If only the weather would play ball…

Surprise! We are half way through July and only just saying ‘hello’. There is a wonderful abundance of local and British grown, fresh, delicious produce in the midst of summer. Although with the cooler air temperatures than usual for the time of year germination and growth for some crops has been poor or the season has been cut short. Broad beans, chard, strawberries, cherries, tomatoes have excelled.

The flower girls are really spoilt for choice with all the British grown flora. The wedding season is in full swing at the flower shop. The bouquets and collections of vases and urns have been filled with the heady scent of garden roses, sweet peas, stocks combined with the fresh aroma of scented geranium, mints and lavender and so much more.

We have opened the doors to the Watercress Museum for a couple of weekends since our celebrations in May.  It’s been so lovely to share our history and exchange memories with so many of you. Some of you enjoyed a coffee from Little Bean, who pitched up by the pond whilst the museum was open.  Watch this space for future returns of the coffee trailer.

Hoping that the rest of our summer doesn’t remain as wet, we have a few feasting ideas and inspiration for vegetarian barbecue guests. Let’s raise a glass to some sunshine!

It’s time to savour our glorious summer produce

Celebrating the opening of the Watch House…

If you haven’t discovered Chilworth Manor Vineyard yet, then you’re in for a treat.

Nestled under St Martha’s Church in The Surrey Hills AONB, the history of the manor stretches back to Saxon England where its existence is chronicled in the Domesday Book. Mia and Graham, current guardians of Chilworth Manor’s history, planted the vineyard in 2013 using their ethos of sensitivity with sustainability that are upheld with such care throughout the estate.

From the moment you enter the vineyard you can feel how special your visit is going to be. I was fortunate enough to be invited for an early evening tour and tasting in the newly built Watch House, their beautiful new wine tasting barn. After a warm welcome from the Chilworth Manor team, John, the Vineyard Manager, traced the history of the Manor House and guided us through the evolution of the vineyard so far.

We were then lead through a tasting of the latest Chilworth Manor Rosé by Heather.

Pale in colour and with rhubarb and strawberry notes, the pairing of nectarine, rocket and Parma ham we ate alongside was the perfect accompaniment.

In typical British style, we stepped outside with umbrellas to learn more about the care of the vines, and how a revolutionary sprinkler system is used to protect from frost damage in the spring instead of the traditional paraffin candle lighting adopted by most vineyards.

And then, the tasting of the mouth-watering Chilworth Manor Sparkling Wines. We tried the Classic Cuvée Alwyn and the Brut Rosé, this time paired with cheese, biscuits and edible flowers. To end, we were asked to choose a glass of our favourite wine to enjoy at our leisure, an almost impossible choice!

I’m so grateful to all those involved at Chilworth Manor for the enjoyable evening I spent in their company, a true gem in The Surrey Hills.

Article & photographs by Netty Mackay

Good Fermentation

What inspired you to start your business?

The inspiration to start our business came from a desire to improve our family’s wellbeing and gut health. During lockdown, we began experimenting with fermenting foods to boost our overall wellness. Initially, it was just a hobby without any plans to turn it into a business. The turning point came when we participated in a charity sale to support Ukraine. To our surprise and delight, our fermented products sold exceptionally well, and we saw the potential to transform our small-scale home fermentation efforts into a business.

We are driven by a mission to share the benefits of gut health with a wider audience. Giving back is at the heart of what we do, which is why we support the GUTS charity. They help families and individuals dealing with bowel cancer, providing awareness and precaution tips. We donate 5p from every kombucha bottle sold, both wholesale and retail, to them on a monthly basis.

What do you enjoy the most about being a small business owner?

Being a small business allows us to be on the front lines of our sales, personally knowing all our customers and the amazing farm shops that stock our products. Farmers' markets and product tastings are the best ways to meet customers and share our passion for fermenting. This direct interaction also provides immediate, firsthand feedback, which is incredibly valuable as we refine our products and grow our business.

What is your connection to Kingfisher?

Kingfisher was among the first farm shops to stock our kombucha and later our kimchi. We deeply appreciate their support.

Marion invited us to join the Surrey Day celebration in May, marking 170 years of growing watercress. We were thrilled to participate and decided to create watercress kimchi in honor of the occasion. This unique kimchi immediately became a hit!

Finally, being stocked at Kingfisher has opened doors to collaborations with numerous professionals who discovered us there.

What is your signature product?

Our Lemon & Ginger Kombucha remains a top favorite, but it's our Watercress Kimchi that stole the show and became our bestseller. At the recent Taste of London in Regent’s Park, our stand had queues forming as everyone clamored to try this delicious treat!

What are your plans for the future?

We plan to introduce a wider variety of fermented products, including new flavors of kombucha and kimchi, as well as other gut-friendly foods to cater to diverse palates and dietary preferences. Our aim is to grow organically, respecting our business and setting strong foundations for the future.

We're excited to continue and elaborate our fermentation workshops, where we show our customers ways to safely and successfully home ferment with guaranteed recipes, we are in the look out for a permanent space to make that happen.

Plus, we're keeping it green with our bottle return scheme and continuing our support for charities. It's all part of our journey to spread good vibes through gut health and sustainable practices.

Photography Credit: @chloe.hardwick & @henry.catling