Selfsufficientish.com

I have created a new website called http://ethicalmall.blogspot.com/ . It's a collection of all my favourite ethical, organic, vegan, fair trade, recycled etc. shops organised by category. It's mainly for my own use (my "favourites" folder was getting a bit cramped) but if other people find it usefu...

I've got one of those platic mini greenhouse thingies that got blown to bits, literally, last night. And the climbing rose over the door which is held to the brick wall with lots of pins got yanked right out and is now hanging right across the front door. I knew I should have pruned that back.

You've had some really good advice from Supersprout and Hedgie. They're right. April is not too late at all. I started a new allotment in May last year and had a great harvest. They're also right when they advise you don't go mental. You've got a young child and you're moving house so you're not goi...

She's dead right. You need to work stacks and stacks of organic matter into it. You can't overdo it. The more the merrier. It won't happen overnight but if you can really work loads of manure, compost, anything you can get into it, it will be much improved in a year or two. And try spuds. Spuds are ...

Have you registered them with Veg Box Schemes ? Anyone can register a scheme, you don't have to be the owner, and leave a review. Their database is getting pretty full now so you can type in your postcode and it will show you the nearest box schemes to you, plus reviews. It's a really useful resource.

Fee Fairy, couch grass looks like any old grass from above ground, but all the action is underground. I have heard it described as "looking like a plate of spaghetti mixed up with coffee grounds", which is pretty close to the mark. It forms huge root systems which get everywhere, driving right throu...

Yep, they store really well as long as they are not damaged. I processed one the other week that was over three months old.

[brunette bubble head] How is it grown then? I always assumed it was the same maize as sweetcorn but with the kernels dried.

The soft fruit bed sounds like a good plan. I personally wouldn't use it on stuff like carrots where the bit you eat is in contact with the soil, but on fruit trees and such I'm quite certain it can't do any harm.

I've got this one. I agree with you Cheezy it's more suitable for beginners; anyone with any experience would just flick through it and sniff "Nothing new". But I think even a beginner would be better served by a really practical how-to book. It's all style and no content, in my opinion. It's got so...

Happy birthday Ina!

I did some experiments yesterday and the results are posted on my blog . In upshot, I already knew that washing balls are about as good as detergent. But it seems that they're also about as good as washing with just plain water. In other words, preliminary findings are that wash balls are a rip-off ...

You don't need to freeze them, PM, they're already preserved. If you like eating them as they are just keep them in a jar or something and eat them as you need them. But I love apricots cooked with chicken dishes (or quorn) and chickpeas (it's true, I'm a cannibal) and spices like cumin and cinnamon...

Heh, Muddy. Now now, 60 million French people can't be wrong. That mirrors my experiences with garlic, Jack. I stick it in the ground, it shoots up, grows healthy and happy, the leaves go brown and fall over and when I dig it up there's no bulb below. Boo. Believe it or not I'm trying again this yea...

Like very very mini popcorn.