Transition Town Wellington’s (TTW) sustainable food group held its annual Christmas cooking and craft event at the Methodist church.

Participants made beautiful Christmas decorations using wool and ribbons, and enjoyed making – and eating – mince pies and chocolate truffles.

The wreath-making went especially well with pre-mossed rings provided and lots of pre-cut foliage given by friends. It was very enjoyable and satisfying to create a beautiful finished piece to take home and hang up.

The trial of cranberry sauce versus redcurrant sauce went very well with most reports from the taste test being that participants preferred the taste of the redcurrant sauce. That is good news, because redcurrants are locally grown, cheaper and a more sustainable alternative.

The cost of using locally picked, free of charge redcurrants works out at 10p a jar, compared with 70p a jar for shop-bought cranberries imported from the USA. TTW has planted redcurrant bushes around town this year for foraging from next summer or readers could always plant one in their back garden.

But the cranberry sauce is definitely worth making this year as it is tastier than shop-bought. 

Recipes for the sauces, as well as other things made at the Make Your Own Christmas event, can be found by visiting ttw.org.uk.

The next event is a Seed Swap Sunday on February 12.

CONTRIBUTED