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Craft Club PYO and possible jam making

I was just about to start a thread suggesting we organise another jamathon and Innit referred me to this one.

I was going to suggest that we could go here:

Hewitts Farm in Orpington.


From Brixton train station it's an hour by train (and it's only that long because we'd have to change at Pett's Wood) and then it's half a
mile from the train station - so we could walk/cycle the last bit.
Then we could just come back and do the jam making in Brixton.

Apparently they grow Strawberries, Gooseberries, Spinach, Raspberries,
Broad Beans, Peas, Cabbage, Beetroot, French Beans, Cauliflower,
Broccoli, Various Plums and Apples.


I'd be up for doing more raspberry jam!

I am happy to go to either Cockfosters or Orpington. I know that there are accessibility issues for several people, Hewitts is good for us down south but not so great for those elsewhere - and I don't want to upset anyone by suggesting one place over another - at the same time it was particularly harsh on Rubytoogood last year to not be able to make it!!
 
I did a bunch of research into PYOs last year but can't find all the results... There was one near Maggot called Hayes Street Farm, and I also found one on Gravel Hill in Addington (near Croydon) and one in Coulsdon. I think all of these are considerably nearer London than Hewitt's Farm (not that that's all that far).
 
They sound good too - it's negligible distance from London for those of us going by public transport - accessibility is more of an issue... which would be the best for you and what are the public transport options for the rest of us? Actually I'm pretty sure I know the one you mean near Maggot - if it's the one I'm thinking of it's right by some stables, it would be very close to one of the places I lived in as a teenager - I'm not sure how easy it would be by public transport though - although maybe you or Maggot could help with that?
 
A quick check reveals that Hayes Street Farm is just half a mile from Hayes station which is a shorter journey - 47 minutes by train from Brixton (45 mins Herne Hill). Is it still operating though and what do they grow and when is their harvesting time.. ???
 
I'm not the world's greatest expert on public transport. The Addington one if it's still going is near the Gravel Hill tram stop though. (Not much time for extensive research at the mo.)
 
This was the Coulsdon one:

Coulsdon Area Farm
Rear Of Gilbert Ct/Off Lion Green Rd
Coulsdon
CR5 2NL
Tel. 020 8668 0119

Looks near Coulsdon South train station.
 
RubyToogood said:
This was the Coulsdon one:

Coulsdon Area Farm
Rear Of Gilbert Ct/Off Lion Green Rd
Coulsdon
CR5 2NL
Tel. 020 8668 0119

Looks near Coulsdon South train station.
Click to expand...

Only 200m from Couldson South train station.

On balance, I think the Hayes one is probably easiest in that it's just two train journeys from Brixton (sorry to be so Brixton central but considering the large majority of likely attendees).

The Gravel Hill one and Coulsdon one will bring both buses and trams into the equation but if they have better crops/seasons would both be good options too. :)
 
RubyToogood said:
It would probably be nicer to go out to Hayes too really!
Click to expand...

hmmmm...maybe but, I have somewhat traumatic memories of wearing a white puffball skirt to a youth club disco in Hayes in the 80s. :D
 
Right - called Hayes Street Farm and they do PYO soft fruits - strawberrieres, raspberries - not sure what else.

The lady was very reluctant to give me even a ballpark idea of when this would happen but basically she said it could start as early as the end of May and they would hope for the season to last about 4 weeks - but both those estimates completely depend on the weather.

So I reckon we should perhaps aim for setting a date around about the 2nd of 3rd week in June and revise this if the weather scuppers our plans. I would suggest making it a Saturday morning so we can either jam during the afternoon or the next day as appropriate.

So how about Saturday June 23rd? :)
 
BiddlyBee said:
Doesn't make a difference to me, but that's glasto weekend ;)
Click to expand...

Me neither - I don't think any of us are glastonbury going people are we??

ETA .. I bet PieEye is going...

God summer is impossible. The week before is London to Brighton which rules out Han and I.

Let's wait and see how the 23rd pans out - I've no idea if PieEye is going or not or if she wants to make jam anyway...
 
Don't sort this around me - decide on a date and if I'm around I'll come. It's too annoying trying to sort it for everyone. I am busy most weekends through June :)
 
I can probably make that weekend but definitely not the weekend before as it's my birthday and I'm hoping to go to France. :)
 
NB I think Hewitt's Farm is probably doable for me (would have to check this out) and if they've got a much better range of stuff it might be better to go for them. I quite fancy gooseberries! Datewise I'm easy.
 
BiddlyBee said:
If we did the picking on a Saturday and jam making on a Sunday would that include more people?
Click to expand...
I think when this was discussed before, we felt it might exclude more people - but personally I'm easy either way
 
innit said:
I think when this was discussed before, we felt it might exclude more people - but personally I'm easy either way
Click to expand...

I think picking and jam-making on the same day might be a bit of a tall order, especially if we're making large quantities. :)
 
Right well let's stick with the date (harvest permitting) and decide nearer the time whether we do Hayes or Hewitts based on what they're selling/how much they're selling if for etc. Both are more or less equal in terms of public transport access.

Let's plan to pick on the Saturday and make the next. That way perhaps if it's a bit far for some people to come and pick, they may be able to at least come and make the jam the next day etc. Likewise some people may be able to come and pick, take their own fruit and make their own jam (losers!! :D )
 
Ms T said:
I can probably make that weekend but definitely not the weekend before as it's my birthday and I'm hoping to go to France. :)
Click to expand...
I can't make the weekend before either, I'm working. LET'S DEFINITELY NOT DO THE WEEK BEFORE :mad: ;)
 
Sat June 23rd fruit picking at either Hewitts/Hayes farm - both approx 1 hour by train from Brixton.

Sun June 24th jam making (probably Brixton - location yet to be volunteered). :) (We can do it at mine if no one else comes forward but I have the smallest kitchen of anyone and three other housemates to consider!)
 
If you read the thread you will find that I offered to host on page one :p

e2a if anyone can't make the date we could always have more than one trip as I'd quite like to go later in the year for plums and other later fruits :)
 
(oops sorry)

Sat June 23rd fruit picking at either Hewitts/Hayes farm - both approx 1 hour by train from Brixton.

Sun June 24th jam making (Innit's in Brixton)
 
Ah bugger - I'm to Glasto :( (Actually I'm not sad about that at all!)
Have fun everyone!! Can I order some raspberry jam?
 
wrysmile said:
Ah bugger - I'm to Glasto :( (Actually I'm not sad about that at all!)
Have fun everyone!! Can I order some raspberry jam?
Click to expand...

Of course we'll save you a jar! just a very tiny one;) :p
 
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