With our own staff madly slicing away for an in-house competition, we’ve been treated to some fine examples of the dark art of pumpkin carving from some of our friends too.
We’ll be revealing the OF&G entries in good time (haven’t seen them all myself yet!) but to keep things moving, here’s what others have been up to:
A first time attempt from Harper Adams student, Claire McClellan, does her credit!
Farmer, Sam Kingston, got to work on a 'Bumkin' (butternut squash x pumpkin) for this fine effort.
And one final, self indulgent addition. Design for this one is all the work of my five-year-old son. Knife wielding courtesy of his mother!
Another first timer's design - this one by a five-year-old!
Thanks to Claire and Sam for allowing us to share their efforts here. You can catch up with both of them on social networking site, Twitter. (Claire / Sam)
It’s with great pleasure that we can reveal the OF&G Pumpkin Caper has been elevated to new levels with the involvement of expert independent judges.
Well, I say ‘expert’, by which I mean Caroline Stocks, deputy news editor of Farmers Weekly, and Isabel Davies, Farmers Weekly community editor. Caroline is, according to Isabel, a “demon” pumpkin carver in her own right, while Isabel obviously knows a thing or two because she is the main pumpkin supplier to the FW team, via her mum. So that must make them experts, right?
Whatever, they are no doubt discerning judges of a good vegetable-based carving and we are privileged that they have agreed to help us out in this crucially important matter.
The standards are high though. Isabel insists they will be looking for “innovation as well as artistic flair”. So no pressure then.
The entries are trickling in so far, but given that the deadline is the end of play tomorrow, we expect a veritable rush of another five or so by then. At which point they will be photographed with suitable t-light illumination and sent off to our esteemed judges for a decision. Don’t hold your breath though. It’s vital the judges are not hurried in their deliberations, so we’ll just have to wait on tenterhooks until they decide to put the entrants out of their misery.
Ooh, gripping.
Time again to share some of the interesting/amusing/ridiculous things we’ve been reading today.
Still, we should probably cut the Daily Express some slack. It must be a nice change for them not to be focusing on house prices, immigrants or Princess Diana……..
Always game for a laugh, a bunch of OF&G staffers have now accepted the challenge to create the best pumpkin carving as a way to bring fulfilment to their lives following the end of the sunflower competition!
Thanks to suggestions from our followers on Twitter, the new wheeze was soon whipped up and a supply of pumpkins obtained for those wishing to chance their artistic arm for widespread admiration or ridicule…
[Note: the pumpkins are, sadly, not organic. We couldn't find any. Do they exist?]
No sooner was the orange payload dropped in the office than ever-keen Certification Officer, Roy Lawford, was hard at work scooping out the innards and getting to work on his design.
So, we proudly bring you the first entrant in the OF&G Pumpkin Caper:
A fine first entry to our competition by CO, Roy Lawford
I think you’d have to agree Roy has set the standard there. The plant/hair is kind of incidental, but this pic became a must following a suggestion from Twitter friend Claire McClellan who saw the first, less strategically positioned, photo and pointed out our obvious neglect! Thanks, Claire.
The others who are taking part have until Friday to get carving and then we’ll see about getting a line-up photo of them, suitably illuminated.
Pumpkin
Planning is under way for the annual producer conference run by the Organic Research Centre – Elm Farm.
It’s one of the main get-togethers of the year for organic producers, so it’s worth adding the date to your diary early and getting your application form in if you’re intending to be there.
Click here to download the conference flyer [Adobe PDF]
Booking and Registration Form [Adobe PDF]
Oh and of course it’s once again at Harper Adams University College, giving you a great excuse to pay a visit to our lovely part of the world!
Some very uplifting news comes to us today from licensee, Jones Organic, makers of organic pasties and pies.
Jones Organic - Organic Steak & Vegetable Pastie
Business is good and the firm has now signed a lease to take on new premises which allows it to double its baking and refrigeration capacity.
While the business is proudly based in Bridgend, South Wales, increased demand from retailers in London and the south east has created the conditions for the bakery to ramp up its activities.
You can read all about the new move in the the words of Jones Organic themselves here: Jones Organic Press Release 21.10.09 [Adobe PDF file, 48k].
As well as supplying delis and organic stores around the country, the firm runs a very tempting mail order service which can be accessed through the website.
There’s some fascinating history to the company and its founder, Mike Sweetman, on there as well.
We wish everyone at Jones Organic every success with their expansion.
organic food
