It’s raining squash!…͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 

October 2021 | Issue 16

It’s raining Squash!

We definitely feel short changed after this years wet summer but we can’t deny that an English Autumn can be truly lovely. Halloween and Diwali are just around the corner and before we know it, it will be Christma….no…we are getting ahead of ourselves!

This month Kingfisher has welcomed a variety of beautiful organic squash from Cambridgeshire. Take a look online for serving suggestions and inspiration…we know there’s lots to choose from but each type is worth a try. Don’t forget that squash can be a great addition to your home décor (especially for Halloween)!

We’ve got a little update about our online shop, a new business venture by our very own Flora, an interview from Barrie’s sister and we say a very sad goodbye to Julian and Dana (who joined us in early 2020).

Get your woollens on and grab a cup of tea before you read on!

 KEEP UP TO DATE ON OUR INSTAGRAM 

Produce to see us into Autumn…

Hearty veg in the Farm Shop…

  • Pumpkins and British squash

  • Wild mushrooms

  • Romanesco

  • Purple sprouting broccoli

  • Savoy cabbage

  • Cavolo Nero

  • Kale

  • English apples & pears

And in the Flower Shop…

  • Hydrangeas

  • Chrysanthemums

  • Zinnia

  • Sunflowers

  • Don’t forget to buy your tulip & daffodil bulbs to plant for Spring

 BUY SQUASH ONLINE 

Our ever growing online shop is waiting for you…

From fresh produce to pastries to British cheeses, Kingfisher’s online shop is full to the brim, bursting with your favourites from inside our Farm Shop. We’ve been working hard to make sure that you can have a shopping basket full of Kingfishers best products and produce. Simply take a look at our online shop, add items to your basket and fill out your details at checkout. It’s as easy as that to do your weekly shop, if you haven’t got time to browse the shelves in person.

Of course we can’t forget to mention our Kingfisher Subscriptions…the service where you can have fresh fruit and veg delivered to your door each week (plus some extra delicious essentials) by Netty in our fabulous electric van!

 PLACE AN ORDER NOW! 

A gentle reminder…

Yes, we know it’s a bit crazy to start planning festivities…but we wanted to fill you in on Christmas at Kingfisher this year. We will be taking orders over our website for Christmas Week, offering both deliveries and collections between Wednesday 22nd - Friday 24th December. Don’t panic, all the products that were previously on our paper order form are now on the Online Shop.

We are sad to say, Bramble Farm are not offering up their turkey’s this year. Don’t worry…you will be able to have a free range, bronze turkey via Rawlings Butchers, who deliver to us 6 days a week. More details will be in our Christmas guide. We hope that ordering online will make everything a bit easier for you after the madness of Christmas 2020.

Look out for the ‘Ultimate Guide to Christmas at Kingfisher’ which will explain how everything will work in more detail. This will be available from November.

In the meantime, if you have a few minutes, take a peek at our online shop to familiarise yourself with it! Of course we are at the end of a phone, to answer any questions you may have.

01306 730703.

 TAKE A LOOK AT OUR ONLINE SHOP 

A business venture by Flora…

Lovely Flora, one of the Kingfisher team (often seen on Kingfisher Instagram) has been busy setting up a new business with her partner Faraz (a local pastry chef who recently headed the pastry department at Sorrel and Gravetye Manor). Faraz wanted to set up a business where he could personally ensure he was creating the perfect chocolates from sourcing the beans to filling the boxes and everything in between, so Society 237 is limited to just 237 members per year.

Why 237? Faraz grew up with his grandfather, an astronomer, telling him that if man can travel 237,000 miles to the moon nothing is impossible.

Faraz makes couverture chocolate from beans acquired from farmers above fair trade price. These beans go through a lengthy process to create different flavour notes and characteristics. These are then expertly paired with ganache, caramels, fruit compotes and praline to make filled chocolates called bonbons. Each seasonal box is based on a particular theme which will be inspired by interests and life experiences personal to Faraz.

You can sign up for a membership online at society237.co.uk.

 BECOME A SOCIETY 237 MEMBER 

That’s a wrap!

Thank you to those who entered their children into our Christmas Card Competition. Jo is so excited to see each and every picture and we’ve been very impressed with the entries.

Our winner will be announced in the December Monthly Post. Keep your eyes peeled for our Christmas card, which will feature the winning drawing!

Celia’s memories of Kingfisher…

We recently made a request of Barrie’s sister Celia... would she give us her account of what it was like to work here at Kingfisher back in the day?... What follows is a lovely tale of a proper family business!

“Back in the Day” was the 1950s and Father was always up the watercress beds, teaching Barrie the ropes. Mother was in the office and Duncan, my other brother and I worked in the greenhouses with Charlie Bowman and Pat Roberts. We were pricking out 100s of little plants, watering the tomato and cucumber houses, helping with the many customers and many other jobs.  Duncan being a year older than me, earned 1/- an hour, I was on 11d an hour.

It was real family affair and the best part was when Grandpa Coe came into the greenhouse, where he would sit in his chair to change his boots, I loved helping him! It was during that time that the ladies (The Mrs Rawlings Brigade) began…

 CONTINUE READING… 

Well Seasoned Kitchen…

Watercress soup is back for Autumn and Winter, just in time to keep us warm. Gemma at Well Seasoned Kitchen makes a fresh batch each week, using our very own watercress…and always found in compostable packaging!

Pick up a tub for the weekend or even if you just fancy a quick lunch. Enjoy with a slice of Chalk Hills sourdough or perhaps a cheese and watercress scone?

Two Spoons…

After tasting more than a million teas as ‘tea tasters’ the team were inspired to create Two Spoons. They visited tea plantations, tea factories, warehouses and ports and learnt that wherever you go in the world, people are incredibly passionate about this amazing drink. 

At Two Spoons, they showcase great tea, as well as the passion and the stories they have accumulated along the way. We have a great selection of both loose leaf and tea cushions including Darjeeling, Peppermint & Assam.


A fond farewell to Dana and Julian…

“There is strength in numbers”….and this definitely has been the case, having this dynamic duo on board this last year and a half. Julian and Dana joined our team at the beginning of March 2020, learning the ropes. But a couple of weeks in and the onset of the pandemic was upon us, and they rolled up their sleeves, stocking the shop, serving on the till and generally fully immersing themselves in the team spirit, working their socks off to help with the huge demand to supply customers with food.

The pandemic has interrupted their personal plans, with a marriage being moved not once, not twice, but three times. 2022 will be their year! A wedding date is set and they are now to return home to Romania, to marry and lay down plans for a life together.

It is with heavy hearts, that we say farewell. Julian and Dana have given so much in their short time with us. ‘Good morning’ welcomes, a coffee and a tune to start the day at 7am. Tea and cake for 4pm team tea breaks in those manic Spring and early Summer afternoons. There is a theme…great lovers of good coffee and cake! Before we knew it, a baking competition unfolded!! They have instigated rounders matches with barbeques, tennis matches, basketball games and a catchup beer or two, keeping the team spirit alive.

‘Thank you’ Dana and Julian. You have played such a significant part in our story. We wish you both well in your next chapter together.

 READ MORE ABOUT OUR HISTORY 

September’s WINNER is….

Rebecca Brown

You’ve won a Pick of The Month Flower Bunch - Dhalias!

Throughout October we would love you to ask your friends and relatives to sign up to our Monthly Post with the chance of winning our Great British Cheese Hamper!

 

Photography Credit: @chloe.hardwick

 
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Kingfisher Farm Shop, Watercress Beds, Abinger Hammer, United Kingdom

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