Kitchen Garden News

In the last month the Kitchen Garden has been a hive of activity. On June 20th we welcomed well over 50 people to the Grand Opening by Queen Zena(1949) , Queen Sophie and Princess Imogen(2013). Despite the atrocious weather, our visitors enjoyed Head Chef Joe Hunt’s BBQ with the accompanying salads made from freshly picked garden produce.

The Duke of Gloucester visited Bakewell to meet the top Peak District food and drink producers. The School of Food displayed a basket produce from the garden which included the first shallots, strawberries, rhubarb, spinach, pak choi, salad leaves and many herbs. Joe had made strawberry jam using our alpine strawberries.

As part of the Buxton Festival, Chef Joe was invited to do a demonstration in the Dome and he chose to showcase the produce of the kitchen garden. We found a great variety for him to work with, all picked a couple of hours before the demonstration. There was garlic, fennel bulb, baby carrots and spring onions, shallots, spinach, salad leaves, pea shoots, beetroot leaves, herbs and a selection of herb flowers. To read Joe’s blog go to www.chefjoehunt.wordpress.com or join the Tideswell Kitchen Garden Group on Facebook to find out what is happening.

Thanks to the wonderful weather and volunteers who have kept the garden well watered, the produce is flourishing, with onions, courgettes, peas, beans, broccoli all just about ready to harvest, and then there is all the fruit. Just come and see for yourself.