tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136638742024-02-20T21:07:46.811+00:00Cintamani DhamCreating an organic permaculture allotment in Kent starting Spring 2006. Follow our progress!Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-79533878362473157442007-08-19T17:58:00.000+00:002007-08-19T17:59:42.086+00:00My Cats<object data="http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/46928cc51133af17/46c884617eb1d01c/46928cc51133af17/44bde960/autostart/false/file/88a37e7346c86eb8b735d95b9b339a46" id="W46c884617eb1d01c" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="250" width="432"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"><param name="movie" value="http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/46928cc51133af17/46c884617eb1d01c/46928cc51133af17/44bde960/autostart/false/file/88a37e7346c86eb8b735d95b9b339a46"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object>Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-15605610395299805452007-06-09T19:52:00.000+00:002008-12-08T23:47:13.889+00:00Celery in potato trench - will this work?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZk_Mu0x6iy5d4-Y1jW34sdIkyfhloyf5R2OxVyMPl0fGePD1UfJIrUA7owIVUENRz92JGgJPoHuKPF9eNwNhMZ_nHmTi4HaQEVG5stAKqTKV41uton4xYBtzLmsx-4nGtK3KU/s1600-h/potatoes+and+celery.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZk_Mu0x6iy5d4-Y1jW34sdIkyfhloyf5R2OxVyMPl0fGePD1UfJIrUA7owIVUENRz92JGgJPoHuKPF9eNwNhMZ_nHmTi4HaQEVG5stAKqTKV41uton4xYBtzLmsx-4nGtK3KU/s200/potatoes+and+celery.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074156130361190274" border="0" /></a>Not sure if this will work or not, but I transplanted some celery seedlings into the trench made when I earthed up the potatoes recently. I'm not sure if it's self-blanching celery or not as I lost the seed packet, so I planted some in this trench which I will earth up gradually, and also made a small block of the plants (each one 8 inches from the other) as this is a close-spacing method recommended for self-blanching types as they are so close together that they keep the light out. I may need to put planks around the block later and fill the gaps between the plants with straw, but I will worry about that later- if they grow!Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-20152454739291138672007-06-09T19:38:00.000+00:002008-12-08T23:47:14.163+00:00Cauliflowers growing well under enviromesh<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRS_Yfp3P_OtlsRoENB-GpL3paL1RebrY2jDtiAbzXFbOPF0uy224In_CsQBai0AN01f7K4rfFuxnt9yxJ-Q_zsgm9GDRjf3S50m54RjDH5iz6nZOoojSdxZ-3HWgkP8naemQu/s1600-h/cauli+bed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRS_Yfp3P_OtlsRoENB-GpL3paL1RebrY2jDtiAbzXFbOPF0uy224In_CsQBai0AN01f7K4rfFuxnt9yxJ-Q_zsgm9GDRjf3S50m54RjDH5iz6nZOoojSdxZ-3HWgkP8naemQu/s200/cauli+bed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074152269185591154" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3mCW1YDX9PJ9jkHNbKJw9lxfE87Dt34WGcSemI2WFBNMf31_KIHvLzSHJzfoi2ueATEzTA2A7k8dSKETrHVfGRxJ186MbyRmAOy46p6pYKC1IMHofXKpVttG_IIsR6hHQZ_i/s1600-h/cauli+9+June.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3mCW1YDX9PJ9jkHNbKJw9lxfE87Dt34WGcSemI2WFBNMf31_KIHvLzSHJzfoi2ueATEzTA2A7k8dSKETrHVfGRxJ186MbyRmAOy46p6pYKC1IMHofXKpVttG_IIsR6hHQZ_i/s200/cauli+9+June.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074152269185591138" border="0" /></a>Lots of growth in the allotment (including weeds!) at present. This is the cauliflower bed covered with a floating mulch of <a href="http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=61_180">enviromesh</a> (held down by four wooden planks) which has about eight caulis plus onions in between them, and a pic of one of the young caulis which looks pretty firm and is about 4 inches across. I was surprised to see this as I had dug this bed over in spring and sometimes the books say the bed needs to be firm and that you should only have dug it in the previous autumn otherwise you get loose heads. But I had put lots of well rotted horse manure in this bed and that, combined with the enviromesh protection, must have done the trick. My other cauli bed which was not dug over but did not have much organic matter in it is not doing so well. So there's a lesson for me - "cauliflowers need lots of manure, and this is more important than being in undug, firm ground".Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-38687373977086195002007-04-26T16:51:00.000+00:002008-12-08T23:47:14.378+00:00Making a garden seat from palletsI saw this very rustic garden seat at some allotment plots in a nearby village and just had to share it. Why not have a go at making one yourself!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8v0zw5T_k1oNrI7IX-7Yskqo7q7Ze-AisLAWvmkxmtV2WwbTbxpZPW9O4CnYLgiHG7qoOjiZqH2uP7m413thJx7_rdUpOpX894Qzw5vvLV8sKmm-Mt3wiPl0aSOPpKwumCrTE/s1600-h/Bench+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8v0zw5T_k1oNrI7IX-7Yskqo7q7Ze-AisLAWvmkxmtV2WwbTbxpZPW9O4CnYLgiHG7qoOjiZqH2uP7m413thJx7_rdUpOpX894Qzw5vvLV8sKmm-Mt3wiPl0aSOPpKwumCrTE/s200/Bench+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057781365618102850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ask72UiNJJ3P0cY2KZ1jZebxPj9qYKyd6FWdAYsfzrVnC-QWmNVikgHjQ2ST3Cy9U1zVbZ031dPYn2ZZvGgZcyfeeHE6S8MSgrKSSjK4F859cx24Kk1kQNPX8ZoCs_Iq7zGn/s1600-h/Bench+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ask72UiNJJ3P0cY2KZ1jZebxPj9qYKyd6FWdAYsfzrVnC-QWmNVikgHjQ2ST3Cy9U1zVbZ031dPYn2ZZvGgZcyfeeHE6S8MSgrKSSjK4F859cx24Kk1kQNPX8ZoCs_Iq7zGn/s200/Bench+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057781365618102866" border="0" /></a>Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-86612668407307143982007-04-26T16:45:00.000+00:002008-12-08T23:47:14.657+00:00RotovatingOn our allotments there are the usual two types of allotmenteers - the organic women who like raised beds and a few chaotic flowers, and the old geezers who rotovate the whole plot each year and sow everything in rows measured and plotted with militaristic precision. However we all get along and even share ideas now and then. Here are some of my neighbours doing their manly work!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMFTSiJGupXUMnsLeh8oZ6bR7EagdcNIs4dZNn0T6uH-7SHRYlXONp2N0QTtexuVFaoS4h10pBl2Oeh4a079TBzhVCiyVXD2lvdVp6ayhAoRC28hyphenhyphenksKqIlXwHYW_4HbdgPiO/s1600-h/Eric+at+work.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMFTSiJGupXUMnsLeh8oZ6bR7EagdcNIs4dZNn0T6uH-7SHRYlXONp2N0QTtexuVFaoS4h10pBl2Oeh4a079TBzhVCiyVXD2lvdVp6ayhAoRC28hyphenhyphenksKqIlXwHYW_4HbdgPiO/s200/Eric+at+work.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057779995523535378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pSocUzJMCnwjyT4VnsIXeA_KQZp0VhaIZ8QCJE9yNpKR0NDIjFh3LtOBbEBz5NIhDmNagrEta2CGX2xWPkElVS8lkq2u2l2CviG2E1PnIAyqYVFQQmFH0obFPE_lr7xuwjVX/s1600-h/allotment+rotovating.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pSocUzJMCnwjyT4VnsIXeA_KQZp0VhaIZ8QCJE9yNpKR0NDIjFh3LtOBbEBz5NIhDmNagrEta2CGX2xWPkElVS8lkq2u2l2CviG2E1PnIAyqYVFQQmFH0obFPE_lr7xuwjVX/s200/allotment+rotovating.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057779995523535362" border="0" /></a>Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-52023048254632141692007-04-26T16:30:00.000+00:002008-12-08T23:47:14.842+00:00Broad Beans growing well - need string supports<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfGV1ioZqwRUBLIs41P_w_9z5XGhQCrdvYZy-CQvGw2mmcRUtfrVATeVeCxhKAivrO6l0xHjTyroLqdjP4jxdrZx7zN6yGy8csuHgVng1UMxEumJ7BkVNUGjdlyLUTgXCnFwH/s1600-h/broad+beans.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfGV1ioZqwRUBLIs41P_w_9z5XGhQCrdvYZy-CQvGw2mmcRUtfrVATeVeCxhKAivrO6l0xHjTyroLqdjP4jxdrZx7zN6yGy8csuHgVng1UMxEumJ7BkVNUGjdlyLUTgXCnFwH/s200/broad+beans.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057776331916431858" border="0" /></a>Currently planting a lot of seeds but they don't look that exciting in a photo yet - so here's a pic of the broad beans instead. Had to put string round to give them a bit of support. Apparently you have to pinch out the tips to stop black fly at some point, not sure when though! In the USA they are called "fava beans" so I will try and find some recipes on Google. But I've found that you can make humus with pretty much any cooked bean, not just chick peas, just by adding some olive oil, salt, pepper, blob of tahini or peanut butter, plus any old spices that you like such as garlic or cumin. You can also find proper <a href="http://fcorpet.free.fr/HumusRecipe.html">recipes online</a>. I also like to pop in some leaves