Morning, oh it’s early! What are you up to?
We run a no-dig market garden and farm shop:
we deliver organic veg boxes and make cordials,
craft cider and bread. Adam is the gardener and
cider maker and I’m the baker and shopkeeper,
so I’m up early. At 6.30am, we all have a cuppa
and biscuit in bed, then it’s on with the day.
Tell us a bit about where you’re based.
We live in an 1890s joiner’s cottage on the south
side of the North York Moors. We enjoy big open
skies, though it’s almost always windy. We’ve
converted our garage into the farm shop and
microbakery and, last year, we started our
market garden on a 2.5-acre plot down the road.
And how does the rest of the morning unfold?
With three boys under four and lots of bread to
bake, I have to be strict. The shop opens at 9am
and, with hens and veg to tend to, it can be crazy.
We try to have a cup of tea around 9.30am when
the baby is napping and the eldest are at nursery.
And our f lat-coated retriever, Jude, is never far
away when tea and biscuits are concerned.
It’s elevenses – what can we get you?
English breakfast please, strong with a dash
of blue top milk. I can’t resist a biscuit – I like
Doves Farm fruity oat biscuits for dunking.
Bet you have something tasty for lunch.
It’s usually a homemade soup, salad or veg –
whatever Adam brings home from the field.
There’s always lots of fresh bread and cake, too.
And what happens in the afternoon?
Our shop closes at 3pm and then I look after the
boys. I start work again at 6.30pm when they’re
in bed, baking cakes for the following day and
tackling the mountains of admin – and laundry.
Talking of which, when do you down tools?
I usually finish around 10pm, just in time for
a last cuppa, just before the baby wakes up.
WE ASKED FARM SHOP OWNER RUBY TILDSLEY
TO TELL US ABOUT HER DAY IN CUPPAS
My day
in cups
of tea
M W w c c s a T W s s c m m A W b a W
T
RUBY TILDSLEY lives in
the North York Moors with
her husband and three
young sons. They run a
no-dig market garden,
microbakery and farm
shop. Her simple thing is
the sound of the dawn
chorus. treetoppress.co.uk
3 pm
PHOTOGRAPHY: TONY BARTHOLOMEW
11am
Morning, oh it’s early! What are you up to?
Werun a no-dig market garden and farm shop:
wedeliver organic veg boxes and make cordials,
craftcider and bread. Adam is the gardener and
cidermaker and I’m the baker and shopkeeper,
soI’mup early. At 6.30am, we all have a cuppa
andbiscuit in bed, then it’s on with the day.
Tellus a bit about where you’re based.
Welive in an 1890s joiner’s cottage on the south
sideof the North York Moors. We enjoy big open
skies,though it’s almost always windy. We’ve
converted our garage into the farm shop and
microbakery and, last year, we started our
market garden on a 2.5-acre plot down the road.
Andhow does the rest of the morning unfold?
Withthree boys under four and lots of bread to
bake,I have to be strict. The shop opens at 9am
and,with hens and veg to tend to, it can be crazy.
Wetry to have a cup of tea around 9.30am when
the baby is napping and the eldest are at nursery.
And our f lat-coated retriever, Jude, is never far
away when tea and biscuits are concerned.
It’s elevenses – what can we get you?
English breakfast please, strong with a dash
of blue top milk. I can’t resist a biscuit – I like
Doves Farm fruity oat biscuits for dunking.
Bet you have something tasty for lunch.
It’s usually a homemade soup, salad or veg –
whatever Adam brings home from the field.
There’s always lots of fresh bread and cake, too.
And what happens in the afternoon?
Our shop closes at 3pm and then I look after the
boys. I start work again at 6.30pm when they’re
in bed, baking cakes for the following day and
tackling the mountains of admin – and laundry.
Talking of which, when do you down tools?
I usually finish around 10pm, just in time for
a last cuppa, just before the baby wakes up.
WE ASKED FARM SHOP OWNER RUBY TILDSLEY
TO TELL US ABOUT HER DAY IN CUPPAS
ups
M W w c c s a T W s s c m m A W b a W
T
RUBY TILDSLEY lives in
the North York Moors with
her husband and three
young sons. They run a
no-dig market garden,
microbakery and farm
shop. Her simple thing is
the sound of the dawn
chorus. treetoppress.co.uk
3 pm
PHOTOGRAPHY: TONY BARTHOLOMEW
11am