| Charity Jam - Visit the 'Jam Lady' in Cropton |
It all started with a Damson!
When we bought our
holiday cottage letting home in Cropton, in 2002, I never realised I would be making jam in most of my free time, and all because I hate waste!
The first months went fine, we did up the cottage and got it ready for holiday lets. Keeping the house clean and tidy was fine, but we had bought a garden that had lots of fruit, and no way was I throwing it all away. All who came to stay had to go home with the produce, but when the very old Damson tree, which had not produced fruit for the previous owners in seven years, started dropping fruit, we could not cope. The wasps were getting more than us, so out came the jam pan.
Having made all the jam we had to eat it and there was far too much. The village hall of Cropton was short of funds so we put a table at the end of the drive with an honesty purse for the money. The money came rolling in, but someone realised this and the purse started being emptied. So we bought a portable plastic greenhouse and placed a drawer on the top shelf and bolted a cash box to it. We were fine for about 4 years then someone used a screwdriver to remove the money, leaving the box behind for them to empty later.
We found that I was making more jam than money, so we changed again and now the money is put through the house letterbox, & the greenhouse (sorry Jam Stand) and house are watched by our neighbours.
We do nine varieties of jam, produced from our garden and donated fruit from friends and neighbours.
The money has always been split between Kirkwood Hospice and the village hall in Cropton, which is now up and running and serving the community. As for the hospice, they will always need money for their patients. No matter which area the hospice is in, it is a worthwhile charity and one I have been involved in since 1988.
To date we have donated over £5,000 - that is a lot of jars!
Now we have a big problem. We are short of jam jars - although I take money out for sugar, I do not want to buy the jars and take more money out of the funds. CAN YOU HELP?
Please leave the empty jars (preferably without the labels on) at the jam stand or carport at Rosecroft, Cropton, near Pickering - Kirkwood Hospice in Huddersfield - Ambry Cafe in Almondbury
Telephone: 01484 426964.
Mobile Telephone: 07785 566599
Many thanks for reading this.
Keep well and happy.
Sue Kelly.
The jam stall is located at the top end of the main street in Cropton. There are plenty of places to park in the street.
If you are in the area please support our 'Jam Lady' by buying her delicious jam and if you are coming to Cropton don't forget to bring some empty jam jars!
 Rosecroft Cottage - Three bedrooms - Sleeps 6
Rosecroft Cottage is situated in the village and boasts a large cottage garden and summerhouse. Large beamed living room with gas ‘wood burner’. Spacious dining room. Large well-equipped, beamed, farmhouse-style kitchen with breakfast area, Aga (for cooking), marble tiled floor. Utility. Separate toilet. Two double bedrooms. Twin bedroom with en-suite shower room and toilet. Bathroom with over-bath shower and toilet. Some low beams and low doorways. Parking for two cars. Two pets allowed. More info.......! or telephone Sue Kelly - 01484 426964 - Mobile Telephone: 07785 566599 - for more information. |