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Five herbs to grow for bees

Posted on April 15, 2019 by the word deli

Herbs make great border and pot plants. They bring scent, colour and texture to a planting. Many have nectar-rich flowers to feed the bees too. And, if that's not enough to encourage you to plant herbs, these fantastic ornamentals come with the added bonus of being packed with wonderful flavours to use in your cooking. … Continue reading Five herbs to grow for bees

Posted in Herbs, Kitchen gardenTagged Bees, biodiversity, Herbs, wildlife gardeningLeave a comment

Grow one thing… Parsley

Posted on August 28, 2018March 15, 2019 by the word deli

If you’re the kind of cook who searches out fresh, seasonal ingredients, growing your own is a natural extension of your passion for good food. But when time and space are limited, the idea of tending a kitchen garden can seem unrealistic. There is one easy way to make a start on your home vegetable … Continue reading Grow one thing… Parsley

Posted in Food writingTagged Grow your own, Herbs, Parsley, RecipeLeave a comment

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Did you know that rhubarb can be used for cleaning your pans? Or to dye your hair? No? Me neither - but it says so on the internet, so it must be true! I think, for now at least, I’ll stick to using rhubarb for cooking. Ready for the oven - a pot of rhubarb and sweet cicely. The herb sweetens the rhubarb, reducing the amount of sugar needed to tame the natural tartness. Now the only decision to make is crumble or pie? #getgrowing #herbgarden #ediblegarden #madefromscratch #homebaked #makeitdelicious #cookingwithherbs #simplefood #bakefromscratch #inmykitchen #slowlived #rhubarb #goodfood #gardentotable #vegetarianfood #simpleliving #sweetcicely #seedtoplate #springharvest #easybaking #eatwelllivewell #growyourownfood #sustainableliving

Apples need bees. It’s a fact. No bees = no apples. Studies have shown that more bees visiting the blossom results in better fruit set. Honeybees from managed hives along with wild bees - bumblebees and solitary bees, all do their bit in helping ensure a good apple harvest. And we can help maintain healthy bee populations by planting lots and lots of plants that produce nectar-rich flowers from early spring right through to early winter... because bees need food all through the season, not just at apple blossom time. This year I’m adding more herbs and annuals to the garden, trying to provide a feast of pollen and nectar for the bees, and a feast of colour and scent for us to enjoy. Win win! #feedthebees #appleblossom #knowwhereyourfoodcomesfrom #orchard #biodiversity #groworganic #growtoeat #ediblegarden #gourmetgarden #growyourownfood #slowlived #simpleliving #plantsforpollinators #springblossom #bees #springvibes #enjoythegoodlife #honeybees #sustainablegardening #pollinatorgarden #slowdown #simplejoys #homeandgarden #growflowers #lovebees #sustainableliving

Where did spring go? Over the last two or three years we seem to have lurched straight from cool, grey, winter-like days to warm, bright and dry summer weather. Sometimes there’s a lurch back to the cold - just to add a bit of variety. But the gentle warmth and rain of spring have gone missing. This can be really frustrating for a gardener - for weeks it’s too cold to plant seedlings out until, all of a sudden, it’s hot and the soil is dry. I’m carrying a watering can at all times in the garden, tending to freshly planted and thirsty lettuces, parsley and coriander plants. There are still spring ingredients to enjoy though. At the market this weekend I picked up a bag of purple sprouting broccoli. This is a real seasonal treat - I don’t think the supermarkets have found year-round suppliers... but it’s probably only a matter of time. Back home, the broccoli was lightly steamed - I like it tender but still with a bit of crunch, and dressed with pomegranate molasses, olive oil, garlic and some flaked almonds. Are you still getting spring weather? #farmtotable #springharvest #knowwhereyourfoodcomesfrom #kitchengarden #goodfood #seasonaleats #growtoeat #ediblegarden #gourmetgarden #growyourownfood #slowlived #simpleliving #homecookedfood #seedtoplate #springfood #springvibes #enjoythegoodlife #madefromscratch #shoplocal #marketshopping #slowdown #simplejoys #homeandgarden #vegetarian #inmykitchen #easyrecipes

Have you embraced the edible flowers trend? Pretty violas, golden calendula and peppery nasturtiums are great for decorating cakes and jazzing up salads. Glamorous and edible. More understated, but very tasty, are my favourite edible flowers - rocket (arugula). They have a mustardy punch and are super easy to grow. Sow rocket seed now for early summer leaves and flowers later on. Then again in August or September for early spring leaves and flowers next year. They’re good for snacking on in the garden, or for scattering over a salad of spring leaves. What would be your favourite edible flower? #gardentotable #edibleflowers #knowwhereyourfoodcomesfrom #kitchengarden #goodfood #getgrowing #growtoeat #ediblegarden #gourmetgarden #growyourownfood #slowlived #simpleliving #homegrownfood #seedtoplate #springsalad #springvibes #enjoythegoodlife #growsomething #herbsforhealth #groworganic #slowdown #simplejoys #homeandgarden #vegetarian #vegansalad

Folklore has it that parsley seeds need to travel to hell and pay their respects to the Devil before they germinate. Which explains why they take so, so long to show any signs of growth. But it’s worth being patient. Parsley is a versatile and tasty herb. And good for you too - it’s packed with vitamins, iron and flavonoids. Lots of good reasons to grow and eat plenty of parsley. It’s really easy to make a richly flavoured parsley oil to add to all kinds of dishes. Just blitz together a big handful of parsley (leaves and stalks... no need to waste anything!), a couple of fat cloves of garlic and some extra virgin olive oil. When you have a smooth paste, add sea salt flakes and chilli flakes to taste. This is my mozzarella and tomato salad, made with fresh and sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and a generous spoonful or two of parsley oil. Healthy and delicious. What more could you want from a herb? #gardentotable #growyourownherbs #knowwhereyourfoodcomesfrom #herbgarden #goodfood #getgrowing #growtoeat #ediblegarden #gourmetgarden #growyourownfood #slowlived #simpleliving #homegrownfood #madefromscratch #springsalad #springvibes #enjoythegoodlife #growsomething #herbsforhealth #groworganic #slowdown #simplejoys #homeandgarden #vegetarianrecipes

Head down, deep in the heart of the pear blossom... I’m hoping this bee is moving pollen from one flower to another as she feeds. Is it wrong that I’m thinking ahead to pear and ginger jam while I watch her work? Almost a whole growing season will pass between blossom and harvest - growing fruit is a long-term commitment! But so worth the wait. #gardentotable #growyourownfruit #orchard #knowwhereyourfoodcomesfrom #pollinators #biodiversity #getgrowing #growtoeat #ediblegarden #gourmetgarden #growyourownfood #slowlived #simpleliving #homegrownfood #bumblebees #feedthebees #springvibes #enjoythegoodlife #growsomething #plantatree #groworganic #slowdown #simplejoys #homeandgarden

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