Seasonal Foods - November

Almost through the whole year of seasonal foods, hope you've all managed to identify recipes to use the bounty of the seasons. This months collection is no less impressive.

November Vegetables
Artichoke, beetroot, butternut squash, celeriac, celery, chicory, chillies, horseradish, jerusalem artichoke, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, parsnips, potatoes,
pumpkin, salsify, shallots, swede, turnips, watercress


November Fruit
Apples, elderberries, medlars, pears, quince


November Seafood
Brill, clams, coley, conger eel, crab, eel, haddock, halibut, hake, john dory, lemon sole, lobster, monkfish, mussels, oysters, plaice, pollack, scallops, sea bass, sea bream, skate, squid, turbot, winkles


Bon appetit!

Seasonal Foods - October

Well it's still well mild here in the UK, with the occassional threat of a frost so there's no excuse to not get outside and keep harvesting the lovely produce that we have in the ground. My garden is almost empty now of the foodstuff from this growing season, we've not made decisions on over-winter crop with the exception of leeks that have been in the ground for what seems like eternity... but there's a tangent that I like to find, back to seasonal stuff, keep your seasonal recipes coming in please and remember to eat local, eat seasonal.

October Vegetables
Artichoke, beetroot, broccoli, butternut squash, carrots, celeriac, celery, chillies, fennel, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, marrow, onions, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkin, swede, turnips, watercressbrussels sprouts, chicory, cucumber, garlic, jerusalem artichoke, lettuces & salad leaves, peppers, radishes, rocket, runner beans, salsify, shallots, spinach, spring onions, sweetcorn

October Fruit
Apples, bilberries, elderberries, medlars, pears, quince, tomatoes

October Seafood
Brill, clams, coley, conger eel, crab, grey mullet, haddock, halibut, hake, john dory, lemon sole, lobster, mackerel, monkfish, mussels, oysters, plaice, pollack, prawns, scallops, sea bass, sea bream, skate, squid, turbot, winkles

October Harvest

So we went to tidy up the allotment this weekend and whilst up there decided to pull the carrots up... bloody hell there were a lot. This picture isn't even half of them, and let me tell you, they were delicious :~) Kudos to Shandy P for setting up this wheel of carrots, he thought it might look good, the closet artisan that he is!

Forests & Trees

Once more to satisfy an element of Care of People ethic of my permaculture course, I share with you all the latest assignment, Forests & Trees. All I ask of you is to consider the questions, consider your locality and think about the application of sustainable ideas to the natural world.

1. Consider the native forest on your site or in your area if your site does not have forest already on it. Some native species will potentially be of direct benefit to you. Think of ways to use native species from the forest (both plant and animal). Identify species that could be used for human consumption, animal consumption, fuel and structural uses.