from the top of celery. Mmmm! I use a handheld blender that is very quick and easy to clean, and often we have humus "<a href="http://www.oukosher.org/index.php/recipes/single/mexican_vegetarian_wrap_dairy/">wraps</a>" or burritos (using flour tortillas which we quickly heat up in a dry wok or frying pan), plus whatever is handly such as tomatoes, cheese, cucumber, lettuce, tofu etc. There is really no limit to what you can put in a wrap - there are whole restaurants selling <a href="http://www.baywrap.com/vegetarianWraps_w.cfm">just wraps</a> in California and even one or two elsewhere too. The blender's also great for making fruit smoothies, but that's another topic!Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-87939338848879616572007-04-14T09:21:00.000+00:002008-12-08T23:47:15.020+00:00Wordsworth daffodils rap squirrel - so bad it's good!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2-_ksTb5C5AjHtVBqKHLp4wKuCEc0hbOgxy_-DXVRl3ICTX_sh4m2O6G6Dvlb8d6VzVvbmTY-Zfulu7srQTM2CbEqwCdMF_Fozt9LmKl25cXlvF2SwTAPO2OOVqwjLUh_QMb/s1600-h/wordsworth+daffodils+bunny.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2-_ksTb5C5AjHtVBqKHLp4wKuCEc0hbOgxy_-DXVRl3ICTX_sh4m2O6G6Dvlb8d6VzVvbmTY-Zfulu7srQTM2CbEqwCdMF_Fozt9LmKl25cXlvF2SwTAPO2OOVqwjLUh_QMb/s200/wordsworth+daffodils+bunny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053211848628402370" border="0" /></a>You have to see this <a href="http://www.golakes.co.uk/wordsworthrap/">video</a>, at the Cumbria Tourist Board site.Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-41242391651704154542007-04-01T19:04:00.000+00:002008-12-08T23:47:15.547+00:00April - cloches, plastic and fleece.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHNTsxDZ4SVKX8Fp7FJKTlPdiJXHykL1nWPKDpgdLRR7Fk2IkN6Tew3WOjfGZWKipvderv1MNQ5Z09M88a47FpQUwdkbj99PrFpACazCU03NGpNPsAB78JLMzlFhav7bshAyP/s1600-h/seedbed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHNTsxDZ4SVKX8Fp7FJKTlPdiJXHykL1nWPKDpgdLRR7Fk2IkN6Tew3WOjfGZWKipvderv1MNQ5Z09M88a47FpQUwdkbj99PrFpACazCU03NGpNPsAB78JLMzlFhav7bshAyP/s320/seedbed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048538565655235314" border="0" /></a>We're still mostly digging over beds and adding compost and other inputs. Have put lime on the brassica bed (Bed 2) and sharp sand to the carrots/roots bed (Bed 1) from the <a href="http://cintamanidham.blogspot.com/2007/02/allotment-plan-2007.html">allotment plan</a> done earlier in the year. Here's a pic of the seed bed, have just got a few lettuces under cloches for now. I like the 5 gallon water jugs the best as they are study and don't blow over and have a handy handly on top. Plus the water is only £1 per bottle at Iceland, so that's not too expensive - although generally we use a Brita filter. But now and again, like if you're going on a long car journey, a bottle of water is handy. Have also put fleece and clear plastic over beds to warm them up.Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-33165241674702655292007-04-01T18:55:00.000+00:002008-12-08T23:47:15.695+00:00Corn salad lettuce - useful during "the hungry gap"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZISK6lL4z0-Om8HjwJzptWc_9Zm0pkhXnQXsXEHjfxXDBBdPpf4x04dXLNOmPjnqw7ONvToiz-PjLe6JrBmtZ2Tux3pO0zAm-7EkMRZdvvz1vjL2OMsQ77t3r1I1c0I0ss-Gv/s1600-h/corn+salad+lettuce.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZISK6lL4z0-Om8HjwJzptWc_9Zm0pkhXnQXsXEHjfxXDBBdPpf4x04dXLNOmPjnqw7ONvToiz-PjLe6JrBmtZ2Tux3pO0zAm-7EkMRZdvvz1vjL2OMsQ77t3r1I1c0I0ss-Gv/s320/corn+salad+lettuce.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048537199855635170" border="0" /></a>Here is one of my corn salad lettuce, also known as lamb's lettuce. Grows over winter so is very good this time of year when there is not much else in the ground. Interestingly, the best crop came from an area where I had thrown some of the weaker seedlings whilst thinning out. They somehow grew and survived the slugs far better than the area of soil with the original row!Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-32616099256396894432007-03-24T13:26:00.000+00:002008-12-08T23:47:16.308+00:00Planting out broad beans & lots of digging!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvuDn50wxGomCucsv8WU8vLdsImISVSU4h7071CQD7E_I5BCD-IJcNJ_XI974h9w8Vbcds3-Eg5ePx2Be5995zvtwRpd0-GgaJL23T-Gn1wBSE7mOswZ8cdAPtms0Jt2RnZF1/s1600-h/broad+beans+and+fleece.