With a continued cost of living crises which shows no sign of abating, it is more important than ever to make the best use of your smallholding vegetable garden. For money saving, for environmental reasons and just because it feels so incredibly good to do so. There’s nothing like sticking two fingers up at all the horrible things happening in the world right by growing lots of your own lovingly nurtured fruit and vegetables to bring to the table. It’s a positive action on so many levels and will help you switch off from the negative news and all-round doom and gloom.
Here’s some of the best produce to grow for maximum harvests, minimum effort, more resilient crops.
COURGETTES
Many gardeners joke about the abundant crops these plants create come mid summer as they produce so many fruits when they get in full productive flow. Embrace the courgette I say and indeed grow more because they can be used in lots of different ways over the many months ahead. The baby courgettes are lovely to cook whole, while larger fruits can be sliced and diced and added to many dishes. They pickle and preserve well so can provide a main ingredient to lots of store cupboard goodies to reduce costs over the winter.
CHARDS
Bu hikaye The Country Smallholder dergisinin May 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Country Smallholder dergisinin May 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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How to Buy a Smallholding in France- Long-time smallholder Lorraine Turnbull looks at the practicalities of moving to rural France
Aspiring smallholders are continually thwarted by the prices of smallholdings and property with land located within the UK. Even the humblest croft in Scotland comes with a substantial price tag and conditions which would make even an adventurous wannabee consider carefully. But all is not lost. For those willing to take the adventure of a lifetime, there is always Europe, and one of the most popular places is France.
Meet the Bournemouth goats and their supporters
These capricious animals are hard workers preserving the natural habitat
Still warm enough to sit outside with a Pizza
Henrietta Balcon uses fresh figs to create an unusual dish at Harvest time
Goodbye to the birds of spring and summer
If you look and listen you might be able to see them preparing to leave says The RSPB
Get ready for the colder weather in the warmth of late summer
Claire Waring advises on doing the best to make sure your colonies survive until next spring
Preparing the Veg Patch for Winter
Lee Senior says, a well-run plot can excitingly continue to produce good quality, tasty, fresh food for much of winter
Time to prepare to plant your orchard
Wade Muggleton, smallholder and author of The Orchard Book, shares his practical experience so you can create your own fruit collection
Choosing feed for the autumn
As autumn approaches, Joanna Palmer, nutritionist at the Smallholder Range, offers advice on choosing the right feed to support your adult birds through their annual moult and ensure your young birds grow and finish well at this time of the year.
Vet advice from an experienced poultry vet
Reflecting on how much the humble hen has helped people world wide plus advice on stopping the scourge of red mite
Give your hens some support
Paul Donovan looks at the right and wrong ways of handling birds
