...Rich pickings from the land

September arrives and what a summer we have had!  The heat brought its challenges and some delicious surprises too, with apricots and peaches from Kent!  Some crops arrived early, and we have been enjoying the apple harvest for the last few weeks already.  On the 1st September, Kingfisher honey landed on our shelves.  Our bees here have been ever so busy.

We have lots to share with you, we hope you enjoy our Autumn news.

Best wishes, Marion

101 uses for Selsley Mulling Syrup

Used primarily for making an easy mulled wine, cider or apple juice, Selsley Gourmet Mulling Syrup has many other delicious applications.  The spiced syrup can be added to fruit when making crumbles and pies, or when poaching peaches or pears.  Adding a dessert spoonful of syrup to half a pint of whipping cream makes a delicious accompaniment to a dark chocolate tart, or pour over few scoops of ice cream for an instant dessert.

Brushing syrup over grilled or barbecued sausages gives a caramelised flavour to savoury dishes, and a spoonful added to gravy is especially good with poultry and game.

... From Sawdust to Superfood

When Axel Nohturfft from Westcott began growing mushrooms in 2024, his setupwas humble: a mini greenhouse tent outfitted to provide some food for the family.Driven by a passion for tinkering, Axel loved the hands-on engineering challenge of fine-tuning temperature, humidity, and fresh air flow to create the ideal environment for fungi to thrive. The venture was such a success that within a few months, he expanded into a full-fledged backyard growing facility and started selling mushrooms to a small number of local farm shops.

Today, his goal is simple: supply the local community with fresh, delicious gourmet mushrooms produced with a minimal environmental footprint. Cultivating specialty varieties like lion's mane, oyster, and pioppino, Axel's operation aims for optimal resource efficiency. Mushrooms require vastly less water to produce than traditional crops or livestock, growing entirely on agricultural upcycled byproducts like sawdust, straw, and soya hulls without any pesticides or chemical fertilizer. The result is a clean, nutrient-dense crop packed with protein. Beyond exceptional flavour, varieties like lion's mane are prized by many for health benefits ranging from immune support to boosted cognitive performance, making Axel's sustainable backyard harvest a true win for local food lovers.

Photography Credit: @chloe.hardwick & @henrycatling & @stuartovendencreative