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvuDn50wxGomCucsv8WU8vLdsImISVSU4h7071CQD7E_I5BCD-IJcNJ_XI974h9w8Vbcds3-Eg5ePx2Be5995zvtwRpd0-GgaJL23T-Gn1wBSE7mOswZ8cdAPtms0Jt2RnZF1/s200/broad+beans+and+fleece.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045482801439935490" border="0" /></a>Planted out some broad beans today, just next to the runner bean trench I dug last week. They are supposed to be ok in quite cold weather, so we'll see how they do. I grew them in the kitchen in <a href="http://www.rootrainers.co.uk/gardeners/rootrainers/benefits">root trainers</a>, to give them a good start as the trainers allow the roots to grow quite big before planting out. I know the old guys rototilling think my plot is weird as I swaddled the beans in fleece, like a little baby! Here is the odd-loooking result.<br /><br />I'm not sure if I know what they taste like but I think they might be like butter beans in a tin. Here are some <a href="http://www.vegsoc.org/cordonvert/recipes/broadrec.html">recipes</a> and a pic of what they look like when ready, apparently you can eat the whole pod when they are small, then eat the green beans, then dry the beans for soups etc over winter. Sounds quite useful!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW8xBHdI1J3vCZdl_sTOHQ-0tkmB2acglwaQX-_rmySRRCyMcj0lWU60H_kDOlCgLcor6cl5lomUVNDhq9XvCpLnTwo_qUmFgl0H6Wz0nGtJhig_L_ucolPTTFPwI1IFauXWs2/s1600-h/broad+beans.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW8xBHdI1J3vCZdl_sTOHQ-0tkmB2acglwaQX-_rmySRRCyMcj0lWU60H_kDOlCgLcor6cl5lomUVNDhq9XvCpLnTwo_qUmFgl0H6Wz0nGtJhig_L_ucolPTTFPwI1IFauXWs2/s200/broad+beans.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045484691225545762" border="0" /></a>Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-15444695851554246942007-03-04T13:23:00.000+00:002008-12-08T23:47:16.564+00:00Creating a trench for runner beans<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEuVxqOa45gzYF7VkqHbLRRdfFDMnqPkMPOS9Dw6EL6qe5d9plOizg4xnTeSB_O7HVfswiNuyp3mNcGh1n7wlHeokFztE-iI0RGr7619gI1nCcRkSEFxgYyPdB07Rbgcut71x/s1600-h/compost_trench.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEuVxqOa45gzYF7VkqHbLRRdfFDMnqPkMPOS9Dw6EL6qe5d9plOizg4xnTeSB_O7HVfswiNuyp3mNcGh1n7wlHeokFztE-iI0RGr7619gI1nCcRkSEFxgYyPdB07Rbgcut71x/s200/compost_trench.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038063359302016322" border="0" /></a>My allotment neighbour, David, a sprightly 84-year-old, suggested I get going on a bean trench when I went up to the site yesterday. Good advice as the soil was mostly too wet to dig, but I could dig out the trench from the side path without treading on the soil. It wasn't too hard as I had already dug most of it over in the autumn. Here's how it should look (on the left) and how mine does look (shown below) - not quite so photogenic! Since I should have started this a few months ago I plan next weekend to dump in my current kitchen scraps plus a bag of well-rotted manure from the garden centre (as I don't have any compost yet since I haven't been diligent enough in collecting kitchen waste over the winter due to the need to drive it up to the allotment site from home). For more info on how to build one see the Garden Organics <a href="http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/todo_now/faqs.php?id=93">page on trenches</a>. What that page does not say, however, is that it is helpful to put newspapers or cardboard at the bottom of the trench, as this retains moisture. David also suggested that if you don't have manure or kitchen scraps, to put in upside-down turfs (turves?) i.e. chunks of grass with the soil stuck to it that you dig up from elsewhere, which I did, then covered with a bit of compost.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcMyLkV38Nt6kRRfcjkdpUIAP9JfU4uHFwkuL8jiIhZBBf9QhJYfS4QY7m7cpVOU20NRqvzTsIZoSH5oYfrDeduc9sj163jnEC9Baau9TJeAoph0QPlpNFEeXv_ea1QkB0ube/s1600-h/trench.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcMyLkV38Nt6kRRfcjkdpUIAP9JfU4uHFwkuL8jiIhZBBf9QhJYfS4QY7m7cpVOU20NRqvzTsIZoSH5oYfrDeduc9sj163jnEC9Baau9TJeAoph0QPlpNFEeXv_ea1QkB0ube/s200/trench.