The species that we have listed below are not all necessarily found at our site, but are native to Sussex chalk soils. We have included shrubs and understory too as they play an important part in providing foodstuffs for both human and animal consumption.
Trees
• Ash makes a very good fuel which can burn even before it is dried; it was often coppiced for this reason.
• Pedunculate Oak (English Oak) is renowned for its strong timber and is used in construction of buildings, boats and furniture. In our environment it plays a key role in providing a habitat for a diverse range of insect, birds and mammals. Its fruit (acorn) is a favourite of pigs and squirrels.
• Beech is a popular choice for fencing, when coppiced it can be incorporated into hedges and can also be used for fire wood although unlike the Ash, needs to be dried out before it can be burnt.
• Field Maple can be used for fuel and like other maple varieties can be tapped for its sweet sap.
• Hornbeam is a particularly hard wood which means it is pretty difficult to work and thus only used for smaller purposes like cogs, yokes and mallets. It can burn particularly hot due to its hardness which lends itself to smelting.
• Spindle Tree has a brightly-coloured fruit which is provides food for birds.
• Holly provides not only a reasonable windbreak for property, but also a reasonably safe habitat for birds and small mammals. The ubiquitous holly berry provides winter food for these creatures too.
• Gean (wild cherry) is primarily used as a furniture wood, although in years gone past apparently it was sought after by smokers who would fashion their pipes from Gean. The fruit is hugely attractive to birds.
• Goat Willow primarily used due to their pliant stems to make baskets or other such wicker-type products.
• Whitebeam another hardwood that can be used again for tool handles, the berries provide food for birds.
• Rowan provides berries which can be made into jams or jellies which, according to some culinary sites, is an excellent accompaniment to game.
• Yew can be a tricky plant as much of it, in any condition is toxic. The fruit is partially edible so birds can enjoy it and receives an occasional mention as ideal for Longbows!
Shrubs
• Common Dogwood provide berries for both birds and mammals, which is said to be preferred over “human” fruit meaning it is a sensible choice for planting amongst orchard and soft-fruit plants.
• Hazel beloved by my brother and I, provides a number of uses. Due to its flexibility it can be twisted or even knotted and turned into natural structures or fences, baskets or furniture. The nuts are edible and are often taken by mammals.
• Hawthorn the fruit or haw is edible and can be used in jellies and jams as well as in some herbal remedies too.
• Ivy provides a dense evergreen shelter as well as providing food and grazing to insects, birds and deer.
• Privet offers shelter as a semi-evergreen plant throughout the year to birds and small mammals
• Blackthorn fruit is similar in size and use to plums, but is commonly turned into Sloe Gin here.
• Bramble produces the delicious blackberry which is awesomely tasty, but also plays an important role in providing food to insects and birds.
• Elder berries are edible by both human and animal alike; the flower heads can also be used to make infusions or yummy wine. All parts of the plant have medicinal properties and can be used to treat flu-like symptoms.

2. What influences currently threaten the native forests of your region? You may wish to think in terms of competition for the space occupied by forest, excessive harvesting of forest resources, pollution etc.

Sussex is one of the most wooded counties in the whole of Britain, with the Weald (a section of Sussex) containing the greatest woodland cover. According to Sussex Biodiversity Partnership the major threats to Sussex woodland are;
• Development (domestic and commercial, one assumes) resulting in woodland loss and fragmentation.
• Inappropriate management, which again I can only assume means deforestation (?).
• Excessive deer browsing which can result in changes to species composition and simplification of woodland structure.
• Climate change, which could put certain woodland types, like Beech, at risk.
• Agricultural intensification including, reseeding, ploughing and use of fertilisers.
(http://www.biodiversitysussex.org/habitats/woodland)
The UK being the size it is, supporting the population it has (approximately 60 million) will always threaten native forests; especially when you consider that the timber in ancient woodlands is sort after as a strong & reliable building material, as well as occupying space that could be used for domestic and commercial purposes. It is only the continued work by groups like National Trust, English Heritage and the Sussex Woodland Trust, and a well lobbied council like West Sussex or East Sussex County Council that protects what we currently have.

3. Do you think that a ‘sustainable’ harvest of materials from the native forests in your region is possible? If so, under what conditions?

A Sustainable harvest of materials is absolutely possible in this area. The local area provides a sustainable market in firewood of differing qualities and types, although we have not tested each of the following sites claims of sustainability:

http://www.fromthewood.com/firewood.html
http://www.heritageconservation.biz/
http://www.logskentandsussex.co.uk/
http://www.nef.org.uk/logpile/
http://www.woodnet.org.uk/woodlots/About%20WoodLots.htm
http://www.ajscrafts.co.uk/common/home.aspx
http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/leisure/explore_west_sussex/wildlife_and_landscape/trees_woodlands_and_hedgerows/wood_fuel.aspx

Furthermore you can find suppliers of all things wood locally, for construction or for building furniture which also claim use of sustainable wood supplies:

http://www.greenwoodcraftsman.co.uk/richswebsite/about.html
http://www.englishhurdle.com/page2.htm
http://www.sussextrugs.com/about_us/about_us.html
http://www.traditionalboundaries.com/about/
http://www.robswoodlands.co.uk/products.htm

Our point being that the knowledge, the motivation and the market for sustainably managed woodlands is widespread in the Sussex area, but as with all things in modern western civilization, education is all important. People need to be provided information about the importance of a sustainable approach to woodland management and tree use. They need to know that trees can be used for modern purposes in a sane and “green” manner and that one of the best methods of conservation is robust sustainability!

