Blackwater Wild Food Festival
Oh my goodness what a day we had!It all started at approximately 5.30am up with the lark as they say or it is it Sparrow , animals to tend and the loading of last few bits and a tick on the checklist in the hope nothing will be forgotten.
Trailer and cars left Furzedown 8.00am on the dot as per our timetable (drawn up by the Chairman)
We arrived at Abbots Hall Farm to be met in the court yard by Wayne head of EESG Bio security /maintenance and now a new string to his bow Smoker! Yes, he is now in full charge of “Puffing Billy”, he had a short apprenticeship with EESG senior smoker Vince and has now been handed the reins.
Well done Wayne we wish you well with your future smoking.
After a dozen or so trips across the lawn with trolleys and our sack barrow everything was in position and looking good.
Table cloth check was made by the Dani and YES they were straight and the apples lined up we had passed today’s table cloth test.
The rest of the EESG team started to arrive, soon the whole marquee was filled with goodies Nick and Maria on chutney, Vince and Phil on sausages, Sandra on bread duties, Gareth in alcohol corner making sloe Gin, Dani next door plucking partridge and keeping a watchful eye.
Diane was heading up the merchandise her knew title “Head of Sales” oh boy is she good!
Nikki and Gordon with a stunning display of their home grown Pumpkins next to them we had Jan and Terry with all things green and herby and then the biggest surprise of the day Terry’s brother Norman “The Bird and Bug Man” he brought a selection of his bird and bug boxes to sell and they were amazing! Carousel bird feeders through to tiny ladybird logs not to mention Boot jacks and wooden spoon holders a wonderful addition to our stand and two very gifted brother who has been “hiding the light under a bushel” but you have been busted we are on to you !
Oh nearly forgot Isobel and myself on Berry bird feeder duty and Jacob and Samuel and Conner running “Hook a Duck”
Soon the gates were open and we had a steady flow of visitors some tasting preserves some watching sausage demos. Sandra was busy kneeding her bread whilst one that had been prepared earlier was cooking away in the oven.
The smell of chutney and baking bread was wofting through the marquee and out into the garden pulling people our way.
Our visitors loved tasting the jams and chutneys and soon the Marrow chutney was sold out completely thanks to Diane “Head of sales”.
Sausages were soon coming off the production line Phil and Vince tried a few different recipes this time! A lovely Partridge and cranberry just right for a wild food festival! The chap who was preparing rabbits brought some over so they made Bunny sausages as well which tasted wonderful.
Rolls and pizza and wonderful fresh loafs were being pulled from the oven at intervals.
Nick and Maria were making wonderful pumpkin chutney with one of Gordon’s many pumpkins.
The aroma was amazing!
Gareth was extremely busy in “Alcohol Corner” preparing Sloe Gin, Whiskey and Vodka
Hook the Duck was tended by our young members what a good job they made a real asset to the EESG team well done boys you had over £10 in your pot.
The wild Berry Bird feeders went down very well with the children they first went off round the ground foraging for berries then came back and we helped them make a bird feeder.
All too quickly the day was drawing to an end but I’m sure I’m right in saying everyone had a great day.
Monday morning Danni received an email from Laura at The Wild Life Trust
Hi Danni
Just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU for all your time and planning and efforts to make our latest Blackwater Wild Food Festival a success. We are already planning one for next year and we will be sticking to the same weekend. We do hope that you will be able to come again – you are such a big part of the day. Please extend our thanks to the whole East Essex Smallholders Association and we all look forward to seeing you again next year.
Best wishes
Laura Harvey BSc
So lovely to see our hard work is appreciated !