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038063561165479266" border="0" /></a>Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-26180706863862118852007-02-17T19:26:00.000+00:002008-12-08T23:47:16.657+00:00Allotment plan 2007<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sEp7yrO-POpcjbNcQhzvnL8olOnUiWat2ZPL_1ej0aqXecl9zMfRWZZDRjb0TdWiFJZZDmmEAnbyjpDL9VYPBu5tVV2t4WDIKN47mACrjGLViaK3EreC-lFTmdEXA9k9qdch/s1600-h/allotment+plan+-+2007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sEp7yrO-POpcjbNcQhzvnL8olOnUiWat2ZPL_1ej0aqXecl9zMfRWZZDRjb0TdWiFJZZDmmEAnbyjpDL9VYPBu5tVV2t4WDIKN47mACrjGLViaK3EreC-lFTmdEXA9k9qdch/s320/allotment+plan+-+2007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032588134834280354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">double-click on image to see in full-size, readable scale</span></span><br /><br />Have made a plan - in pencil of course!<br /><br />Bed 1 - roots (carrots, parsnip) intercropped with salad onions and lettuce<br />Bed 2 - brassicas (purple sprouting brocolli, calabrese)<br />Bed 3 - legumes (early broad beans, runner beans, mange toutes) and one zucchini<br />Bed 4 - half potatoes, half squash, corn and tomatoes<br />Bed 5 - onions, garlic, misc.<br />Bed 6 - legumes (manges toutes)<br />plus seedbed, two zuccini squares, iris & herbs bed<br /><br />Plus sitting area, compost bins etc.Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-1168182287673873412007-01-07T14:55:00.000+00:002007-01-07T15:19:11.346+00:00What to do now in your kitchen garden or allotment<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/3088/1210/1600/61285/Organic%20Gardening%20catalogue.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/3088/1210/320/865002/Organic%20Gardening%20catalogue.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Do you think that because it's winter there's nothing to do? Think again after reading <a href="http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/todo_now/veg_gard_now.php">what you could be doing in the veg plot</a> from those nice folks at HDRA, now Garden Organic. Alternatively, you could just order their delightful <a href="http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/feedback/catalog.php">Organic Gardening seed catalog</a>, and then over the next rain week or two you can sit down with a nice cup of tea and dream about spring seed plantings...Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-1168178177626046792007-01-07T13:40:00.000+00:002007-01-15T21:09:56.506+00:00Planning windbreak for 2007<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/3088/1210/1600/492640/buddleja_davidii.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/3088/1210/200/732007/buddleja_davidii.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Noting warnings about the danger of windburn to plants, I'm planning a windbreak for the south-west corner of the allotment. I do like the <a href="http://www.twowests.co.uk/TwoWestsSite/product/WBN.htm">windbreak netting sold at Two Wests</a> but that is still a bit dear at £2.10 per metre, so I got some cheapo net curtains for £2 from a charity shop, two pieces, each about 1m x 3m for the time being, as I'm trying to not choose inputs to the allotment which cost cash as the whole idea is digengaging from the cash economy as far as possible. So that net will be the first step windbreak, probably on garden wires strung between two posts, combined with some <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/8990.shtml">Buddleia davidii</a> <a href="http://www.organicgardening.org.uk/todo_now/hardwood_cuttings.php">cuttings</a>. Planning to <a href="http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1001/hardwood_cuttings.asp">take hardwood cuttings</a> of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm long, and propogate them in a frame in a mix of compost, sharp sand and vermiculite. Probably should have taken them earlier, in October/November, but with the current very mind winter I hope taking them now (January) will be OK. Will do the potting up of the cuttings today and possibly sewing hems along the curtains...Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-1156598833714295292006-08-26T13:22:00.000+00:002006-08-26T13:27:13.733+00:00The Fruits (& Veggies) of our Labour<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/August%20veg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/400/August%20veg.