The Small Farm Training Group

Mousehall Gin Tasting - Mayfield
2024-10-12 15:30 - 17:30 (Europe/London) | Mousehall Distillery & Winery, Tidybrook, Mayfield and Five Ashes, East Sussex, TN5 6PG, United Kingdom
Visit the beautiful medieval Mousehall Country Estate, discover the story of Mousehall and how their products are produced. Christy Jordan, Distiller & Director of Mousehall, will guide you through a 90 minute tasting of how Mousehall Gin & Vodka are produced. This includes a G&T on arrival, a step-by-step explanation on how they produce their products and a closer look behind the scenes. Christy will then guide you through a 5-part neat Gin tasting and 1-part neat Vodka tasting.
We will be arranging a delicious local platter to enjoy after the tasting so please let us know if you have any dietary requirements.
You will receive 10% off any purchase of spirits from our onsite store at our Distillery & Winery.

Free Talk - Sussex Witchcraft and pumpkin carving competition with a fabulous prize! !!
2024-10-18 18:45 - 20:30 | TBC, East Sussex, United Kingdom
Bring your ready carved pumpkin to our next Friday talk on 18october and win a half price SFTG course of your choice……maybe gin tasting?
We’re going spooky in October and having a talk on witchcraft. One of our members has heard Chris talk and says he is brilliant so...
The talk focuses on the historical aspects of Witchcraft in Sussex and looks at what a typical witch (wise woman) would have done on a day to day basis in her village or community. Period cures and medicines are detailed, taken from the practice of Suzannah Stacey, of East Chiltington, a well known Sussex witch of the Victorian period. Artefacts and locations relating to witchcraft are also featured, including the Priest House, West Hoathly, famous for its large number of anti-witch charms, still in place today. The talk also details witch trials in Sussex and the legacy of witchcraft in modern times among the Wicca movement. focuses on the historical aspects of Witchcraft in Sussex and looks at what a typical witch (wise woman) would have done on a day to day basis in her village or community. Period cures and medicines are detailed, taken from the practice of Suzannah Stacey, of East Chiltington, a well known Sussex witch of the Victorian period. Artefacts and locations relating to witchcraft are also featured, including the Priest House, West Hoathly, famous for its large number of anti-witch charms, still in place today. The talk also details witch trials in Sussex and the legacy of witchcraft in modern times among the Wicca movement.
As usual it’s at Burwash common Pavilion with doors opening 645 and the talk starting around 715. Tea coffee and spooky snacks provided free of charge to members and £3.00 for non members. Bring cash or a card if you’d like to use the full bar. This is the last talk of the year as it’s that AGM in November so hope to see lots of you there!

Mushroom Foraging Walk
2024-11-02 10:30 - 12:00 | Wilderness Wood, Hadlow Down, United Kingdom
Learn All About Mushrooms and Toadstools
Saturday 2nd November 2024
10.30am to 12.00pm
WILDERNESS WOOD, HADLOW DOWN

Join Anne Yarrow at Wilderness Wood in Hadlow Down on Saturday 2nd November at 10.30am for a 90 minute walk around the grounds to explore the mushrooms and toadstools. Emphasis will be on learning about the varieties growing and their uses as well as education on the varieties to avoid!
This is a private tour for SFTG members and their guests with a limited capacity of 14 people.
You will need footwear suitable for woodland walking and clothing suitable for being outdoors.
There is a lovely kiosk at Wilderness Wood serving teas, coffees and cakes which takes card and cash and can be enjoyed before and after the walk. The brownies, sourced from a local bakery, are very much recommended!

Sorry Sold out. Another one in the New Year. PAINT CLUB - GROUNDED IN THE FORGE - RINGMER
2024-11-14 19:00 - 21:00 | The Forge, Ringmer, Lewes Road, Ringmer, Lewes, BN8 5NB, United Kingdom
https://www.thepaintclub.co.uk/events/paint-night-ringmer-grounded-at-the-forge-1-22
NB Attendees need to book direct with Grounded in The Forge for this event using the link above.
This is not an exclusive SFTG experience but Cat and other members will be in attendance.
Attendees from SFTG will be sat together at the event if you let us know that you are attending. Please email Cat if you make a booking and she'll ensure you are all together.

