Here’s a preview of who is speaking on Saturday and Sunday, plus all the confirmed demo’s and workshops at Toby’s Harvest Festival on 15th and 16th September at Forde Abbey:
Saturday 15th September
Matt Biggs – Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time panellist Matt will be chatting to Toby in the Great Hall about growing veg and favourite plants in the morning, then joining Toby and Jim Buttress for a Gardeners’ Q & A in the afternoon
Lillie O’Brien from London Borough of Jam is demystifying jam-making in the Demo Tipi, explaining how to go heavy on the fruit and spare the sugar, and still get the taste
Catherine Nix from My Scented Home shows how to make an autumn wreath in the Demo Tipi
Ed Versluys from Mello View takes over the Demo Tipi in the afternoon for a masterclass in charcuterie
Bunnies Love are running a jam and pickle surgery so you can get your conserve concerns sorted!
Sunday 16th September
Guardian writer Alys Fowler talks to Toby in the Great Hall about her gardening style, fermenting and ways to preserve and store crops, then joining Toby and Jim for the Gardeners’ Q&A in the afternoon
Tree listening with Alex Metcalf – pop on a pair of Alex’s special headphones and hear the inner workings of a tree!
Georgie Newbery from Common Farm Flowers explains what flowers to sow for home-grown cut flowers, which demonstrating how to make the perfect hand-tied bouquet
Chris Onions and Ashley Wheeler from Trill Farm share favourite veg crops to grow organically while chef Chris prepares a dish from the garden, explaining ways to create fresh new flavours with salad and vegetables
Forde Abbey Head gardener Josh Sparkes shares new cutting-edge composting techniques designed for your unique soil types, and how to make compost tea at home
Both Days
Actor John Challis is interviewed in the Great Hall about treading the boards and the borders at his home Wigmore Abbey, the topic of his latest book
Skinny Jean Gardener Lee Connelly of Blue Peter fame – lots of running around fun, games and quizzes to get kids engaged in gardening
Aldetha Raymond from Candide on weeds you can eat
Paul Jupp from Meadow in My Garden – how to make a meadow – meet at Forde’s meadow swirl
Kevin Croucher from Thornhayes Nursery – take a tour with Kevin to discover Forde Abbey’s ancient and unusual trees
Photography taster sessions with award-winning photographer Andrew Maybury – Book here
Vigo Presses are running demo’s both day where you can try out their impressive range of crushers, presses, driers and steamers
WildHive handcrafted paper-flower making workshops with Bee Watson in the Artisan marquee
Scything demo’s with Chris Riley from Pratensis on the East Lawn
Tasters in Forde’s Kitchen Garden with gardener Ollie Hone
Learn to knit and crochet in The Knitting Yurt
Make apple juice with the Pomona Apple Press
Circus Skills workshop with The Higher Beings – try stilt-walking, tight-roping and the aerial loop
