skycarrots

19/01/12

2012-01-19T22:30:00.001Z

My adventures* today were in the scrubby margins between the railway tracks and the river. The camera I carried was really just an excuse; if you leave the footpath and stare up into trees without an excuse people get curious.

I also took a photo which accidentally looks a bit like one of those hipstamatic i-phone pics. I can't decide whether I like it or not!

*Lunchbreak. Small-scale adventures only!

:)

2012-01-05T14:11:00.000Z

Just a quick blog entry to show you the e-card my brother Chris drew for my birthday - I love it!

I wish my cat would really ride in my basket like that.

Come to think of it, I wish she would help out a bit more on the allotment too...

2012

2012-01-02T15:35:00.002Z

Christmas and the solstice have passed, the holiday is almost over and we've started a new year. I'm noticing signs of spring before we've had any proper winter weather - there are tiny buds on the trees, Daffodil shoots coming up in the hedgerows and Lords and Ladies peeking out from under the leaf litter. Today I even saw Cow Parsley in flower (confused perhaps) and eggshells dropped far from the nests of careful (but not so wise) birds.

My resolution is to make a positive, personal record of 2012 in my paper diary. I am going to write about, draw or photograph one event at the end of each day - something that has made me happy.

2011-12-12T11:28:00.000Z

Autumn seems to take its time in passing. A few leaves still cling to the trees and shimmer in the low sunlight, even now the winter frosts have arrived and we're approaching our darkest day.

My allotment is in slow-motion, which is good news because I have very little opportunity to get over there at this time of year. Last weekend I moved a few blackcurrant bushes and took cuttings from some wild gooseberries. Most of my fruit trees are bare, but one small apple which I grew from a pip is still green and energetic. There are lots of wild and self-sown leaves to pick, my favourites at the moment are sorrel and cornsalad. I have a small patch of alexanders, which when it resurfaces each year on my boggy land-locked plot always amazes me. I plan to try a liqueur, perhaps John Wright's Gin Alexanders. I'm not convinced I'll have it ready by Christmas though...

Foggy morning

2011-11-22T21:21:00.002Z

Maiden Erlegh Lake, Reading

Pictures without words

2011-11-21T20:05:00.004Z

I carry my camera almost everywhere and I just love the light at this time of year. I keep wondering if I should start another photo-a-day project. Last time I didn't post the photos online; I stuck them into a book. Looking through it now I am swept back in time and I remember the way I felt when they were taken. They are not records of what I actually did; they are simply images of things I saw. I didn't intend that they would be symbolic, but they inevitably turned out so.

Perhaps instead I will just try to update my blog more often. I might actually manage that if I post pictures without words sometimes.

2011-11-15T21:55:00.000Z

Today I spotted some mushrooms in the woods and I thought they might be Wood Blewits. They were growing near an old pile of wood-chippings, under deciduous trees. The tops were greyish lilac and slightly wavy, the gills pale and the stems mottled with a brighter purple. I took one as a sample so that I could do a spore print (results to follow), and as soon as I got back from my little foray I consulted Rogers Mushrooms. As usual, when I got my results from the easy key I was filled with doubt. What I had thought were fairly easily identified common edible mushrooms could actually be pretty much anything...

I'm a cautious forager. Since I've been actively studying fungi I've not found any that I'm confident enough to eat. The only ones I've been able to identify with certainty were Fly Agaric - the classic red and white toadstools of fairy tales (eating them didn't even cross my mind...).

I don’t actually like mushrooms that much as food, so you may wonder why I’m bothering to learn about them at all. Well, apart from the fact that fungi are absolutely fascinating and often very beautiful, for me foraging isn’t just about finding food - it’s about learning and exploring. It's a treasure hunt. Finding interesting and useful things satisfies my hunter-gatherer instinct. I think that's also why I enjoy photography - with a camera I gather information and I collect memories of things I've seen or made.

This is what the inside of a rosehip looks like...

2011-11-01T18:02:00.000Z

It's full of seeds and tiny hairs (this is the reason I don't cook with them very often).

The image was made on a flatbed scanner (as were these).

Apples and rosehips

2011-10-30T21:43:00.003Z

Last Saturday Matt and I picked some tasty apples en route to The Museum of English Rural Life (a fascinating little place in Reading town which is packed full of countryside curios). We then joined in their Apple Day celebrations - learning how to press juice, sampling many different varieties of fruit, purchasing local cider, watching apple-and-spoon races and being thoroughly entertained when a friend attempted the longest apple peel competition! Afterwards we headed to Oxford to partake in the mini beer festival Oxtoberfest, where I drank cider. Which I probably would have done anyway, but I used Apple Day as an excuse...

On Tuesday I went for a long walk in the rain and collected about a kilo of rosehips. If nothing goes wrong they will eventually become rosehip wine - my brew is currently glug-glug-glugging away in the kitchen... I think this is my sixth homebrew. I've previously made mayblossom wine, nettle beer and haw wine, as well as a couple from kits. I've had no disasters so far, and the haw wine I made last year was actually very good indeed. I'm hoping the rosehip will turn out well too as the recipe is very similar (it's from Roger Phillips' Wild Food).

Gathering and crafting...

2011-10-24T21:03:00.001+01:00

In those early days of autumn when the leaves are just beginning to change colour and the morning air has the first hint of an icy blast, it's wise to start making plans for winter. For me this means hanging thick curtains, digging out my bike lights and thinking about Christmas presents. When you make your own gifts you really do have to plan ahead. Last year I spent the whole of October, November and December knitting, crocheting, jam- and liqueur-making...

A few weeks ago I collected sloes. I use vodka for most of my liqueurs but this year I've decided to make traditional Sloe Gin. I collected these before the frost because I was worried they'd all be gone if I waited!

In the depths of my kitchen cupboards I also have summery jars of Blackberry Vodka and August Liqueur, slowly mellowing and becoming more festive.

My next task is to think of something nice I can make for my non-alcoholic family members. Perhaps a jelly of some kind - crabapple, quince, rosehip...?

A brief escape...

2011-09-26T19:58:00.000+01:00

We've just spent the weekend camping with friends on the beautiful Berkshire Downs in the Vale of the White Horse. Although it was a rush to get there after work on Friday and to pitch up before dark it was well worth the effort. We had a lovely few days catching up with gossip, wandering and exploring and making the most of summer's end. Here are a few photos... they hold memories of a picturesque and peaceful little interlude in my very busy September.

Fungus foray - my best find!

2011-09-05T20:43:00.000+01:00

I was genuinely out looking for mushrooms when I spotted this:

August-flavoured liqueur:

2011-08-31T20:44:00.001+01:00

Victoria plums
Blackberries
Alpine strawberries
Greengages
Elderberries
Blackcurrants
Crabapples
Fuchsia fruits
Sugar
Vodka

I'm still trying to learn my mushrooms!

2011-08-30T21:28:00.000+01:00

Perhaps this one is actually a toadstool (for a very tiny toad).
Or maybe a flying saucer.

I did a spore print - the colour is dark browny-purply-black.

