CAMBRIDGESHIRE SELF SUFFICIENCY GROUP
Recent news
AGM 2022
Thursday 3rd February
7.30pm King Edward Community Centre, Chatteris
Short Business meeting followed by a talk by Mick Matthews - getting started on your allotment.
Straw Bale Gardening
thursday January 4th 2018
Group member Angela Griffin will give an illustrated talk about her experience of growing your produce in a Straw Bale Garden.
​
December 7th 2017
Christmas Party- bring and share meal, games, secret santa.
​
November 2nd 2017
Make a wreath to feed our feathered friends
Thank you to group members Anne and Angela for a hands on demonstration- over 20 group members went home with a decorative wreath filled with goodies for the birds!
October 6th 2017 7.30pm
Harvest Supper- bring and share meal King Edward Community Centre,King Edward Road, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
September 10th 2017
Whittlesey Festival
We will have the group stand there to promote the group and recruit new members.
September 7th 2017 7.30pm
Dehydrating and Preserving your Produce. thank you to member Rachel Thompson for another interesting evening and clever competition!
August 3rd 2017 Visit to Chatteris Allotments. a enjoyable evening at the allotments, sampling bread and preserves supplied by members.
July 6th 2017 Water Saving Tips and a Visit to a members small holding. thanks to Geoff Durrant for a very informative evening and a wonderful BBQ
Chatteris Midsummer Festival June 24th 2017
We will be having our stall there to promote the group and hopefully recruit new members
Thursday 1st of June 2017
BEE KEEPING
A visit to Huntingdon Bee Keepers at Hinchingbroke
Country Park. Meet at the Countryside Centre at 7.30pm
Brampton Road, Huntingdon
PE29 6DB
​
the art of composting!
20th May 2017
discover some of the many ways to compost and how to use it for soil improvement and crop production. share knowledge and ideas.
​
​
Thursday 2nd May 2017 7.30 pm
Willow Hurdles- a social evening with Mick Matthews demonstrating the art of making willow hurdles.
8th Annual Potato Day
Saturday 11th February 2017 - Methodist Church Hall, 19 High Street, Huntingdon PE29 3TE 11am-2pm to general public.
CSSG members can enter at 10.30 am on production of valid membership card.
Over 45 varieties of Seed potatoes for sale all at £1.30 per kg. (£1.00 for members) Shallots and Onion Sets also for sale. Refreshments available, and a Seed Swop- you could either bring a spare packet of seeds and swop for something perhaps a little more interesting, or simply buy some seeds.
Confirmed Varieties available so far- First Earlies: Arran Pilot, Casablanca, Duke of York, Epicure, Foremost, Home Guard, International Kidney, Lady Christl, Maris Bard, Pentland Javelin, Premier, Red Duke of York, Rocket, Sharpes Express, Swift, Ulster Prince, Ulster Sceptre, Winston.
Second Earlies: Charlotte, Estima, Kestrel, Marfona, Maris Peer, Saxon, Wilja.
Main Crops: Ambo, Cabaret, Caesar, Cara, Desiree,King Edward, Majestic, Manitou, Maris Piper, Maxine,Merlin, Mozart,Pentland Crown, Picasso, Pink fir Apple Stemster, Valor.
​
AGM
Thursday 2nd February 2017- King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
An opportunity to come along and have your say and plan for the coming year; both workshops and meetings. Suggestions and ideas are always welcome!
​
Growing trees for coppicing January 5th 2017
Thanks to member Glenn Conway for an informative talk on growing wood for coppicing and the different ways to harvest and season them
​
Christmas Party Thursday December 1st
​
an enjoyable evening with the usual excellent spread and fun!
cambs.selfsufficiencygroup@gmail.com
Thursday November 3rd 2016
Show and Tell- Raised Pies- a lovely evening with many members trying their had at a raised pie for the first time!
​
Thurday October 6th 2016
HARVEST SUPPER.
Bring and Share meal
​
Sunday September 11th 2016
WHITTLESEY FESTIVAL
we shall have a stall at the festival to promote the group and try and recruit new members.
​
Thursday September 1st 2016
Visit to a group member's home in Doddington
an interesting visit, as we were shown some ways to use sustainable energy.
