Monday 31st October: We've just started to stock a new range of lamb cuts - do have a look at the butchers' counter - they are sure to want to tell you all about the lamb chunkies and daubes!
Wednesday 19th October: it's a perfect time for pears! Watch out for conference pears in the shop, soon to be followed by comice and concorde too.
Friday 30th September: we held our all-day coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and raised a brilliant £458.70 - thank you to all our customers and staff who put their pennies in the pot, and bought coffee, cup cakes and raffle tickets.
Also many thanks to our kind suppliers West Berkshire Brewery, Susies Preserves and Sugar and Spice who donated prizes.
Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th August: We'll be barbecuing our sausages & burgers for you to try, and offering a selection of apple juice to taste so that you can decide which you like the best! Bouncy castle for the kids!
Wednesday 10th August: Bramley apples are back - just picked the first of the season, so apple pie will be on the menu again soon!
Saturday 6th August: we're listed in The Independent's "50 best farm shops". Click here for details.
Monday 1st August: we've had quite a few enquries asking why we haven't got any apple pies at the moment - the answer is simple - because we haven't got any apples left! We make the pies using our own apples, so once the previous year's harvest is gone then we have to wait for the next. Not long to wait now for this year's crop of Bramleys!
Tuesday 19th July: Morello cherries are now pickable!
Friday 15th July: watch out for all kinds of fruit in the shop - all our own produce, plus peaches, nectarines, apricots and pineapples. It's a fabulously fruity time of year!
Thurs 23rd June: Need another butcher! click here for details
We'll be at the Oxfordshire YFC Country Show on Sunday 29th - our stall will have asparagus and strawberries - and we'll be enjoying the sights and sounds of a traditional country event. see oxcountryshow.org.uk
Pick Your Own strawberries: now open. See pyo page.
Any Pick Your Own yet? We've had a few queries about whether there is anything to pick yet - well despite the sunshine it's too early! But watch this space and we'll let you know the moment that there are any delicious strawberries for you to pick!
Easter opening times:
Saturday 23rd 9am - 5pm
Sunday 24th 10am - 4pm
Monday 25th 10am - 4pm
We will be closed on Friday 29th April for the Royal Wedding.
Tuesday 5th April: Q Gardens has become a supporter of Uptonogood? a mountain bike event for all ages and abilities being held at Upton on June 18th. Last year, the first time the event was held, over 300 cyclists took part. This year organisers are hoping that 500 will take part. We'll be having a stall at the event offering our usual seasonal fruit & veg. See www.uptonogood.org.uk for details of the event.
Perhaps Team Q could take part!
Monday 4th April: Now that British summer time has arrived and the evenings are lighter, the shop is open until 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays. 9am - 6pm everyday!
Monday 28th February: have just counted all the pennies in the collection boxes next to the tills in the shop. Thank you to everyone who has added their loose change - £27.54 donated to Send A Cow
Monday 20th December: the tea room is now closed until Jan 4th. However we are fully stocked up and ready for the Christmas rush.
Monday 13th December: we're trying to keep the queues a bit shorter this year! If you're planning to shop with us on 22nd or 23rd December you might like to consider coming earlier or later than usual. We're open from 8am until 7pm. So beat the stress and hassle of a wait by visiting us early or late in the day! See the Christmas page for the details.
Tuesday 7th December: this year, for the first time you can download Christmas order forms from the website! See the Christmas page for all the information.
Tuesday 23rd November: .jpg)
This week we say goodbye to Robert. Robert started his career at Q Gardens as a fruit picker, but soon migrated to the shop - he has worked in all the different areas - behind the till, stocking the shelves, preparing food in the kitchen, and latterly even turning his hand to helping out in the butchery. He has been with us for over seven years, and is soon to go back to Poland to get married. He has always been popular with customers, staff and suppliers alike, and will be much missed. We wish him every happiness with Dorota, and all best wishes for the future. Dobre szczęście!