I spent ages searching Roger Phillips' book for this and a few others I've found recently. Identifying fungi is SO difficult! It seems to fit the description for Panaeolus rickenii. It *looks* like lots of others, but spore print colour narrows down the options. Whatever it is, it's very pretty. And no, I'm not going to eat it.

Dark Mountain Festival

2011-08-22T08:56:00.004+01:00

I've just returned from a truly inspiring weekend with Matt at the Uncivilisation 2011 / Dark Mountain Festival . I had very little idea what to expect from it, but I've come away buzzing!

There were many brilliant speakers and events over the course of three days. My favourites included music by the excellent Marmaduke Dando, atmospheric storytelling around the campfire by Tom Hirons and Rima Staines, an enlightening and thoroughly entertaining session on home brewing by Andy Hamilton (with free samples!), and a foraging ramble with Fergus Drennan, whose knowledge is extensive and whose enthusiasm is contagious!

Yesterday morning as the festival drew to a close we learned more about the Dark Mountain project by listening to a discussion about its motivations and future direction. This was followed by a very moving report on the situation in West Papua, where native tribes are being persecuted and their sacred rainforest is being destroyed, ultimately because of OUR greed. Many of the audience were moved to tears. Please have a look at the link: Free West Papua

The weekend was very thought-provoking. I feel guiltier than ever about my materialistic lifestyle and I know I must do more to change the things I hate (like the destruction of our beautiful planet) and also to promote the things I believe in. I feel really motivated by conversations Matt and I had with some inspiring and genuinely lovely people.

Matt bought me a framed print by Rima, which is also the cover of the latest Dark Mountain book, and quite a fitting souvenir. I took a few photos – the best are just tiny details of the venue (the Sustainability Centre in Hampshire) and some other little things I noticed which may or may not be relevant...

There are a couple more on Flickr...

A short walk...

2011-08-15T13:31:00.004+01:00

This morning I decided to check out a jitty (leicestershire-speak for a pathway between houses) that I often pass on my way home from work. In doing so I explored a whole extra 100 metres of my local area. It doesn't sound like much, but every little bit of newly discovered land can hold treasure for a foraging photographer...

I ended up at Maiden Erlegh Nature Reserve where I took lots of pictures that I didn't like (the wild chicory flowers were amazing!), and my brain is now full of ideas about mapping and adventuring as close as possible to my own front door. I can feel a project coming on.

Seasonal changes

2011-08-07T18:58:00.000+01:00

On Friday I went to the plot intending to work but as usual I got distracted by photography. I was struck by how quickly things are flowering, making fruit and going to seed. 'Late summer' is definitely here...

Lizard!

2011-07-26T14:16:00.000+01:00

A Common Lizard hiding (not very well, it has to be said) under a bit of weed-control fabric on my allotment. Taken this morning :)

General catch-up

2011-07-18T13:37:00.000+01:00

I've just got back from a quick session on the allotment, and it's doing well. This year I haven't harvested as much as I usually do, but then I haven't put in as much work either! Notable successes so far include beetroot, blackcurrants, various herbs, a giant sunflower which was self-sown and my lovely little potted fig tree. My (once) wild burdock is looking good too - I'm quite excited about trying it. As usual, though, I'm struggling with carrots and rhubarb, and this year my beans have failed miserably too...

I was just thinking about my mulching system of old cardboard boxes covered with grass clippings, wondering whether it's really such a great idea. It provides a lovely damp home for slugs, and doesn't seem to deter the bindweed at all. But as I was tidying up a little frog hopped out, and just a bit further away a lizard scuttled over the warm dry cardboard. Then a cricket landed on my head. There is such a fantastic variety of wildlife on my plot, I really don't want to disturb things if I can help it. Even the slugs are interesting! As long as they're not too close to my salad plants.

I've done very little foraging this year. I always pick wild greens from my allotment, and I've had a few cherries and redcurrants from the hedgerow, but that's about all. Blackberries are just coming into season though, as are cherry plums, so perhaps it's about time I got my act together! I recently acquired an ice-cream maker, so now a whole new world of preserving has opened up to me...

Redcurrants growing in the hedgerow, click for larger image.

Vinegar prints

2011-06-19T22:20:00.002+01:00

I'm working on a method of transferring the pigment from leaves and flowers onto paper using vinegar. This process is completely non-toxic and environmentally friendly, which is quite refreshing after so many years in the photographic darkroom. Here are some of my first results...

Allotment update

2011-06-12T17:44:00.000+01:00

I spent yesterday afternoon in the sunshine happily tidying up the plot. My weeding strategy is to never pull out anything useful, edible, interesting, harmless or unidentified. In other words, I don't do much weeding! Although I do remove thistles and nettles for my own comfort. I enjoy finding self-sown herbs and unusual flowers, which I leave to grow on where they appear. My allotment has become a random jungle of curiosities rather than a collection of neat little rows of cabbages. I'm gradually learning which plants succeed there naturally, and I'm no longer bothering with those that don't (apart from a few exceptions which I keep in pots, like my Fig tree and my giant Lavender).

This morning I took a rainy trip to the garden centre, where I bought a little Bay tree to add to my potted collection. It's now on the allotment along with my three baby Kumquats which need some fresh air and sunlight after spending the first six months of their lives on my miserable north-facing windowsill. Let's hope they don't die of shock...

The photograph is of wild Ox-eye Daisies and Sorrel growing at the edge of my plot - both are edible as well as beautiful!

Why is there bread in my watering can?

2011-05-23T21:36:00.000+01:00

Sometimes when I visit the allotment before work I find random items of food in my watering can. I've found bacon in there and I've found jacket potatoes, but usually it's bread. Who is stopping by my plot for breakfast but leaving their food only half-eaten??

Allotment update

2011-04-15T15:59:00.000+01:00

I'm on holiday today but I got up nice and early (thanks to the cat) and headed over to the allotment for a catch-up.

I'm really behind this year - I've hardly sown or planted anything - but thanks to my recent strategy of concentrating on permanent/perennial/self-seeding crops there's still quite a lot going on!

My fruit bushes are beginning to flower; I have blackcurrants, gooseberries and some raspberries which spontaneously appeared in one of my large pots. My plum tree has bloomed and is already bearing lots of tiny green fruits. I bought a little "patio" apple tree a few months ago - lots of leaves on that and it looks quite healthy, but I won't get apples this year. I've also got a small crabapple with red foliage which I grew from a tiny seed, and two more babies from a juicy apple I ate at some point during the winter. One day I will have apples galore but for now I just have a selection of pretty trees.

The little fig tree I bought last year has (mostly) survived. One of the branches seems to be dead, but the rest of the plant looks quite healthy. There is even a tiny round fruit (or flower bud?) on it...

