A SPOONFUL of creativity and a dose of determination has empowered entrepreneurial women across Dorset to come together for a common cause and to produce a calendar for the love of Dorset Food & Drink.

Inspired by an idea of Tracey Collins, founder of artisan produce company Ajar Of, who lives near Sturminster Newton, a calendar for 2017 has been made by women working together across the county who all love food.

The calendar highlights up-and-coming foodie females in Dorset making waves in the UK food producer scene.

The self-confessed 'foodies' all support independent Dorset produce and companies, and they're determined that more needs to be done to shine a light on women working in the industry.

The idea for the calendar was first founded at the Fish & Ships festival in Portland, where Tracey Collins took note of the Dorset brands on display and felt it was time to share the love for local food.

Tracey said: "I looked around and thought we should all do something together to celebrate Dorset food and produce and thought about making a calendar.

"When we thought about it more we thought women in business is such a key thing at the moment. There's not enough recognition out there at the moment.

"A lot of women here are pretty fantastic and we work very hard and so to get the light shining on us is great and especially when giving something back too."

'Fantastic' is an understatement. Tracey is just one of the photographed women in the calendar whose story can inspire young women wanting to set up independent businesses.

She quit her day job in the city as an analyst to move to Dorset and and set up her 'Ajar Of' business.

Today, Tracey's office is her kitchen where she makes jams, marmalades, chutneys and sauces.

Tracey said: "I've been amazed that though the county is full of jam makers, there's always room for one more.

"We always wanted to give up the city and come and come live the good life.

"And now we have an outbuilding converted into a kitchen and so going to work is a joy."

Gill Rossiter, from Riverford Organic Veg Company decided to join Tracey for the calendar shoot too.

The foodies behind the calendar hope to raise £8,000 in aid of local Dorset charities Weldmar HospiceCare Trust and Julia’s House.

Gill said: "The charities we are supporting are very important and we're also promoting Dorset Food & Drink – which also in turn does so much to support independent businesses here."

Setting up a business with her husband after years serving in the Royal Air Force Gill said the support of the public and collaboration with other Dorset foodies was vital.

Now in her third year of business of supplying organic produce to the public, Gill's inspiring story is the reason why the women 'cooking it for themselves' deserve the spotlight in the calendar.

Gill said: "Gareth and I were ex-military and were looking for something different to do.

"We now deliver organic produce to doorsteps across Dorset and have a little team of three drivers."

The entrepreneur was joined by Gemma Major from Dorset Pie Company, Chrissy Regler, From Dorset With Love and Hazel Hartle from Purbeck Ice Cream amongst other women for the shoot.

Gill said: "Everyone is incredibly talented. It was great fun and the girls all enjoyed being together.

"It's wonderful what you can achieve when you get a group of like minded people together."

Capturing the women in their element surrounded by Dorset produce was local photographer Lara Jane Thorpe.

The acclaimed photographer donated her time and expertise to shoot the entire calendar and captured the picture perfect moments and delicious Dorset delights.

Lara said: "It's been really great fun working with these wonderful entrepreneurial women.

"They all have such amazing stories on how they started their businesses and why – I hope I have captured just a little part of this in their portraits as they have been a real inspiration."

Lara said: "I always try to do several charity projects each year as I believe everyone should support local charities.

"Also, my mother is very ill with cancer at the moment and has been receiving a lot of support from her local hospice so I know firsthand the important work these charities do."

Lara added: "I think it is really important to support these amazing Dorset producers who are supporting the local economy by using locally grown fruit, vegetables, wheat and milk in their products.

"Hiring local designers, web builders and printers and selling their products in local shops – these local producers are why Dorset has a thriving foodie industry."

Katharine Wright from Dorset Food & Drink Co-Ordinator helped to co-ordinate the shoot.

She said: “Dorset is increasingly becoming known as a hotspot for amazing local food producers and this calendar is a celebration of the women behind some of these brands.

"Not only are we keen to highlight the women and the amazing Dorset products, we also want to show those at home how to create some of the delicious products with the on-page recipes.

"We hope to see Dorset recipes cropping up in kitchens all over the country!”

For more information or a copy of the calendar, visit www.dorsetfoodanddrink.org