organic vegetable gardening courses, growing tips and homegrown recipes.
I've just been reading a fascinating account of how every culture develops its own folk myths, handed down from one generation to the next in Jonathan Haidt's The Happiness Hypothesis. It seems I've been developing my own gardening myths, such as 'you can't make hot compost in small quantities'. When I applied a little more scrutiny and science, … [Read more...]
Potatoes 2009. You might want to try experimenting with potatoes. … [Read more...]
I've got a bit of a thing about liquorice at the moment. It's an acquired taste, I know. You can add three liquorice herbs to your garden very easily - fennel, dill and french tarragon. You can buy plants or sow fennel and dill from seed. Fennel and dill will seed freely, which means they will be a useful weed in your garden forever. Tarragon … [Read more...]
Some warm summer days mean that it may be time to harvest your garlic if the tops have died down. If they haven't you can always lift a bulb or two gently with a fork while you wait. I plant garlic close together which means the bulbs aren't huge, but no less delicious for all that. The back step salad has needed some extra defences against … [Read more...]
1. Start now - don't wait until next year or until you've got more time, more space, a better place. The supermarket has seeds, potting mix and pots if you need to buy them. 2. Make it small - try a 120cm square and you'll fit most of my top seven winter crops. 3. Keep it close - the closer your vegetables are to your house (or ideally your … [Read more...]
I used an old polystyrene fruit box and planted eight lettuce seedlings in home made compost. A day after I planted them the blackbirds had nearly scratched them all out in their enthusiasm to find some of the many worms. Four short bamboo canes with some mesh stretched across has solved the problem. I also sowed some spinach and radish seeds in … [Read more...]
If you've resolved to get your own vegetable garden going in 2009, I've got just the thing for you. Certainly a good book will help, but coming on a fresh food garden course will give you enthusiasm, encouragement and support as well as knowledge.There's still time to get things started before summer is over. Find out about the two biggest … [Read more...]
pink fir apple potatoes Radio New Zealand National ran a feature on Boxing Day in which I talked about starting your own vegetable garden. Deborah and Charmaine talk about their vegetable gardens and they have both been on the fresh food garden course. … [Read more...]
Here's Tess waiting for Christmas in the back of my car. Hoping for more squeaky balls in her stocking. Not long to go now. Vouchers for the fresh food garden course have been popular Christmas gifts. There are now two dates - Saturday 17 January 2009 and Saturday 31 January 2009. Although they are suitable for beginners, some participants have … [Read more...]