The jerusalem artichokes are already up (a very reliable perennial crop) but my globe artichokes don't seem to have made it. I should have protected them with straw over winter. The rhubarb made a good start but is looking quite slug-eaten and still too feeble to harvest. I really have no luck with rhubarb! My mint bed is looking brilliant already, but the wild water mint seems to be bullying the garden mint a bit! I also have lemon balm in there, which is looking good. Lavender, rosemary and thyme are all doing well in their respective giant pots and tryes. Happy self-seeded things include rocket, cornsalad, parsley and chives. And there are LOTS of wild edibles too including nettles, sorrel, ox-eye daisy, ground elder, hops and this morning I even found what I think is a morel mushroom (I left it alone though).

So far this year I've sown carrots, beetroot, runner beans (under cloches), a few herbs and a few weeds. I did actually sow weeds - I have a whole bed devoted to burdock. I'd really like to try it (you can eat the roots) but digging up wild plants is illegal. Let's hope they all survive the slugs!

Happy Spring!

2011-03-20T21:26:00.000Z

This is a cherry plum in full bloom :)

It lives!

2011-02-20T11:23:00.000Z

I visited my allotment (in the rain) yesterday, and was pleased to find that my rhubarb has survived the winter. Normally the frozen waterlogged ground gets the better of it. I might actually be able to eat some this year! The best lunch I ever had was stewed rhubarb with a poached duck egg. Yum......

February half term is traditionally when I start to actually put some effort in after winter. The nights should now be light enough for quick visits after work. Everything is starting to grow again and it makes me happy!

Lumen prints

2011-02-06T18:48:00.000Z

I've been experimenting with lumen prints. They are made on photographic paper without the use of a darkroom or any chemicals...

Christmas part two and new year part one

2011-01-23T11:06:00.000Z

I am rubbish at keeping my blog up to date. Oops! Must try harder.

For Christmas-plus-birthday I got a brilliant present from my Dad: a food dehydrator. It's yet another kitchen gadget, of course... but to be fair I do use *most* of my kitchen gadgets... really I do!

Anyway, it's quite exciting! So far I've only used it for simple things, like dehydrating fruit to go with my breakfast cereal (apples are the best). I imagine it'll really come into it's own later in the year when I'm desperately trying to preserve all of summer's bounty. I think it'll be useful for making christmas gifts too. I'd really like to try candied fruits and flowers, and also fruit leathers (which get mentioned so frequently by foragers). When I make something exciting, I'll post pictures!

Since Christmas I've had very little time for allotmenteering, because mornings and evenings are so dark and I'm usually busy at weekends. I think I'm obsessed with sunset times though - I've been watching it get lighter and lighter every evening since mid-December, and now I'm just about leaving work in daylight again. This makes me happy! Soon I'll be able to visit the plot on my way home, and then the crazy gardening year will begin once more. Can't wait! :)

Christmas Part One

2010-12-29T21:36:00.000Z

This year I managed to grow enough Blackcurrants to make a batch of jam. Hurrah! These little jars made ideal presents for my Dad and Nan. The alcoholics in my family got Greengage & Victoria Plum Vodka.

I also knitted scarfs (scarves?) but that's another story!

A gardening day

2010-11-13T16:31:00.000Z

I enjoy winter gardening - finally a chance to catch up with everything! It's quite relaxing compared to the race and constant battle of summer.

I spent this morning on the allotment, generally tidying up and clearing out rubbish. I "pruned" some young trees which border my plot (I'm attempting to use them as living fence posts!) and made a big heap of twigs which I'm hoping will make a nice home for wildlife (especially lizards). I saw a friendly garden toad, which I'd have thought should be hibernating by now, but I'm happy for him to eat a few extra slugs before the really cold weather sets in!

This afternoon I decided to finally take ownership of a strip of land next to the carpark by my flat. It's not loved by anyone, and although I've occasionally pulled out the odd weed, I've always been reluctant to do much more. Today I cleared a big sackful of brambles and nettles, and I've decided it's time to make further plans...

I also removed a few of my neighbour's thistles... hope he doesn't mind!

Another attempt at homebrewing...

2010-10-02T22:45:00.000+01:00

Last weekend Matt and I collected 2.7kgs of Haws:

I'm attempting to turn most of them into wine, following the recipe in Roger Phillips' "Wild Food". Stage one was to cover them in boiling water, and leave for a week, stirring daily. Stage two was to strain them, add the liquid to a sugar syrup with oranges and lemons, then introduce the yeast. I did that this evening. Now I have to wait for 24 hours before transferring to a demijohn then fermenting for... however long. I'm not convinced it'll work (as I've already done lots of things wrong!) but I'll keep you posted on my progress :)

Scrumping!

2010-09-05T18:51:00.001+01:00

Well perhaps not strictly scrumping, because I think that means stealing from other people's trees. But I do like the word, and if I had a cider press I'd certainly be making scrumpy!

(The cat didn't help - she's just pretending)

An urban forage...

2010-08-23T22:02:00.000+01:00

This morning I gathered 3lb elderberries, 2lb plums (greengages and victoria), 8 apples and 1 grape (just testing it!) all within the space of about half an hour.

Then I tried to make elderberry vinegar, but the recipe I followed didn't seem to work out, so it's not really vinegar at all - more like ketchup. Or perhaps syrup with a kick. Sweet and sour. But very yummy all the same and I might just make some more!

I also started some greengage vodka. It's kind of experimental. I imagine it will be quite sweet, and hopefully it'll end up a nice golden colour...

The apples taste nice, although they are a bit grubby so need cutting up rather than blindly shovelling in to the mouth! They are windfalls from an overhanging garden tree. The Victoria plums were also from a garden tree. And so was the grape :)

It sort-of feels like Autumn already.

An experiment in fungus identification

2010-08-20T10:34:00.000+01:00

The other day, I found these tasty-looking morsels* growing in great arcs in the grass outside where I work. Although I'm getting pretty good at recognising edible wild plants and flowers, mushrooms confuse and intimidate me! So I decided to have a go at identifying (but not eating) them, just out of curiosity...

They are on a "lawn" I suppose, growing near to a mixture of trees but not under any one inparticular. They look like the kind of button mushrooms you buy in the supermarket, but then I imagine so do a lot of these things! The older ones have dark brown gills and a slight ring on the stem where the cap used to be attached. The younger ones, as you can see from the picture below, have pink gills. The stem is not bulbous, and the mushroom doesn't change colour or do anything weird when sliced.

I made a spore print. This excited me very much! Look! :)

The spores are chocolate brown.

I looked on Roger Phillips mushroom site and filled in the "easy key". It came up with 4 suggestions, but each of these had a "distinct or odd smell (non mushroomy)". My specimen definitely smelled like a mushroom! So I went back to an earlier suggestion which came up before I did the spore print - Agaricus Campestris or Field Mushroom. I noticed that although the short description says the spores are purplish to black, the long description says they are brown! So there's an error there somewhere. I didn't notice the flesh bruising slightly pink, though.

Anyway, this is my amateur nearly-identification result: Agaricus Campestris. I'd be grateful to hear from proper mushroom experts with their opinions. I'm also going to post this blog entry to my favourite online forum to ask the good folks there for some input...

Spore prints are great. I can feel a new art project coming on! :)

*I don't actually like mushrooms! I'm determined to keep trying though.