​
Thursday August 4th 2016
a demonstration and hands on opportunity
PASTA MAKING
Dr Antonia Ligouri will show us how to make pasta, and also share folk stories and water saving tips
a very enjoyable and informative evening, completed by sampling some of the pasta that we had made.
Thursday July 7th 2016
Group member Paul Smith will tell us about
KEEPING RABBITS and PEST CONTROL
thank you to Paul for an entertaining evening about the different methods of control for many different pests!
Thursday May 5th
Visit to a Straw House in Prickwillow
​
Please bring something to sit on, and contribution to a bring and share picnic. Thanks to Sue and Tim Hill for the opportunity to see how they are progressing with their 'straw' house.
​
Thursday June 2nd 2016
Edible Flowers
With many thanks to group member Rachel Thompson for a most interesting talk about edible flowers and unusual plants. with a mystifying quiz! - who knew!
Saturday & Sunday 25th -26th June 2016
Chatteris Midsummer Festival
we had a stall at the festival to promote the group and try and recruit new members. and the weather held out this year!
Emergency First Aid
Saturday 16th April 2016 - King Edward Community Centre, Chatteris PE16 6NG
A one day Emergency first aid course leading to a nationally recognised certificate.
Thank you to member Dean Crago for leading this successful day.
SALT DOUGH
a talk and hands on have a go evening, led by group member Anne Billings-Smith.
Thank you Anne, for an informative and enjoyable evening
Thursday 3rd March 2016 - sowing and growing a wild flower meadow
a talk by Richard Brown from Emorsgate Seeds- wildflower seed specialists.
a most interesting talk about wildflower seeds, sowing, promoting and maintaining, and scything.
Pruning your Fruit Trees
Saturday 28 February 2016
A one day work shop on how to prune your fruit trees for the best crops- both restorative and for general health
a brilliant day - huge thank you to Marc for his excellent tuition, and to Mick and Carol for an awesome lunch!
7th Annual Potato Day
Saturday 13th February 2016 - Commemoration Hall, High Street, Huntingdon 11am-3pm to general public.
CSSG members can enter at 10.30 am on production of valid membership card.
What a day we had- over 1500 visitors!
Over 60 varieties of Seed potatoes for sale all at £1.00 per kg. Shallots and Onion Sets also for sale. Refreshments were available. bric a brac. ' potato creche' - the girl guides were there to ' guard' your purchases so you could continue shopping in the town and then come back and collect your precious potatoes! and a Seed Swop- you could either bring a spare packet of seeds and swop for something perhaps a little more interesting, or simply buy some seeds.
Varieties available .First Earlies: Arran Pilot, Casablanca, Duke of York, Dunluce, Epicure, Foremost, Home Guard, int Kidney, Lady Christl, Maris Bar, Pentland Javelin, Premier, Red Duke of York, Rocket, Sharpes Express, Sherine (NVS) Swift, Ulster Prince, Ulster Sceptre, Winston.
Second Earlies: Blue Kestrel, Bonnie, British Queen, Carlingford, Charlotte, Estima, Kestrel, Marfona, Maris Peer, Nadine, Nicola, Saxon, Shetland Black, Wilja.
Main Crops: Ambo, Armour (NVS), Blue Belle, Bute, Caberet, Caesar, Cara, Desiree, Harlequin, Harmony, Highland Burgundy Red, Kerrs Pink, King Edward, Kondor, Majestic, Manitou, Maris Piper, Markies, Merlin, Mozart, Orla,Pentland Crown, Picasso, Pink fir Apple, Sante, Sarpo Mira, Shannon, Stemster, Valor. what a selection? where were you?
Hedgelaying Workshop
Haddenham, 30th-31st January
A workshop on hedgelaying. Helping at Haddenham community gardens- a good job guys!
AGM
Thursday 4th February 2016- King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
An opportunity to come along and have your say and plan for the coming year; both workshops and meetings. Suggestions and ideas are always welcome!
​
Wassail!
January 7th 2016, 7.30pm- King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris PE16 6NG
Food Historian Monica Askay gave an interesting talk about the history of the Wassail
Christmas Party
December 3rd -7.30pm
A social evening and bring and share meal.
