She's gone from selling her jams at WI Markets to launching a successful food firm, which has proved a top seller on Etsy.
The pandemic prompted Helen Field from Bishop's Waltham to launch her preserves firm, later allowing her to leave the rat race for good.
Now her preserves firm, Fresh From The Field, brings delightful - and often unusual - treats to food lovers locally and nationwide.
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Flavours including banana, kiwi, pineapple, and watermelon served from the back of horsebox Harriet the Chariot go down a storm at food fairs around Hampshire and Helen has even teamed up with three other crafters for a new venture in Wickham. Their shop, The Square Yard, opens today showcasing the work of them and other crafters.
It all began back in 1990 when Helen's mum convinced her to join her cooking and selling her produce at what used to be the local WI Market. She continued to do that until the Covid pandemic, when everything changed.
Helen said: "I had been making preserves for several years as I was able to make it fit around my full time job in the Civil Service, and also make use of what I was growing on my allotment. I had a stock and with Covid I found that I was no longer able to sell in the 'normal' way so had to think of something else because my items had a limited shelf life.
"I turned to Etsy. Much to my surprise within a day or so I was starting to sell items. I had no idea about packaging, posting or even customs, but I quickly learnt!
"In December 2023, I decided to take early retirement from full time work and now am self employed with my little business, and I couldn't be happier! Pretty much every weekend is taken up with a craft fair somewhere, and soon I will out and about during the week too with markets at Hedge End and Eastleigh as well as the new shop."
Helen makes everything herself and doesn't just stick to the products everyone has heard of.
She uses fruit and vegetables which have been picked when fully ripe, giving them the best flavour.
With Heinz halting the production of piccalilli, the relish is still available from Helen.
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