Elder (Anthotype), May-Aug 2010

2010-08-16T20:10:00.000+01:00

This is my first attempt at making an anthotype. The process is very simple - paper is coated in a vegetable dye, then an object is contact printed by exposure to the sun over a period of months. Here I've used Elderberry juice to make the dye, and an Elder leaf to make the image. The resulting print is not permanent and will fade if left out in daylight. But I think that's part of its charm really :)

Blackberries!

2010-07-30T20:48:00.000+01:00

The blackberries seem bigger and jucier than ever this year - despite all the dry weather we've had!

My current favourite way to eat them is with homemade yoghurt...

Small-scale foraging

2010-07-24T12:10:00.000+01:00

I just collected at least 956544285878 poppy seeds, and in the process of doing so made a lovely arrangement of seedheads in a vase. During the activity I only found one spider, one caterpillar and one earwig (which is still on the loose somewhere in my flat)! I realised afterwards I should probably have left the seeds in their cases for a few more days to make sure they were properly dried out, but you live and learn.

I now have plans to collect Honesty seeds (more dried flower arrangements - I am turning into my mother! But that's OK) and Himalayan Balsam. I want to get experimental with my biscuit and bread making! :)

Linden tea

2010-07-12T21:41:00.000+01:00

These are the flowers of the Lime tree, gathered a few weeks ago when they first came into bloom. I'm not referring to the citrus Lime, but the unrelated Common Lime (Linden) which is frequently planted in parks and public spaces here in the UK.

Coincidentally, my resulting Linden and sticky greenfly tea tasted quite similar to the Gorse flower and small beetle tea that I made back in March! :)

Holiday foraging

2010-07-11T11:32:00.002+01:00

Last week I went on a lovely camping holiday to North Norfolk. Whilst exploring the beautiful countryside, seashore and salt marshes I found lots of interesting edible wild plants. The marshes in particular are a fascinating and unique environment. Here are a few photos...

Wild Celery

I didn't eat any, but I did crush the leaf and give it a good sniff to be sure. Unmistakeable!
(This, by the way, isn't celery!)

Fool's Watercress / Pie-cress?

This one I'm less certain of. I don't think it's true watercress, and I can't find anything else that it looks like. Aparently, if my ID is correct, it's also edible (even though the name seems to suggest otherwise!).
[edit] Miles Irving lists this as edible, but according to Ray Mears and Gordon Hillman it's poisonous! I don't think I'll be trying it...

Sea Purslane

The marshes were covered in this! I'd seen it before but never tried it. The leaves are juicy and salty. It's a member of the Goosefoot family (the same as Fat Hen, which I often collect from my allotment to use as Spinach).

Marsh Samphire

Again, I'd seen this before but not tried it. This time I collected a small basketful and cooked it by briefly boiling in (unsalted) water. Apart from the fact that it has "bones" (must be a nightmare to eat with fish!) it's very good indeed. Succulent and not too salty after cooking. The tips are nice and crunchy to nibble raw as well. I noticed it was being sold in local shops - apparently it's a delicacy.

Apart from these I also spotted Bladder Campion, Sea Beet, Sea Holly, Sea Lettuce, Alexanders and various unidentified Apiaceae, including what I think was a mass of angelica (the garden type, not the common wild angelica). There were also some amazing gigantic silvery thistles which looked a little like Artichokes - they may or may not have been edible but I wish I'd taken a photograph!

Allotment update!

2010-07-11T09:28:00.001+01:00

Sorry I've not been posting much - really busy!

I recently got back from a 5 day holiday and was expecting to find the allotment either swamped in weeds or completely dried-out and dead. In actual fact, not much has changed. This extremely hot weather must be slowing things down.

Before I left I picked my first few tiny courgettes. When I returned I picked my first huge one! So I'm now making my first loaf of courgette bread :)

Every time I visit the plot I get a little handful of juicy alpine strawberries. I never take any home with me, they're essential for thirst-quenching after a hot bike ride!

Yesterday I picked my first blackcurrants. Last year I only got a handful because the bushes were very young. This year I'm hoping for enough to make a bit of jam...

Apart from strawberries, courgettes and blackcurrants, so far this year I've harvested lettuce/salads, peas, broad beans and various herbs. And lots of weeds (I think I am genuinely more interested in the weeds and the self-seeders than the crops I've actually planted)! Oh and millions of angelica seeds! Does anyone know what I can do with them? I'm hoping they can be used in breads and cakes etc.

Other things I'm growing right now include potatoes (no blight yet!), beetroot, rhubarb (third attempt, this time from seed, last plant just hanging in there!), sunflowers, jerusalem artichokes, globe artichokes (from seed, exciting!), carrots and onions (both doing very badly), runner beans, various trees (the fruit of which amounts to a grand total of 3 plums), and my favourite herbs lavender and mint. I have all sorts of plans for the plot, including a sort-of mini forest garden with a lot more perennials and self-seeders. I like my gardening to be as lazy as possible! ;)

Cherries!

2010-06-11T21:55:00.000+01:00

I picked my first handful from a tree by the lake... :)

Camera Obscura

2010-05-24T21:56:00.002+01:00

I'm in the process of moving all my artwork/photography over to Flickr in order to keep everything together. I might just post a few old pics on here as I go...

These were made with a "Camera Obscura" which I fashioned from a cardboard box, a magnifying glass and a sheet of tracing paper:

Allotment friend :)

2010-05-23T22:12:00.002+01:00

When I actually get round to digging or weeding my plot, this little guy always pops over to say hi...

I need help to identify some botanical specimens...

2010-05-09T16:56:00.004+01:00

One lunchtime last week I went for a little bikeride by the Thames, hoping to see Adders. Unfortunately there were none but I did discover an interesting plant which I've not seen before. It was growing by a lake (but not right in the water). I thought it looked a bit celeryish, but for some reason I didn't think to scratch'n'sniff. I will go back in a few weeks to see if it's flowering...

The second mystery is a tree (well, shrub I guess) that's growing near to my flat. I always wondered if it was something like a Bay, but now it has these strange red fruits on it. They have a stone or large seed in the middle... any ideas?

In other news - I am BORED BORED BORED of this cold north-easterly wind! What happened to the gulf stream? Brrr!

[edit] The mystery tree is now at least partially identified, thanks to helpful Flickr users!

Nettle beer update...

2010-05-07T20:21:00.002+01:00

The nettle beer I made last month is the fizziest brew EVER! It is now mostly all over my kitchen floor and all over my cardigan. Tastes pretty good though! :)

Nettle beer and broad beans (but not yet)

2010-04-13T22:21:00.005+01:00

Oh dear, I'm not doing very well with my weekly wild food foraging. I have been noticing and nibbling things, but it seems I just don't have the time to blog about them!

One thing I have managed though, is to start a batch of nettle beer. My flat currently smells a bit yeasty! I'm bottling it tomorrow.

This picture is a bit old - it was made back in January for a group art project. The nettles are actually much better at this time of year!