- it was very enjoyable and the quiz wasn't quite so hard this year!
Bonfire Night show and tell
November 5th- 7.30pm King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
An evening based around Bonfire Night- show and tell on a bonfire theme or bring and share bonfire night food- what an evening- a bonfire cake, firework kebab skewers, a couple of traditional casseroles- proper bonfire night fare!
Cheese Making Workshop
October 18th-10.30pm 2015
An opportunity to learn the craft of cheesemaking.
Members enjoyed the day and look forward to building on their knowledge!
Harvest Supper
October 1st-7.30pm 2015 - King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
A bring and share supper celebrating the harvest.
Green Burials
September 3rd, King Edward Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
A fascinating talk by Rachel Thompson on green burials, what you can and can't do.
Successful Compost
july 2nd
An interesting visit to Geoff Durrant's new home and veg garden complete with bore hole. Geoff talked about the secrets in building a successful compost heap.
Visit to Mick & Carol's smallholding
June 4th -7.30pm
A tour of Mick & Carol Matthews small holding, sampling delicious wares from their new Italian Style bread oven. a very enjoyable evening.
Delfland Nursery Benwick Road Doddington, March PE15 0TU
May 7th 2015 7.30pm
An exclusive guided tour of this organic nursery.
Delfland Nurseries is a family business owned and run by husband and wife team John Overvoorde and Jill Vaughan. John has been involved in plant raising for over 30 years.
They have 3ha (7½ acres) of glass. Most of the heating comes from a biomass boiler burning woodchip. There is also a tunnel and standing-out area for hardening-off plants.
Many varieties of plug plants were available to purchase on the day.
Needle Felting
April 2nd 2015 - King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
a talk and demonstraion of Needle Felting by Carol Lovell
we had brilliant evening having a go at needle felting- some of the results were more successful than others however!
Sheepy Day
one day workshop
demonstrations and hands on experience for sheep owners- topics include foot trimming, worming, handling, dagging plus anything else that you would like to ask!
Bee Keeping and making your garden Bee Friendly!
Thursday 5th March 2015 - King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
A talk on Bee Keeping and how to make your garden Bee friendly by Paul Howe
A very interesting and informative evening, with an in depth explanation and demonstration of 'The Waggle Dance'!
AGM
Thursday 5th February 2015 - King Edward Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
An opportunity to come along and have your say and plan for the coming year; both workshops and meetings. Suggestions and ideas are always welcome!
​
6th Annual Potato Day
Saturday 17th January 2015 - Commemoration Hall, High Street, Huntingdon 11am-3pm
Following last year's success, we are holding another Potato Day! Over 40 varieties of Seed potatoes for sale all at £1.00 per kg. Refreshments will be available to purchase as well as Potato themed foods. Seed Swap - Bring leftover seeds and swap for something that you want! Craft Stall, Childrens Activities.
Free entrance!
Recent news
AGM 2022
Thursday 3rd February
7.30pm King Edward Community Centre, Chatteris
Short Business meeting followed by a talk by Mick Matthews - getting started on your allotment.
Straw Bale Gardening
thursday January 4th 2018
Group member Angela Griffin will give an illustrated talk about her experience of growing your produce in a Straw Bale Garden.
​
December 7th 2017
Christmas Party- bring and share meal, games, secret santa.
​
November 2nd 2017
Make a wreath to feed our feathered friends
Thank you to group members Anne and Angela for a hands on demonstration- over 20 group members went home with a decorative wreath filled with goodies for the birds!
October 6th 2017 7.30pm
Harvest Supper- bring and share meal King Edward Community Centre,King Edward Road, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
September 10th 2017
Whittlesey Festival
We will have the group stand there to promote the group and recruit new members.
September 7th 2017 7.30pm
Dehydrating and Preserving your Produce. thank you to member Rachel Thompson for another interesting evening and clever competition!
August 3rd 2017 Visit to Chatteris Allotments. a enjoyable evening at the allotments, sampling bread and preserves supplied by members.