Bumper Chilli Crop

As promised here are pictures of the variety of chillis we grew this year. Having a greenhouse has been an absolute godsend, meaning that the fruit had plenty of opportunity to get big and juicy.

My chillis!

Seasonal Recipe

So, we collected literally dozens of apples from our tree last weekend, and everyone knows that the best way to eat apples is with oodles of sugar as part of a weight-loss programme?! NOT!

The Fairer Palmer has provided her very own recipe for Apple Crisp (American Apple Crumble). Here you go... enjoy.

Ingredients for filling

400g/1lb apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1cm/½in pieces

50g/2oz unrefined brown sugar

1 tbsp plain flour

1 tsp of ground cinnamon

Ingredients for topping

1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar

1/2 cup (65 grams) all purpose flour

1/4 cup (55 grams) light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon fresh or ground nutmeg (optional)

1/8 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons (84 grams) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1/3 cup (30 grams) old-fashioned rolled oats

1/3 cup (40 grams) chopped walnuts (optional)

Apple Crisp: Preheat oven to 190 degrees C (375 degrees F) and place rack in the center of the oven. Butter or spray with a cooking spray, a 9 inch (23 cm) deep dish pie plate or an 8 x 8 x 2 inch (20 x 20 x 5 cm) baking dish. Set aside.

For Topping: Place all the topping ingredients (flour, sugars, spices, butter, oats and nuts) in a food processor and process until the mixture is crumbly and there are no large pieces of butter visible. (This can also be done with two knives or your fingertips.) Set aside while you prepare the filling.

For Filling: Place the apple chunks in a large bowl. mix in sugar, flour and cinnamon being carfull not to break up the apples. Transfer to your prepared baking dish Spread the topping evenly over the apples.

Bake for approximately 30-40 minutes or until bubbly, and the topping is golden brown. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool for about 30 minutes before serving.

Serve with softly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Refrigerate leftovers and reheat before serving.

Seasonal Foods - September

Harvest Month... plenty to gather and plenty to eat, i will post some images later this week of appales pears and chilli peppers that were harvested this month by the Palmer's fair hands. This month gorge yourself on the following sumptuous offerings.

September Vegetables
Artichoke, aubergine, beetroot, broccoli, butternut squash, carrots, celery, chillies, courgettes, cucumber, fennel, garlic, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuces & salad leaves, mangetout, marrow, onions, peppers, potatoes, radishes, rocket, sweetcorn, watercress.

September Fruit
Apples, bilberries, blackberries, blueberries, damsons, pears, plums, raspberries, tomatoes.

September Seafood
Clams, cod, crab, grey mullet, haddock, halibut, john dory, lemon sole, lobster, mackerel, monkfish, pilchard, pollack, plaice, prawns, scallops, sea bass, sea bream, shrimp, squid, turbot, winkles

Images to follow :~)

Appropriate Energy Saving Technology

This should give you all pause to think about what technologies you currently use and whether you could move from Priority 3 fuels to Priority 1 & 2 fuels. If you want to view our table you will need to click on the images. I've yet to work out how to copy and paste tables into Blogger... if it's possible at all!

1. Consider the energy you use in your activities and the sources from where it comes. Create a table similar to the one below and fill in the appropriate information. Identify strategies for using more priority one sources of energy and fewer priority two and priority three sources based on behaviour, design and technology considerations.


