Urban Growing
By Shannon Smith
Shannon Smith, Orchard Learning Coordinator at Horfield Organic Community Orchard (HOCO) shares how you can get involved with this year’s Apple Day. A much-loved feature of Apple Day is that Shannon – known as “The Apple Tree Lady” – will identify your mystery apples! Read on to find out more.
Apple Day is normally the largest and liveliest public event at Horfield Organic Community Orchard (HOCO). The orchard relies on public events to raise essential funds. Cancelling two events earlier this year (January’s Wassail and June’s Summer Open Day) has hit funds hard.
High numbers of COVID-19 cases in Bristol at the start of the school year raise doubts about larger gatherings as we head towards the winter months. We feel it isn’t wise to organise a huge event for hundreds of people at this time, so are planning an Apple Day Market on Sunday 17 October.
This will be similar to last year’s market when orders were placed in advance and collected on the day. All fruit trees and plants have been raised locally. Small batches of homemade preserves are jam-packed with fruits from the orchard. Local honey and herbal body care products are available in limited quantities. Pre-ordering is strongly recommended. A selection of produce and products will also be for sale on the day, including one-off green woodworking made with fruitwood from the orchard.
Identifying mystery apples is another popular Apple Day activity. As The Apple Tree Lady, I’m offering to do this for a donation to HOCO! It’s not a science. I have seen hundreds of different kinds of apples over the years, and I love the challenge of solving the mystery. It’s fruitful fun – and all for a good cause! See the HOCO website for more information.
Details may change due to events beyond our control. Please contact HOCO through the website to make sure you get up-to-date information about the market.
By setting the wheels in motion now, together we can transform the future of food in our city, building in resilience over the next decade. So, what change do you want to see happen that will transform food in Bristol by 2030? Do you already have an idea for how Bristol can make this happen? Join the conversation now.
So, what change do you want to see happen that will transform food in Bristol by 2030? Do you already have an idea for how Bristol can make this happen? Join the conversation now.
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