Something else interesting to distract you from the fact that I haven't done my homework - yesterday I found wild (or feral) broad beans! They are definitely beans and not sweet peas or anything like that. I'll have to keep an eye on them to see what happens (and whether they get trampled).

Oh yeah - and I discovered a nearby National Cycle Network route that looks like it'll be great for hedgerow foraging later in the year... :)

Yay!

2010-03-28T14:04:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I walked by my favourite berry-picking hedge. This blossom looks like one from the prunus family, perhaps cherry plum (I know there are some along that route). The Blackthorn is about to burst into bloom too. Spring is finally here!

And to acknowledge British Summertime, I'm going to the allotment *later* :)

Broadening my blogging horizons...*

2010-03-26T17:48:00.005Z

A selection of work from my "leafminers" series is currently on display at Cornerstone, the funky new arts centre in Didcot (Oxfordshire, UK). It's part of an exhibition called "Flora and Fauna" which runs until 18th April. If you're in the area I recommend a visit - even if only to sample the yummy cakes! ;)

(clicking the link will take you to Flickr where you can view the full set)

*I've decided to include my "artistic endeavours" in this blog, in an attempt to streamline my life! Or something.

Weeks 9, 10 and 11

2010-03-17T09:04:00.003Z

Week 9: Yarrow

Yarrow tea - it's a bit odd. It doesn't have a particularly strong flavour. Some say it tastes of Rosemary but I'm not sure. Supposedly, it has psychotropic properties and makes you see in "pure colour". I do remember that the first time I tried it, some years ago, I suddely noticed that my friend's top was actually brown and not black as I had previously assumed. That's the best I managed though!

(This is an archive photo from a few years ago)

Week 10: Gorse

I made Gorse flower and small beetle tea! :)

I took a handful of fresh flowers and infused them in boiled water for about 10 minutes. The resulting brew smelled awful, but tasted rather nice! It didn't need sweetening at all (but I rarely sweeten tea anyway). It was similar to the Pine tea I made on week 2, but less sickly. Best one so far (apart from the beetles)!

Week 11: Garlic mustard

I'm going to be lazy with this one and point you to an old entry :)

Weeks 6, 7 and 8

2010-02-22T21:02:00.002Z

Week 6: Hairy Bittercress grows all over the place and at most times of the year. It tastes cress-like (surprise!) but if anything a bit stronger and hotter than the type I grow on my windowsill. It'd be great in egg sandwiches!

Week 7: Alexanders.
This photo was taken in October. The plants are much more grown-up now. I gathered a handful of the thick fleshy leaf stems and steamed them in a tinfoil parcel with a lovely fresh Pollack fillet. Both foods were from Worthing seaside :)

Week 8: Wild Chives are surprisingly common. These are growing in a cemetery in the centre of Reading. I'm sure you already know what they taste like and what to do with them...

Week 4 and week 5!

2010-01-31T22:05:00.003Z

On week 4 I chose lovely lemony tangy Common Sorrel - one of my favourite wild greens. You can eat it raw in salads or cook it as a vegetable. It goes well with fish, and makes a particularly yummy soup. I decided to try something new for the purpose of this blog. These are Sorrel tarts, a la Ray Mears:

The recipe (from the TV series "Wild Food") is fairly vague, but basically you cook the sorrel in a pan until it turns to a sort-of sludge, then add sour cream and sugar to taste, and dollop the mixture into pre-cooked pastry cases. I think I used too much cream, but they were still nice!

On week 5 I opted to try Cleavers. I've known this plant for ever (when I was little we called it Goosegrass) but never eaten it before. The taste is quite pleasant but I found that the rough texture didn't disappear on cooking so it was difficult to eat. Beggars can't be choosers though - there really isn't much else around after all the snow and ice we've had! Next week is gonna be tricky... ideas appreciated!

Week 3 - Chickweed

2010-01-18T22:04:00.003Z

Once again I struggled this week due to snow and ice covering the ground. But I did manage to find a few patches of chickweed growing along the top of a wall.

(This is an old photo by the way!)

Chickweed is one of the better known and well-liked wild greens, but I personally find it a bit strong. It reminds me of rocket, which is just not my thing. Actually I think it tastes a bit soapy!

I've been nibbling at it in salads this week anyway though, purely for blogging purposes. If you decide to try it too let me know what you think...

Week 2 - Pine

2010-01-10T16:06:00.004Z

I was really struggling to find anything edible this week as we've had a thick covering of snow which has left all the little green leaves completely hidden. I was ready to give up and forage something from my freezer, but a short walk this morning revealed a new pleasure. I've never tried it before, but I'm currently drinking a nice hot cup of pine needle tea! It's quite a revelation actually; I don't usually enjoy anything but "normalitea".

When I got home I thought I'd better double-check my reference books. I think I used Scots Pine or something very similar. It had those proper pine cones on it (the ones you hang outside to measure the humidity in the air). Apparently the only poisonous species of conifer is Yew (that's the one with red berries and flat, short needles), which I know well, so I wasn't too scared to give it a go.

The method I used was to chop and bruise the needles, and then steep them in just-boiled water for about 10 minutes. The resulting brew looks slightly oily (the sap is quite sticky), and smells quite aromatic. The taste is naturally quite sweet, you don't need to add sugar or honey (in my opinion). I didn't make it very strong, and it's perhaps not the best time of year (new spring growth required?), but it's very nice anyway and I would definitely recommend it. Pine needles contain high levels of vitamin C - ideal for fighting those winter colds and flu!

Januaryness...

2010-01-06T12:23:00.001Z

I *was* planning to experiment with goosegrass/cleavers during week 2 of my 52 week wild food study... but 24cm of snow (and counting) might put paid to that idea! We shall have to wait and see.

Meanwhile, here's a link to the fab birthday card my brother made for me. It's a drawing of me on the allotment with my cat! :)

A new project - 52 weeks of wild food!

2010-01-01T17:44:00.003Z

I'm going to try to write about (and illustrate) a different wild food plant/fungi/seaweed/thing each week for a year.

Week 1 - Navelwort (Umbilicus rupestris)

Also known as Pennywort. According to Roger Phillips it's commonly found growing on old walls in the Westcountry - which is exactly where I discovered it! I recognised it straight away (because I'm a geek and I have lots of wild food books).
The penny-sized leaves are succulent and juicy and make a good addition to salads. The flavour is of.. erm.. green. Quite pleasant, not exciting in a culinary sense but I was very happy to try something new :)

Not long til summer...

2009-12-15T10:34:00.001Z

Although the winter solstice is still almost a week away, you might be interested to know that we've pretty much reached the darkest evening of the year. The sunset times here in Reading are 1555 for tonight, tomorrow and Thursday, and then 1556 on Friday. Hurrah! :)

Sunflower seeds

2009-11-16T22:44:00.001Z

Probably not for eating... probably for sowing next year. I have plans for a bit of guerilla gardening!