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This is from a couple of weeks ago, but as a picture it's worth a lot of words about why I like growing.Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-1154292665130114622006-07-30T20:13:00.000+00:002006-07-30T20:51:05.173+00:00Bilberry Sunday: The Feast of First Fruits<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/blackberry%20mandala.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/blackberry%20mandala.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">T</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >oday is the Sunday traditionally celebrated in Ireland and elsewhere</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" > as the </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://gaudiya-cintamani.blogspot.com/2006/07/lughnasadh-celtic-festival-august-1st.html">Feast of First Fruits</a><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >. It is a festival dedicated by the God Lugh to the honour of his foster mother Tailtiu who died from exhaustion after clearing a great forest so that the land could be cultivated. I may have channeled that energy today as I worked </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >from 7 to 7 pretty much non stop with doing dishes, feeding cats, cutting down small tree in front garden, photographing fabulous flower tree, cleaning bathroom, </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >doing a laundry load, showering and washing hair, boiling milk for yoghurt, buying fruit at farm shop, buying compost and two small plants, watering allotment, creating new raised bed, </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >planting onions, picking courgettes, onions, spinach and blackcurrants, back home in front garden creating a lettuce raised bed, weeding front garden, planting two small plants, potting up and feeding blueberry, watering and feeding courgettes and tomatoes, eating veggie soup.<br /><br />Regarding the flower tree, a passing walker said they thought it was a </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus">Hibiscus</a>, but had never seen a blue one before. This colour might be because the soil is very acidic due to conifers being there for years before I cut them back, (the acid/alkaline Ph determines whether hydrangeas are <span style="font-size:100%;">blue or pink). Also, the 84 year old lady next door said she did not remembering it flowering before though. I cut it back very much some time ago, maybe that made it flower? The <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plantprofile_hibiscus.shtml">BBC says</a> that "</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" >Hard spring pruning isn't difficult and promotes a mass of stunning, large flowers.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" >" </span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/number%203%20with%20tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/number%203%20with%20tree.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/new%20raised%20bed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/new%20raised%20bed.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span>Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-1153987586377519902006-07-27T08:02:00.000+00:002007-01-07T14:33:07.196+00:00The Wisdom of the Apple Tree<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/3088/1210/1600/626701/apple%20on%20tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/3088/1210/200/164402/apple%20on%20tree.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Our folk memory and country lore is rich with reference to the virtues and wisdom of the <a href="http://www.2020site.org/trees/apple.html">apple tree</a>. This beautiful tree provides abundant food which can be stored for winter use, and has many uses both in the kitchen, as a herbal remedy and as a remedy acting on our subtle energies. Apples have a long history of being used for divination, especially to foretell the future in matters of love and prosperity. The methods of divination are varied and include such things as counting the apple pips; burning the pips (after naming each one with a