July 6th 2017 Water Saving Tips and a Visit to a members small holding. thanks to Geoff Durrant for a very informative evening and a wonderful BBQ
Chatteris Midsummer Festival June 24th 2017
We will be having our stall there to promote the group and hopefully recruit new members
Thursday 1st of June 2017
BEE KEEPING
A visit to Huntingdon Bee Keepers at Hinchingbroke
Country Park. Meet at the Countryside Centre at 7.30pm
Brampton Road, Huntingdon
PE29 6DB
​
the art of composting!
20th May 2017
discover some of the many ways to compost and how to use it for soil improvement and crop production. share knowledge and ideas.
​
​
Thursday 2nd May 2017 7.30 pm
Willow Hurdles- a social evening with Mick Matthews demonstrating the art of making willow hurdles.
8th Annual Potato Day
Saturday 11th February 2017 - Methodist Church Hall, 19 High Street, Huntingdon PE29 3TE 11am-2pm to general public.
CSSG members can enter at 10.30 am on production of valid membership card.
Over 45 varieties of Seed potatoes for sale all at £1.30 per kg. (£1.00 for members) Shallots and Onion Sets also for sale. Refreshments available, and a Seed Swop- you could either bring a spare packet of seeds and swop for something perhaps a little more interesting, or simply buy some seeds.
Confirmed Varieties available so far- First Earlies: Arran Pilot, Casablanca, Duke of York, Epicure, Foremost, Home Guard, International Kidney, Lady Christl, Maris Bard, Pentland Javelin, Premier, Red Duke of York, Rocket, Sharpes Express, Swift, Ulster Prince, Ulster Sceptre, Winston.
Second Earlies: Charlotte, Estima, Kestrel, Marfona, Maris Peer, Saxon, Wilja.
Main Crops: Ambo, Cabaret, Caesar, Cara, Desiree,King Edward, Majestic, Manitou, Maris Piper, Maxine,Merlin, Mozart,Pentland Crown, Picasso, Pink fir Apple Stemster, Valor.
​
AGM
Thursday 2nd February 2017- King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
An opportunity to come along and have your say and plan for the coming year; both workshops and meetings. Suggestions and ideas are always welcome!
​
Growing trees for coppicing January 5th 2017
Thanks to member Glenn Conway for an informative talk on growing wood for coppicing and the different ways to harvest and season them
​
Christmas Party Thursday December 1st
​
an enjoyable evening with the usual excellent spread and fun!
cambs.selfsufficiencygroup@gmail.com
Thursday November 3rd 2016
Show and Tell- Raised Pies- a lovely evening with many members trying their had at a raised pie for the first time!
​
Thurday October 6th 2016
HARVEST SUPPER.
Bring and Share meal
​
Sunday September 11th 2016
WHITTLESEY FESTIVAL
we shall have a stall at the festival to promote the group and try and recruit new members.
​
Thursday September 1st 2016
Visit to a group member's home in Doddington
an interesting visit, as we were shown some ways to use sustainable energy.
​
Thursday August 4th 2016
a demonstration and hands on opportunity
PASTA MAKING
Dr Antonia Ligouri will show us how to make pasta, and also share folk stories and water saving tips
a very enjoyable and informative evening, completed by sampling some of the pasta that we had made.
Thursday July 7th 2016
Group member Paul Smith will tell us about
KEEPING RABBITS and PEST CONTROL
thank you to Paul for an entertaining evening about the different methods of control for many different pests!
Thursday May 5th
Visit to a Straw House in Prickwillow
​
Please bring something to sit on, and contribution to a bring and share picnic. Thanks to Sue and Tim Hill for the opportunity to see how they are progressing with their 'straw' house.
​
Thursday June 2nd 2016
Edible Flowers
With many thanks to group member Rachel Thompson for a most interesting talk about edible flowers and unusual plants. with a mystifying quiz! - who knew!
Saturday & Sunday 25th -26th June 2016
Chatteris Midsummer Festival
we had a stall at the festival to promote the group and try and recruit new members. and the weather held out this year!
Emergency First Aid
Saturday 16th April 2016 - King Edward Community Centre, Chatteris PE16 6NG
A one day Emergency first aid course leading to a nationally recognised certificate.
Thank you to member Dean Crago for leading this successful day.
SALT DOUGH
a talk and hands on have a go evening, led by group member Anne Billings-Smith.
