Abundance Wimbledon Newsletter
10 August 2020


Welcome to Abundance Wimbledon

It has been a slow start to the season with the fruit taking longer than normal to ripen, however with the recent heatwave we are expecting this to change soon.  We are keen to source more fruit for picking as well as more pickers to enable us to collect and redistribute it all - both to our local partner charities and to our jam, chutney, jelly and cordial makers.
Read on for some great information on what has been happening so far this season (and of course all the opportunities still available!).
  • Fruit Day - Saturday 19 September 2020, 11am - 2.30pm
  • Blackberries are in!  Wimbledon and Mitcham Commons
  • What's been picked, from where and by whom?
  • Interested in local fruit and vegetable picking?
  • Our 2020 Charity recipients so far
  • I can't pick fruit but I would love to do deliveries for you!
  • Growing plants for Fruit Day
  • Spotlight on pickers - the talented Joan
  • So how do you make Jam?
  • Can you volunteer to support Fruit Day on 19 September?

Fruit Day - Saturday 19 September 2020, 11am - 2.30pm
St Marks Church Hall, St Mark's Place (enter via Compton Road), Wimbledon SW19 7ND

We have determined (and very excited to confirm!) that it will be safe to continue Fruit Day activities under the following guidelines (as safety measures for all):
  • Entry via Compton Road only
  • Social distancing rules will apply
  • Masks necessary
  • One-way route through our stalls
You will notice that there will be lots of opportunities to buy our locally made produce (jams, chutneys, cordials, cakes and biscuits), but, based on government guidelines, we have had to reduce some of our activities.  This has not been finalised as we want to give you the best Fruit Day possible.

We are all about safety - both for our volunteers and visitors and if you feel that there is a safer way, then please let us know!

Blackberries are in!  Wimbledon and Mitcham Commons

Our sources on the ground tell us that the Blackberries are ripe in both Wimbledon and Mitcham Commons.  If you are able to drop down to either location and collect some for us, we would be most appreciative.  Sue, one of our Jam Makers has a great recipe for Apple and Blackberry Jam (see below) and the more blackberries we can pick, the more jam we can make for our Fruit day!  Please email Juliet at [email protected] to arrange a drop off for any picked fruit.

What's been picked, from where and by whom?

It has been a slow start, but we are so pleased that our regular donors are starting to make contact about their excess ripe fruit. Also,we are starting to see new donors sign up which is just fantastic too! Our pickers have been busy with the available fruit and have already amassed an amazing 284kgs of saved fruit.

Sincere thanks to all our donors:
Joanna, Nico, Trina, Richard, Helen, Carol, Chris, June, Ron, Nisha, Christine, Alison, Claire, Margaret, St James Vicarage, Adam, Leyann, Thomas, Aziza and Juliet.

Thanks also to our amazing pickers:
Liz, Sue, Adam, Carol, Chris, GIlli, Brian, Juliet, Joan, Christine Sue, Tim, Russell and Cat.

Interested in local fruit and vegetable picking?

If you'd like to help pick fruit/vegetables in private gardens and parks in your neighbourhood then please let us know. Even if you can just come along once or twice, your help will be greatly appreciated. Picking is organised by our Area Coordinators into the following local groups:
  • Morden/Mitcham
  • Raynes Park - North
  • Raynes Park - South
  • Wimbledon Park
  • Wimbledon
To join in with fruit picking or to find out more, just reply to this email ([email protected]).

Our 2020 Charity recipients so far

So far this season we have made donations of fruit to:Our picking season last year was truly abundant and therefore we would like to spread the love!  If you know a local charity who would be interested in receiving some of the picked fruit - please let us know.  We generally have a large abundance of what we call "cooking" apples - not necessarily great to eat but perfect for apple pies and cakes.  With many charities cooking meals for the most vulnerable in these Covid-19 times, we are keen to ensure that these apples (and any other fresh produce) does not go to waste.  Having said that, we also generally pick some great eating apples and other produce so please let us know if your local charity would like to receive our donations.  Please email us at [email protected].

So far this season, we have donated more than 168kgs of fresh fruit to the above charities.

The rest of the fruit we save is made into jams, chutneys, jellies and cordials for our fruit day (or stored/frozen ready for our apple press to make freshly squeezed apple juice for fruit day).

I can't pick fruit but I would love to do deliveries for you!

If you have a car and are willing (and enjoy!) driving around our area, we are always looking for people to pick up our donated fruit and vegetables and take them to the charities.  Please let us know if you can help out.  [email protected]

Growing plants for Fruit Day

Last year, the plant stall at Fruit Day sold a range of plants, mostly food related. We’d really welcome donations of plants, especially fruit, herbs and other edible plants. So keep us in mind if you have too many of something, are planting up runners or sowing winter crops ... and please put in a few extra to donate to our stall!

Spotlight on pickers - the talented Joan

Many of our "pickers" have been volunteering with us for a number of years and Joan is no exception. Until recently we didn't realise Joan's other special talent - making these beautiful and unique baskets below.... We think they are amazing and just had to share!

Basket 1 - Coral Garden The body is made from randomly coiled Cordyline palms leaves finished on the rim with an old wooden embroidery frame and shell discs from an old necklace.Inside are beads,shells and beach glass netted together with plastic monofilament.  It is one of a series I made concerning plastics in the ocean.
Basket 2 - Shadow Leaves made from Cordyline leaves using a random weave technique over papier-mâché moulds made by me.  It  is loosely based on lace making.The shadow leaves are raffia and Cordyline.
Basket 3 - A touch of Autumn Random weave using Cordyline leaves with added stitching in silk and cotton threads.

So how do you make Jam?

Ruth has put together some wonderful recipes for Jam - but of course there is a standard process for all Jam Making.  Ruth's preparation tips for all recipes are found here.

Now for the recipes - we have a plethora - all available on our website. 

But for me, a couple of my favourites include:

Blackberry and Apple Jam Ingredients
1½ lb apples, peeled, cored and sliced
6lb blackberries (makes about 10lb)
½ pint water
6lb sugar

Damson Jam
5lb damsons – you can stone them before cooking, or remove them from the simmering mixture as they rise to the top. It may be easier to cook in a very low oven (omit the water) in a tightly covered pot or slow cooker and remove the stones when the fruit is fully cooked.
1½ pints water
6 lb sugar (makes about 10lb)

For more recipes, check out our website page.

(oh and the magic ingredients - time and love... <3)

Can you volunteer to support Fruit Day on 19 September?

We are looking for:
  • Stall volunteers
  • Set up volunteers
  • Pack up volunteers
  • Fruit Day Coordinator
  • Cake makers
  • Plants for our plant stall (so keen gardeners good at making stock for the stall)
If you have some skills (they're multiplying!) and time available, please contact us.

Best wishes
Juliet & team at ABUNDANCE WIMBLEDON   
 
Our mailing address is: [email protected]
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