Sunday 14th November: our Christmas order form for the butchery is now online. Click here to go to the Christmas page where you will find the form. Or, pick up a copy in the shop.
Wednesday 10th November: we took part in the 3 Counties Sausage and Pie Challenge Competition held at The Swan, Streatley. Came home with gold certificates for our steak & ale pie, and large pork sausage, and a bronze for tomato & caper sausage.
A brilliant performance for a first attempt - well done all our sausage and pie makers!
Monday 8th November: just launched a delicious new product - our own homemade apple turnovers, using, of course, our own apples. Extra scrummy slightly warmed.
Sunday 31st October: our opening hours change slightly in the winter, once the clocks have changed. From Sunday 31st Oct we will be closing at 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Friday 1st October: the rain is pouring and the wind is gale-force, so the bouncy castle has been put away. It'll be back next year!
Wednesday 22nd September: the launch of a new pie - Steak and Ale, using beer from our local brewery,
Best Mates. Try one today!
Monday 20th September: Pick Your Own is over the year, we've almost finished our farmers' markets, and the plums are almost over - the winter is coming! And it's British Food Fortnight!
Monday 30th August: Lots of pickers are enjoying the better weather today, Bank Holiday Monday, and are picking some plums - several varieties to choose from - Victoria, Reeves, Jubilee, Avalon, plus greengages if you can find them! Think that alot of plum jam is being made this weekend.
Tuesday 17th August: Picked the first of this year's apples today - the Bramley and Discovery. Plenty of Bramley but not many Discovery!
Saturday 31st July: We had a busy day at the Thame Show, sold lots of cherries, met lots of new customers, some of whom have already visited Q Gardens to pick some cherries that they heard about and tasted on our stall. We gave cherries to Wesley Smith of the BBC and hope that he mentioned them during his live broadcast from the show. The afternoon was enlivened by the car park fire that damaged quite a few cars, but thank goodness the fire engines were already on site and no-one was hurt.
Monday 26th July: There are so many cherries that we'll be staying open longer for Late Night Picking on Thursday 29th, Friday 30th and Saturday 31st July. The pick your own hut will be open until 7.30pm so you won't miss out on the chance of to gather some of the best crop of cherries for years! Perfect if you want to pop in after work - bring your colleagues for an evening out!
Saturday 17th July: National cherry day. Come and help us celebrate national cherry day by picking some of our fantastic crop.
Thursday 15th July: We're off to Lechlade Farmers' Market for the first time - introducing Gloucestershire to the Harwell cherry.
Tuesday July 6th July: We had a stall at Faringdon Farmers' Market today and saw the Mayor of Faringdon riding around the town on horseback - an ancient tradition apparently!
Sunday 4th July: Want to visit the orchards with your group, organisation or business? We can offer orchard tours and your own private evening picking session. Please phone the shop on 01235 820988 for information.
Friday 2nd July: We were happy to welcome Witney Junior Young Farmers' Club for a tour of the orchards and their own private picking session! They all enjoyed picking loads of strawberries and tried some cherries too.
Tuesday 22nd June: Have decided to extend our Pick Your Own opening hours for those of you who would like to pick in the slightly cooler earlier hours. Now open seven days a week, 9am - 5pm.
Monday 21st June: We've just counted all the coins in the Send A Cow collection boxes that have been by the tills for some weeks. Pleased to say that we're sending off £59 to our favourite charity. www.sendacow.org for details. Thank you to everyone who put their coppers in the boxes.
Thursday 17th June: ** Asparagus SALE ** Bargain asparagus is now available - £3.00 a bunch, 2 bunches for £5.00 or the incredible value bulk offer of 5 bunches for £10. Ideal if you would like to freeze some to make asparagus soup or quiche in the winter.
Thursday 10th June: we may have some problems offering our usual services as we expect to be without electricity from 12 noon to 4pm. We won't be able to make tea or take credit card payments! Our apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause - it's beyond our control.
Tuesday 8th June: the rain comes down as the Pick Your Own opens!
We're starting to plan for Christmas!