Last time, members drew Emus, this time it's Elephants!

2024 AGM
2024-11-22 18:30 - 22:00 | Village Hall, Punnetts Town, Hall, Battle Road, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 9DH, United Kingdom
What better way to spend a late November Friday evening than in the company of your fellow smallholders, celebrating another year of the ups and downs of growing your own food, learning about what the SFTG has been up to and our plans for the coming year.
In the convivial surroundings of Punnetts Town Village Hall. Cat Bush and her team will be cooking us a lovely meal and there will be a welcome drink of something bubbly, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Please bring your own extra drink.
AND ALL FOR A FIVER!!!!
Doors open at 6.30 pm. At 7pm, we will go through what has been going on this year and present plans for the next, including any proposals which need a vote. We'll then elect next year's committee. When the formal proceedings have ended, we'll eat, drink and be merry.
Please don't be shy, we need as many members as possible to come and participate - it's your group. We subsidise this event, so it's a chance to cash-in on your investment in the membership fee.
A formal agenda will be sent out prior to the meeting. I look forward to seeing you there.

GATOS CHOCOLATE - FRIDAY NIGHT TALK AND SOCIAL
2025-01-17 18:30 - 20:30 | TBC, East Sussex, United Kingdom
"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."
Charles M. Schulz

A Pre-Valentine's Chocolate Treat!
Friday 17th January 2025, Burwash Common Pavilion
Our first Friday night social and talk of 2025
Join members, friends and Gatos chocolate for a talk (and maybe a taster or two!) all about their delicious locally (Stonegate, East Sussex) made chocolate!
Hear all about how Paul and Roni source their ingredients (including Stonegate goat's milk!), why sustainability and fair-trade farming is important to their small business and how they turned their love of cats and chocolate in to a wonderful local business that is now producing excellent quality chocolate for its customers. Paul and Roni will also be able to tell us all about the chocolate making process, as well as why they have chosen to make their chocolate with only natural ingredients, leaving out all those pesky emulsifiers, artificial flavours and preservatives - whoop!
There will also be opportunities to buy their products on the night, just in time for your loved one for Valentine's Day!
Doors open 6.45pm for drinks, nibbles, chat, library books and SFTG sale table
Talk from 7.15pm
Doors close 8.30pm
FREE to members and just £3 for non-members

MOUSEHALL SPIRITS EXPERIENCE - SPECIAL CHRISTMAS OFFER - 31/1/25
2025-01-31 17:00 - 18:30 | Mousehall Distillery & Winery, Tidybrook, Mayfield and Five Ashes, East Sussex, TN5 6PG, United Kingdom
EXCLUSIVE OFFERE FOR SFTG MEMBERS!
THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT!
Mousehall Sprits Experience
(90 mins)
JUST £20 saving £5 off the usual tour cost per person and including an SFTG digital voucher for you to print and give to the recipient!
The perfect new year treat for family and friends and at a special price for you because you are an SFTG member! Tickets are only available to purchase by SFTG members through our website. This is not a general public release so book now to secure your special price - tickets available until Friday 13th December.

Three dates are available for this discounted experience
Each date has its own booking page

11th January 11:00 – 12:30
18th January 11:00 – 12:30
31st January 17:00 – 18:30
This page is for the 31st January
Visit the beautiful medieval Mousehall Country Estate, discover the story of Mousehall and how their products are produced. Christy Jordan, Distiller & Director of Mousehall, will guide you through a 90 minute tasting of how Mousehall Gin & Vodka are produced. This includes a G&T on arrival, a step-by-step explanation on how they produce their products and a closer look behind the scenes. Christy will then guide you through a 5-part neat Gin tasting and 1-part neat Vodka tasting.