As discussed in previous assignments, we are keen to trial any “green” technologies in order to find our best fit. Due to the fact that the site is YET to have a building put on it, it makes for an attractive, experimental location for all manner of Priority one technologies. If properly planned the need for Priority 3 sources can be minimised. The site is currently off the grid, but this is probably temporary and realistically the technologies we select will offer a means of reducing our dependence on the grid.

Wake up!

Back in my more innocent days, when I was trolling through the information available about the future of life on earth, I emailed Ernest Partridge following an article i had read by him, asking the simple question; "Is this as bad as it gets?" He kindly responded that he believed it would get a lot worse, a lot, lot worse, before we collectively woke from our slumber and acted in our best interests... at last!

I paraphrase as it was some time ago, but it appears from Ernests most recent writings that we still haven't gotten to the stage where we all wake up. For fucks sake, people better wake up soon!

"Are we, like the fruit flies in the bottle, predestined to meet a horrible fate due to forces beyond our control – beyond our control because we cannot overcome the blind economic interests which dominate our political processes and which own the mass media that misinforms the public?"

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26331.htm

EXPLAIN!

Permaculture as a Guide?

Found another beauty of an article to share with you. Comes from The Oil Drum, who's mission is to, "...facilitate civil, evidence-based discussions about energy and its impact on our future."

The discussion in question on this occassion was from George Mobus, Associate Professor of Computing & Software Systems at the University of Washington, Tacoma, who asked, "Can we solve two problems at once - unemployment and preparing for power down?"

I draw this to your attention as Permaculture gets quite a mention in the arguments made:

"Over the next twenty years the US and the world will need to transition from an industrial agriculture model to one based on permaculture and more organic, labor intensive approaches to growing food. Oil is going to decline, meaning that diesel fuels to run tractors and combines will become increasingly costly. And natural gas, meaning fertilizers, will also go into decline. The era of agribusiness is coming to a close sooner than anybody might have imagined. And we are not prepared for what follows."

"Agribusiness has relied so heavily on the elements of the so-called Green Revolution, fertilizers, irrigation, and pesticides along with massive and complex delivery vehicles, all made from or run on fossil fuels. At the same time, the very use of these elements has depleted the natural capacities of regional soils. In some cases it has killed off soil microbes that are essential for natural ecosystems to survive and thrive. And that is the way we will need to understand our food production, as a natural, though assisted, ecosystem (the whole point of permaculture). Now that the soils have been so badly damaged it will take years of careful management to rebuild the natural capacities of these soils. And it won't be done with tractors so much as with compost, shovels, and horse-drawn wagons and plows"

"As another, even more valuable benefit to young workers in such a program, we could provide a free education in the technical and principled basis of permaculture. Our future society will depend on permaculture for not just sustenance but for intellectual guidance in how to live in the natural world."

I don't need to add anything really!

http://campfire.theoildrum.com/node/6877

Peak Food?

A lengthy gem of an article I recently found, which raises serious questions about the future for human life on earth. What can YOU do, right now? What do YOU do every day to live more sustainably? These are interesting times, how interested are YOU in them?

"We will not treat the earth sustainably when we do not see it and feel it in our daily lives and know directly that what surrounds us is what keeps us and our descendants alive and healthy... There are too many of us to go "back to the land," but we must preserve the connection. In coming decades necessity will dictate that everyone produce their own food wherever and however they can, but more important, we must reconnect ourselves to the earth we have abused. You who put aside a little corner of your urban homestead where things green can flourish are preserving the connection as best you can, and must teach others to do likewise. You are preserving an essential thread to our past, which will, if we are lucky, allow us to have a future." - Nicholas C Arguimbau
(http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26064.htm)

More proof, if you needed it, that we must do all we can, now, to learn skills once passed down to us by our elders. A good paying job will not replenish the drying aquifers. A healthy bank account will not produce food for your kitchen table. Getting outside and reconnecting with nature, understanding her moods, learning to give and take from the earth in a sustainable manner is all we should really be doing.

