Next generation farmhouse cookery school Philleigh Way has teamed up with Sarah Marsland, founder of Cornish Meadow Preserves, to create a new preserving course.

Once thought of as a pastime more associated with the WI, with more people taking up gardening and growing their own food, there has been an increase in interest of ways of storing and cooking home grown produce so that it does not go to waste. After all there are only so many tomatoes, apples and runner beans you can eat in one go!

Our insatiable appetite for cookery and gardening programmes has also led us to favour homemade over shop bought. This has had a knock on effect in the retail market with a growth in cottage industries and new SMEs producing high-quality products from locally sourced ingredients.

Cornish Meadow Preserves is one of many companies continuing Cornwall's great preserving tradition. Resident Philleigh Way chef George Pascoe says "with endless flavour combinations to experiment
with, it really is 'anything goes' when it comes to developing recipes. Whilst technology has developed over the years leading to better equipment for making preserves and pickles at home, the principles of preserving and pickling remain unchanged. That said, some of the old recipes are the best – my gran's runner bean chutney is my personal favourite!"

The new preserving course covers a variety of skills including curing, pickling, jam and jelly making. Students will make a range of preserves including jams, chutney, fruit cheese and jellies which they will be able to take home at the end of the day. The first Jams, Pickles and Preserves course takes place on Saturday 1st October from 10:00am-16:00pm and costs £99.00 which includes a glass of bubbles and a delicious Philleigh Way lunch with wine.

Philleigh Way resident chef and fifth generation at Court Farm, George Pascoe commented: "Coming from a farming family with a large kitchen garden, there was always a hive of activity around harvest time. Whether it was Granny making runner bean chutney and jams which she still does to this day, or Mum pickling onions and storing apples from the orchard, nothing was ever wasted and the larder was
always well stocked with plenty of jars of jams, jellies and chutney etc to keep us going through the winter. The same can still be said today, we try and utilise as much of the fresh produce that is available on the farm throughout the year in the Cookery School and Granny can still be found in the kitchen making chutney! We're really looking forward to welcoming Sarah to the Cookery School. We know that after sharing her knowledge and experience, students will have the confidence to continue preserving at home preparing their own delicious jars of jam, jellies, fruit cheeses and much more."

Philleigh Way runs a wide range of day cookery and lifestyle courses throughout the year, starting from £50.00. The focus is always on sharing knowledge and skills handed down through the generations and inspiring people to cook creatively with local, seasonal ingredients.

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