community orchard

Weird and Wonderful Medlars

I recently found an exciting medlar recipe I wanted to try, so I went harvesting in our community forest garden and gathered these from a young ‘Nottingham Medlar’ tree (Mespilus germanica ‘Nottingham’), which had a good crop this year. Medlar trees are very easy to grow and they start to produce fruit within a couple of years. The medlar fruit are normally picked at this time in November after the first frost but I think this year I should have picked them maybe a week or two sooner before they ripened on the tree – some of them where already quite juicy and then when I ‘bletted’ them they were a bit over-ripe. Bletting just means you space them out on a tray somewhere cool and let them soften for a few days. In the photo these have been bletted for about 5 days, and you can see they have just a little wrinkling to the skin, but some are a bit darker than others.   

To prepare the fruit, I cooked them in a little water for about 10 minutes and then squeezed out the pulp and pushed it through a sieve. I was then ready to make an adaption of Mark Diacono’s fabulous recipe for Medlar Sticky Toffee Pudding (see link below). My adjustments for a vegan version were as follows – I swapped out the butter for vegan spread. I also removed the eggs and added an extra teaspoon of baking powder, plus some plant milk. I swirled vegan cream over the hot pudding before serving.   If you can find some medlars, I recommend you give this pudding a try – comforting and delicious!

https://www.otterfarm.co.uk/medlar-sticky-toffee-pudding/   (Mark Diacono in Devon)

Added note: don’t eat the medlar seeds, they contain hydrogen cyanide (as do the seeds of apples and cherries!). Dogs should also not eat the seeds, although the flesh of medlar fruit is not known to be harmful.

I am an artist, musician and orchardist living on the Gower Peninsula. I am writing this blog to share with others the power and joy we can feel as we immerse ourselves in nature recovery.  By returning to our mother earth, I believe this will lead us forward into a more sustainable way of living.  Self care and community care are vital to develop our resilience and then from a more grounded base we can create the world we want to see, starting with small and possible actions.

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All photos and text are the copyright of Witchhazel Wildwood unless otherwise stated.

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Meeting my Ancestors in the Orchard

Night comes early and I step out into the dusky chill. Wispy clouds scud across the moon and an owl calls.  The dark silhouette of the ash tree reaches down to touch my hair as I pass.

This Samhain I am greeting my beloved dead, the newly departed spirit of my mother. This has not been an easy grief. It was heartbreaking moving her into a nursing home where she died in February this year.  It’s hard for me and her to find forgiveness for that.

So I come to the community orchard to make my peace and honour her. The formerly neglected fruit trees have recently taken on a new lease of life as the setting for a memorial garden. A dedicated group carried out bramble clearing, sowed wildflowers and created areas to put plaques and natural offerings such as painted stones and carved wood. 

The gently weaving path takes me past the thoughtfully placed dedications that have appeared over the summer. I am carrying my offering – a piece of lovingly smoothed wood and I place it down with tears and gratitude, both to my mum for her life and to the community for this blessed space of connection.

The veils are thin on this All Hallows Eve. I hang candles in the trees and they bring a comforting light to the space. Apple trees are said to represent wisdom and immortality, standing amongst them helps me connect to the many layers of our world. I cut through an apple to reveal the star of pips and make my offering to the beloved spirits.  ‘May you never hunger’ spirals out with my breath, reminding me of the possibility for renewal that comes from making peace with death.

I am an artist, musician and orchardist living on the Gower Peninsula. I am writing this blog to share with others the power and joy we can feel as we immerse ourselves in nature recovery. By returning to our mother earth, I believe this will lead us forward into a more sustainable way of living. Self care and community care are vital to develop our resilience and then from a more grounded base we can create the world we want to see, starting with small and possible actions. 

If you enjoyed this, please like and share. Click below to subscribe for free to my regular posts (normally every few weeks). You can unsubscribe at any time.

    All photos and text are the copyright of Witchhazel Wildwood unless otherwise stated.

    0 CommentsLeave a comment