With Emsworth British Food Fortnight now come to an end, we look to our last couple of months of 2017.

We have a couple of workshops to run, the first being run by the talented ceramicist Carla Allen on Fri 24th Nov in the evening. She will be showing you how to make your own hand-made porcelain Christmas decorations. No prior knowledge required and there will be a glass of fizz to help you along! I will be teaching my annual Natural Christmas Wreath Workshop on Sat 2nd and will be joined by the very creative Rosie Morgan. We will be running two workshops that day, one in the morning and the second early afternoon. Places are quickly filling up so book online if you want to join one of the 2 workshops.

Talking of the dreaded ‘C’ word, we have been finalising our plans for the Christmas Market on Sunday 10th Dec (midday – 3pm). It is always a very busy event as we rode ourselves on selecting the best of local producers and craftspersons to showcase their lovely wares. Christine and the volunteers have also been very busy making our stock for Christmas. This year, Antonio has been going all out to finish drying our herbs so we can make up packages of the different types as a new product for possible Christmas gifts. We know from feedback the herbs are far superior in taste and smell to that you buy in the supermarkets. They are obviously all organic and make a lovely gift to any foodie that appreciates locally produced food.

Tomorrow, we will be holding interviews for the Centre Manager Job having had an incredible 50 expressions of interest in the position. We do hope that we will be able to have someone in post in the not-too-distant future to help Tuppenny Barn in its next chapter of its journey. Thank you to all of those who helped publicise the post within their own circles.

I am delighted to announce that we have been short listed for Groundwork Community Awards for Best Community Group Contribution to Environmental Sustainability. The winners will be announced on 2nd November at a dinner in London which will be attended by Abi, our Education Officer, and Lindsey, Head Grower at Tuppenny Barn, two dedicated members of staff that work tirelessly throughout the year for the charity.

This time next Sunday, I will be travelling to Italy to pick olives as part of a small team of individuals helping to get an olive harvest in. I am really excited at the prospect, not having done anything like this before and will enjoy cropping for someone else for a change! I have tasted the olive oil produced by this particular family owning the grove and it is outstanding.