Further information about the tour can be found on their website.

Should you be purchasing this experience as a gift for someone, please email GTO@SFTG.ORG.UK with details of the recipient and you will be emailed a keepsake voucher that you can print off and pass on to them.

FRIDAY NIGHT TALK- THE IRON INDUSTRY IN THE WEALD
2025-02-21 18:30 - 20:45 | TBC, East Sussex, United Kingdom
Have you ever been to Gun Hill?
Do you wonder why it has that name?

Friday 21st February 2025, Burwash Common Pavilion
Join members, friends and Jeremy Hodgkinson for a talk all about the iron industry in The Weald

Having written two books, on the Wealden iron industry and on iron firebacks, Jeremy will talk all about the iron industry in the Weald and why it was so productive here. There is a rich history surrounding this industry on our very own doorsteps and Jeremy will help to bring this to life in his talk. Jeremy is a member of the Wealden Iron Research Group (WIRG), of which he has been Treasurer, Chairman (for 24 years), Vice-Chairman, President and currently Editor.
The Wealden Iron Industry (from the Iron Age to the early-19th century)
Iron was made in the Weald of south east England from pre-Roman times until the beginning of the 19th century, and in the Tudor and early-Stuart periods the region was the main iron production area in the kingdom. The talk explores the raw materials, technology and historical development of the industry.

Doors open 6.30pm for drinks, nibbles, chat, library books and SFTG sale table
Talk from 7pm
Doors close 8.45pm
FREE to members and just £3 for non-members

MAKE YOUR OWN CHORIZO OR SALAMI
2025-02-22 14:00 - 15:30 | HEATHFIELD
Wow your family and friends (and yourself) with delicious home made chorizo!
Jenny takes you through the steps of making a chorizo from sourcing meat and flavouring the stuffing, to fermentation and curing. An ideal way to turn your excess minced meat into a delicious shelf stable product that doesn't need refrigeration. And the result is cheaper and usually far tastier than those bought from supermarkets!
We will look at the different types of casing for the chorizo, different ways and equipment used to stuff your casings, as well as what flavourings you can use to flavour your meat. We will then look at how to start the fermentation effectively, and how to cure your product at home without it going mouldy or the skin drying out. We will use meat from one of our member's organic pigs and aim for you to make 3 chorizo to take home for curing. These will be ready to eat within just 3 weeks.
This workshop is designed to give you the knowledge and confidence to make much more at home with less than £20 worth of equipment.
All the above can easily be switched from chorizo to salami simply by using a different ferment, as Jenny will explain.

ALL ATTENDEES WILL TAKE HOME 3 chorizo (or salami seasoning if preferred)

FRIDAY NIGHT TALK - COMPOST AND SOIL - THE SOIL FOOD WEB
2025-03-21 18:30 - 20:45 | TBC, East Sussex, United Kingdom
The Soil Food Web
FRIDAY NIGHT TALK MARCH 21ST @ BURWASH COMMON PAVILION

We are all learning that soil health is important but what does that actually mean?
Join Julia & Sylvie who are part of Wild About Burwash and are setting up a local food waste composting scheme, to have a deep dive into the workings of the soil food web and learn how we can all improve our own soils.

DOORS OPEN 6.30PM FOR SET UP, DRINKS, CHIT CHAT, LIBRARY AND SHARING TABLE ETC.
TALK STARTS 7 PM
TALK ENDS 8 PM
QUESTIONS FOR THE SPEAKER AND AOB 8.00 - 8.30PM
HALL CLOSES 8.45 PM

FIRST AID on the SMALL HOLDING: A bespoke course for SFTG
2025-03-26 19:00 - 21:00 | TBC, East Sussex, United Kingdom
Wednesday 26th March 2025
7-9pm
Burwash Common Pavilion
FIRST AID ON YOUR SMALL HOLDING/FARM/GARDEN
This course at Burwash Common Pavilion, will be led by St John Ambulance.

