Vanessa Swetman Co-Director Peak ORGANICS

Vanessa, is passionate about organic gardening has a masters degree in Landscape Design from Sheffield University and ran her own garden design and maintenance business for some years. More recently she has taught garden design and horticulture for adult education as well as other organisations

She has worked her own organic allotments for almost 20 years both in Sheffield and Derbyshire, where she now grows veg, fruit and cut flowers. Her current allotment site has a small poly-tunnel and large compost heaps!

Having a long-standing interest in local food, Vanessa was invited to produce for the first Bakewell Farmers market in 2001 as part of Country Markets Ltd . She produces jams, jellies & chutneys from her own produce as well as a range of marmalades and fruit curds.

Jennifer Joy-Matthews Co-Director Peak ORGANICS

Jennifer has been an enthusiasticly organic gardening for over 50 years. In 1975 she gained a degree in ecology and has maintained an interest in sustainability ever since then. She met Vanessa on a course and was enthused by the work she was doing. Jenny suggested applying to the Peak Park for a grant from the sustainable development fund in order to spread the word about sustainability. The application was successful and Peak ORGANICS was born.

Jenny is a qualified chef and has enjoyed growing and preserving food. She loves to cook with food that she has grown. Jenny freezes a range of fruit and vegetables and makes jams, jellies, chutneys, cordials and vinegars. She also dries flowers and makes lavender bags.

Jenny has been saving material for years and has just starting making shopping, bags, sun hats and a range of other recycled items. Jenny is really into reduce, reuse and recycle techniques and can’t bear to throw anything away in case it might become useful!