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Do it yourself and save

In the weeks before Christmas I was beavering away in secret on some practical gardening pieces for the Guardian, which are appearing in their ‘Do it yourself and save‘ supplements this weekend (along with lots of lovely stuff from other contributors).

There are two supplements. Part one on Saturday is all about Home and Garden and shows you how to tackle jobs around the house from little things like fixing that broken tile, to daunting tasks like mending a broken washing machine. There are fun and creative tips too, including how to upholster a chair and grow a window box.

Part two on Sunday is all about Grooming and Gadgets and helps you to rescue your wardrobe by turning pink clothes white, sew on a missing button, fix and clean precious jewellery or even trim your own fringe (and have fun doing it). What’s more you could also save yourself a tidy sum in the process.

It's (not) all in the edit

Back in their August edition, Waitrose Food Illustrated had an article about food, called ’2066 and all that’. I was impressed because it mentioned what Mark Diacono is doing over at Otter Farm – growing crops that are currently marginal in our climate, but might be productive in the not-too-distant future because of climate change. (And Mark is writing an Otter Farm book, due out early next year).

And so I wrote them the following email:

“Hi,

I’m so glad that you mentioned Mark Diacono’s Otter Farm in your recent article on the future of farming (2066 and all that, August edition) because the work he is doing is so creative and important in the face of the twin issues of climate change and Peak Oil.

Like many other people, I believe that our best hope for a sustainable future is to take a positive view of what we can do now, which is why I support the Transition Towns movement. Transition Towns are all about what can be done locally, both supporting local farmers and encouraging people to grow some of their own food. But it’s not just about food supply – Transition Towns look beyond that to re-skilling people everywhere, encouraging traditional and new crafts and self-reliance.

If we all take the time to plan for the future now, the countryside can remain a beautiful and productive space to 2066 and beyond.

Emma Cooper”

They have published it in the October edition. It has been edited, which is their right, but although they have left in my praise for the article they have unfortunately removed all references to Transition Towns, which was at least half the point. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t become the Star Letter ;)

Please note I am not responsible for the terrible pun.

Call yourself a writer?

Soilman has tagged me with a writing meme:

Which words do you use too much in your writing?

In the book manuscript it was ‘problematic’. I only discovered this because the editor had added in a ‘problematical’ somewhere, and I didn’t think it sounded like a word I would use. I was right, but the number of problematics in there is frightening.

Which words do you consider overused in stuff you read?

‘Basically’, although far more people are aware of it’s complete pointlessness these days.

What’s your favourite piece of writing by you?

I love the early bits and pieces I did about the RISC Roof Garden, simply because it’s a magical place and I hope some of that comes across in the writing.

What blog post do you wish you’d written?

VP’s Incredible Edibles, because it is so what I am about.

Regrets, do you have a few? Is there anything you wish you hadn’t written?

There were some online pieces in the early days that I wouldn’t write again, but nothing I’m horrifically embarrassed about, I don’t think.

How has your writing made a difference?

There are people who have told me that they’ve found my writing inspirational, and it has encouraged them to go outside and plant something. That’s a great feeling.

Name three favourite words

Thigmomorphogenesis, serendipity, grow

…And three words you’re not so keen on

Scrappage, leverage, moist

Do you have a writing mentor, role model or inspiration?

Nope. I’m actually hoping to find someone to take on the job!

What’s your writing ambition?

It would be nice to earn a living as a writer, but most writer’s don’t so it’s a big ask.

Plug alert! List any work you would like to tell your readers about:

The editor of Permaculture Magazine, Maddy Harland, has literally just started her own blog, PM Editorial, which is destined to be a bastion of sustainable sense.

Tag time:

I hope to pass this meme onto…

Tracey Smith, green goddess extraordinaire when the kids have gone back to school and she isn’t a full time mum too busy to be online.

Karen, Mrs Almost Average, who is also being mommy for the summer I believe.

The inspiring Corrina Gordon-Barnes and Ryan :)

The Book

This is what the book looks like at the moment – this is a printout, in full colour, for me to check over and marvel at. Not long to wait now!

Permanent Publications

A coppiced tree at The Sustainability Centre, October 2008

Pete and I spent the afternoon yesterday with the lovely people at Permanent Publications, talking about my book. There is good news, but the PR guy wasn’t there so I’m not sure what I’m allowed to say :) so you will have to wait but rest assured progress is being made.

When we arrived, one of the other businesses that makes its home in the Sustainability Centre was gearing up for a green funeral. We watched the pony being groomed and harnessed to the hearse before heading inside for our meeting.

If you’re in the area on 10th May, it looks like the Hampshire Green Fair will be worth a visit, with lots of green shopping, music, food and beer, craft demonstrations, and plenty of stuff for kids.

Book review: Growing Stuff

To begin with, I ought to say that I contributed to this book. There’s a section by me on edible weeds, one on planting to attract wildlife and one on growing mint to make mojitos/ mint tea.

