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Saturday 21 March 2026 · 10 am – 2 pm · Bainham Hall
From orchard to jar — a golden afternoon in the valley
Our second Practical Living Series session brought the sweet abundance of the valley’s orchards into Bainham Hall. Boxes of apples, pears and peaches arrived fresh from local trees, and by the end of the afternoon, they had been transformed into rows of golden chutneys, bottled fruit and preserves lining the benches.
It was a hands-on, convivial session — full of chopping, stirring, jar-sterilising and the wonderful smell of fruit and spice on the stove. People came and went throughout the day, sharing what they knew and picking up new skills along the way.
Fruit preserving is one of those deeply practical skills that also happens to feel rather wonderful — turning a seasonal glut into something that will last through the year, made by hand, shared with neighbours.
A note of thanks A heartfelt thank you to the two neighbours who donated apples and peaches from their own orchards for this session. Community generosity like this is what makes the Practical Living Series possible.
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➡ Next: Session 3 — Seed Saving
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