BRINGING in the harvest is usually associated with long days and backbreaking work but for a community allotment it is about having fun with food.
The Dig In Community Allotment will be holding pumpkin-carving, apple-pressing and cookery workshops with the fresh fruit and vegetables members have been growing.
The family fun day will take place on Saturday, October 18, from 11am to 3pm at the Albany Allotment site in Pasture Road, Stapleford.
Chairman of the allotment committee David Gell, 54, of Ilkeston Road, Sandiacre, felt the autumnal event was a fun way to mark the end of the food-growing year.
He said: "After autumn, it effectively goes downhill for us gardeners, so it is a celebration of the last crop before we go inside and put our feet up.
"It's quite a traditional thing to do and we are hoping to get a chap down who can identify the different types of apples just by looking at them and cutting them in half."
It is the second year that Dig In Community has organised the harvest celebration after deciding to merge its pumpkin and apple festivals.
Mr Gell (pictured) said: "There will be some pumpkins carved in advance and some on the day. We have seen all sorts over the years, including a chap who carved a galleon."
Smoothie company Pulp Friction, which has a plot at the allotment, will also be at the event with a special-edition pear or apple sorbet from the harvested crop.
The icy treat will be made using pedal power from an attached bike. It takes about a minute to make each smoothie.
Founder of Pulp Friction Jill Carter, 55, of St Michael's Square, Bramcote, said: "We will be picking the fruit just a couple of days before, so it will be wonderfully fresh.
"Visitors are welcome to come and have a pedal to help make the sorbets but we will have staff on hand, too."
Volunteer Kathy Holmes said: "Harvest is the culmination of the growing season and we like to celebrate the hard work of the volunteers.
"It's great to share the work we do with the local community and invite everyone to celebrate with us. This is a fun and educational event and there is something for all the family. Come along and see what we do."