Originally the jams, chutneys and other preserves were made for the main house as a way to use up surplus or gluts of fruit and vegetables, allowing the family and staff the opportunity to enjoy seasonal produce all year round. This avoided waste and allowed us to work towards our goal of being self- sufficient. With the opening of the original farm shop in the 1980’s these preserves were then made available to our customers. Now much of what we make is specifically for the farm shop. All the preserves are made to Soil Association organic standards by hand, in small batches, no more than ten jars per saucepan following the traditional domestic methods and recipes that our grandmothers would have used. We don’t use any artificial preservatives, additives or colourings even if they are permitted in organic products. We aim for a well-made homemade style using the fruit and vegetables we grow in the garden. Summer fruit jams have always been the most popular. Raspberry jam was the first preserve we made and to this day is the most popular, followed by blackcurrant, gooseberry and redcurrant.
Another farm shop favourite is our bottled organic apple juice. Pressed, pasteurized, and bottled at local farm, Drover’s Hill, the juice has an impressively low carbon footprint. Made using a diverse mixture of apples from our own orchards each batch is slightly different depending on the point in the season at which the apples were harvested. Containing nothing but pure juice, each bottle offers a taste experience unlike anything the supermarket has to offer.