Thank you Anne, for an informative and enjoyable evening
Thursday 3rd March 2016 - sowing and growing a wild flower meadow
a talk by Richard Brown from Emorsgate Seeds- wildflower seed specialists.
a most interesting talk about wildflower seeds, sowing, promoting and maintaining, and scything.
Pruning your Fruit Trees
Saturday 28 February 2016
A one day work shop on how to prune your fruit trees for the best crops- both restorative and for general health
a brilliant day - huge thank you to Marc for his excellent tuition, and to Mick and Carol for an awesome lunch!
7th Annual Potato Day
Saturday 13th February 2016 - Commemoration Hall, High Street, Huntingdon 11am-3pm to general public.
CSSG members can enter at 10.30 am on production of valid membership card.
What a day we had- over 1500 visitors!
Over 60 varieties of Seed potatoes for sale all at £1.00 per kg. Shallots and Onion Sets also for sale. Refreshments were available. bric a brac. ' potato creche' - the girl guides were there to ' guard' your purchases so you could continue shopping in the town and then come back and collect your precious potatoes! and a Seed Swop- you could either bring a spare packet of seeds and swop for something perhaps a little more interesting, or simply buy some seeds.
Varieties available .First Earlies: Arran Pilot, Casablanca, Duke of York, Dunluce, Epicure, Foremost, Home Guard, int Kidney, Lady Christl, Maris Bar, Pentland Javelin, Premier, Red Duke of York, Rocket, Sharpes Express, Sherine (NVS) Swift, Ulster Prince, Ulster Sceptre, Winston.
Second Earlies: Blue Kestrel, Bonnie, British Queen, Carlingford, Charlotte, Estima, Kestrel, Marfona, Maris Peer, Nadine, Nicola, Saxon, Shetland Black, Wilja.
Main Crops: Ambo, Armour (NVS), Blue Belle, Bute, Caberet, Caesar, Cara, Desiree, Harlequin, Harmony, Highland Burgundy Red, Kerrs Pink, King Edward, Kondor, Majestic, Manitou, Maris Piper, Markies, Merlin, Mozart, Orla,Pentland Crown, Picasso, Pink fir Apple, Sante, Sarpo Mira, Shannon, Stemster, Valor. what a selection? where were you?
Hedgelaying Workshop
Haddenham, 30th-31st January
A workshop on hedgelaying. Helping at Haddenham community gardens- a good job guys!
AGM
Thursday 4th February 2016- King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
An opportunity to come along and have your say and plan for the coming year; both workshops and meetings. Suggestions and ideas are always welcome!
​
Wassail!
January 7th 2016, 7.30pm- King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris PE16 6NG
Food Historian Monica Askay gave an interesting talk about the history of the Wassail
Christmas Party
December 3rd -7.30pm
A social evening and bring and share meal.
- it was very enjoyable and the quiz wasn't quite so hard this year!
Bonfire Night show and tell
November 5th- 7.30pm King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
An evening based around Bonfire Night- show and tell on a bonfire theme or bring and share bonfire night food- what an evening- a bonfire cake, firework kebab skewers, a couple of traditional casseroles- proper bonfire night fare!
Cheese Making Workshop
October 18th-10.30pm 2015
An opportunity to learn the craft of cheesemaking.
Members enjoyed the day and look forward to building on their knowledge!
Harvest Supper
October 1st-7.30pm 2015 - King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
A bring and share supper celebrating the harvest.
Green Burials
September 3rd, King Edward Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
A fascinating talk by Rachel Thompson on green burials, what you can and can't do.
Successful Compost
july 2nd
An interesting visit to Geoff Durrant's new home and veg garden complete with bore hole. Geoff talked about the secrets in building a successful compost heap.
Visit to Mick & Carol's smallholding
June 4th -7.30pm
A tour of Mick & Carol Matthews small holding, sampling delicious wares from their new Italian Style bread oven. a very enjoyable evening.
Delfland Nursery Benwick Road Doddington, March PE15 0TU
May 7th 2015 7.30pm
An exclusive guided tour of this organic nursery.
Delfland Nurseries is a family business owned and run by husband and wife team John Overvoorde and Jill Vaughan. John has been involved in plant raising for over 30 years.