The course has been tailored specifically for SFTG and will focus on small holding/farming/gardening related injuries as well as resuscitation and emergency first aid.

Just £10 per person for members!

Come along to find out how to protect yourself and other visitors to your small holding, garden or farm.
This is not a certificated course but will give you a good overall training on basic emergency first aid which could make all the difference in an emergency situation.
There will also be time to practise skills and ask questions throughout the session.

Please arrive in time for a prompt 7pm start - teas and coffees available from 6.45pm

Tickets are available now!

BUTCHERY DEMONSTRATION
2025-04-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Butterbox Farm, Nash Lane, Scaynes Hill, RH17 7NJ
Tom, from Nose to Tail butchers will be doing a demonstration of butchery for SFTG
HURRY ! TICKETS VERY LIMITED!
Venue - Butterbox, Blackbrook Ln, Scaynes Hill, Haywards Heath RH17 7NW
Date - Friday 4th April 2025
Time - From 7pm until approximately 9pm
(flexible finish time to allow for attendee questions etc - Tom has kindly said that he can stay for as long as is needed)

Tom will prepare a whole lamb and side of pork in front of you so that you can see what cuts can be made and how the butchery process is carried out. Tom is keen to show small holders what can be done with their animal's carcasses and demonstrate the skill involved in quality butchery.
There will also be time for questions throughout the evening as he works.

At the end of the evening, there will be an opportunity to purchase the meat cut on the night, should you wish.

Refreshments will be available on the night too

Due to insurances, it isn't possible for attendees to actually butcher/use equipment themselves on this evening but it is intended that attendees will leave with enough information to be able to have a go themselves at home with their own meat should they wish; have a better understanding of the cuts they might ask for from a butcher in the future and know what they might like to ask for when having their own animals prepared following slaughter.

Lambing Morning
2025-04-06 09:30 - 13:00 | TBC, East Sussex, United Kingdom
Come and visit the Lambing shed.
Simon & Rachael are Lambing their flock of 30 Ewes during April.
Visiting a lambing shed can be a delightful and educational experience! You may have the opportunity to observe the birthing process, see adorable new born lambs, and learn about the care and management of sheep during this critical period.
You may have the chance to help feed the lambs and learn about the care they need to thrive.
Safety Note, this event is not suitable if you are pregnant

AN INTRODUCTION TO SMALLHOLDING
2025-04-12 12:00 - 16:00 | Foxwood, Hellingly, Cinderford Lane, Hellingly, East Sussex, BN27 4HL, United Kingdom
****Due to a cancellation, we now have one ticket available for this course -
please email chair@sftg.org.uk should you wish to attend ****

Perhaps you're about to take over a smallholding? Or are you relatively new to keeping land and animals? If so, perhaps you feel you'd like to talk the issues through with others in the same boat, and with someone who's been doing it for a while? If that sounds like you, then our "Introduction to Smallholding" workshop is just the thing for you.
Come and spend the afternoon finding out what smallholding entails from a practical perspective, as you visit this 7 acre plot. Paul Lovatt Smith has been working on the land for over 15 years, and has a wealth of knowledge that he's happy to share, including:

How to get started - we know it's all a bit overwhelming at first
What's involved with the paperwork and legal aspects, as well as the finances
A basic overview of keeping poultry, sheep, cattle and pigs
Growing veg
Making hay and growing small-scale cereals

Please note:
this course will be held outdoors (and partly in a barn) - so please do wear suitable outdoors clothing, bearing in mind that this is England - it may well be cold and damp (or warm and sunny, boiling and dry, windy and snowing... you get the picture).
Can't make this date? Event sold out? Please email our training organiser so that you will be on the list when we run the workshop again.

FRIDAY NIGHT TALK - SAXON FARMING
2025-04-25 18:30 - 20:45 | TBC, East Sussex, United Kingdom
ANGLO-SAXON FARMING
DUNSTAN'S CALENDAR - PAUL LOVATT-SMITH

April's Friday night talk will be all about Saxon farming and will be lead by our very own chairman, Paul!

