Hello from Bedford

[Lucky Girl]

I've been visiting the web site for ages now and I think its great; even when I had limited access to resources- not just a computer, but garden. It was a street front concrete yard in a rented flat measuring approx 1.5m x6m. I still managed to cram in 6 hanging baskets (4x tomatoes, 2x strawberries), a spud tub, various window boxes and containers plus an abandoned wheelbarrow, all planted up with veg and associated companion flowers. It was the first time I'd ever tried growing anything, the results were fantastic and I really got the bug- I wanted a "proper" garden.
In October I moved into a small house but with a huge garden - so big its even got its own orchard (hence why I'm "lucky girl"). Because this house is also rented the garden no one has been touched in years - about 17 the neighbours estimate. The veg plots were dug by January, and I'm using potato beds to prepare the ground for wild flower meadow in the orchard next year.
Its all looking really promising, and I'm looking forward to trying out more of the recipes (especially the nettles - we have a plentiful supply). I'll be able to try out even more when I can identify what else there is in the garden - apparently there's a walnut tree out there somewhere too!

[The Chili Monster]

Welcome to the site, Lucky Girl!

[cir3ngirl]

Welcome to the site.

Nettles are fab I make my own nettle feed and all my veg was bigger and grew quicker than my neighbours.

Davina

[ina]

Hiya Lucky Girl, and welcome!

That really sounds lucky - a house with a big garden! I have problems identifying trees myself - however, you should be able to recognise it once there's a walnut on it! What fruit have you got in the orchard?

[Shirley]

Hellooooooo and welcome to the site.

You sound very lucky indeed - good luck locating the walnut tree

The wild flower meadow sounds lovely - I had one at a house that we lived at a while ago but the new owner now has it as a neatly trimmed lawn

[Millymollymandy]

Hi Lucky Girl and welcome!

[Lucky Girl]

So far I've found apple trees - both eating and cooking, pears, plums, possibly some cherries (the birds spotted them first) and loads of damsons. Also there is a clump of trees with yellow fruit, about the size of damson and have a similar sized stone and smell similar too; I've no idea what they are - I've never seen a yellow damson (but then I hadn't seen a damson till I moved here!). I've got my Mumsy coming up for a few days next week, so she'll probably identify more goodies, she already knows she's on fruit picking detail!

Damson wine and ciderish beer here I come!!

[greenbean]

Hi Lucky Girl, I love your name, a lot of people just don't know how lucky they are, unlike you! You can also eat nettles, the young spring nettles are lovely in soup, there's nettle tea, nettle fertiliser, as already mentioned, stinky but excellent! Have fun in your new garden/orchard, sounds fab. Pam. x

[Wombat]

G'Day Lucky Girl!

sounds like you are lucky........goodonyermate!

Nev

[Millymollymandy]

Possibly a Mirabelle - small round yellow plums.

[Andy Hamilton]

Hello there Lucky girl, very aptly named by the sounds of things. YOu are quite right to think about storing all that lovely fruit whilst you have it, imagaine how much has gone to waste in the last 17 years.

welcome