Seasonal Foods - August

Finding my feet again following the earth-shattering introduction of a new member to the Palmer-clan! Hopefully that'll mean more blogging time. Anywho (to use a Jessica-ism), August is still a hugely bountiful time of year so what's good?

August Vegetables
Artichokes, aubergine, beetroot, broad bean, brocolli, carrots, chillies, corgettes, cucumbers, french beans, garlic, kohlrabi, lettuce, leeks, mange tout, new potatoes, onions, peas, radishes, rocket, runner beans, spinach, sweetcorn.

August Fruits
Blackberries, blueberries, gooseberries, loganberries, peaches, raspberries, redcurrants, strawberries, tomatoes.

August Seafood
Cockles, coley, conger eel, dab, grey mullet, langoustine, sea trout, squid, cod
crab, dover sole, haddock, halibut, herring, john dory, lemon sole, lobster, mackerel, monkfish, plaice, pollack, prawns, salmon, sardines, scallops, sea bass, sea bream, shrimp, whelks, whitebait

DAMN! Lots of choices this month, don't be frightened to send me a recipe or two to try from these lovely selections :~)

Buildings & Structure

1. Review the assignment you completed in Section 4 when you chose a site to design and produced a site map, sector, and zone plans. Please submit: updated site, sector and zone plans based on the additional information you have acquired in the preceding sections. Also include a development plan (or staged plan) for the site. Show proposed or redesigned planting areas, structures, paths etc. Please include a rationale for your plan similar to the discussion provided in Appendix Five.

The site and sector maps are in effect combined and the first clear observation is the complete removal of the access track from the south-eastern corner that went up the left side of the property and bisected the middle of the property.

We are fortunate that our chosen site is relatively under-developed, so we don’t need to design around exhisting buildings or planting schemes. So in terms of potential costs, we are only having to budget for additions and minor remedial work.

The clients, Jessica & Tim, have a strong and determined requirement that as many eco-friendly elements be applied to all aspects of the site; including but certainly not limited to housing, utilities, energy supply, food production and habitat renewal. Since section 4 a number of changes have been made to the design of the entire site. The site is still straightforward 20 metre by 52 metre rectangle on a slope from Northwest to Southeast corner, roughly down the axis of the rectangle.

The positioning of the house has been moved in order to remove all of the access road as this was taking up between 5 and 10 percent of the entire property. On the western side of the site Leylandii shade a small section but certainly not enough that it would make that area an improbable planting site. A large rosemary bush offers privacy and a good wind break from the prevailing weather direction.

The northern end of the property has had fruit trees and bushes planted on it to help prevent run off on such a sloped site. The house will now receive almost full sun, year round, with the exception of the sunset which falls on the other side of the slope. The tree nearest the property offers a small amount of dappled shade.

The Zone Map (below)shows that we have selected a yurt to be our primary residence with additional pods added for the bedrooms. The flexibility of the yurt design means that the entire structure can be moved to better take advantage of the conditions. The main yurt is primarily made up of lounge, which gets much of the sunlight during the day. The kitchen enjoys early sunshine and above it sits a small mezzanine level which will be used for office and storage. The bathroom is limited in size but fu8nctional, it’s position being selected so that waste water can be used on the garden.

The two bedroom pods are positioned on the Northeast side of the yurt so as to offer a cool aspect for a more comfortable sleep. A small driveway is now located at the entrance to the yurt and goes out towards the Southern corner of the property, well clear of the prevailing wind direction.

Bees & Bumbles

I've always had a love of these hard-working buggers. It must come from my Grandad, he loved his honey bees! But with the recent well-documented problem of colony collapse syndrome, our focus should at least consider these little guys when planning on what plants we want in our gardens ie why not make them Bee-friendly :~) (http://www.generous.org.uk/actions/home/192/make-your-garden-bumblebee-friendly)

The out-laws visited recently and whilst here we went to Wakehurst, a Kew-managed garden in the Sussex countryside where the pictures you see on this blog were taken. We were fortunate enough to bump into a real bee-keeper who told us that 1 productive hive can produce over 60lbs of honey each season... SIXTY POUNDS! Another reason to bee-friend them (pun intended).

