good health & sharing foraging tales in a local public house (yet to be decided).
Sturdy footwear is a must. Gloves are optional, but recommended.--- we will be going as the storm is not predicted to start until the evening!!
 
 
Please wear appropriate outdoor clothing for all events and as always... Bring your OWN BAGS!!

ADVANCE NOTICE:
FRIDAY 1st NOVEMBER: 10.30-4.30 Quince Day workshop at Grow Mayow - Please contact me for booking info. Nominal fee will apply to cover costs, but you do get to take some produce home. Limited places!! Please book early.

Wednesday 16 October 2013

CHESTNUT HUNTING SUNDAY 27TH OCTOBER


JOIN US ON OUR CHESTNUT HUNT
SUNDAY 20TH & (due to popular demand)
SUNDAY 27th OCTOBER
 
I will be providing free recipes for those who have no idea on what to do with the CHESTNUTS once collected.
 
The activity is great fun and suitable for most ages.
Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and sturdy shoes. Walking/hiking boots are highly recommended. Thick/gardening gloves may be useful.
We will be going no matter the weather - unless its torrential rain
 
Meeting points will be at...
 
FOREST HILL

SYDENHAM
 
BLACKHEATH
 
with an estimated meeting time of 11am at Blackheath.
The chestnut hunt will be expected to last approximately 2-3 hours
with a possible pub visit somewhere local afterwards
 
Please contact me for specific meeting points & times
 
As always... Bring your own bags!

a link for some wonderful chestnut recipes
 
 

Sunday 13 October 2013

fruit harvesting events for October 2013

PLANNED EVENTS for OCTOBER -- 13th - 20th
As with all events, please do call/text/email me for more details & do bring your own bags!!

SUN 20th 11.30AM: Chestnut foraging at Greenwich Park. Meeting points at Forest Hill, Lewisham Station and Blackheath (Shooters Hill)
 
SAT 19th AM: Albion Millenium Green Orchard Walk  Meet at Forest Hill Station @ 11am
SAT 19th PM:We will be meeting at the Honor Oak Aerial site and visiting a nearby garden which had 6 different varieties of Apple trees. Bring picking picks if you have, or can borrow.

FRI 18th AM: Pear tree harvest in Honor Oak Park area. Meet at 9.30am
FRI 18th NOON: Harvest of 2 apple trees, also in Honor Oak Park. Time TBC
FRI 18th PM: Possibility of attending 2 garden in the same rd, local to the earlier harvests. (TBC)
 
THURS 17th Morning: We will be visiting 2 adjacent gardens behind Hornimans Museum that has several apples trees. Meet at 9.30am
THURS 17th Afternoon: We will be vising a garden in New Cross. Meet at 2pm
SUN 13th Some of us are heading over to One Tree Hill / Brenchley Gardens early afternoon, to look for sloes and some late blackberries. Contact me for meeting place.

SE23 ORCHARD WALK Saturday 18th Oct 11am

SE23 ORCHARD WALK

Saturday 19th October is Orchard Day in Forest Hill and Sydenham. Join a guided walk by local historian Steve Grindlay around four community gardens and nature reserves entirely looked after by volunteers.
The tour starts from Forest Hill station at 11am, arriving in Albion Millennium Green at 11.30 for a spot of tree planting, thence to Mayow Park in Sydenham, tollowed by a stop at De Frene Road, a food growing space run by the amazing Sydenham Garden. Perfect for an autumn morning!

contact: foresthillsociety@gmail.com

How to harvest a fruit tree, courtesy of the BBC & Abundance London

A short film by the BBC when they visited Abundance London to see how its done

Tuesday 8 October 2013

FRUIT HARVESTING this week 8-13th Oct 2013


PLANNED EVENTS for OCTOBER
 
As with all events, please so call/text/email me for more details & do bring your own bags!!
 
SAT 19th We will be meeting at the Honor Oak Aerial site and visiting a nearby garden which had 6 different varieties of Apple trees. Bring picking picks if you have, or can borrow.
 
THURS 17th We will be visiting 2 gardens behind Hornimans Museum that has several apples trees. Meet at 9.30am
There may also be an appple harvest in East Dulwich SE22 in the afternoon (tbc)
 
SUN 13th Some of us are heading over to One Tree Hill / Brenchley Gardens to look for sloes and some late blackberries. Time to be confirmed.

FRI 11th Pear picking on Perry vale meet at 11.45am at the junction of Perry Vale, Perry Rise & Woolstone rd (contact me for more details if needed)

WEDS 9th CHUTNEY making @ Grow Mayow (small cost towards ingredients)
Followed by a Pear Harvest not far from the garden,
Followed by GREEN DRINKS Crystal Palace @ The Grape & Grain from 8PM (although if you are coming with me, we may get there slightly earlier - with time for a quiet drink before the group conveens)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Love Vera

 


 

Monday 30 September 2013

APPLE PICKING MONDAY 30TH SEPT

APPLE PICKING MONDAY 30TH SEPT
 
I will be going to pick RED apples this afternoon.
Meet on the junction of
 
 
AT 2 PM
 
this time is subject to change so if you want to come its best to call me
to check the arrangements
 
Love Vera
 
Update...
 
A new volunteer joined the group today with a brand new extending picking stick (much bigger than mine) so we were able to get more fruit than we would have, however, we still didn't manage to reach the fruit in the uppermost branches.
 
The tree is located in the front garden of a house converted into several flats. One of the tenants came out and spoke to us and was very friendly but was not at all interested in taking or using any of the fruit. I did explain to her that it was a very special variety, but she was nonchalant. Such a shame, I know many people who would LOVE to have this particular variety on their doorstep.
Oh well..... SEplentyfree wins again.
As usual the fruit was divided amongst volunteers, althoug the bulk of it was taken to be used at the Apple Day at Grow Mayow, which was a great success.
 
