Honey and Harvest 2016 at Deans Court
As the start of Autumn approached so did our second annual Honey and Harvest event. After the success of last year we'd invited back a new group of interesting people and independent businesses to meet each other and experience everything we have going on at Deans Court. Our aim for the day has always been to connect a group of likeminded, yet diverse, creative people. Providing a program of workshops and activities to inspire, inform and encourage working relationships, friendships and collaboration. We are surrounded by so many wonderful independent businesses in Dorset that we had everything we needed to create the perfect program right on our doorstep. We already work closely with a lot of these businesses and we just knew that more people would want to hear about them.
Alongside small businesses we invited a selection of guests. These guests were invited because of their inspiring presence on social media and their creative endeavours and professions. We’d met some before but others we'd only spoken briefly with online or even just fleetingly commented on a few Instagram posts. Social media has been the most fantastic tool for us to share what we’re doing at Deans Court but we didn’t like the idea of the relationships we formed staying online and never materialising into meetings. Therefore, the idea of setting up a day in which we could get more people together, especially people that already have a lot in common, seemed like a no-brainer.
We were treated to an Aga cookery workshop by Lisa Ossman of All Hallows Cookery School with Rooms, given a demonstration on how to make chai tea from Ross at Dorset Herbals and were soothed into a state of utter relaxation during a restorative Gong Bath with Sarah from Studio Britford. All independent businesses based either in Wimborne or near by.
Lisa Ossman of All Hallows' Cookery School with Rooms. Photo credit: Hung Quach
Studio Britford Gong Bath
Ross from Dorset Herbals giving a Chai Tea demonstration. Photo Credit: Annie Spratt
We couldn’t invite everyone along for the day and not introduce them to Louise, our bee keeper. Splitting into two groups Ellie, our head gardener, lead tours of the kitchen garden while Louise helped the others into bee suits before opening the hives and giving everyone an insight into the life of a bee.
All bee and garden images credit Annie Spratt
Once again The Linen Works joined us and created the most breathtaking harvest themed table display. Over lunch we sipped homegrown pear and prosseco cocktails and feasted on a selection of homemade vegetarian dishes, including a beetroot and goats cheese quiche, an apple and kale salad and the most heavenly courgette bread. For pudding we served a hazelnut apple crumble, while Sophie from Sisters-Junction had made us a raw raspberry and cashew cake and a pear tart tatin. A twist on her French family's traditional apple tart tatin recipe.
The harvest table decorated by The Linen Works. Photo Annie Spratt.
Hannah and Yasmin from The Linen Works talk us through the table display. Photo Louise Robinson.
Pomegranate and Tomato Tabbuleh. Photo: Catherine Frawley
Photo Credit: Catherine Frawley
We finished the day with a cup of tea in the café, before handing out goodie bags and wishing everyone well on their way. A special thanks to The Botanical Candle Co for the beeswax candles they provided for us and to the Simple Things for their magazines. If you’d like to hear about next year’s Honey and Harvest event then drop a note to lottie@deanscourt.org and we'll add you on the early bird news list.
To learn more about the people involve click the links below.
Amalia - @thebotanicalcandleco
Annie - @anniespratt
Catherine - @catherine_frawley
Hung - @jetandindigo
Jill - @growing_nicely
Kate - @aplayfulday
Louise - @cygnetkitchen
Sophie - @sistersjunction
Emma - @marthaandthemeadow
