Frome’s Pumpkin Day and Harvest Swap – which had its inaugural outing last autumn – is back for another year, but with even more of a focus on good, delicious, and sustainable food.
In order to build on the event’s foundations, organiser Caroline Wajsblum from Frome Field 2 Fork has enlisted Frome Food Network and Future Shed to help put together a hyperlocal pop-up food market and a pay-what-you-can lunch including pumpkin soup and Somerset apple cake.
“We’re drawing on some brilliant talent in the area, to make Pumpkin Day as fun, interesting, and accessible for people, whatever their interest in food,” says Hugh Thomas, Frome Food Network’s co-ordinator. “That includes signposting and decorations by local artist Cherry Truluck, and a 15-mile menu devised by chef Catherine Maxwell, who’s worked in Michelin star kitchens.”
Growers and cooks will be pleased to know the heart of Pumpkin Day – its community harvest swap – will feature as prominently as before, with workshops throughout the day: Jo Tamplin from Mood Foods will be sharing her philosophy of using food to support healing and a healthier and happier life; Get Pickled will be teaching us some simple home preserving techniques; and Frome Field 2 Fork will introduce us to Forest Gardening.
Kids will have plenty to keep themselves busy too, creating natural, recycled, harvest-inspired crafts with Frome Families for the Future, or helping Frome Seed Library harvest the thousands of seeds donated by local growers while learning how to harvest their own plants. Under the guidance of Jo Harrington (founder of Frome Chocolate Festival), they’ll also have the chance to decorate their own chocolate-covered apples with healthy sprinkles.
Those coming will be invited to explore climate and health narratives within food – what foods locally to Frome are better for the planet? Why does better food lead to better mental health? How can our eating choices help reverse climate change?
All will be revealed at Frome’s Pumpkin Day: Harvest Swap and Local Food Festival, at the Cheese & Grain, from 10am to 3pm on the 29th October. Entry is free for kids, OAP’S, UC, and students, with an optional £3 donation.
Kids’ activities:
Free Harvest Crafts with Frome Families for a Future, and Pumpkin decorating raising funds for Purple Elephant (£2) through the day
11am-12pm - Saving Seeds together with Frome Seed Library
1.30pm -3pm - Chocolate covered apples and healthy sprinkles with Jo Harrington
11am-12pm Mood Foods - Jo Tamplin from Mood Foods will be sharing her philosophy of using food to support healing and a healthier and happier life.
1pm-2pm - Get Pickled - Simple home preserving techniques.
2pm-3pm - Forest Gardening in a nutshell FF2F
This event is part of the FFN’s residency with Future Shed this year and is supported by The National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund.
If you can spare a couple of hours to help out on the day, or supply a bag of eating apples for activities please contact fromefield2fork@gmail.com or 07857437608