They have 3ha (7½ acres) of glass. Most of the heating comes from a biomass boiler burning woodchip. There is also a tunnel and standing-out area for hardening-off plants.
Many varieties of plug plants were available to purchase on the day.
Needle Felting
April 2nd 2015 - King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
a talk and demonstraion of Needle Felting by Carol Lovell
we had brilliant evening having a go at needle felting- some of the results were more successful than others however!
Sheepy Day
one day workshop
demonstrations and hands on experience for sheep owners- topics include foot trimming, worming, handling, dagging plus anything else that you would like to ask!
Bee Keeping and making your garden Bee Friendly!
Thursday 5th March 2015 - King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
A talk on Bee Keeping and how to make your garden Bee friendly by Paul Howe
A very interesting and informative evening, with an in depth explanation and demonstration of 'The Waggle Dance'!
AGM
Thursday 5th February 2015 - King Edward Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
An opportunity to come along and have your say and plan for the coming year; both workshops and meetings. Suggestions and ideas are always welcome!
​
6th Annual Potato Day
Saturday 17th January 2015 - Commemoration Hall, High Street, Huntingdon 11am-3pm
Following last year's success, we are holding another Potato Day! Over 40 varieties of Seed potatoes for sale all at £1.00 per kg. Refreshments will be available to purchase as well as Potato themed foods. Seed Swap - Bring leftover seeds and swap for something that you want! Craft Stall, Childrens Activities.
Free entrance!
Recent news
AGM 2022
Thursday 3rd February
7.30pm King Edward Community Centre, Chatteris
Short Business meeting followed by a talk by Mick Matthews - getting started on your allotment.
Straw Bale Gardening
thursday January 4th 2018
Group member Angela Griffin will give an illustrated talk about her experience of growing your produce in a Straw Bale Garden.
​
December 7th 2017
Christmas Party- bring and share meal, games, secret santa.
​
November 2nd 2017
Make a wreath to feed our feathered friends
Thank you to group members Anne and Angela for a hands on demonstration- over 20 group members went home with a decorative wreath filled with goodies for the birds!
October 6th 2017 7.30pm
Harvest Supper- bring and share meal King Edward Community Centre,King Edward Road, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
September 10th 2017
Whittlesey Festival
We will have the group stand there to promote the group and recruit new members.
September 7th 2017 7.30pm
Dehydrating and Preserving your Produce. thank you to member Rachel Thompson for another interesting evening and clever competition!
August 3rd 2017 Visit to Chatteris Allotments. a enjoyable evening at the allotments, sampling bread and preserves supplied by members.
July 6th 2017 Water Saving Tips and a Visit to a members small holding. thanks to Geoff Durrant for a very informative evening and a wonderful BBQ
Chatteris Midsummer Festival June 24th 2017
We will be having our stall there to promote the group and hopefully recruit new members
Thursday 1st of June 2017
BEE KEEPING
A visit to Huntingdon Bee Keepers at Hinchingbroke
Country Park. Meet at the Countryside Centre at 7.30pm
Brampton Road, Huntingdon
PE29 6DB
​
the art of composting!
20th May 2017
discover some of the many ways to compost and how to use it for soil improvement and crop production. share knowledge and ideas.
​
​
Thursday 2nd May 2017 7.30 pm
Willow Hurdles- a social evening with Mick Matthews demonstrating the art of making willow hurdles.
8th Annual Potato Day
Saturday 11th February 2017 - Methodist Church Hall, 19 High Street, Huntingdon PE29 3TE 11am-2pm to general public.
CSSG members can enter at 10.30 am on production of valid membership card.
Over 45 varieties of Seed potatoes for sale all at £1.30 per kg. (£1.00 for members) Shallots and Onion Sets also for sale. Refreshments available, and a Seed Swop- you could either bring a spare packet of seeds and swop for something perhaps a little more interesting, or simply buy some seeds.
Confirmed Varieties available so far- First Earlies: Arran Pilot, Casablanca, Duke of York, Epicure, Foremost, Home Guard, International Kidney, Lady Christl, Maris Bard, Pentland Javelin, Premier, Red Duke of York, Rocket, Sharpes Express, Swift, Ulster Prince, Ulster Sceptre, Winston.
