Jyll Bradley joins us for an Orchard Revival tour
Crispin took artist Jyll Bradley on an orchard tour of Fife and the Carse of Gowrie orchards recently. We took in various walled gardens, mature domestic orchards as well as the field scale former commercial orchards of the Carse. Jyll is researching for an installation at the Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh in 2019. We included a couple of other sites by the River Tay that are linked its role for transport and the monastic influence so vital to the development of orchards.
in the 1780 peach house
Pictured are Jyll with Head Gardener Graham at the 1780 peach house of a private walled garden. Peaches and nectarines are still being grown today !
What to do with old variety pears ? Make a yummy snack
old variety Hessle pears to yummy snack
What to do with those old variety pears that tend to be left on the tree ? Use them – they are fantastic! Varieties like Hessle, which have a small fruit, but there are a lot of them on a tree. Pick them and dry them in the pear equivalent of apple rings. Only they aren’t a ring as they don’t need coring.
Picking time is crucial: Picking the old varieties of pear at the right time is a trick. Don’t wait for them to be ‘ripe’ as you would a more modern variety of table pear. If you wait, the centre will typically be rotten. Pick before that stage when they have become sweet but are still crunchy.
Just slice them up (about 5mm thick slices). The picture shows a dehydrator rack (which is essentially a low temp fan oven) but you can do this in your own electric fan oven at its lowest temp, or on a cake rack over a fire or radiator. It takes about 12 hours in a dehydrator/oven, longer with other methods.
Once dry, put in an airtight jar and they will last for months – but only if you hide the jar or lock it. Otherwise they only last a few weeks because they are so bloomin’ tasty !
Opportunity: Local Facilitators
We are currently seeking individuals who would like to take up the roles of Local Facilitators (in their area). This is a part-time role running from July through to November.
The role in involves working with a local collaborating organisation – which could be a development trust, orchard group, or similar not-for-profit body – and organising volunteers to undertake the orchard survey work across your local area. The graphic here shows the projects structure and where Local Facilitators fit in.
We provide all the material resources and methods – it all set up. The Local Facilitator facilitates the action on the ground in their area.
If you are interested in the role, fill in the Volunteering Form but state in the last comment box that you want to be a Local Facilitator and tell us any additional details you think would be useful. We’ll get back to you. Thanks
Job Opportunity: Orchard Animateur & Support Worker
We’ve also got a great job opportunity for an enthusiastic person to help encourage and support local groups that are collaborating in the orchard inventory project. Its part-time, one day a week and runs for six months starting June.
Social media and some wordpress skills are needed too.
See Jobs page
Closing date 31st May 2016.
Job Opportunity: GIS Operator
We have a great opportunity for a person with Geographical Information Systems skills, who would like to contribute to our great National Orchard Inventory project. Its a short term contract, 11 days of work on a specific task. You don’t have to be a top line expert, just relatively competent with MapInfo – we provide the system.
See Jobs page
Closing date 31st May 2016.
Orchard Gathering soon upon us
Only a few days to go before Orchard Gathering 2014.
There are still a few tickets left, and for the evening ceilidh
Click here to book now on Eventbrite
This is what we’re hoping will happen at the event:
- sharing experiences and knowledge
- building energy and enthusing folk
- making new connections and sparking new ideas
- working together to further the orchard movement
- eating good food, having a great time
See our webpage for details
Inventory report due for launch at Gardening Scotland
The completion of the first of two major steps in the creation of a National Orchard Inventory for Scotland is reported here. It has been over a century since the last comprehensive national orchard survey was carried out.
This first step is a detailed deskstudy using a geographical information system together with diverse other sources of data. Also reported is the pilot carried out in the Scottish Borders for the second step which is Field Verification by volunteer survey.
The report is launched on Friday 30th May 2014 at the Gardening Scotland event, Royal Highland Showground, Ingliston. Come and see us there Stand 187 in the Living Garden zone, and perhaps try some lovely Scottish cider !
