Another month, another Wivenhoe Farmer’s Market at the Congregational Hall. They are a sturdy lot, these farmer types. With the Wivenhoe weather more suited to paddy fields rather than poultry farming, the rain didn’t deter the five fruit ‘n veg a day hunters.
I needed meat. Preferably raw meat that I could devour with my bare hands on the short walk back to base. But failing that, a selection of frozen half cuts from the brilliant bargain bin from Primrose Farm should see me through the weekend.
The good lady farmer Mss Primrose didn’t disappoint. Four bargain offerings of your finest sausage meat, Madam, and I had a farmer’s rosy glow to my cheeks.
Spicing things up in the Congregational Hall was the welcome addition of a Caribbean traditional food stall. It wasn’t quite jerk chicken comes to Wivenhoe, but the added variety seemed to be going down well.
Back to basics outside, and I also stocked up with onions, lettuce and a particularly long cucumber. It put my prize courgette to shame, both in size and succulence.
I still find it slightly disappointing that basic veg such as apples, oranges and bananas etc are about as rare as those mythical badgers along the banks of the Colne. No worries - a brief trip down to the ever reliable Cansdale and Ross and we were soon sorted.
These are interesting (and slightly worrying) times for the hyperlocal Wivenhoe fruit and veg trade. I like to try and support both the Farmer’s Market and Cansdale.
I hate to rain on yer parade, but we certainly would miss them, if either were to disappear…
Having had the good fortune to inherit a mature, manageable garden just under a year ago, it is only now that @AnnaJCowen and I are starting to see the benefits of Wivenhoe in bloom.
Even a lost cabbage palm tree over the course of the severe estuary winter has provided some mid-summer joy. Half a dozen seedlings are now starting to emerge from the roots of the original. Mother nature is rather forgiving when it comes to bad gardeners.
Our plan all along was to try and encourage the existing garden, as well as to attempt to grow a secondary kitchen garden in the small extra space that is available.
Spring seeds were swapped with the good folk of Transition Town Wivenhoe back at the Farmer’s Market in March. We were rather reckless in our potting, forgetting that many great things grow from little seeds.
Being blessed with a conservatory that doubles up as a greenhouse has certainly helped. It’s also rather artistic apparently - the current Over the Sofa exhibition at the Wivenhoe Bookshop features prominently… my kitchen.
Cripes.
The joyous early summer estuary climes soon got to work. We are now fighting back the green shoots, both indoors and out as the various vegetables start to deliver.
Courgettes are growing out of our ears (and elsewhere.) The tomatoes are still green, but I fear that a freezer load of tomato goulash is going to be the only option to deal with the excess.
Peppers have slowly started to appear, along with the late developer that is the beetroot boys. I swear I saw an aubergine the other morning, although it just might have been my courgette addled brain taking over.
Keeping with the TTW ethos of share and share alike, tomatoes and courgettes have been handed out to family and friends. In return we received the most delightful bag of cherries from over the garden fence - thank you!
The decking that doubles up as a makeshift Death Row of all that was once green, great and good is even starting to come back to life. And here was me thinking that it was all about the daffs.
Anyone know what size is the largest courgette ever grown in Wivenhoe? I’ve got an absolute beauty that will bring tears to your eyes. Best enjoy it now Madam, whilst it is still ripe.
When Saturday Comes and all you want to do with your Wivenhoe weekend is to read the papers in bed, take an afternoon wander down to the Quay and then stumble out of The Station sometime before the National Lottery winners are announced.
No chance.
To the Farmer’s Market! …was the rallying call to kick start the weekend for @AnnaJCowen and I. The Congregational Hall had the usual fine local produce on sale, as well as some charming conversations with traders who like to talk, rather than concentrate on the hard sell.
We didn’t come out with a wicker basket brimming with North Essex country fare, but a rucksack stuffed full of sausage meat and beetroot. These will come in handy, believe me.