Consider also that most of the pollination that takes place to your fruit and vegetable is carried out by the industrious bee, without which, would mean we'd be out there cotton bud (q-tip to the Yanks) in hand cross pollinating all the plants ourselves!

And finally as that intellectual lightweight Einstein once said (although it is an unattributed quote) "If the bee disappears from the surface of the Earth, man would have no more then 4 years left to live. No more bees, no more pollination, no more men!"

You get the picture.

Seasonal Foods

Nature really does start to show off in June. The sun is higher in the sky, hotter and more intense. In our temperate climate we get a fair amount of rain and so fruit and veg is abundant. As such, this month, you should have no problem creating a seasonal dish full of delicious ingredients, bon appetit!

June Vegetables
artichoke, asparagus, aubergine, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, courgettes, cucumber, fennel, french beans, garlic, jersey royal new potatoes, kohlrabi, lettuces & salad leaves, mangetout, new potatoes, onions, peas, potatoes (maincrop), radishes, rhubarb, rocket, runner beans, samphire, spinach, spring onions, turnips, watercress, wild mushrooms, wild nettles

June Fruit
blueberries, cherries, chillies, elderflowers, gooseberries, greengages, loganberries, raspberries, redcurrants, strawberries, tomatoes

June Seafood
cockles, cod, coley, conger eel, crab, grey mullet, haddock, herring, john dory, lemon sole, lobster, mackerel, plaice, pollack, prawns, salmon, sardines, scallops, sea bream, sea trout, shrimp, squid, whelks, whitebait

June Herbs
basil, chervil, chives, coriander, dill, elderflowers, mint, oregano, parsley (curly), parsley (flat-leaf), rosemary, sage, sorrel, tarragon, thyme

Why we do, what we do!

We strive to learn skills and to pass on our experiences as it is our responsibility to our future generations to be better stewards of this planet. We've always believed the bullshit fed to us throughout our lives that our world has infinite resources, infinte beauty, infinite sustainability and each new generation has access to a "better" life.

This is demonstrably not the case. If you live life with your eyes open then you can see the mounting problems that we face, not just to sustain our wholly selfish western way of living but to sustain our species. We must face the mounting facts that our current depletion of resources, coupled with our insatiable growth in population will end our time on this earth, fast!

So why all this gloomy talk, well, it takes a new addition to the family to sharpen your focus! Occasionally, i need to remind myself why we need to retrain oursleves, why we need to learn compassion, good judgement, fair share and how to live sustainably... it's for the future generation... it's for my 10-day old daughter Freya Florence... it's for her future.

After Money

I've been resisting posting the likes of The Arch Druid report as it deals with economics and politics, which is all encompassing but a kind of distraction from what i want this blog to be about. But, the interesting and quite prescient details of his recent blog entry i think should get an airing considering we are looking at ways of mitigating the coming (currently happening) descending use of energy.

"Most people won’t have the option of separating themselves completely from the money economy for many years to come; as long as today’s governments continue to function, they will demand money for taxes, and money will continue to be the gateway resource for many goods and services, including some that will be very difficult to do without. Still, there’s no reason why distancing oneself from the tertiary economy has to be an all-or-nothing thing. Any step toward the direct production of goods and services for one’s own use, with one’s own labor, using resources under one’s own direct control, is a step toward the world that will emerge after money; it’s also a safety cushion against the disintegration of the money economy going on around us."(My Emphasis)

http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2010/05/after-money.html

Seasonal Foods

"Holy Crap!", I bet you're all saying. Along with, "And where the hell have you been?". Good question! This preparing for the birth of ones first child has become a damn nuisance and a major distraction from a plethora of other things that need to be gotten on with. Pregnant Palmer is now unemployed, extremely large and enjoying the easy life of day-time TV channel-surfing!