So now you know and I can get on with the review.

‘Growing Stuff: An Alternative Guide to Gardening’ has just been published by black dog publishing. It came about in a slightly unusual way – it is a collaborative book project based largely on contributions from bloggers and amateur writers. Most of the contributions are project-based; there are instructions for growing carrots in wellies and building your own mini polytunnel, among other things.

At the beginning of the book there are some basic gardening instructions for those who haven’t taken the plunge before, and the ethos of the book is that anyone can garden, anywhere, and have fun doing it. Each project is well illustrated with photos.

The first thing I noticed about the book is that it stinks. I don’t know whether it’s the ink, or the paper, or the fact that mine came shrink-wrapped, but it smells horrid. The paper is very white, which makes for easy reading unless you’re outside in a sunny garden (as I found out yesterday!) in which case it’s blinding.

The book is divided into sections – Getting Started, Fruit & Veg, Herbs & Flowers, Wildlife & Practical Projects, Curiosities & Other Things and Resources. There’s a Contents page and a decent Index to help you find yout way around. And scattered thoughout the book are ideas and recipes for using the things you grow.

If you are a new gardener, or you don’t have much space, then you should find Growing Stuff helpful to get you started. It encourages you to make use of things that you already have – so you won’t be shelling out money on a lot of gardening equipment that you might not use or have no room to store.

Although the blurb proclaims ‘for beginners and enthusiasts alike’, I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone who has been growing edible plants for a while. There’s nothing new here except the approach to putting the book together. Likewise, I think the subtitle of ‘an alternative guide to gardening’ is a bit of a stretch. There is a small section on green gardening, but recycling in the garden, seed swapping, growing veg in unusual containers and making space for wildlife are all becoming increasingly mainstream.

From my point of view, the book lacks cohesion. It’s a bit like a scrapbook of projects that someone has put together to go back to at a later date. If you want to treat plants as projects then this may well be the book for you; if you want to treat your outdoor space as a whole garden then I would recommend either The Edible Container Garden or Urban Eden instead.

Talking Books

It occurred to me yesterday that my ideal job would be as one of those people who review books for gardening magazines. Not only would I receive free copies of most of the new books to come onto the market, but I would be paid to read them and then tell everyone what I thought. And any that I didn’t want to keep I could give away to gardening pals and relatives.*

Since Christmas I have been amassing an enormous pile of unread books. They’re arriving faster than I can read them (which would tell you a lot about my current state of mind, if you knew me better) and there’s at least one that I know I have but can’t find and probably several I’ve forgotten about.

I don’t currently have my dream job, but I have a big pile of books and a gardening blog, and I will review them all as and when I finish them. And I do get sent the occasionaly freebie to review, and I’ve got a really exciting one sitting in the pile at the moment – but more about that soon. Suffice to say that even if I read it and reviewed it and you really wanted it, you’d have to wait because it hasn’t been published yet. And I’m not talking about the one I had a hand in, although that’s on the list as well.

In the meantime, though, it’s spring and there’s things that need doing in the garden.

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*To be really ideal, it would have to be freelance. Reading books is only fun if you can curl up comfortably and without distractions.

Growing Vegetables is Fun - 2009

My ‘Growing Vegetables is Fun’ bookazine has just been re-issued for 2009. There’s a very colourful new cover and the cover price this year is just £5.99, which includes 4 free packets of seeds to get your garden started.

The bookazine is on sale at on sale at Tesco,
Sainsbury (later on in the month) WHSmith, Borders, Amazon.co.uk and Magbooks.com.

If you still have last year’s edition then don’t buy a new one – the contents is almost exactly the same.

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I have a limited number of copies I can send to to UK bloggers who would like to review the bookazine. If you would like one, drop me an email with your blog link and postal address.

First Fruits - 2009

I knew the Sweet Lipstick pepper on the windowsill, overwintered from last year, was flowering – but these little fellas took me by surprise. The award for First Fruits 2009 therefore goes to this plant. The overwintered seedlings are still just that, and this year’s seeds (the ones I have sown) haven’t even germinated.

Meanwhile, Wiggly Wigglers are looking for contributions for their new catalogue (I was in last year’s):

“Would you care to be in our publication – I wonder?
We are just busying ourselves putting together the latest Wiggly catalogue and I woz wunderin’ if you did fancy gettin’ yer name up in lights? There’s no mega financial reward (although you know there will be a small Heather treat…of course for effort…) but what we would love is more bits in our catalogue written by you, – our customers and Wigglets. If you are thinking that the benefits are not totally clear, then please remember you will have access to 120k people and have the opportunity to change behaviours and minds (and plug your blog or website if you have one).

So, if you would enjoy having your photo published then please would you either:
1: Review a Wiggly product and send a photo of it in your garden – preferably being used by you or yours
2: Write a paragraph on what you think is really important in terms of really rural living. Whether that is teasels, plastic bag use, growing courgettes, or composting your copy needs to come from the heart and NOT be all preachy!
3: Inspire us with a story of you home or garden and the changes you are making.