Second Earlies: Charlotte, Estima, Kestrel, Marfona, Maris Peer, Saxon, Wilja.
Main Crops: Ambo, Cabaret, Caesar, Cara, Desiree,King Edward, Majestic, Manitou, Maris Piper, Maxine,Merlin, Mozart,Pentland Crown, Picasso, Pink fir Apple Stemster, Valor.
​
AGM
Thursday 2nd February 2017- King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
An opportunity to come along and have your say and plan for the coming year; both workshops and meetings. Suggestions and ideas are always welcome!
​
Growing trees for coppicing January 5th 2017
Thanks to member Glenn Conway for an informative talk on growing wood for coppicing and the different ways to harvest and season them
​
Christmas Party Thursday December 1st
​
an enjoyable evening with the usual excellent spread and fun!
cambs.selfsufficiencygroup@gmail.com
Thursday November 3rd 2016
Show and Tell- Raised Pies- a lovely evening with many members trying their had at a raised pie for the first time!
​
Thurday October 6th 2016
HARVEST SUPPER.
Bring and Share meal
​
Sunday September 11th 2016
WHITTLESEY FESTIVAL
we shall have a stall at the festival to promote the group and try and recruit new members.
​
Thursday September 1st 2016
Visit to a group member's home in Doddington
an interesting visit, as we were shown some ways to use sustainable energy.
​
Thursday August 4th 2016
a demonstration and hands on opportunity
PASTA MAKING
Dr Antonia Ligouri will show us how to make pasta, and also share folk stories and water saving tips
a very enjoyable and informative evening, completed by sampling some of the pasta that we had made.
Thursday July 7th 2016
Group member Paul Smith will tell us about
KEEPING RABBITS and PEST CONTROL
thank you to Paul for an entertaining evening about the different methods of control for many different pests!
Thursday May 5th
Visit to a Straw House in Prickwillow
​
Please bring something to sit on, and contribution to a bring and share picnic. Thanks to Sue and Tim Hill for the opportunity to see how they are progressing with their 'straw' house.
​
Thursday June 2nd 2016
Edible Flowers
With many thanks to group member Rachel Thompson for a most interesting talk about edible flowers and unusual plants. with a mystifying quiz! - who knew!
Saturday & Sunday 25th -26th June 2016
Chatteris Midsummer Festival
we had a stall at the festival to promote the group and try and recruit new members. and the weather held out this year!
Emergency First Aid
Saturday 16th April 2016 - King Edward Community Centre, Chatteris PE16 6NG
A one day Emergency first aid course leading to a nationally recognised certificate.
Thank you to member Dean Crago for leading this successful day.
SALT DOUGH
a talk and hands on have a go evening, led by group member Anne Billings-Smith.
Thank you Anne, for an informative and enjoyable evening
Thursday 3rd March 2016 - sowing and growing a wild flower meadow
a talk by Richard Brown from Emorsgate Seeds- wildflower seed specialists.
a most interesting talk about wildflower seeds, sowing, promoting and maintaining, and scything.
Pruning your Fruit Trees
Saturday 28 February 2016
A one day work shop on how to prune your fruit trees for the best crops- both restorative and for general health
a brilliant day - huge thank you to Marc for his excellent tuition, and to Mick and Carol for an awesome lunch!
7th Annual Potato Day
Saturday 13th February 2016 - Commemoration Hall, High Street, Huntingdon 11am-3pm to general public.
CSSG members can enter at 10.30 am on production of valid membership card.
What a day we had- over 1500 visitors!
Over 60 varieties of Seed potatoes for sale all at £1.00 per kg. Shallots and Onion Sets also for sale. Refreshments were available. bric a brac. ' potato creche' - the girl guides were there to ' guard' your purchases so you could continue shopping in the town and then come back and collect your precious potatoes! and a Seed Swop- you could either bring a spare packet of seeds and swop for something perhaps a little more interesting, or simply buy some seeds.
Varieties available .First Earlies: Arran Pilot, Casablanca, Duke of York, Dunluce, Epicure, Foremost, Home Guard, int Kidney, Lady Christl, Maris Bar, Pentland Javelin, Premier, Red Duke of York, Rocket, Sharpes Express, Sherine (NVS) Swift, Ulster Prince, Ulster Sceptre, Winston.
