An Update on Operation River Cottage
For all those who are interested, and how couldn’t you be ?, here is a quick update as to how things are going with the fledgling Goldeneye market garden !
Things are going very much better than I dared hope for, everything I have planted is growing. Thus far, green-fingers crossed, there have been no failures. How this will transcend into produce on the plate remains to be seen - but the signs are good
A landscape shot taken by me for an overall view. A few months ago you could not even walk through the back area. You’ll notice the photograph quality, it shows both my limitations and the limitations of the Canon digital camera !
The rest of the veg shots are by LB
Plum Tomato
You’ll notice the foto quality - this time my brother, also using a Canon but showing what happens when you stick a 0 on the end of the price tag !
Bulb Fennel
These are growing very strongly and I expect these to be the first things I can actually harvest.
Young Pepper Plant
This too is looking healthy - not sure how long to go before eating though
Young Sprouting Broccoli
If these continue the way they are going it looks like I should have more than a little broccoli in a few months - good job I like it and it’s not fattening
Beetroot
Once again, if all goes well, I shall be inundated with beetroot
Thyme
The thyme is coming on well, as are pots of coriander and parsley, bit too late for many of the others but next year I intend a full herb garden
There is much more as well, courgettes, parsnips, carrots, onions, scallions, leeks, melons and spinach but I figure you can only handle so much excitement !
For reference here is the original post Operation River Cottage and there is also a new picture gallery of Me Here. People do ask for pictures and I think it’s important that the 1000s of visitors who do not know me can feel some personalization with me and the site. Thanks to LB for the shots and composition - and in case you’re wondering the pictures have not been airbrushed - I really do look like a cross between Brad Pitt and Pierce Brosnan
PS:
For those who think I don’t eat anything - one of my typical meals
3 blackened cajun chicken breasts, wild mushroom and garlic cous cous and salad
Loads to eat - very little fat and deeeelicious
Witches of Eastwick said,
July 31, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
Rod,
Well done! Would you mind sharing with us the details of what you plan for the fennel…. some of us will be taking a keen interest. We harvested our first courgettes today and allowed ourselves a small thrill.
While on the subject of thrills and for those who are in the know …. this morning we awoke to sunshine streaming down and with a feeling of summer at last, we threw open the Coven doors (still in our pj’s) and began watering the hanging gardens of Babylon. Now, some time had passed while we pottered about doing what Witches do within their estate grounds, when suddenly we heard the call of an exotic animal, possibly an escaped peacock or such like. Still listening intently we walked further down the path only to find our ‘continental’ sister crouched behind a bush in full voice! Ah well it is Tuesday and where would we be without the eccentric…
WoE
Rod said,
July 31, 2007 @ 7:23 pm
WoE
I like fennel in baked mediterranean vegetables, other than that LB will have to be called upon, will be using the foliage as herbs - may even catch a fresh sea bass, like Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (and unlike Gordon Ramsay) did and cook it on the beach with fennel !
Enjoy the courgettes and don’t forget to leaves osme scraps out at night for any foraging relatives
RC
Witches of Eastwick said,
August 1, 2007 @ 10:13 am
Rod,
We are loving the sound of fennel with sea bass… are there many left in the pond since the incident?
Fennel makes interesting salads as well, sliced thinly with olive oil and orange juice, watercress and pine nuts, toasted or otherwise. We’re off now to find out what can be done with courgettes before the inevitable glut. One good thing about the weather lately is that the apples look the best ever ….. we predict an autumnal feast on the tarte tatin front.
WoE
LaMarge said,
August 7, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
I got to your site from a Wodehouse search. Um, Sir, do you know about composting? You said in your orignal post that you *trashed* (OK, “binned”) all the undergrowth? Oh, no!
Is composting purely an American thing? Brits don’t?
LaMarge
Rod said,
August 7, 2007 @ 6:58 pm
LaMarge
thanks for the comment, much appreciated. Composting is something we do over here, indeed much of the hidden area to the left of the picture was originally a compsost heap.
Sheer volume of undergrowth procluded most options for me.
In my defence, it did all go into garden recycling trash containers specifically used for garden waste and was recycled by the local authorities
Best Wishes from Across the Pond
Rod
LaMarge said,
August 8, 2007 @ 3:17 pm
Whew, I’m ever so relieved. It wouldn’t do to have the most eligible bachelor neglecting his compost, now would it? I’ve been trying to get our municipal folk to have a city-wide compost heap, but there are concerns about diseased vegetation as well as clippings from those who spray nasty things. I believe a proper compost heap would handle the disease problem through heat purification, but worry a bit about the chemicals.
LaMarge
who is now reading her Wodehouse collection through chronologically, thanks to your bibiliography.
Rod said,
August 8, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
La Marge
Though I don’t imagine that classic bachelor Bertie Wooster would be much of a composter !
you are quite right to point out my civic responsibilities as the areas most eligible bachelor
Pleased to hear the bibliography of of some use, you must be having a great time reading all those books
Other readers take note: Everyone should read at least one PG Wodehouse book in their lives
Best
Rod
Witches of Eastwick said,
August 8, 2007 @ 9:44 pm
Rod,
We’ll get right on to PG Wodehouse when we finish Mr Taylor’s books (before he turns up for coffee!) and Terry’s Discworld novels. Incidentally do you think Mr Pratchett reads the blog? Perhaps you would do us a favour by making a controversial comment about him and then we could tell him how much we are enjoying his books. Don’t upset him and find out if he likes gougere
WoE
Rod said,
August 9, 2007 @ 9:22 am
WoE
Mr Pratchett reads the blog?
He’s far too busy churning out books then subsequently signing them to read this nonsense
If you’re going for PG Wodehouse then try Code of the Woosters
Best
RC