The Wivenhoe Community Safety Neighbourhood Watch Group also had representation. It’s good to be a local busy body etc, but don’t have nightmares. The recent police crime map for this area in April may look a little alarming, but out of the eleven incidents of violent crime, only four were reported in Wivenhoe, with the remaining seven coming from our friends over in Rowhedge.
must.pay.a.trip.to.rowhedge.later.in.the.day
But first off, how about keeping up the busy body theme and poking yer face around local garages?
Blimey.
Nope, it’s not a new obsessive architectural peccadillo that is affecting the North Essex estuary, but the Grand Garage Trail kindly organised by the good folk of St Mary’s Church.
Hurrah!
Originally started by Cansdale and Ross under the Wivenhoe Braderie banner two years ago, the Grand Garage Trail is now a glorified car boot sale taking place around the town.
Maps were purchased the day before, and then much like the splendid Open Gardens of last month, we wandered around Wivenhoe and were welcomed into the properties of various folk around the town.
The event was as broad and as bonkers as you wanted it to be. Many garages were doing great business in re-selling on children’s toys that have been outgrown. Local art also featured heavily. I was disappointed in not being able to walk away with the underground safe on sale along the High Street.
It all got a little lost as we wandered into the Loveless Hall by mistake - often the best way to wander into the Loveless Hall - and found that we had strayed into a separate sale organised by the Colchester Twins Club.
Double cripes.
Cake was on hand to calm us down, and to give us a kick up the backside to take on the remaining Grand Garage Trail down towards the Quay.
A quick chat at Curiosity, and we reflected on the quality of the stock sold within. But time and tide wait for no Grand Garage Trailers, and as we exited left along Station Road, we saw that the legendary Grand Garage dinghy has been bought, and was already being prepared for a launch at the Rowhedge Regatta later in the day.
No worries.
The girl and I made up for our nautical loss with some lovely bargains of our own. A pair of panniers, a darts board, a kitchen chair and a chopping board (free from Builder Mark, natch) - all clocked in at precisely £10.
The panniers in particular were quite a find - the conversation that followed was priceless. It seems that I’m not alone with my Moulton collection within Wivenhoe.
The town undoubtedly has many talents, but topping the list for me is the claim to fame of the chap I purchased the panniers off - he only test rode the original Moultons back in the day.
Chapeau!
Seedy exchanges followed, with an ill met by iPhone fading light presentation of the bonkers multi-coloured Moulton. I’ve still to actually ride the machine around the town. @AnnaJCowen reckons that even the ‘homosexual meets the beast‘ hybrid of the design is a little risqué, even for Wivenhoe.
Was that the day done, Comrades?
Nope - we’ve barely started. Booze had yet to feature, and there’s nothing I like more than a Wivenhoe lunchtime tipple whilst admiring quality local artwork and enjoying local conversations.
To the Wivenhoe Gallery! …etc for the opening of the Spanish Paintings exhibition by local artists Michael and Julia. Running for two weeks down at the Wivenhoe Business Centre, the rich Mediterranean landscapes are most certainly worthy of a visit.
The love of the Spanish culture came across in the artwork, and the conversation that followed with Michael and Julia. I pressed them on the possibilities for their future muse, and was pleased to hear that Wivenhoe landscape painting is certainly a work in progress.
With my lunchtime muse of red wine having fired me up, I was ready to stand on the edge of the Quay, survey the Rose and Crown customers and gaze out with a glazed over eye across the estuary and declare:
“To Rowhedge!”
Oh Lordy.
The fighting talk of the red plonk has sunk many a galleon, but not the Wivenhoe and Rowhedge Ferry. This was Regatta Day for that other lot on the opposite banks of the Colne. It only seemed polite to turn up and see how our near neighbours can put on a party.
We weren’t alone in our Wivenhoe wanderings. It seemed that half of the town had pitched up at either The Anchor or The Albion, observing the sea crafts of differing sizes sail past. There was always the possibility of some riverside rubbernecking as a particularly graceful smack came close to cutting up a kayak.
Whoops.
Crabbing, as ever, was incredibly popular. The hit and miss weather seemed to fit perfectly with the Dark Side theme. With the waters of the Colne disappearing faster than my pint of Kent Best, concern soon turned towards how the chuffers we could get back to base.
