The World Jam Festival

I bet you didn’t know this. Yesterday, the World Jam Festival was held for the fifth time. It was at its new home, Newby Hall in Yorkshire. Somehow, about a month ago, I heard about it. I thought I had nothing to lose by entering. Sure, I had to pay a modest amount to do so, but set that against free entry yesterday to Newby Hall and Gardens for me, and half price entry for Malcolm.

So a couple of weeks ago I entered pots in two categories: Homegrown or Foraged Jam (I entered foraged Mirabelle Jam); and Marmalade (I entered Seville Orange Marmalade). And pretty much forgot about it.

Until yesterday. Because that was the day that the entries would be displayed to a waiting world, and the winners announced. I knew I wasn’t in the running and felt quite relaxed about it all. Just a bit of fun.

When we arrived, I soon got chatting to one of the organisers. There were entries from Australia (yes, really!), the Netherlands, Poland and a few other countries. And far from English entries coming strictly from North Yorkshire, I spotted pots from Somerset, Sussex, East Anglia and all points north. AND an entry from the dreadful Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm (small producers were encouraged to enter). It got nowhere, because it was visibly mouldy. Very mouldy indeed. As was instantly apparent.

There’s my failed Mirabelle Jam, in the centre.

We peered about, looking at all the entries in turn. My jam was not a lucky winner. No surprise there. But look! There among the winning marmalades was mine! I had won … second prize!

We went and had a stroll round the gardens, to calm down. They’re past their best at the fag-end of the season, but it was pleasant anyway, especially the apple orchard where we ended up.

And that was that. For my prize, I had a splendid bouquet of roses (I’m rather hoping none of those Australians won: their flowers could have arrived worse for wear. Oh, wait. Interflora.

Will you enter next year? Please do!

P.S. We’re off for a break till mid month. I have a post scheduled, but beyond that, no blogging from me apart from the odd Virtual Postcard. And I may be slow in responding to comments.

P.P.S. The automatic tagging suggestions I got today, courtesy of AI, were: food; baking; chocolate; cookies; pizza.’

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Author: margaret21

I'm retired and live in North Yorkshire, where I walk , write, volunteer and travel as often as I can.

51 thoughts on “The World Jam Festival”

  3. ha ha, Margaret; that was fun to read and I enjoyed the beautiful pics of this lovely place. oh, and congrats to a win too, how splendid!
    And now: Have a great, great time in Alsace, you will adore it! It’s one region I could live in too, beautiful quaint places, LOTS of incredible, if not slimming, food, usually full of tourists (it’s close to bits of Germany, Switzerland and many from up the North are visiting too). I must have some ten thousands pics from all the villages and cities I’ve visited over the past 40 years. still, do send photos – if and when you feel like. We will all enjoy it.
    See you – gros bisous, Kiki

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    1. ‘Preserve’? That’s very John Betjeman!

      Milk and then just as it comes dear?
      I’m afraid the preserve’s full of stones;
      Beg pardon, I’m soiling the doileys
      With afternoon tea-cakes and scones.

      Sorry Kim. I’m being very rude!

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  8. Woo Hoo, well done! I seem to think you’ve told us about a nearby marmalade festival too? I may well have that wrong, but if I’m right, I hope you’ll be entering that one too! Enjoy your break, Margaret.

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  10. Woo Hoo! Aren’t you a clever girl. I would have thought the foraged fruit would be a winner, but what do I know. Lovely roses too. Enjoy your adventure and yes, please send us postcards.

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  12. No, I’d never heard of this festival, but well done you for winning that prize 🏆 Your roses look lovely! Enjoy your break, both of you – I know you’re more than ready for one!

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  14. Congratulations on your win! How are the entries judged? Are their judges tasting the jams? Do you need to supply multiple jars for each entry? I am thinking maybe next year I might submit our wild-picked muscadine jam. Haven’t made them for a while.

    Have a great time in Alsace, my ancestor come from there. Looking forward to seeing your photos and experiences from your trip.

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  15. How spiffing! Well done you! I imagine you make a decent fist at Seville Orange marmalade…. I loved that yo u went and had a stroll round the gardens, to calm down…. have a whoopee time in Alsace!

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    1. Thanks Sue. I was looking forward to giving you the Low Down about this today, but ’twas not to be. Personally, if I could just have the one prize, I’d have given it to my Mirabelle Jam, but there you go. Lucky ideed to get a prize. Thanks – and … talk soon! xx

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  17. Congrats on the Seville marmalade accolade. Just wondering, do you have to specially order Seville oranges or are they fairly easy to find? (Can’t get them here.) The apply orchard at the gardens looks so bountiful.

    Have a wonderful time on your break in France.

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    1. Thanks. The greengrocers are stuffed with Seville Oranges in January – peak season. Whereas they are not to be found in Spain, where they come from, at all. I think the UK is Peak Producer of marmalade.

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      3. I have not Seville oranges anywhere, but I am told my mother-in-law used to be able to order a batch via the produce market back in the 1960s! “Our” oranges are not quite the same!

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  21. I’m a bit late to the party here, but well done! A Jam Festival with international attendees sounds like great fun, I think we need more of that sort of thing.

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