You just can’t beat the pleasure and taste of grow-your-own, so I’ve recently found. Inspired by the bank manager and my food hero Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall, I went about planting a fruit and veg garden earlier in the year and the results have surpassed all expectation. I’ve always had reservations about GYO – a bit too much of “The Good Life” for me – but I’m now a fully enrolled member of the GYO appreciation society. It started with a simple kitchen experiment, to grown basil, parsley and tarragon, in a matter of weeks my competitive nature had kicked in and in no time at all I was sowing beans, asparagus, broad beans, peppers and tomatoes in my garden, much to my neighbours horror - it’s rare to see me with a hoe and fork in hand.
I thoroughly recommend it to anyone, there’s some fabulous resources online to help you get started, one of my favourites is the Royal Horticultural Society, the site offers some great step-by-step help and advice. Then there’s some fabulous websites offering seasonal recipe ideas, I’m a fan of Foodepedia and bbc.co.uk/food/in_season.
Now the challenge has moved on… I’m about to embark on expanding my home-baking skills, I’m off to the Cookery School at Little Portland Street this week to learn the art of of bread making. Off to look at bread makers now…