No one wants to be stranded in Rowhedge on a Saturday evening, but the Kent Best booze was making a decent job of damage limitation. A catch up with the fine @Colchester101 - whoops there goes another pier, whoops there goes another pint of beer, etc.
Anything that Wivenhoe can do, Rowhedge of course likes to think that it can do better. We don’t like to talk about *shhh* the May Fair police helicopter, and I’m sure Rowhedge folk were a little weary of the chopper action overhead on Saturday.
One thing that Rowhedge definitely does do better than Wivenhoe is to assemble together a group of local males who then tug away on a large rope in tandem.
“We’re from Wivenhoe - we drink beer, not pull rope” was the rallying cry that was later rolled out to justify the slip slidin’ spectacle of the Wivenhoe Tug of War team.
The Rowhedge chaps may be great at tugging away, but no so brilliant on the booze front. Chundering quayside just ahead of the grand Tug of War final is not quite dignified estuary etiquette, Sir.
With the estuary water now looking as limp as the Wivenhoe tug of war team effort (said the poncey bloke watching from the sidelines…) contingency plans were needed for the Great Escape.
Cometh the hour, cometh the good @Colchester101, who kindly drove us all the way down to the Hythe, and then back up Clingoe Hill once again. There was to be one more surprise waiting for us back at base - a new houseguest staying in the shed.
Moving Image was on our Saturday evening radar. Ever one to keep it local, the screening of Fishtank was trumped by a lovely, lovely hyperlocal invite to… go round next door for an evening of games and booze.
Brilliant!
And so just another quiet Wivenhoe weekend, you say?
Wivenhoe - you are wearing me out. But you wear it out oh so well.
To the Congregational Hall on Saturday morning for the monthly Wivenhoe Farmer’s Market. The musty smell inside sums up village halls, as the not so fragrant @AnnaJCowen remarked to me. No worries - I rather like the aroma of history giving you a sense of nasal perspective.
For those not wanting some eau de Congregational Hall, thankfully most of the stalls were situated outside. Early summer is upon us and now is the time to bask in the great outdoors and stock up on all that winter veg.
The lovely, lovely herb man (steady) was incredibly helpful as ever, advising us on some rocket action back at base. If we’re not dining out on fine rocket and parmesan salad by the end of the week, then there will be a rocket around these parts heading perhaps where it shouldn’t.
The Colne Soap Makers (seriously) were equally charming. I took advantage of the local produce and stocked up the for the bathroom cabinet. The girl surprisingly scrubs up rather well.
Transition Town Wivenhoe were once again offering the seed swap service, as well as many other green and great activities. I’m pleased to report that rocket aside, our own seeds sourced at the last Farmer’s Market from TTW have transformed the garden. Give it another month and I’ll have courgettes that will make middle-aged ladies lustful.
It was slightly disappointing not to find the farmer’s basics of fruit and veg indoors at the Congregational Hall. Only tomatoes were added to the basket. No worries - Mr Irish Soda Bread Man very kindly made up for the oversight; a trip down to Cansdale and Ross soon put us right with our five a day.
The next Wivenhoe Farmer’s Market takes place on Saturday 18th June in the Congregational Hall. To rent a stall, call 01206 367776, or to volunteer help, call 01206 826226.
The thing about being a Transition Town is that you are always… in transition. So much to organise, so many ideas to spread, so much optimism. And so another month, and another (brief) pause to take in all the wonderful activities and initiatives that Transition Town Wivenhoe is putting into place:
“16th April, Farmer’s Market, Congregational Hall, 9 - 12. Great range of stalls selling local produce. The TTW stall will be offering seeds for swapping or donations.”
I’m a little shy on the photo sharing front for now, but yeah - the seeds that @AnnaJCowen and I picked up at the Farmer’s Market last month are starting to bear fruit. Not literally, but y’know…
A bit more from TTW’s very decent Bob:
Keeping with the faun and flora theme:
“Station gardening on Sundays has shifted to 3pm; bring a mug for some Kelly Kettle tea and hand tools / gloves if you have them, meet at the Station Master’s House community garden, to the left of the ticket office. More info via email.”