You might remember a series of articles that Paul wrote in the SFTG newsletter a while back, based on twelve pictures of farming and other activities, from an Anglo-Saxon calendar made in Canterbury around the year 969 AD. The pictures are beautifully crafted and justly famous. He was interpreting them in the light of the traditional farming that goes on at his smallholding today. He is in the process of compiling these articles into a book, called "Dunstan's Calendar".
This talk will be a sneak preview of the contents of the book!

*Note that the date is the fourth Friday in April (the 25th) and not the third as we would usually meet, owing to Easter falling on the 3rd Friday*

DOORS OPEN 6.30PM FOR SET UP, DRINKS, CHIT CHAT, LIBRARY AND SHARING TABLE ETC.
TALK STARTS 7 PM
TALK ENDS 8 PM
QUESTIONS FOR THE SPEAKER AND AOB 8.00 - 8.30PM
HALL CLOSES 8.45 PM

KITCHEN GARDENING - Cancelled due to lack of interest
2025-05-04 14:00 - 16:00 | Oast house, Heathfield, Oast House, Sandy Cross Lane, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 8QP, United Kingdom
Make this the best year yet in your veg garden!

Learn from a gardener with decades of experience in growing vegetables. This course will be led by the SFTG's Jenny Huggett, who many of you will know from our regular Friday evening meetings, open farm days and annual picnics.
Although she wouldn’t tell you so herself, the chances are that if Jenny doesn’t know the answer to a question, then it probably doesn’t have an answer.
In this course, you’ll learn about such topics as:

What to plant for year-round fresh or stored vegetables, and when to plant it
Which vegetable varieties to grow, including what works well in this area (and what doesn’t!)
Caring for your vegetable plants
Feeding the soil so as to get the most from it
The benefits of no-dig gardening
How best to avoid pests without chemicals
Companion planting – which plants will help each other, and which will hinder?
Seed saving

So go on - book now! We are sure you won't have bean on a better course!
Every attendee will come away with some plants too!

Meet the Member - Emma and Dan
2025-05-17 12:00 - 16:00 | Private: The Granary, Prinkle Lane, The Granary, Prinkle Lane, Bodle Street, East Sussex, BN27 4UD, United Kingdom
Come along to Emma and Dan's holding near Bodle Street on Saturday 17th May, see what their plans are for their new woodland home and meet other SFTG members over a cuppa.
The holding is approx 7 acres, mostly woodland (an overgrown conifer plantation approx 30-40 years old), interspersed with some older neglected hazel coppice and mixed deciduous. A very large pond with swimming end (currently full of brown carp and looking like the penguin enclosure at Drusilla's!). The house is a 17th Century barn conversion with attached Victorian granary (also needs considerable renovation).
Whilst they've both had allotments in the past and Emma has run an edible community garden in Hove for many years, managing land on this scale is new to them. They have chickens and hope to install a polytunnel this year for veg.
They are also members of the Sussex Bodgers (APTGW) and Emma now coordinates the Sussex Group (a role she took on as a novice bodger last August) who meet monthly at Old Barn Woods on Cinderford Lane.
Their vision for the land so far is: 1) a source of fuel for a biomass boiler we plan to install this year to heat the house (currently no functional heating) 2) potential structural material for A-frame shelters 3) a source of material for green woodworking on a small scale. 4) a venue for craft and skills sharing activities. They would like to renovate the hazel coppice and slowly replace the conifers with deciduous trees (This could be challenging given the number of deer currently abiding there though!). Their overall aim is to steward the land as sensitively as they can for maximum wildlife and low impact.
Best if dogs are on leads as they have a large pond, chickens, plus deer a plenty roaming with incomplete boundary fences.

POSTPONED - FRIDAY NIGHT SOCIAL - MAY - SFTG SPRING QUIZ
2025-05-23 18:45 - 21:00 | TBC, East Sussex, United Kingdom
Event postponed until early 2026
SFTG SPRING QUIZ!
Friday 23rd May 2025, Burwash Common Pavilion
Come along for fun and laughter at our spring social!
Open to all the family! Bring your friends too!

