 Friday, February 22, 2008 by Jeremy Dore (2 comments)
I have always been a bit of an idealist at heart. I suppose I just like to have a theory to explain what I experience. Give me a book on how things ‘should be’ and I’ll enjoy reading it and then debating the relative merits of the ideas. So when two friends of mine recently recommended that I take another look at permaculture I was certainly up for it. Previously I had thought of permaculture as a growing method for the really committed self-sufficient radical. What I discovered was something far more accessible and wide-ranging in application... Read more...
Categories: gardening permaculture organic |
Friday, February 15, 2008 by Jeremy Dore (0 comments)
For many people Harvest is the part of the growing year that they most look forward to: finally all the hard work they have put in results in a wonderful crop of delicious fresh produce. But for me, even the pleasure of late summer comes second place to that time in early spring when I sow my first seeds in pots of fresh compost on a windowsill. What is it that transforms such a seemingly mundane task into one of delight? I think it must be the promise of nature – the wonder of growing productive plants from the tiniest of seeds, the opportunity to be part of the creative process. Perhaps this is why some people talk to their plants (Prince Charles being the most famous example.) Read more...
Categories: vegetables growing seeds |
Friday, February 08, 2008 by Jeremy Dore (8 comments)
This week I was asked about whether we could incorporate perennials into GrowVeg.com garden plans, so that they stayed in position for the next year. It’s definitely something we would like to do and it set me thinking about the value of these plants on a vegetable plot. It turns out that there is a growing movement extolling the benefits of growing perennial plants for food. After all, perennials were once a much greater part of our ancestors’ diets and they are great for the land since they don’t involve all the soil disturbance (and hence erosion) associated with agriculture. But are they really that viable for the home gardener? Read more...
Categories: gardening vegetables fruit |
Friday, February 01, 2008 by Jeremy Dore (4 comments)
Done your seed order but still feel it’s a bit too early to start sowing indoors? Too cold, wet and downright miserable to go and garden outside? Then a good dose of garden web-browsing could be just what you need! At least, that’s my excuse, so this week I thought I’d do a round-up of the best gardening websites I use. That’s after GrowVeg.com of course! Read more...
Categories: gardening websites |
Friday, January 25, 2008 by Jeremy Dore (0 comments)
One of the luxuries of growing your own fruit and vegetables has to be the wonderful range of varieties available. In this age of standardised supermarket produce it’s delightful to have such a great choice of seeds. Why do tomatoes always have to be perfectly round? Why must lettuce always be available in the same standard sized type each week? When you grow your own vegetables become so more interesting! Read more...
Categories: growing vegetables seeds |
Friday, January 18, 2008 by Jeremy Dore (3 comments)
My children have been conducting a rather interesting experiment over the last two weeks. Each member in the family has decided to regularly try a healthy food that they don’t usually eat. For me it’s raw carrot – I love carrots cooked but eating them raw has been a thing I’ve always associated with rabbits and health-freaks. It therefore came as a bit of a shock when I realised that my children’s favourite healthy snack was just that. So, now I have to rise to the challenge - they are watching in glee as I nibble at a slice with each meal. So can our taste be changed...? Read more...
Categories: vegetables vegetarian vegan |
Friday, January 11, 2008 by Jeremy Dore (0 comments)
‘Make a Windowsill Salad Farm’ proclaimed the alluring headline of the gardening magazine that dropped through my letterbox in November. And I have to say I was taken in, despite the voice of reason in my head … Yes, I sowed two trays of seeds just before Christmas to get that summer salad taste. So how did it perform...? Read more...
Categories: gardening indoor |
Thursday, January 03, 2008 by Jeremy Dore (3 comments)
I always make new year’s resolutions but I can rarely remember them by the next month, let alone the next year, which must say something about how seriously I take them. However, I usually have little goals or projects for each area of my life: work, home, leisure and ... gardening. It seems that I’m not alone. Numerous ‘eco charities’ try to grab headlines with their suggested resolutions for a greener lifestyle such as Friends of the Earth’s list from last year and, not surprisingly, taking up gardening is one of the top recommendations. So what are my gardening resolutions...? Read more...
Categories: gardening |
Friday, December 28, 2007 by Jeremy Dore (0 comments)
After the rush of Christmas, there are two things that arrive in the letterbox in my household: travel brochures and seed catalogues. Now these may seem like unrelated items but I think there are strong parallels between the two. Both offer glossy photographs of an idealised result from your purchase, both have beautifully composed write-ups about the benefits of choosing their offerings and such escapism is particularly attractive on dismal wet January days! Of course, there are many types of travel brochure – and gardener – which set me thinking about similarities with where I get seed from... Read more...
Categories: gardening seeds |
Saturday, December 22, 2007 by Jeremy Dore (0 comments)
For many people the highlight of Christmas lunch is a succulent roast turkey or similar meat but for me it has to be the vegetables. OK, so I'm vegan and we have to eat something other than nut roast (which always gets a bad press, usually from people who haven't tried it) but I think there is good reason for veg to take their rightful place in the centre of the table. After all there are so many delightful and inventive ways to cook them and add that extra special touch to your festive meal. Here's my favourites... Read more...
Categories: cooking vegetables vegetarian |