Then if you would send them to me: heather@wigglywigglers.co.uk I would be pleased to publish as many as we can and with your permission ensure the others go up on the blog or facebook group. This catalogue we have space for about 8 piccys and paragraphs. Your notes need to be less than 250 words and please do not worry too much about spellys, Mary will sort those grammatical issues out….
PS DEADLINE IS 2nd March but the sooner the more likely…

Wiggle On
Heather”

White Out

Broccoli stormtrooper

Crystallized lavender

Buried bay tree

Hands up!

Oh, by the way, I’m the guest blogger on the Guardian gardening blog today :)
Are you chitting comfortably?

Happy Farming

We’re still knee-deep in wood chips here, and I hope to do something about that this morning. But in the meantime, I’m guest posting over at Happy Farming on basic composting. Don’t forget to say hello to Thomas if you pop over there!

Gardening New Year's Resolutions

I’m not one for personal New Year resolutions, preferring the continuous improvement approach. But winter is a time of reflection for the garden, and the start of the new season brings forth the desire to do things better this year, or just differently.

And so here are my gardening resolutions for 2009:

• Compost more cardboard. It cuts down on waste and means more lovely compost for me. There will be more from the cardboard composter – and it will probably gain a sibling, as I have another large box.


• Fix up the water butts. It was on the list for last year, and didn’t get done – but I need to sort out the rainwater situation in the garden.


• Save more seeds. I intend to do an audit of the plants I’m growing this year to see which I could conceivably save seeds from – and then plan on doing so.


• Make potting compost. I have year-old leaf mould; I have comfrey. Together they will make a kick-ass potting compost.

2009 is going to be a busy year for me. I’ve got my book (The A to Z of the Alternative Kitchen Garden) coming out in the spring – we’re going to be finalizing the design in January. Before that, I will be featured in Growing Stuff, and I’m about to put pen to paper to start a second year of the Eco Garden series for Country Gardener.

Don’t forget to get in touch if you’re interested in the garden bloggers book project!

Pssst! Wanna help write a book?

Aimee Selby, an editor at Black Dog Publishing is the editor of a forthcoming title, ‘Growing Stuff’, and wondered whether you would be interested in contributing.

Aimee is just beginning to work through the book’s format and content, but it will likely be close in format to a craft book they did entitled ‘Making Stuff’. This means that the book will probably have a ‘How to’ section at the beginning, with instructions on tools, pruning, deadheading, seasonal changes, etc., and then be followed with a series of project-based gardening activities. These will be along the lines of “How to grow mint in a pot/makeshift container, and how to make a mojito cocktail with it once grown.”

The projects will be in a step-by-step format, instructing on the necessary materials, time-frame, care instructions for growing the plant in question, and a recipe for the accompanying activity. They would also be illustrated by photographs, and possibly some illustrative diagrams. Other suggestions would be plants to grow and making scented candles, how to make a makeshift container and what to grow in it, spring flowers for indoor pots or window boxes, etc. Also ‘handy hints’ for weeding, preventing or getting rid of pests, encouraging wildlife, etc. I hope that the book will also have a leaning towards sustainability, recycleability, grow-your-own, and growing in an urban environment.

If you would be interested in contributing one or more project activities to the book, it would be very welcome. Any accompanying photographs would be very helpful, and as much information as possible. Please note that any projects you do put forward would be credited to you at the top of the page as part of the project’s title. There will be a ‘resources’ section at the back of the book where your website can be listed. Please don’t hesitate to forward this email to anyone else you think might be interested in contributing as Aimee is trying to generate as much interest as possible in what I think will be a really exciting and unique book project.

There are many rewards for seeing your name in print, but for this project, they are not financial. The deadlines are reasonably tight – you would need to submit your finished project by the beginning of December.

That’s all the information I have at the moment. If you would like more details, or fancy making a contribution, please contact Aimee directly (aimee[AT]blackdogonline.com).

The Slug Buggers didn't work

So despite the fact that I undoubtedly used far too many, the Slug Buggers failed to protect my peppers last night. This one was still chomping away this morning. He’s now running the gauntlet of the chicken run, but he’s too big to be eaten.

In other news, I’ve had my first article published in the Guardian today: No Hoe Zone, about making use of some of those pesky weeds in the garden.

Blimey

Since it’s obviously not a secret, I can tell you that tomorrow I am going to a school in London to meet some kids involved in growing their own vegetables – so that they can interview me and ask me lots of tricky questions. It’s for the Radio 4 children’s programme Go For It, and by the looks of things will be broadcast next Sunday. This has come about because of the Growing Vegetables is Fun bookazine that I wrote at the beginning of the year.

It’s going to be a big weekend for me, because an article I wrote for the Guardian is going to appear in Weekend magazine on Saturday 12th. I assume that it will be available online, so in the meantime I won’t spoil the surprise and tell you what it’s about.

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