Doors/bar opens 6.45pm
Quiz from 7pm
JUST £10.00 per team
CASH PRIZES!
Teams of up to 4

Bring your own snacks for your table/team - Alcoholic drinks MUST be purchased on site from the bar

Purchase one team ticket and bring up to four people to quiz with
(members and non-members welcomed)

All ticket purchases will be used as prize monies on the night - the more teams, the bigger the prizes!

Please note there will not be any teas/coffees, library or sharing/selling table this month

SMALL, SMALL FARMERS SOCIAL GET TOGETHER!
2025-05-27 11:00 - 13:00 | Etching Wood, Etching Wood, Framfield, East Sussex, TN22 5EW, United Kingdom
SFTG would like to invite our smallest members and their families to a
BYO picnic, small holding tour and play session!
Tuesday 27th May
11AM - 1PM
Venue - Framfield
Details
The SFTG committee know how important our young people are to the future of farming/small holding/gardening/animal keeping etc etc! We would like to start hosting more Small, Small Farmer events in order to give our youngest members more learning experiences and opportunities to socialise too.
Committee member Helen, has kindly offered to host our first introductory event in May half term!
We'd love to see you there!

* All members welcome as long as they have small, small farmer to bring along! Perhaps it is your own child/children or your grandchild/ren
* This event is provided free of charge by SFTG and there will be tea and coffee made available.
* Bring along your own picnic; meet the animals on the small holding and play/catch up with other small, small farmers.
* There is no age restriction for this event as long as all young people are accompanied by a responsible adult. Babes in arms, toddlers, primary aged children and teens alike are all very welcome.
* This event will take place on a working smallholding with animals and machinery - all attendees take full responsibility for themselves and their minors
* This is a ticketed event so that we know how many people to expect - please book a ticket online for each adult and child
* Please dress appropriately for the event/venue/weather. Sensible footwear is must!

We hope to see as many of you there as possible
and look forward to using this opportunity to find out what our small, small farmers would like to see more of!

Any questions, please email GTO@SFTG.ORG.UK
TICKET SALES CLOSE MONDAY 26TH MAY @ 12PM

QUAIL: MEAT AND EGGS FOR YOUR FAMILY
2025-05-29 18:30 - 20:30 | Burwash Common, United Kingdom
QUAIL MEAT AND EGGS FOR YOUR FAMILY DINNER TABLE

Quail are an inexpensive, low maintenance, space saving animal that provide wonderful eggs but also taste absolutely delicious if reared for meat!
Louise and her family have been rearing quail for their family diner table now for a few years and are keen to show others how they organise their flock and how it provides them with food for their family.
This course will give attendees an insight in to how quail can provide a valuable food source for your family. The course will include all the information you need about incubation of eggs, rearing young and keeping a breeding family. There will also be an opportunity to watch a quail dispatch and dressing of the bird for the table should you wish, as well as some freshly cooked quail to try.
Subject to dates and incubation windows, you should be able to see quail at all stages of growing too.

AN INTRODUCTION TO KEEPING ALPACAS
2025-05-31 10:00 - 12:30 | Etching Wood, Etching Wood, Framfield, East Sussex, TN22 5EW, United Kingdom
Have you ever wondered what keeping alpacas is like?
Do you love these furry creatures?
Would you like the opportunity to walk an alpaca?
Perhaps you have some space on your small holding to add to your menagerie?
This new SFTG course might be just for you...
INTRODUCTION TO KEEPING ALPACAS COURSE
Saturday 31st May
Time 10am to 12.30pm
Venue - Framfield, East Sussex
(Full address confirmed on ticket purchase)

Member, Helen will introduce you to the world of alpacas! On her small holding, Helen keeps a variety of animals including alpacas. Helen will talk you through all of the basics that you might need to know in order to start keeping alpacas such as their housing, feed, grooming, health, using their wool and the benefits of alpacas for mental wellbeing. You'll also get to meet the animals, give the alpacas a walk and maybe even get an alpaca kiss!

