13 Jul Introducing the judging panel for the Summer Produce Show
So pleased to be able to announce the judging panel for the Summer Produce Show. It’s only a matter of days now before the Show, 18th July and we are delighted to have so many skilled and experienced people on our panel. Each of the panel members brings an expertise in a specific category of the Summer Produce Show (Fresh Produce, Preserved Produce, and Ingenious Planters), and also has experience and understanding pertinent to the other categories. Allow me to introduce them:
Helen and Victoria
We’ve not one but two growers from the Copped Hall Kitchen Garden joining the Summer Produce Show judging panel. Helen understands all too well the challenges of growing in Waltham Forest, both as an allotment holder and having previously been an allotment officer in the borough. Victoria is a qualfied decorative horticulturist (ask her to show you pictures of her living sculptures!) Together they are part of a team of gardeners who have revived the abandoned Copped Hall kitchen gardens into a fertile site respecting heritage crop growing techniques, run workshops and open days and yielding enough to sell to local retailers and restaurants.
Jenny
Jenny is the chef for the vegan and vegetarian catering duo, Norman Loves. Based in Walthamstow, Jenny and business partner Kate prepare locally and ethically sourced produce for events and supperclubs, and everyday at the Hornbeam Cafe.
Norman Loves are no strangers to award ceremonies, recently receiving two Highly Commended trophies at the City of London Sustainable City Awards for Sustainable Food and Waste Management.
Faruk
Faruk’s vertical planters surround his Grab and Go food stall bringing an unexpected optimism to Blackhorse Lane
Faruk has transformed the area around his Grab and Go food stall on Blackhorse Lane into an urban oasis where he grows decorative and edible plants, as well as experimenting with growing plants for textile dying. His interest in gardening developed in Turkey. He trained at Writtle College in Essex and is currently studying with the RHS. He creates fantastic vertical gardens from reclaimed materials and specialises in turning urban areas into green spaces. Faruk will also be joining Michelle Reader’s Garden of Ideas workshop to demonstrate how to build a simple vertical planter.
A huge thank you to each of our panel for taking time away from their growing, business and personal commitments to assist with the Summer Produce Show.