And after hard afternoon’s graft in the Station Master’s Garden, what you need is the relaxation of a film, something to fill your pint glass with and some fine social company.
Hang on…
“17th April - in partnership with Moving Image and The Station Pub, we’re wheeling out our Pedal Powered Cinema once again, this time to screen Pixar’s animated super-hero blockbuster The Incredibles in the Station Pub car park at 8pm.”
Another ace idea from TTW - more bloggage over here.
On a more wider economic and sustainable level (steady) TTW are offering guidance on setting up social enterprises. There is crossover here with the fine work that Wivenhoe based @asset_transfer is already undertaking, as well as the many projects currently being put in place by creativecoop over in Colchester:
“Want to learn about setting up social enterprises? Community Enterprise training will be delivered by Roger Saunders of Choosing Change, Saturday 18th June in Wivenhoe 10am to 4pm. This course will be free.”
But it’s not all about ploughing the fields and scattering; sometimes you just want to cut to the chase and cut to the booze:
“25th April Transition Drinks from 8pm at The Station. All welcome for informal chattering and socialising.”
“May Fair Recyclers needed! Bob of the Wivenhoe May Fair Green Police Team writes: We need volunteers to spend an hour or so on the field on Monday May 30th or on Tuesday morning, helping to keep and leave the field tidy and promote recycling and waste reduction. It’s not hard work and a lot of fun, and helps to keep the May Fair running smoothly.”
Volunteers will receive a token of thanks - usually a voucher for a drink at the bar - and some of the food stalls on the day have agreed to give discounts to helpers too. More info / offers of help via email.”
Plus: May 4th @Uni_of_Essex will be having a Green Fair on campus from 10am to 2pm.
To the Congregational Hall on Saturday morning to refresh the mind and body with the goodness of the earth. You can tell I’ve been reading far too much Ben Goldacre of late, can’t you?
But there was no bad science to my logic of lapping up the local fruit ‘n veg. A late, late finish with the lovely @HiddenDingbat’s the night / morning previous, and my eyelids were telling me that organic, rather than alcoholic, was the order of the day.
This was the first spring Farmer’s market for @AnnaJCowen and I since the Great Escape. With enough blue in the sky to make a sailor a pair of underpants (steady,) we skipped down the High Street with an extra kick in our step.
That will be the double JD and coke before breakfast kicking in then.
There is something really rather special about the Wivenhoe Farmer’s Market come this time of the year. The stalls start to slowly, slowly head to the great outdoors (um, the Congregational Hall car park) and the event becomes even more social.
We started off with a decent chat with a herbs chap, who also supplied us with a rhubarb plant that is now taking up the prime growing location in the back garden. With rhubarb being the Celery of the Gods, we’ve high hopes for some crumble over the coming month.
Our herb man then set about the task of sourcing us something a little more exotic. No need to call in the crime squad - we’re simply after a local lemon tree that can make the most of those glorious Wivenhoe rays.
Inside the Congregational Hall and Tony’s Fish was all the fancy for the early morning trade. Fished in local waters, we came close to treating that special little girl in our life with a wet haddock across her little inquisitive nose.
A bit of basic fruit and veg shopping filled the bags, and then we were back outside for a catch up with the ace Transition Town Wivenhoe folk. Promoting sustainability within the town is what it is all about for TTW. For the Farmer’s Market and the group has come up with the great idea of a local seed swap.
I was also fascinated with the Wivenhoe Food Map of free fruit and nuts. Locals are encouraged to pinpoint sources of free food, such as blackberries, rosehips and various nuts. It was a shame to see a now empty and barren stretch heading out towards Alresford Creek.
Many thanks, as ever, to the charming Bob for taking the time to explain and update recent TTW activities.
The shift outdoors continues with TTW over the coming months. The regular Sunday gardening sessions outside the Station Master’s House have commenced once again. Volunteers are of course always welcome.