Alpaca walks alone usually retail at about £25 per person, so this informative course and opportunity to walk the animals comes in at a very good price, especially for our members.

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE!

SOIL MICROBIOLOGY - HOW PRODUCTIVE IS YOUR SOIL?
2025-06-18 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-08-17 09:30 - 11:30
TEST YOUR SOIL
INCREASE YOUR GARDEN'S/FARM'S/SMALLHOLDING'S PRODUCTIVITY
Following their successful Friday night talk on the soil food web, join Sylvie & Julia for a lively 2-hour introduction to soil microbiology designed especially for smallholders!

Discover the essential workings of the Soil Food Web, the vital roles of microorganisms, and how to recognise key functional groups.
Learn how to assess the life in your compost and garden soil using lab-quality microscopes, and unlock the secrets to growing more resilient plants and nutrient-rich food.
You’ll also gain practical tips on how to adjust your composting methods and soil treatments to better support soil life and improve soil health.

All attendees will be invited to bring a sample of their soil to analyse, making this a truly bespoke workshop

Places are limited to just 6 tickets per session to allow Julia and Sylvie to give you in-depth information about your soil and ways forward
We are running this same course on two dates

This event will take place on a private small holding where animals and machinery may be present. Attendees are responsible for their own safety at all times.

FRIDAY NIGHT TALK - JUNE - PRIMAL TRAIL - CANCELLED
2025-06-20 18:30 - 20:45 | TBC, East Sussex, United Kingdom
UNFORTUNATELY THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED
WE HOPE TO RESCHEDULE IN THE NEAR FUTURE
ALL ATTENDEES HAVE BEEN EMAILED

FRIDAY NIGHT MEETINGS RESUME IN SEPTEMBER

Friday 20th June 2025, Burwash Common Pavilion

Speaker: Gazza
PRIMAL TRAIL - Primitive bushcraft in the modern world
www.primaltrail.com

Gazza, a truly inspiring bush craftsman and travelling woodsman is coming to talk to us about his work!
Gazza talks of his inner primitive voice 'singing' when he engages with nature, working with wood, bone, stone, skin and sinew.

Doors open 6.30pm for drinks, nibbles, chat, library books and SFTG sale table
Talk from 7pm
Doors close 8.45pm
FREE to members and just £3 for non-members

Summer Barbeque 2025
2025-07-12 12:00 - 16:00 | Hopping Tom's Oast, Chuck Hatch, Hartfield, East Sussex, TN7 4EX, United Kingdom
UPDATE! Due to lower numbers than expected, Cat will now be doing a buffet, not a BBQ.
Come along to our summer barbeque, this year kindly hosted by Pauline and Colin Burnett-Dick at their lovely holding, which includes a lake, rheas and woodland, set in Winnie the Pooh country in the Ashdown Forest.
Cat Bush will be providing delicious barbeque food, including sausages and burgers from livestock reared on her own farm, followed by a lovely pudding. Tea and coffee also provided. All for the subsidised price of £5. Cat is happy to cater for any dietary requirements, including a veggie option. Please email her if this is what you require. catrionabush@gmail.com
It's a great opportunity to meet other SFTG members and to have a look around the Burnett-Dick's lovely smallholding.
The swimming pool will also be available, at your own risk.
Please bring your own chair, drinks and glasses.
Please no dogs, as they have four of their own plus cats and free-range poultry.

ASHBURNHAM TOUR AND SOUP SUPPER - MEMBERS ONLY EVENT
2025-09-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Ashburnham Place, Ashburnham Christian Trust, Ashburnham Place, Battle, TN33 9NF, United Kingdom
Join member Jules as he gives a tour of Ashburnham Place,
the wonderful grounds
and its beautiful kitchen garden

Jules and his family live and work on this stunning estate and have offered a bespoke, members only evening for SFTG members with a behind the scenes look at the workings of the kitchen garden as well as an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful surroundings Asburnham has to offer. Following the tour, there will be a soup making session using vegetables grown on the estate with a shared soup supper to conclude.