Sad news - the council have chopped down (or perhaps dug up) the cherry plums in Kings Road Garden. They produced such abundant sweet fruit, and were some of the first I found in Reading. Poor little trees :(

Seasonal cooking :)

2009-11-08T21:48:00.001Z

Today's harvest consisted mostly of nettles and jerusalem artichokes, so I made nettle and jerusalem artichoke soup. The ingredients were onions + potatoes + artichokes + nettles + seasoning. It was ok - full of healthy goodness but a little bland. My plan for tomorrow is to add more flavour, which I've decided will come from crab apples and perhaps a bit of cinnamon. The resulting concoction will either be a work of genius or a complete disaster! I'll keep you posted...

Today's photos

2009-10-25T22:11:00.001Z

Alexanders likes to grow by the sea, and there are lots of new shoots at the moment. I'm still learning about this plant, and now I've found a "patch" I'm watching (and nibbling) with interest...

Tomatoes like to grow pretty much anywhere, I think. I've often seen them poking out through cracks in the pavement, but this is about the biggest feral tomato plantation I've come across. Lots of flowers - shame it's too late in the year for fruit (not that I'd eat any having seen the source of fertiliser!)...

Chestnut roast recipe

2009-10-18T19:54:00.004+01:00

I made a nut roast with (some of) my foraged chestnuts:

RECIPE

a few tiny courgettes (or other veg)
a few shallots (or onions)
150g chopped cashew nuts
150g chopped chestnuts (or chestnut puree, which gives a smoother texture)
1 egg, lightly beaten
100g breadcrumbs
a few drops of soy sauce (or a dash of marmite)
chopped sage (or other herbs)

Fry shallots and courgettes til soft. Remove from heat and stir in other ingredients. Squish mixture into greased loaf tin, and roast in medium oven for, um, 40 mins to 1 hour. Simples!

This recipe is an adaptation of one regularly used by my ex, Paul. He makes his version (very well indeed) with chestnut puree. The ingredients and quantities are very much open to interpretation. I'm thinking of trying one with a bit of parmesan in it :)

Foraging and allotmenteering!

2009-10-16T16:57:00.004+01:00

Is it my imagination or are the chestnuts extra tiny this year? I've collected a few handfuls but nothing much to boast about. Shame, I love chestnuts :(
Anyway, I'm going to make a nut roast with these at some point this weekend:

I spent the afternoon (day off - hurrah!) on my allotment. It was lovely and sunny! I haven't had chance to do anything constructive up there for what seems like months, but today I started clearing beds and cutting the grass etc. I came home with a few little courgettes, quite a lot of beetroot and yet more runner beans. I think those three crops have been my biggest successes this season, and my freezer is now full of them. From just one pack of seeds I honestly think I've had about 4 years constant supply of courgettes!

Harvest Festival

2009-09-27T18:26:00.002+01:00

Last night a few friends came over* to help me celebrate the harvest! We ate lots of yummy food including quiches, pumpkin pie, homegrown salad, tasty tomatoes, beetroot, roast veg, bread and cakes (inc experimental hedgerow muffins). We drank some very interesting cocktails too such as vodka with elderflower cordial, beech leaf noyau, rosehip syrup (which smells like tomatoes!), and homebrew wine. All in all a lovely evening, and I think it might just have to become an annual event :)

* Please don't be offended if you weren't invited - my tiny studio flat is seriously only just big enough for parties of a maximum 5 people!

Crab Apples

2009-09-24T22:31:00.004+01:00

Today I collected crab apples. What shall I do with them?

Hips 'n' Haws

2009-09-12T20:27:00.003+01:00

What a beautiful sunny September day it has been!

This afternoon I decided to go out and collect rosehips. I also found gigantic haws the size of crab apples(!) so I grabbed those too. I'm on the lookout for some savoury recipe ideas - I've never been much of a sweet-tooth, I don't really eat jam, and I have very little space for wine-making. I found a recipe for rosehip soup which looks interesting... any other suggestions?

Very quick update - busy busy busy!

2009-09-04T21:52:00.001+01:00

Runner beans, courgettes and cucumbers are really keeping me on my toes; I can't seem to pick, eat, cook or freeze them fast enough!

All the green tomatoes I rescued from blight are actually doing OK! I'm ripening them in batches on my windowsill with the aid of bananas :)

Allotments are hard work (even if I've insisted otherwise during non-summer months)!

Broadening my horizons...

2009-08-25T15:37:00.001+01:00

A few weeks ago I visited the RISC roof garden. It's a fascinating place and I can recommend their guided tours if you're in the Reading area (next open 12/13 Sept). From there I bought an intriguing little herb called Stevia. The leaves are extremely (shockingly!) sweet and it can be used in place of sugar - apparently it's much healthier too. However it's controversial (mainly for complicated political reasons) and has historically been banned in many areas...!
Another species they're growing that I'd like to try is Oxalis tuberosa or Oca. It has an edible tuber that won't succumb to the dreaded blight! If the leaves taste like those of its relative Wood Sorrel that's an added bonus :)

100% homegrown lunch :)

2009-08-19T13:07:00.000+01:00

Today's harvest

2009-08-18T22:52:00.002+01:00

I've been away for a few days and blight has struck! I've rescued my remaining potatoes but I think the tomatoes are doomed :(

Coiled baskets

2009-08-03T19:24:00.003+01:00

I made these two little baskets from raffia. I'd seen the technique on Ray Mears' TV programmes and thought it didn't look too difficult. They turned out OK - although it's really tricky to build the edges up at the correct angle (the one on the right was my first attempt and wasn't supposed to be that shape)!

My next plan is to try this with home-made nettle cordage...

I'm such a geek :)

Trying new things...

2009-07-29T21:39:00.002+01:00

Today I tried two new wild food things: Dandelion root and Fat Hen flowers/seeds (I've often eaten the greens from both of these plants).

Dandelion root is something I'd been meaning to taste for ages. It's one of the few wild roots that can easily be acquired by foragers, as people are generally desperate to get rid of them from lawns and so on. Initially I found it quite pleasant, but it had a bitter aftertaste. Overall I was disappointed. I only ate a few, chopped up in a risotto with various other wild and home-grown bits and bobs.

Fat Hen seeds, on the other hand, are yummy! Again, I only tried a few because I was a little nervous (I read something somewhere about saponins, but most sources don't mention any hazards at all). As long as they are safe (!) I think they would be lovely in bread/baking. Fat Hen is from the same family as Quinoa, and apparently both seeds and greens have been eaten by humans (as well as hens) since ancient times. Any advice from the more experienced would be much appreciated...

I was planning to go into more detail about my dinner but I think I need further practice before I share tips. It was the first risotto I've ever made! *hangs head in shame*

:)

Wild food wanderings...

2009-07-24T18:45:00.003+01:00

This morning I went for a short bikeride (/walk) out towards Dinton Pastures. I took a notebook and made a list of all the wild (and wild-ish) food plants I noticed along the way. These were all either on jitties between houses in Lower Earley or on footpaths by the River Loddon, and are listed in order of discovery. Of course there must be loads more out there - these are just the ones I recognised as I passed them by (or ate them)...

