I'm Jane Steward, the founder owner of Eastgate Larder, the UK's medlar specialist, based in Norfolk, with my feet firmly in the orchard as well as in the kitchen. I have written the first book about this forgotten, heritage fruit - MEDLARS, Growing & Cooking, which was published in April 2023 by Prospect Books. I have also been commissioned (unpaid) to write articles about this fruit, whose fortunes I wish to revive. These include Permaculture Magazine, Country Smallholding and I have been on BBC Radio Norfolk to talk about the book. I have been interviewed for several podcasts, and have another in the pipeline. I'm the National Collection holder of medlar trees, having also planted the country's largest and most diverse medlar orchard to sustain my business making and selling medlar jelly (twice star winner in the Great Taste awards), chutney and Norfolk Medlar Gin Liqueur to fine independent foodshops, delis and cheesemongers in East Anglia, London and further afield. I'm a probationary member of the Garden Media Guild.
Medlars (Mespilus germanica), all aspects of having medlars in your life and raising awareness of the fruit by storytelling. Building SM followership and a wholesale customer base from scratch. By extension, preserves making, orchards and surviving the writing process when I had no idea what I was doing.
English, mother tongue. German, fluent French, fluent
Writing and speaking work is effectively freelance, not regular, for individual publications and organizations.
N/A
I don't have any investments in individual publications or in publishing houses. If you include my wholesale customer base, these are commercial businesses, usually owner managed, and are listed on my website www.eastgatelarder.co.uk, and I have a supplier relationship with them.
