Selfsufficientish.com

As promised, a few piccies from my stay in Sark, Channel Islands

Anybody know of any permaculture courses in or around Essex, Hertfordshire or Cambridgeshire? I've just finished a Horticulture course and now I want to take it in a slightly different direction.

So, it's a been a while since I was last on here. I have been off to Sark, one of the smaller of the Channel Islands, working as a Vegetable Gardener supplying fresh produce for a small group of Hotels/Restaurants. Amazing place to be over the summer months for sure! I hope to get some pictures up (...

hey mrs fibble! Thats really close to where I am! woop woop! thanks for getting in touch, its lovely to know there are fellow ishers nearby.

thanks guys, the encourgement is greatly received, I have wanted to do it for a while but always been a bit weary, I'm hoping to keep it quite informal and relaxed. Hopefully get a good group who want to swap knowledge and tips for finding wild foods, and how to cook with them- recipe swaps etc. Wil...

right, I'll crack on with the curry pot then! meanwhile- Beans? I think I'll give it a go. Providing I can get outside this weekend. Rain is seemingly constant at the moment, and the 'rents are heading down at the weekend! eeek!

yay! Fran- I'm not amazing with mushrooms to be honest, but this is the aim of the walks, to get as many people on board sharing their knowledge and love of wild food. I should be posting details soon, trying to get out to do photos for posters- but its Essex monsoon season apparently so I haven't b...

I was wondering how I might go about finding who's on an 'ish' tip in my area. I'm in Writtle in Chelmsford, I was thinking for seed swapping and help on big building projects etc, people could get together. Also just thought it might be nice to meet some of the like minded welly wearing folk. If yo...

yes sorry, broad beans, borlotti beans and french beans x

I heard a rumour that it likes to be sown where it will live, so not to transplant from modular trays, but sow directly? This has always given me the fear (despite attempting window box trials numerous times- with bolting failiure!). Is this true? I was thinking of doing a curry planter, curry plant...

Please don't give up-They're what makes a mousaka so wonderful! Aubergine are susceptible to so many P&Ds, a variety of blights too- not to put you off-eeek? :? The first thing to do is to look at which parts of the plant are most affected, and how? Stems? leaves? or just the fruit. Could you up...

I have to say I agree with richierobins, you could give it a proper clean without yourself being fumigated in the process! Bicarb, vinegar and lemon juice are all good options. Bicarb should work to lift grime and reduce stains. As will the lemon juice, which acts like a bleaching agent, especially ...

Hi, You are correct, as far as I can tell these sre the leaves and berries of Prunus laurocerasus , (Cherry Laurel) which I would not recommend eating. Most books describe the berries as 'toxic in bulk'! so I would definitely err on the side of caution, the leaves too contain tiny amounts of cyanide...

oooops, fanks, I did not know that

Thanking yooooouu! I shall go with the winter density!