Everyone likes a pat on the back and we're no exception at Payhembury Provisions so we were delighted to receive lots of compliments from visitors last month. The Plunkett Foundation (the people who advise on setting up and running community enterprises) visited Payhembury for a seminar with representatives from about 25 different shops; everyone was impressed by how well-stocked and attractive our shop is and they were especially amazed that it is run entirely by volunteers. Most community shops employ at least one paid member of staff so well …
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The snowdrops are out in the hedgerows, the days are getting longer and we're all getting impatient for spring, but in the meantime if you're feeling in need of a burst of sunshine, come on down to the shop, where you'll find buckets of Cornish field-grown daffodils guaranteed to lift anyone's spirits. Buy some for yourself to brighten up a February window-sill or get a few bunches for someone close to you: a perfect Valentine's Day gift, especially when accompanied by a nice bottle of wine and some chocolates from the shop. If you'd like to …
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Payhembury Provisions has agreed to be part of the Devon Link Up 'Safe Places' scheme which provides vulnerable adults with a safety net of help and support when they are out in the community by themselves. Any vulnerable adult who is worried or needs help can therefore go to the shop as a 'Safe Place' and someone will help them. Our shop is registered with the scheme, which is based at the Beehive in Honiton, and will display a sticker on the window to show that it is part of the 'Safe Places' scheme. Each of these vulnerable adults carries …
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If you've been watching Blue Planet on the television I'm sure you will have taken on board David Attenborough's message that we should all try to take better care of our oceans and cut down our use of plastic. Some of the goods delivered to our shop arrive in lots of packaging but at least we can offer you fruit and veg with no unnecessary plastic packaging and you can choose the exact amount you'd like to buy, so no waste. If you'd like to bring your own mug for the hot drinks machine, that's fine by us. December has been our time to focus …
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At the beginning of November we had a fun afternoon in the shop with Kirstie Allsopp, signing copies of her new book, "Kirstie's Real Kitchen". Tea and cake (Kirstie's recipes!) were enjoyed by everyone and it was lovely to see the shop buzzing with excitement and so full of customers old and new. Kirstie was amazed and delighted by how popular her book was, 71 sales in total! I'm sure there are going to be many friends and family who are going to be very happy to find a signed copy in their Christmas stockings. We have been working hard to …
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  At our annual members meeting last month we were delighted to present a sum of money to each of the three village organisations who had applied for a grant. This is money which has been raised partly from the shop raffle and then topped up with some of the shop's profits. The Parish Paper and the Flower and Bulb show will put their grants of £100 each towards their running expenses, and the Friends of Payhembury School will use their £400 to buy Smart Packs; these are bags which hang on the backs of the children's chairs in which to …
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This month we'd like to say thank you to everyone who has brought in all sorts of produce from their gardens for us to sell over the summer, you can't get fresher and more local than that! If you feel the urge to make your own jams and chutneys you will find everything you need in the shop from jam sugar to pickling vinegar and spices. If you don't feel the urge, come into the shop anyway because we sell a whole range of fantastic chutneys and pickles, including Otter Vale's popular Devon Fire chutney, and also a good range of jams. If you're …
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As well as selling well known brands at competitive prices, we also try to respond to your requests to sell fresh, local food that you won't find in supermarkets. We have eggs, bread, cheese, pies, curries, beer, cakes, honey, jam, flowers and vegetables for sale which are produced in Devon, some of them even in Payhembury. This month as well as our regular weekly supply of meat from K and M butchers in Ottery, who source all their meat from Devon and Somerset, we also have a real treat of beef from Tuck Mill. Many people will know Jon and …
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Each year our community shop has been able to help fund various projects around the village, sometimes as a one-off grant from our profits (eg the pavement outside the shop which we all take for granted now) or sometimes from the proceeds of our weekly raffle topped up by the shop profits. Many village groups and clubs have benefited this way over the last 6 years and in September we will be asking you to apply in writing to the shop committee for this year’s allocation of grants. Please consider supporting the raffle as by doing so you will …
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