young man's name and watching which ones explode in the fire) ; pressing the named pips with the finger to see which sticks the longest; apple bobbing; throwing the peel over the left shoulder to see it forms the initial of an individual when it lands; and putting an apple under your pillow to dream of your sweetheart. All of these games and folk customs are survivals of much older ceremonies in honour of the Apple. Many of these customs are particularly performed at Samhain, the time of the year when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest, a doorway between the seen world of matter and the unseen world of spirit. If you wish to work with the energy of the Apple tree, you can aid the process by focusing on Apple trees and working with apple wood, eating more apples, drinking apple juice and the occasional glass of cider. Dry apple peel and drink it as a tea. Try cultivating Apple trees from the pips for some very special trees which you are closely linked with. Sit with Apple trees as often as possible, get to know their vibration, make friends with them. (From the <a href="http://www.whitedragon.org.uk/articles/apple.htm">Wisdom of the Apple Tree</a><span style="font-style: italic;">).</span><p><br /></p>Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-1153568746607271752006-07-22T11:33:00.000+00:002006-07-22T11:45:46.620+00:00Saving Water: it's over 95 degreesHere's the back garden set-up for siphoning off the bath water onto the garden:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/Water%20Saving%201.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/Water%20Saving%201.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/Water%20saving%202.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/Water%20saving%202.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/Water%20saving%203.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/Water%20saving%203.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-1151764195443417002006-07-01T14:14:00.000+00:002006-07-01T14:33:19.906+00:00Vegetables Harvested Today<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/allotment%20veg%201st%20July.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/400/allotment%20veg%201st%20July.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The allotment is looking good, if a little dry. Today we harvested lots of mange toutes, also chard and beet spinach of various sizes, onions, radish, spring onions, parsley, rosemary, edible marigolds, and baby courgettes and carrots. This will form the basis of several meals when combined with home made beansprouts and yoghurt, plus store-bought potatoes, tofu, grains:<br /><ul> <li>Veggie soup of various types<br /></li> <li>Baby green leaf, radish, marigold salad</li> <li>Spinach and potato subji</li> <li>Roasted potatoes with rosemary</li> <li>Tofu and veg wraps</li> <li>Quinoia and mange toutes stir fry</li> </ul>Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-1151761566627140662006-07-01T13:28:00.001+00:002006-07-01T13:46:06.643+00:00Capel Manor - dramatic rock fenceThis fence made of rocky shards presents a stunning way to edge a path, I have no idea where they got the rock from though!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/rock%20fence%201.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/rock%20fence%201.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/ebay%20107.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/ebay%20107.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/rock%20fence%203.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/rock%20fence%203.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-1151760415101555872006-07-01T13:05:00.000+00:002006-07-01T13:26:55.116+00:00Capel Manor - raised bedsCapel Manor has some interesting variations on the usual wooden sides for raised beds. It has some with bricks (but I note they are concreted in, presumably to stop slugs setting up home underneath). Also there are high-sided steel containers which would be great for the elderly or disabled as no bending is required<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/Capel%20-%20brick%20beds.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/Capel%20-%20brick%20beds.