Melissa has been creating preserves for over 20 years. The love for homemade jam started whilst spending time in the kitchen with her auntie from a young age. Her and her cousin would be given a bucket to go and pick plums from the many trees in the garden. Other times it was to forage wild blackberries from the bushes along the fence. Lovely memories of afternoon tea, bread spread with homemade jam, still warm from the pot and a cup of tea.
Later on with a family of their own, Melissa enjoyed being a stay-at-home mum to her and John's three children. There was time to be in the kitchen and trial the many recipes she had learnt. Foraging the roads and tracks of thier small rural town for fruit, she also bartered for fruit from friends and neighbours. Mastering original recipes as well as crafting new ones, she shared the fruits of her labour with others.
It was in 1996 that she was encouraged to enter her preserves in the Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Show. Her Tomato Sauce earned her a 1st Place. She felt humbled by the fact that others enjoyed her products as much as she had enjoyed creating them. For the next 15 years, her experience and knowledge for the craft continued to grow.
Later on with a family of their own, Melissa enjoyed being a stay-at-home mum to her and John's three children. There was time to be in the kitchen and trial the many recipes she had learnt. Foraging the roads and tracks of thier small rural town for fruit, she also bartered for fruit from friends and neighbours. Mastering original recipes as well as crafting new ones, she shared the fruits of her labour with others.
It was in 1996 that she was encouraged to enter her preserves in the Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Show. Her Tomato Sauce earned her a 1st Place. She felt humbled by the fact that others enjoyed her products as much as she had enjoyed creating them. For the next 15 years, her experience and knowledge for the craft continued to grow.
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In 2011, with a little more time to herself, she once again entered her preserves in the Ballarat Show. To her surprise, she won 4 First places and 4 Second places. Tomato Sauce gaining a 'First Prize' after a 15 year break. This inspired her to work on new recipes and fine tune her traditional ones.
During 2012, John, Melissa and their family built and moved to their new home in the small country town of Smythesdale in Victoria. A ten year dream that had finally become a reality. |
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They now had 1 acre to finally set themselves on the self-suffiecient lifestyle they had dreamed of. They worked hard in the first year, planting many fruit trees and establishing a vegetable garden. They even adopted a few chickens, it was starting to come together.
In 2012, Melissa entered her preserves in the show once again. There were new varieties as well as traditional ones. It was a fantastic result, Tomato Sauce won 'First Prize' yet again as well as gaining the aggregate for that year.
Throughout 2013 they discussed the idea of producing the preserves from home as a small business. Putting the idea aside, Melissa was busy in the kitchen getting her preserves ready for the 2013 Show. There were many more varieties to enter this year. After the judging was complete, the results were outstanding. She had won 11 Firsts, 6 Seconds and 3 thirds as well as the aggregate again. There was one more surprise, winning 'Most Outstanding Entry for the 2013 Show'. Although it was very overwhelming, it was definitely time to share their preserves with others.
So in 2014, John, Melissa and their family set out on a new adventure. The Preserver's Pot was born.
In 2012, Melissa entered her preserves in the show once again. There were new varieties as well as traditional ones. It was a fantastic result, Tomato Sauce won 'First Prize' yet again as well as gaining the aggregate for that year.
Throughout 2013 they discussed the idea of producing the preserves from home as a small business. Putting the idea aside, Melissa was busy in the kitchen getting her preserves ready for the 2013 Show. There were many more varieties to enter this year. After the judging was complete, the results were outstanding. She had won 11 Firsts, 6 Seconds and 3 thirds as well as the aggregate again. There was one more surprise, winning 'Most Outstanding Entry for the 2013 Show'. Although it was very overwhelming, it was definitely time to share their preserves with others.
So in 2014, John, Melissa and their family set out on a new adventure. The Preserver's Pot was born.