 
 
 

Thursday 26 September 2013

APPLE DAY @ GROW MAYOW WEDNESDAY 2nd OCTOBER 3013

In  conjunction with SEplentyfree
NEXT WEDNESDAY 2nd Oct 2-6pm
 
 
There will be apple & pear juice fresh from the apple press

Cakes, Pies, Crumbles & Pastries
Jams & Chutneys to sample & buy
Kids activities
Free apple recipes to take home
Mulled apple juice (hot)
& apple lot more

There will also be a plants on sale as well as freshly made herb bundles.

Wednesday 25 September 2013

APPLE PICKING IN PECKHAM SE15 ON SUNDAY 6th OCTOBER 2013

APPLE PICKING IN PECKHAM SE15 ON SUNDAY 6th OCTOBER 2013

Meet on the corner of EAST DULWICH RD & FENWICK RD @2pm

We will be picking lovely red eating apples.

Picking poles are recommended.

After the event.... As its Sunday afternoon, some of us may be stopping for a pint or 2 at a local public house. The Flying Pig is a possibility as it has several guest ciders.

PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN BAGS!

PEAR PICKING THIS SATURDAY 28th SEPT 2013 IN LEWISHAM SE13

PEAR PICKING THIS SATURDAY  28th SEPT 2013 IN LEWISHAM SE13

SATURDAY 28th SEPT @11.15

We will be visiting a local garden to pick pears from a huge tree.
Picking poles are recommended, as are ladders if you have them/transport.

We will be meeting at the Car Park on Slaithwaite Rd SE13

I have been advised that the grass in the garden we are visiting is rather long and boots or suitable foorwear are advised.

Some of us will be going on to a GROWWILD  WORKSHOP. WE
will meet at the  People's Library New Cross SE14 at 1pm. The session is expected to run until 5pm.

Come and join us to pick pears,come and join us afterwards at the workshop, come to either, come to both, but we really hope to see you there!

PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN BAGS!

UPDATE....

Pear picking in Lewisham went well and we got around 90% of the tree, which wasnt as big as anticipated.
The tree owner & pickers were all pleased to see the fruit go to good homes.

The Workshop was a fabulous afternoon. We Picked grapes near to the Somerville adventure playgroup and also picked red apples in Brockley.

Back in the kitchen, the goup was guided by Penny to make Musto Cotto as well as John Downey Jelly.

Friday 20 September 2013

BLACKBERRY, APPLE & PEAR HARVESTING 21 & 22 SEPT 2013

Some of us are planning on going out foraging/harvesting over the weekend.

Saturday we hope to hunt down blackberries in Brockley cemetery;  meet at the cemetary gates on Brockley Rd at 9.50.

Early Sunday morning I will be going either apple picking locally in SE23 or rosehip foraging near Sainsburys at Bell Green (Syd).

Sunday afternoon we are hoping to harvest some pears, time yet to be confirmed.

If your interested in any of these trips, comment below or send a message.

Love Vera x

Thursday 19 September 2013

Thursday 12 September 2013

BLACKBERRY PICKING

BLACKBERRY PICKING sometime this weekend 21-22 Sept.
Please let me know asap if you are interested by adding a comment below or emailing me direct.

 
 
UPDATE...
 
We didn't get a whole lot of blackberries as the rain had done a lot of damage.
We are hoping if it stays dry, all the unripe berries will ripen and we can get a glut then.
If you have some ready to pick near you, please so let us know.
Love Vera

Wednesday 11 September 2013

Volunteers harvesters required

 
4 volunteers required to pick (delicious) eating apples on 26th Sept  in the Sydenham area. It will be in the morning.
No specialist equipment required, just bring a bag and your willing hands.

There may also be a chance to harvest a nearby pear tree in the afternoon.

Please let me know if you are interested.
Apple picking
Thu, September 26, 10:00 AM BST
Sydenham

UPDATE...

Although our plans were changed at the last minute and we were not able to harvest the Discovery apple tree ourselves, we were still able to collect the fruit, already harvested and boxed up for us.
We then went on to harvest a local pear tree. We had a fablous day and received a wonderful haul. All the volunteers went away tired but pleased with their goodies.

A couple of us chopped us all the windfalls and partially damaged fruit and bagged it up for the freezer, to be used for the chutney & jam workshops which will be run over the winter.

BIG thanks to those kind tree owners who shared their fruit with us, and thank you to everyone who helped out on the day!
Love Vera

Volunteer Harvesters wanted / fruit pickers needed

I am looking for a few people who want to pick pears.
 

Picking equipment would be an advantage as the pear tree in question is rather large.

If you are interested, please reply with availibility

Abundance South East London






We are a NEW small South East London based group of foraging enthusiasts based primarily in SE23, SE26, SE4, SE5, SE6, SE13, SE14, SE15, SE19, SE20 and some BR postcodes (or wherever the fruit trees call us to)
If you are interested or live locally, you can join us by emailing Vera at: SEplentyfree@gmail.com for more information.

We are also linked with the lovely Grow Mayow Community Garden and Pickling Peckham the urban foragers guide

We are now also on the Abundance Network. Click the link to check us out!  

All interest welcome.

Specialist equipment not always necessary, sometimes a bag and willing hands are enough.
Close links with community projects, who run sometimes run preserving workshops, including (but not limited to) Jam making, Chutney & Relish making, pickles & preserving methods.

HAPPY HARVESTING!
 
Address:
Forest Hill SE23
Sydenham SE26
London
United Kingdom