Blackberry
Rowan
Cherry
Dandelion
Clover
Oak
Damson
Sloe
Cherry plum (yellow, red)
Hawthorn
Burdock
Dog Rose
Hazel
Nettle (various)
Elder
Guelder Rose
Apple
Lime
Walnut
Mallow
Fat Hen / Orache
Shepherd's Purse
Yarrow
Valerian
Meadowsweet
Ground Ivy
Hogweed
Jack-by-the-Hedge
Birch
Hops
Comfrey
Ground Elder
Rosebay Willowherb
Angelica (?)
Chickweed
Wild Carrot
Water Mint
Tansy
Silverweed
Coltsfoot
Cleavers
Vetch / Wild Pea
Self-heal

Allotment update

2009-07-20T17:48:00.004+01:00

I had a good weeding session this morning - something I really should do more often. I brought back a few beetroot, including a random white one:

So far this year I've also harvested potatoes (1st and 2nd earlies), broad beans, french & runner beans (just starting), peas (grubby), courgettes, carrots, onions, garlic, shallots, soft fruit and herbs.

My peas always have grubs in. I think they're pea/bean weevils. I'm going to scrap them and try mange-tout next year (I really don't mind eating grubs as long as I can't see them!).

Cherry Plums

2009-07-20T17:22:00.003+01:00

Last week my workmate and I collected *hundreds* of cherry plums. Far more than this tiny lunchbox could hold...

I don't really know what to do with them. I think they're a bit over-ripe for jam making. I've stashed them in the freezer until inspiration hits!

I did bake some tasty plum and apple pies though :)

Is it that time already?

2009-07-09T21:21:00.005+01:00

My plan to include a personal phenological record within the pages of this blog begins: 09/07/09 First ripe blackberry (more than one actually), Reading.
Sadly I couldn't reach them :(

Beech Leaf Noyau

2009-07-07T12:34:00.002+01:00

These were both birthday presents. I have some left for myself as well :)

Feral Raspberries

2009-06-29T21:41:00.006+01:00

I picked these from the edges of the allotment site. There are lots more in the nearby woods. I just love the idea of "escaped" plants, as these most probably are...

Summer's here...

2009-06-25T21:40:00.005+01:00

I picked my first little courgette today!

Just been watching River Cottage, in which Hugh sliced and fried baby courgettes with a bit of garlic and a lot of mint, and ate them on toast with a yoghurty topping. Must try...

Speaking of mint, I added some of the wild stuff (water mint I think) to some homemade lamb burgers. They were nice... even though they tasted like toothpaste. Next time I will add slightly less! :)

Lunchtime forage (yesterday)...

2009-06-23T10:22:00.005+01:00

Mixed cherries, from hedgerows by the Thames.

Allotment update

2009-06-19T22:23:00.007+01:00

Lately I've been harvesting peas, broad beans, potatoes, a few tiny strawberries and the usual leaves and herbs. This evening I would also have dug up my garlic but I accidentally injured myself whilst collecting peas (chopped my finger with scissors!) so I went home early...

I'm getting excited about the fast-approaching runner bean and courgette glut (loads of flowers on both already). My onions, tomatoes and beetroot are all looking promising too. Some would say it's a crime to pickle beetroot but I can't wait (never done it before)!

Unfortunately I seem to be failing with the carrots again, which is a shame because they're one of my favourite vegetables. And no, it's not because I'm trying to grow them in the sky...

Meet Liz...

2009-06-01T11:38:00.005+01:00

This is my lizard!

Actually, it's a wild lizard who lives amongst my carrots and beetroot. I think it's a lady because since the picture was taken she's become very pregnant-looking! I had baby lizards on the allotment last year and they were very cute (also fascinating to watch) - I'd love to see some this year too :)

More lizard photos (including some from last year) on my flickr, click the photo for a visit...

Squirrel Pie and other delicacies...

2009-05-29T12:11:00.002+01:00

I just stumbled upon this news article. A while ago I saw a TV programme about Paul Parker and he came across as a scary squirrel-nazi (it was genuinely quite disturbing!) but I *am* intrigued by the idea of trapping common wild "pest" animals and eating them for my dinner. This would include rabbits and American crayfish, as well as grey squirrels.

The thing is, I'm not convinced I could actually kill a cute furry animal. I realise, of course, that I do this by proxy every time I buy meat - I'm just not sure I could do it with my bare hands. Perhaps I'll start with a crayfish license and work my way up!

Any advice on such matters, particularly in terms of legalities, would be much appreciated...

Recycled plastic bags...

2009-05-19T14:52:00.004+01:00

This is my very first attempt at crocheting with plastic carrier bags. It doesn't look particularly amazing but I think this little gathering basket will be very practical - it folds up when not in use, and although it's breathable it's also waterproof so it won't get soggy or stained when I fill it with fruit!

Edible Seashore

2009-05-10T22:48:00.004+01:00

Above is the title of the latest River Cottage Handbook by John Wright, which I've just aquired and am enjoying reading (it's funny!). I'm not all that confident with seafood as I've relatively little experience of it, but my new year's resolution is to eat Oysters and I'd love to be able to forage for my own dinner on the beach. I'm particularly excited by the idea of catching Razor Clams... but more on that when and if I ever manage it!

Today Matt and I walked along the beach from Worthing to Goring (I think!) in East Sussex. We saw quite a few edibles including Sea Kale, Alexanders, Sea Beet, an ice-cream van and a fantastic little shack selling fresh fish. Although it's a bit late in the season (isn't it?) I took some Alexanders home for tea. I'd never tried it before - in fact I'd never even seen it until a few weeks ago when I visited Whitby. It's nice, but the stems were ~~a little~~ very tough, even after boiling. I'll have to remember where it grows and try to go back in early spring next year. Any cooking tips or other thoughts would be very welcome!

I'm very much enjoying my (now regular) visits to the seaside :)

Sea Kale

Alcoholic beverages...

2009-05-07T22:21:00.006+01:00

Today I started making Beech Leaf Noyau - a kind of fancy liqueur that I'd never heard of until I got into this wild food lark. I collected young Beech leaves from the cemetery at lunchtime (there are some beautiful trees in there), and I've left them to steep in Gin for the next three weeks. Following that the liquid will be strained off and mixed with sugary syrup and a bit of Brandy. I'm really looking forward to tasting the results!

Yesterday I finally got around to starting a red wine kit that I've had at the back of my cupboard for ages. I'm not a very experienced wine maker and I accidentally overfilled the demijohn - bit of a mess this morning! :)

Nettle soup...

2009-04-06T21:51:00.002+01:00

I've often used nettles in cookery - they're so common and nutritious - but I'd never made classic nettle soup until this evening.

My recipe was slightly adapted from the one in Roger Phillips' wonderful book "Wild Food" - and consisted of onion, leek, garlic, potatoes, veg stock, black pepper, and of course nettles. It was cheap, quick, easy, really nice to eat, and I'll certainly make it again!

