Join Jess and the Abundance Scheme volunteers for a relaxed day at Kensley Sheds preserving the produce sourced by the Abundance Scheme.
The Abundance Scheme is a volunteer-based group on a mission to locate, harvest and share fruits, nuts and vegetables which would otherwise go to waste. This harvest season they have already collected 100s of kilograms of apples, pears, plums and nuts which have gone straight to local food banks and community larders. Owners of the trees always get first pick and it is ensured that there is always at least 10% left on the tree for wildlife. In public spaces we only take 1/3 of fruit, leaving 1/3 for other foragers and 1/3 for wildlife.
This preserving day aims to use some of the leftover fruit and will shape around what produce the Abundance Scheme has to offer. It is likely to follow recipes such as Crab Apple Jelly, Plum & Chilli Chutney, Pear & Ginger Jam or Blackberry Jam.
Please bring a few clean jam jars with lids so that you can take your preserves home with you. You are welcome to bring any recipe ideas or produce from your own garden or foraging to join in the pot-luck type day!
Tea and coffee will be provided. Lunch will be a ‘bring and share’ picnic.
The Venue
This course is set at our off-grid woodland craft centre, Kensley Sheds, right in the heart of the beautiful Forest of Dean, situated on the famous Sculpture Trail, close to the Stained Glass Window and Wildlife Trust reserve ‘Woorgreen Lake’
Kensley Sheds is the home of our Social Forestry Project ‘New Leaf’. Here, local adults who are struggling with social issues come learn & practice new skills. We follow regenerative woodland management practices, to extract and process wood from disused Forestry England coppiced woodland. Here the wood is turned it into functional items, firewood and charcoal, giving people access to new careers and a sense of real community.
Kensley Sheds has running water, a flushing disabled access toilet, onsite parking and is heated by wood-burner. You will be able to peruse our extensive library of eco / craft / alternative living books throughout the day.
Profits
The Rewild Project is a Not for Profit, Community Interest Company, and Social Enterprise. It is our mission to support local craftspeople and promote heritage craft skills. We Rewild People by teaching these skills of self reliance and resilience for an uncertain future.
After the costs are covered we put any profits back into the community with our ‘weekday sessions for disadvantaged groups’ - a lifeline for many local people who we pick up each day and bring to Kensley Sheds and other sites to build community, skills, and share nutritious hot, locally-produced food.
For the preserving day we ask for a ‘pay what you can’ donation to cover basic costs of buying ingredients for preserving. Suggested donation is £3-5.
Families & Children
You are welcome to bring well behaved children to the workshop but they must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.
Booking
If you’d like to join us then please drop an email to abdunancescheme@therewildproject.com and let us know how many people are coming.