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Sunday, 11 July 2010

Allotment update!


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! ;)

Friday, 11 June 2010

Cherries!


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

Monday, 24 May 2010

Camera Obscura


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:





Sunday, 23 May 2010

Allotment friend :)


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



Sunday, 9 May 2010

I need help to identify some botanical specimens...


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!

Friday, 7 May 2010

Nettle beer update...


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! :)

Tuesday, 13 April 2010

Nettle beer and broad beans (but not yet)


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... :)