Allotment update:

2009-04-05T22:39:00.003+01:00

Today I planted out all my peas, sowed (more) beetroot, potted up my baby tomatoes and moved my alpine strawberry plant. I've got loads of seeds on the go now including carrots, parsnips, french beans, courgettes, burdock, leeks, sunflowers, nasturtiums...

Currently my onions, garlic, peas and broad beans are all doing well. My plum tree is flowering (yay!), my rosemary seems to have a disease (boo!), there's no sign yet of any potatoes (but that's fine), my rhubarb's just about still alive (it's a long story - some other time!), and a pesky slug has eaten all my salad...

This photo of a tomato seedling was taken a couple of years ago... with a proper camera :)

More babies...

2009-03-27T20:57:00.005Z

Peas and spinach (pictured) and teeny carrots and beetroot! :)

Babies!

2009-03-11T22:43:00.001Z

This evening I harvested my first salad leaves of the year - they were just thinnings really but there were plenty of them and they were yummy :)

And I've got baby broad beans in loo rolls - look!

Walnut failure!

2009-03-06T18:58:00.001Z

Back in October I collected a basketful of walnuts. According to my research, in order to store them I had to remove all the flesh and then dry the nuts in their shells, after which they would keep for many months...

I've just cracked them open (with a hammer - my nutcracker was not powerful enough) and they're all completely dried out inside, with only the teensiest little nuts that wouldn't even feed a mouse :(
Disappointed!

Allotmenteering begins in earnest...

2009-02-23T17:28:00.008Z

With the milder weather and the lighter mornings/evenings, I've decided it's time to get back to work. I spent the whole weekend* on the plot and got LOTS done!

I harvested my remaining celeriac, most of my jerusalem artichokes and a giant leek. I dug over and weeded a few beds, one of which I planted with garlic (better late than never!). I also extended the fence to stop pesky dogs pooing on my "lawn" (dogs aren't actually allowed on the allotments, but I've had a bit of trouble with them lately). I sowed some broad beans in old loo rolls too...

Most of my plot looks bare, but orderly. Apart from the above I'm currently growing rocket, spinach, oriental salad, onions, shallots, various herbs and various fruit. I'm hoping that this year I might get more than four plums!

There's a bit of wild stuff springing up too - I've gathered a few nettles and noticed some tiny new shoots of ground elder:

The allotments are a lovely place to hang out. This weekend I've enjoyed wildlife-watching - the Red Kites were flying very low, there were some interesting spiders surfing in one of my water butts, and there's a mystery creature (a rat?) living in my compost heap (which is actually quite useful cos he keeps digging out piles of fresh compost for me!).

I can't wait till it gets a bit warmer and I can start the BBQing...

*That may be a slight over-exaggeration!

My first Jerusalem Artichokes : )

2008-11-01T16:59:00.005Z

Harvested this morning, along with Butternut Squash, Beetroot, Parsnips, Calabrese, and a random cucumber that I'd missed previously!

Chestnuts!

2008-10-19T10:23:00.002+01:00

Walnuts!

2008-10-14T16:33:00.005+01:00

Saucy Haw Ketchup

2008-09-20T20:56:00.008+01:00

I made this tasty ketchup from a recipe in the River Cottage Preserves book. It turned out a bit too runny, but at least it looks pretty!

Hawthorn

Haws

Saucy Haw Ketchup

Greenhouse

2008-08-31T17:41:00.000+01:00

I didn't mention this before, but a few months ago my greenhouse got vandalised.

My plot is on the very edge of a large allotment site, and although there's a strong metal fence which (mostly) keeps out intruders, it's open to view from the adjoining nature reserve/woods where kids build tree-houses and play at target-practice... well-aimed rocks were to be expected really. Overall I lost perhaps a quarter of the glass : (

I've considered the following plans for repair:

1. Replacing the broken panes with perspex (too expensive).

2. Replacing the broken panes with polythene (too flimsy on the sharp metal frame, no way of attaching it securely without letting too much air in).

3. Replacing the roof with clear corrugated PVC, and re-jiggling the glass to fill the gaps (this plan failed when I couldn't buy the PVC in the right lengths, and couldn't cut it either. It would also have worked out quite expensive).

4. Removing all glass from the North side of the greenhouse, using it to fill the gaps, then replacing the North side with wood (I liked this idea because it'd create a shady area next to the greenhouse where I could rest on hot days. But it'd be hard work).

5. As above, but replacing the North side with multi-coloured translucent sheets of plastic which I can buy from work (they are very thin, but rigid which should make them easy to fit. I can cut them to size with a stanley knife, and best of all they are cheap!)

As you might expect I've chosen the last option. If it works, my greenhouse will have an impressive faux stained-glass window which will look great from the outside when the sun shines through it!

Work commences tomorrow : )

Dinner, and things...

2008-08-26T20:21:00.002+01:00

I think I'm getting better at looking in the fridge to see what's there, and inventing a recipe to fit!

Tonight I had roast veg (potatoes, tomatoes, courgette) with vegetarian "meatballs". I added a crushed clove of garlic and a jalapeno pepper to the roasting tin (both of which I removed before eating - I just wanted a subtle hint of their flavours). On serving I added a dribble of Balsamic vinegar and a sprinkle of black pepper. Simple, but most yummy! And I was extra pleased with myself when I realised I'd grown everything apart from the veggieballs : )

Whilst cooking this I dry roasted a few handfuls of foraged Hazelnuts (Claire, I think we're too late - the squirrels seem to have been busy this year), in an attempt to fill up the oven and be more economical with the electricity...

I also saved half a courgette for breadmaking later on. I've done experiments and now I'm sure that courgette helps bread to rise. Anyone know why that might be?

Water Mint

2008-08-25T20:52:00.004+01:00

Growing by the River Thames, near Sonning, Berkshire.

Harvest 19/8/08

2008-08-20T09:51:00.005+01:00

French beans, calabrese, foraged plums and damsons, tomatoes, courgette, potatoes.

Plastic bottle greenhouse

2008-08-19T14:35:00.003+01:00

Instructions here!
: )

Allotment update

2008-08-19T12:35:00.004+01:00

I visited the plot this morning after being away for 5 days. I made some quick notes on how everything's doing...

Successes so far: onions, garlic, peas, broad beans, leaf beet, kale, courgettes, french beans, calabrese, various herbs, cos lettuce, chillis, a bit of soft fruit (just establishing)... and 3 beautiful pink plums!

Looking promising: celeriac and parsnips (they like the rain, you see), leeks, Jerusalem artichokes, Beetroot (finally!), runner beans (lots of flowers at last), rhubarb (ready for next year).

Successful but now showing signs of blight: potatoes, tomatoes

Struggling: squash, cucumbers, carrots (because I messed up!)

Poppy seeds

2008-08-11T22:00:00.006+01:00

These poppies invited themselves on to my allotment:

When the seed heads had dried, I collected them in a little pot along with a few others I found on some waste land near my flat. I shook the pot - and out from their cases came hundreds and hundreds of teeny black seeds.. They make a welcome addition to my breadmaking supply cupboard : )