And so another month, another bumper crop. The next Wivenhoe Farmer’s Market takes place on Saturday 16th April - the fifth anniversary of the event within Wivenhoe. To rent a stall call 01206 367776. For further info or to volunteer help, call 01206 826226.
With the Transition Town network rapidly growing throughout the UK (I hear St Reatham is being rolled out next - blimey…) it is with apt timing that the fine folk of Transition Town Wivenhoe update us with news of their many varied and sustainable activities around the town.
The Transition ethos of changing your little local part of the world, rather than the bigger picture of the planet, is evident once again with a well though out schedule of events for Wivenhoe:
“Broomgrove School need help with their garden on Friday 18th March, any time you can spare between 9am-3pm. We plan to dig up some established tree trunks, old plants and create willow arches and bamboo fences in our sensory garden. The more the merrier!”
Many hands make light work - an email over here should be sufficient to register an interest in helping out.
With spring finally saying hello around the estuary wilds, the monthly Wivenhoe Farmer’s Market gets to head outdoors by the Congregational Hall once again. A venture out on Saturday morning between 9-12, and you may even bump into these delightful ladies.
Plus TTW will also have a presence:
“This Saturday 19th March, 9-12 Farmers Market. TTW stall includes seed swapping - bring your seeds (not too old please!) to get swapsies. If you don’t have any seeds, just make a donation.”
But as ever, it’s all about the bike…
“Want to learn about bike generators - what they can be used for or how to build your own? There will be two workshops in Wivenhoe on Saturday afternoons 2nd and 9th April. To register interest, please email [email protected]
“Interested in car sharing or want to help get a TTW cargo bikes scheme going? Interested in sustainable transport initiatives? Please get in touch and we’ll organise a get together.”
Anyone wanting to make their home more energy efficient in Wivenhoe may want to take up the very kind offer of a free home energy assessment:
“TTW Energy Assessors have started carrying out free home energy assessments, book yours by emailing [email protected] or calling Bob on 07507 841158.”
Anything um, Brixton (blimey!) can do, Wivenhoe can hopefully do even better:
“TTW wants to plan an ‘unleashing’ event / party, any helpers welcome, first meeting Tuesday 5th April, 7.30pm. Please get in touch if you are interested. Just to get your creative juices flowing, here’s how Norwich and Brixton did theirs…”
The Broad Lane Future project may have gone rather quiet since the New Year, but TTW’s part of the grand project at least seems to be bearing some fruition:
“Wivenhoe Town Football Club are starting some temporary allotments in large builders bags and may need help to set things up. No date for action days yet, but please let us know if you are interested to help and we’ll keep you posted.”
And keeping it #hyperlocal (ish) - our nearby neighbours are starting to get a feel of the benefits of setting up a Transition Town:
It’s not all about acting under the banner of TTW. What I very much like about this group is the willingness to help other organisations out around the town. As well as the ace Halloween event down at the Quay, and a considerable presence in helping out at the May Fair, TTW is also offering support for the spring riverbank clean up being organised by the Wivenhoe Society.
The 10th April at 10am is the date for your diary, meeting outside The Station for a morning of making the Colne an even pleasanter part of the world in which to live.
Not a bad little morning at the monthly Wivenhoe Farmer’s Market. The estuary rain may have persisted, but then so did the punters. Without the rain then there would be no leeks; and without the leeks then my world would be a duller place.
So yeah, all wellied up as the top of the High Street became something of a steady torrent, and then across the road to the Congregational Hall. It was great to catch up with the familiar traders, as well as some new faces for this month.
Baking spuds, carrots, onions and *swoon* leeks, all for under £4. And then a couple of bags of Braeburns, and still change from a tenner to investigate the stall from the chap selling chutney.
Splendid.
There is very little advertising that takes place for the Wivenhoe Farmer’s Market. Somehow it just seems to happen on the third Saturday morning of each month. Like most friendly trading places within the town, it’s also becoming something of a social hub.
