For the past few years my most favourite festive activity has been to make a Christmas wreath. I love the beauty of them, their brightness and greenness. They welcome visitors into our home and give a cheeriness to the farm. But what I really love is the task of gathering the ingredients. Traditionally I have made them with… Continue reading A year in the making…
A few weeks ago I harvested a large number of cucumbers from the greenhouse. I was thinking about what I could use them for, aside from salads and pickles, when it suddenly occurred to me that the crisp, clean flavour would lend itself well to an ice cream. My thinking was inspired by a grapefruit and basil ice cream… Continue reading Cucumber ice cream, really?
It’s been a busy few weeks, but then again it always is at this time of the year – aside from the farm, the garden is in full bloom and the veg patch is bountiful which means I’m in my element in the kitchen cooking new dishes with seasonal produce. There are weeds to keep at… Continue reading A month without rain…
As May draws to a close, I’ve realised what a busy month it has been. With long days, warm weather and plenty of enthusiasm, much of it has been spent outside getting the vegetable beds and main garden in order. There’s still lots to do, but progress has been made. May has brought with it… Continue reading May…
Like a lot of people, the sun has driven me outside. As soon as the temperature started to rise, the snow stopped and the wind dropped, I was out in the garden like a shot. The warm weather and sight of the sun makes being outside a joy. But, when I first head outside each Spring I realise… Continue reading The joy of gardening…
This week I found myself surrounded by chilli plants and wanting to do something with them. Like a concerned mum, I had brought them inside from the greenhouse over winter so the frosts didn’t ruin the fruit. But in the house they seem to be lurking round every corner. I use a lot of hot chillis when cooking but… Continue reading Making ristras…
Today the sun shone, the birds sung and the sky has been bright and wonderful. Here in Norfolk it has been simply glorious – November please remain this way… The morning dog walk started with crispy leaves underfoot on what was the first proper frost of the winter here in south Norfolk. As I made my… Continue reading What Novembers were made for…
Without wanting to talk about the festive season too early, there is one festive thing I like to start in October and that is planting hyacinth bulbs for indoor blooms at Christmas. Now, Christmas in our house isn’t a very big affair, and what decorations we do have are mostly plant-based (apart from the pet-proof wooden… Continue reading Planting hyacinth bulbs for Christmas…
Last October we had lots of apples growing on the farm that were neither eaters or cookers. Traditionally we would give them away to a friend who made cider and in return we’d receive a few bottles the next year. But, due to a change of circumstances, we had no one to give them to last year.… Continue reading Bottling Norfolk cider…
Today we headed to the Royal Norfolk Show. It was wet. For the first time in what felt like months it had been raining persistently for about 12 hours when we headed off. But it didn’t stop us and it didn’t stop thousands of others. Equipped with welllies and waterproofs we started exploring what is one… Continue reading Our trip to the Royal Norfolk Show…