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/Capel%20-%20steel%20raised%20bed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/Capel%20-%20steel%20raised%20bed.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-1151758923299604282006-07-01T12:50:00.000+00:002006-07-01T13:02:03.323+00:00Capel Manor - straw bale cob wallsHere is a cob hut and wall, using straw bale building techniques. Note the creative designs carved into the walls.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/Capel%20-%20cob%20wall%202.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/Capel%20-%20cob%20wall%202.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/Capel%20-%20cob%20wall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/Capel%20-%20cob%20wall.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/Capel%20-%20cob%20designs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/Capel%20-%20cob%20designs.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/ebay%20012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/ebay%20012.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-1151758229266845952006-07-01T12:39:00.000+00:002006-07-01T13:54:20.293+00:00Capel Manor - unusual hedge ideas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/Capel%20-%20hedge%20window.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/Capel%20-%20hedge%20window.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/Capel%20-%20big%20hedge.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/Capel%20-%20big%20hedge.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Here are pics from Capel Manor, one showing how by placing a steel tube into a privet hedge, you can create a window through it. The other showing their big hedge, which has been grown to allow paths through it (presumably this takes quite some time to achieve!)Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-1151757583569235672006-07-01T12:18:00.000+00:002006-07-01T12:39:43.596+00:00Capel Manor College - open day pics<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/garden%20design.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/garden%20design.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/Horticulture.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/200/Horticulture.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The next few posts show some pictures from the recent open day at the renowned <a href="http://www.capel.ac.uk/">Capel Manor College</a>, which offers courses at four London locations on horticulture, garden design, floristry, horse studies, arboriculture (how to become an expert "tree surgeon"). The wide range of courses are both full time and part time. Some are more suitable for young people (e. g. apprenticeships). While others will appeal more to more mature people (like short summer courses at the <a href="http://www.capel.ac.uk/Courses/Regents_Park/index.htm">Regent's Park centre</a>, near London Zoo). As the college is a charity the course are <a href="http://www.capel.ac.uk/Courses/Useful/Tuition_fees.htm">inexpensive or free</a> for UK and EU residents, and they even pay students £30 per week if they are young, not too wealthy, and starting out in further education.Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13663874.post-1149976935703619562006-06-10T21:21:00.000+00:002007-01-07T14:11:30.393+00:00In praise of Sak (spinach and chard)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/1600/spinach.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3088/1210/320/spinach.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The ultra reliable mainstay of our garden is always sak - which we consider to be best represented in the plants known as perpetual spinach and chard.<br /><br />If you're not sure whether you like sak or not, there is a great recipe for <b>Paneer sak </b>- steamed spinach with fresh cheese (paneer) on this <a href="http://krishna.tv/the-hare-krishna-book-of-vegetarian-cooking-p-467.html">cookbook page</a>. It is quite simple <a href="http://www.indianfoodforever.com/basic-preparations/how-to-make-paneer.html">to make paneer</a>, which you can then cut into cubes and deep fry - or you could use mild feta cheese instead.Cintamanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831518225420169656noreply@blogger.com0