Second Earlies: Blue Kestrel, Bonnie, British Queen, Carlingford, Charlotte, Estima, Kestrel, Marfona, Maris Peer, Nadine, Nicola, Saxon, Shetland Black, Wilja.
Main Crops: Ambo, Armour (NVS), Blue Belle, Bute, Caberet, Caesar, Cara, Desiree, Harlequin, Harmony, Highland Burgundy Red, Kerrs Pink, King Edward, Kondor, Majestic, Manitou, Maris Piper, Markies, Merlin, Mozart, Orla,Pentland Crown, Picasso, Pink fir Apple, Sante, Sarpo Mira, Shannon, Stemster, Valor. what a selection? where were you?
Hedgelaying Workshop
Haddenham, 30th-31st January
A workshop on hedgelaying. Helping at Haddenham community gardens- a good job guys!
AGM
Thursday 4th February 2016- King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
An opportunity to come along and have your say and plan for the coming year; both workshops and meetings. Suggestions and ideas are always welcome!
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Wassail!
January 7th 2016, 7.30pm- King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris PE16 6NG
Food Historian Monica Askay gave an interesting talk about the history of the Wassail
Christmas Party
December 3rd -7.30pm
A social evening and bring and share meal.
- it was very enjoyable and the quiz wasn't quite so hard this year!
Bonfire Night show and tell
November 5th- 7.30pm King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
An evening based around Bonfire Night- show and tell on a bonfire theme or bring and share bonfire night food- what an evening- a bonfire cake, firework kebab skewers, a couple of traditional casseroles- proper bonfire night fare!
Cheese Making Workshop
October 18th-10.30pm 2015
An opportunity to learn the craft of cheesemaking.
Members enjoyed the day and look forward to building on their knowledge!
Harvest Supper
October 1st-7.30pm 2015 - King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
A bring and share supper celebrating the harvest.
Green Burials
September 3rd, King Edward Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
A fascinating talk by Rachel Thompson on green burials, what you can and can't do.
Successful Compost
july 2nd
An interesting visit to Geoff Durrant's new home and veg garden complete with bore hole. Geoff talked about the secrets in building a successful compost heap.
Visit to Mick & Carol's smallholding
June 4th -7.30pm
A tour of Mick & Carol Matthews small holding, sampling delicious wares from their new Italian Style bread oven. a very enjoyable evening.
Delfland Nursery Benwick Road Doddington, March PE15 0TU
May 7th 2015 7.30pm
An exclusive guided tour of this organic nursery.
Delfland Nurseries is a family business owned and run by husband and wife team John Overvoorde and Jill Vaughan. John has been involved in plant raising for over 30 years.
They have 3ha (7½ acres) of glass. Most of the heating comes from a biomass boiler burning woodchip. There is also a tunnel and standing-out area for hardening-off plants.
Many varieties of plug plants were available to purchase on the day.
Needle Felting
April 2nd 2015 - King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
a talk and demonstraion of Needle Felting by Carol Lovell
we had brilliant evening having a go at needle felting- some of the results were more successful than others however!
Sheepy Day
one day workshop
demonstrations and hands on experience for sheep owners- topics include foot trimming, worming, handling, dagging plus anything else that you would like to ask!
Bee Keeping and making your garden Bee Friendly!
Thursday 5th March 2015 - King Edwards Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
A talk on Bee Keeping and how to make your garden Bee friendly by Paul Howe
A very interesting and informative evening, with an in depth explanation and demonstration of 'The Waggle Dance'!
AGM
Thursday 5th February 2015 - King Edward Community Centre, Chatteris, PE16 6NG
An opportunity to come along and have your say and plan for the coming year; both workshops and meetings. Suggestions and ideas are always welcome!
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6th Annual Potato Day
Saturday 17th January 2015 - Commemoration Hall, High Street, Huntingdon 11am-3pm
Following last year's success, we are holding another Potato Day! Over 40 varieties of Seed potatoes for sale all at £1.00 per kg. Refreshments will be available to purchase as well as Potato themed foods. Seed Swap - Bring leftover seeds and swap for something that you want! Craft Stall, Childrens Activities.
Free entrance!