I’m really lucky to live in London and yet be close to such wonderful countryside and farms such as Parkside Pick Your Own. We went in search of damsons this weekend but sadly had missed them all so I had to buy some for my Damson Polenta Cake. Instead we came back laden with blackberries. A third were eaten on the way home, a third went into the freezer and the other third were thrown into Sunday’s Blackberry Breakfast Muffins!
I think growing and picking vegetables is so important to stay grounded in life and take a little of the ‘Good Life’ view on things every now and then. I’m trying hard to teach my children planting skills. We plant easy things in the garden, a few bigger projects in Grandad’s garden and visit inspiring gardens around the country. We ALWAYS cook or bake the crop together so they can appreciate the full journey from seed to mouth! If you’re not sure where to start, The National Trust and Little Growers have brilliant websites full of inspiration and The Seed Pantry has some wonderful planting kits for all ages.
Selfishly though, the main reason I love taking my girls fruit picking, and the real wonder of it all, is to marvel at the look of sheer delight on their faces when they come running with the “best one”!
If you like the idea of getting your children started with planting and picking, come along to Capel Manor’s Taste of Autumn Show this coming weekend. They can have a little forage around the gardens, learn about planting and then come along to my free baking workshop. I hope I’ll see some of you there 🙂
I would love to live near a place like this to go and freshly pick my fruits each morning.
We are very lucky. Where are you based? perhaps I can track someone down for you?
I had a wonderful summer of living near locally grown fruit, but alas am now back home:( You are so fortunate!
You can always grow your own! We have a tiny garden and our poor kitchen windowsills groan when the frost comes. Full of chillies at the moment!
I was thinking of making one of those raised garden beds out of wood planks. I think next spring I’ll have a go at it. Btw, I nominated you for Versatile Blogger:) Love your website!
You should have a go for sure. We only have space for two but they yield so much joy. Thanks also for the nomination 🙂 I am flattered x
Love it! My Nan put the fear of life into me as a child, she told me that you got weighed on the way in and way out of the Pick Your Own. Put me right off. Wish I could make the Capel Manor’s Taste of Autumn Show. David
David that’s hilarious! I need to try that with my little ones. Am sure we had at least two more punnets that day but to be fair, if the girls did eat them, they did a great job of hiding the evidence!
I LOVE PYO! Luckily I have an amazing amount of PYO in my own garden, but that is an amazing array they have there to pick…….fabulous!
Karen @ Lavender and Lovage
Ooooh what do you have in your garden? And more importantly how do you keep up with that and blogging!?
Lovely, uplifting post Urvashi. We love foraging and then cooking our finds (or eating on the spot!) too. Wish I could grow more of my own but with free range hens we have not had much luck. Your situation sounds idyllic- and in London too! Glad to have found you via Twitter and GBBO.
Awwww Thanks Kellie xx
You sold it to me. See you this Sunday at Capel gardens. Hopefully dad’s can join in the bake too
Nice to see you today – thanks for coming along. Hope your little boys had fun! I’ll run grown up session soon – especially for Dads!
Urvashi this is all so true! I used to go picking with my Grandmother until it closed down and I miss it so much.
I’m helping on some community projects around getting people back into this. will keep you posted x