This is an opportunity not to be missed
Prepare for kitchen garden envy, delicious food and friendly company!
Wonderful!

WWW.ASHBURNHAM.ORG.UK

Tickets just £7.50 each
(includes tour, soup making experience and supper!)

TICKETS AVAILABLE UNTIL FRIDAY 29TH AUGUST

HONEY EXTRACTION WORKSHOP
2025-09-04 19:00 - 21:00 | The Retreat, Woodside Way, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 3PF, United Kingdom
Join members and group experts, Ben and Maggi Pratt in their honey room for
an evening workshop all about honey extraction.

You will need your apron and the willingness to get sticky as Ben and Maggi go through the extraction process with you; share their expert hints and tips for successful harvesting and talk through ways to use the products harvested for optimum results. For this occasion, they have saved a hive super just for us to work with. Come and see the incredible magic of nature produced by a colony of bees.
Ben and Maggi have been keeping bees for many, many years and are very well respected as experts in their field in the 'bee community'. We are incredibly fortunate to have their skill set as part of our group and this opportunity to 'pick their brains' and see inside their own honey room is one not to be missed!
Tickets are available now and are limited to just 10, giving you plenty of opportunities to ask your own questions and get a really personalised experience.
This workshop is suitable for those new to and experienced in bee keeping.
Member tickets are being subsidised by SFTG and are only £10 - get them whilst you can!

GROWING YOUR OWN FLOWERS FOR DISPLAY - TALK AND WORKSHOP
2025-09-11 18:30 - 20:30
Member and local florist, Becky, will lead a workshop on floral arranging and a talk about what you can grow at home in order to have your own beautiful displays
Course content to include:
* Annual Flowers - what to grow, when and how to sow, planting out, plus harvesting
* Jam jar posy arrangements (including making one to take home using Becky's beautiful home grown flowers)
* How to create a hand tied bouquet using your garden flowers

Come along and spend an evening learning about how to grow your own flowers to display in your home or gift to others. Each participant will take away a beautiful posy in a jar at the end of the evening (all materials included) which they will have created with Becky's expert guidance. Enjoy tea and cake too - maybe even a glass of fizz as you enjoy time with other flower lovers! No previous experience required, just a desire to have a go and learn more about what you grow at home.

This event will take place on a working smallholding with animals and machinery. All attendees take responsibility for themselves whilst at the event. Please dress appropriately for the weather/venue as the event will be held under gazebos and will go ahead in all weathers as long as it is safe to do so.

THURSDAY 11TH SEPTMBER 2025
6.30 - 8.30pm
Chiddingly

FRIDAY NIGHT TALK - RURAL CRIME
2025-09-19 18:30 - 20:45 | TBC, East Sussex, United Kingdom
Friday 19th September 2025, Burwash Common Pavilion

RURAL CRIMES TALK - LED BY SUSSEX POLICE

Sussex Police's rural crime unit will be coming to speak to us about the best ways to keep our small holdings, farms and country homes safe; ways to secure machinery and other farm/home steading equipment and educate us on how thieves operate in rural communities.
This evening will be invaluable for anyone new or old to farming/smallholding/rural living.
There will also be opportunities for questions and seeking advice.
I don't know if they have a police tractor that they can bring - but I will ask!

Doors open 6.30pm for drinks, nibbles, chat, library books and SFTG sale table
Talk from 7pm
Doors close 8.45pm
FREE to members and just £3 for non-members

QUAIL: MEAT AND EGGS FOR YOUR FAMILY
2025-09-30 18:30 - 20:30 | Broom Cottage, Broom Cottage, Westdown Lane, Burwash Common, TN19 7JT, United Kingdom