Sadly other weekend commitments elsewhere made this a flying Farmer’s Market visit for me this month. I did pick up a wonderful piece of local gossip though. It was all about…
Oh, hang on - the leeks are frying and my appetite is even more insatiable than my thirst for gossip. Until next month, farmer boys and girls…
Any local traders wanting to rent a stall at the Wivenhoe Farmer’s Market each month can call 01206 367776.
If it’s the third Saturday of the month, then it must mean that it is time for the Wivenhoe Farmer’s Market - hurrah!
Not a bad return at the Congregational Hall this month. A few less traders than normal, but never mind the length, feel the thickness, missus.
Cripes.
Catching the lustful eye of @AnnaJCowen was the good folk of Primrose Pork from just down the road at Great Bentley. Not normally one for a carnivorous pallet, but the girl certainly does like her sausages.
We had a delightful conversation with the friendly Moss family of Primrose Farm, and truth be told, the sale was always going to take place. A serving of Toulouse and Lincolnshire for the freezer, if you don’t mind, fine Farmer Moss.
And then just as the order was about to be placed, and with the clock in the Congregational Hall soon to chime midday, all the remaining slingers were then placed in the bargain bin for £1 a pack.
Blimey.
Not one to ever look a (reduced) sausage in the eye, @AnnaJCowen added some Old English and Chipolatas for the freezer as well. Four pounds for four weeks of sausages; all free range and all served with the finest North Essex smile as well.
Ah, but you will be needing some veg for the plate as well, I reminded the girl. No worries. A quick trolley dash around the Congregational Hall, and soon we had sourced spuds, carrots and onions. Back at base in time for Football Focus as well - hurrah!
I do like the convenience of the monthly Wivenhoe Farmer’s Market, as well as the uncertainty and surprise as to what you might find. Trade is brisk, but there is always time for a chat with traders and folk from the town.
Back to Nigel and Lisa at Cansdale Ross & Co next week. Now then – I hear that an equally charming new staff member has just started at our favourite fruit ‘n veg shop…
In the extreme danger of sounding like an online social calendar for Wivenhoe (which is really no bad thing…) here are a few more diary dates for you.
A brief but breathless morning shopping trip around the town, and a number of future events emerged. First off there is a book launch at the Bookshop, natch, on Friday evening from 7:30 onwards.
I was making a mental shopping list in my head as I passed by, and so in true #hyperlocal overservational style, I failed to remember exactly which book was being launched.
Whoops.
Then there is the monthly Farmer’s Market taking place this Saturday morning at the Congregational Hall, from 10am.
I’ve split loyalties between Cansdale and Ross and the Farmer’s Market for all my fruit and veg needs. The lovely Nigel and Lisa get my custom three out of every four weeks, and then to add some variety, the monthly Wivenhoe Farmer’s Market gets a look in.
Last month I picked up some gorgeous Irish cheese bread, which should help fill in the gaps in-between trips back and forth to South London for emergency supplies of Di Lieto olive bread. Oh, and as much as Nigel is something of a charmer, he can’t quite compete with these lovely ladies.
Moving on…
A poster in the Post Office is advertising a Poetry Wivenhoe evening on the 25th November at The Greyhound. Good to see that Martin Newell, the pop genius of this parish, will be performing, along with other local poets. Booze and the bard - job’s a good ‘un.
Plus has anyone else noticed the sudden haste in hanging the Christmas decorations all around the town? The Co-op seemed to be first on the case. The William Loveless Hall soon followed, with the Town Council offices also already decked out ahead of the festive season.
It’s all a photo blog post waiting to happen, I tell you, just as soon as I can find the enthusiasm to head out after dark for some hit and miss photography. It all may seem slightly early in the calendar to be celebrating Christmas, but all this planning is in preparation for the late night shopping and the arrival of Father Christmas in Wivenhoe on 2nd December.
So yeah - a breathless morning walk around Wivenhoe; something (actually, someone…) tells me that if you are having a breathless walk in Wivenhoe, then you really are doing it all wrong.
*must slow down*
I only popped out for a pint of milk and a quarter pound of Granny Smith’s…
