[mmu]

Did anyone watch the recent Countryfile which featured the Slindon Pumpkin Festival?  Many years ago, when my kids were small, I worked there, and it was amazing.  The owner was committed to organic growing, which was pretty revolutionary back then, and we grew all kinds of veg. no-one else had heard of.  As well as all varieties of pumpkins and squashes we grew ornamental gourds, golden courgettes, and loads of varieties of tomatoes, including yellow ones, big ones and striped ones.  He was very basic, and heated his greenhouse with big iron pot bellied stoves on which he burnt anything, and I do mean anything.  It all seemed to work though, and we had  Americans coming over every year especially to buy enormous pumpkins.  He used to pile them up all over the front of his cottage, on the walls and the roof - everywhere.  I've got old photos somewhere, and if I can find them and conquer the technology involved, I'll try and put some up.  Working there was a real experience which started me being interested in the environment and organics etc.  It was also home to worst tempered rooster I've ever met, I think it was some kind of Rock x. it was found wandering along the road one day, in the middle of nowhere.  I expect someone chucked it out after being attacked once too many times!  It was nice to see that one of the sons has taken the place over and is keeping it going.

[Fleecewife]

Yes I saw the programme and have seen footage of the place before, although it's too far away from me to visit.  It looks wonderful - lucky you to have worked there 

All those pumpkins make my few seem puny, but I did manage to grow 3 whoppers for the closest grandchildren and plenty of Uchiki Kuri for us.

If you can get some pics on here it would be lovely to see them 

[mmu]

It was really good, plus I was able to take the kids with me when they were really small.  Just parked them up in a corner and got on with my work.  Very laid back, did have to watch out for the rooster though, he was wicked, but Ralph Upton wouldn't have a word said against him!  I also learnt a lot about cooking and eating squashes from Barbara, the owner's wife, and somewhere I think I still have a small cookery book which we put together simply by coming up with ideas then trying them out.  I'll try and look that out too, and share some here.  Sophie Grigson has a chapter about all things squash in her book 'Eat Your Greens' in which she gives Mrs Upton's recipe for Pumpkin Marmalade.  I remember working on that over quite a long time in her very traditional farmhouse kitchen, when the weather as too wet or frozen to do anything outside. There is also a nice pic of squashes in Sophie's book on page 136.

[Fleecewife]

I hope you do manage to find the recipe book.  I have a fair crop of pumpkins stored and could do with some recipes beyond roasted, souped and curried 

[mmu]

I have found it, but it's in very small type, so not sure yet how to reproduce it on here.  Also a lot of the recipes are for squashes which you would probably not be able to buy, but have to grow yourself.  How you'd get the seed I'm not sure, but I have stirrings in what used to be my brain and I may come up with something when we get this water supply problem solved.  We seem to have an air lock in the hot water somewhere and we just cannot find it, and it's taken up 4 very unproductive days so far!  Grrrrr!

[Simon O]

made pumpkin pie yesterday - tastes very good

[Greenerlife]

Love pumpkin pie.  Saw a recipe yesterday for pumpkin meringue pie which i will have to make!

[Mad Goatwoman of Madeley]

Garden Organic have a heritage seed library where they keep going varieties that are not on the official list so cannot be sold.  If you join, you get to choose six packets of seeds per year.  They have some interesting squashes. You can find out more on www.gardenorganic.org.uk 

[Blonde]

Last year we never got a female flower on any of our pumpkins, so no pumpkins grew at our place.  This year we are in luck, female flowers, so we shall get pumpkins. Last  year was a bad year for growing any thing really,  so we have had good luck so far so good. 

[Mad Goatwoman of Madeley]

Sophie Grigson has a chapter about all things squash in her book 'Eat Your Greens' in which she gives Mrs Upton's recipe for Pumpkin Marmalade.  I remember working on that over quite a long time in her very traditional farmhouse kitchen, when the weather as too wet or frozen to do anything outside. There is also a nice pic of squashes in Sophie's book on page 136.

I have that book.  It's excellent.