We've not been doing nothing though. The back garden is quite the project on it's own... we'll get some photos up for you. It's that awesome time of year when plants just simply want to grow, so we've been spending many an hour seeding, hardening, and planting lots of yummy foodstuffs. We'll get some photos up of that stuff too.

Seasonal foodstuffs for May... and there's a glutt of them this month.

May Vegetables
Asparagus, broad beans, brocolli, carrots, cauliflower, cucumber, jersey royal new potatoes, kohlrabi, lettuces & salad leaves (you would not believe how quick these grow), onions, peas, radishes, rhubarb, rocket, spinach, spring onion, watercress, wild nettles.

May Seafood
Cockles, cod, coley, conger eel, crab, john dory, lemon sole, mackerel (wholly sustainable and delicious to boot), plaice, pollock, salmon, sea trout, shrimp, whelks and whitebait.

So come on peeps, eat the bounty :~)

Seasonal Foods

A big thank you to AA (he or she's identity kept strictly confidential) for submitting his or hers very own seasonal recipe.

Potato and Curly Kale Soup
Chop an onion and 5 cloves of garlic and fry gently until soft
Pour in 750-1000ml of beef stock (can use chicken or veg)
Add a sheet of Kombu (Optional)
Peel and cube 4-5 large potatoes, add to stock (I like Vavaldi at the mo)
Simmer for 30 minutes
Chop stalks off 500g of Kale
Remove Kombu sheet
Add Kale
Add a small amount of soya milk - This is the trick
Simmer for 15 minutes
Blend - Add more soya milk or water if overly thick
Add salt and pepper to taste
Will freeze well - You can blend the soup before adding the Kale for an all together different experience.

Seasonal Foods - March

Apologies my followers of seasonal foods, I've been somewhat remiss with my writing this month. I have just moved home you know! So I've received no feedback about how you're all doing with trying to source just seasonal foods, let's assume that means you're all doing well :~) Anywho, here's this months delicious seasonal foods.

March Vegetables
Beetroot, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, chicory, cucmber, jersey royal new potatoes, kale, leeks, onions, parsnips, potatoes, purple sprouting broccoli, rhubarb, rocket, salsify, shallots, spinach, spring onions, swede, wild nettles.

March Seafood
Cockles, conger eel, crab, dab, dover sole, eel, hake, john dory, lobster, mackerel, mussels, oysters, prawns, salmon, sea trout, shrimp, skate, whitebait, winkles.

March Herbs, Flowers, Funghis & Nuts
Chives, coriander, dill, mushrooms, parsley (curly), sorrel.

At the moment I'm eating more smoked mackerel then you can shake a stick at in replacement for my huge appetite for Tuna. Mackerel is also certified as a sustainable stock by the Marine Stewardship Council (http://www.msc.org/cook-eat-enjoy/fish-to-eat/mackerel), so go ahead and eat plenty.

Design for Catastrophe

1. What environmental catastrophes have occurred in your region historically?
As is the pattern for our chosen site and our current region, there aren’t many catastrophes that have struck this area historically. This probably explains why the area is hugely popular, potentially too populous to support itself. We have nominally identified Flooding, Tsunami, Coastal Erosion, Tornadoes and Snow as having caused the most problem historically.

As with many coastal towns in England there is always potential for flooding and coastal erosion. There has been particularly bad flooding in Lewes District (the district bordering Brighton & Hove) in the past 10 years:

“The flooding that occurred across much of England and Wales in the autumn and early winter of 2000 was the most extensive since the snowmelt-generated floods of March 1947. Two areas were particularly hard hit. In mid-October, large areas of Kent and Sussex were left underwater as rivers such as the Ouse at Lewes (East Sussex), the Uck at Uckfield (East Sussex) and the Medway at Tonbridge (Kent) burst their banks. Hundreds of homes and businesses were flooded to a depth of several feet, floodwater and landslips closed roads and rail travellers faced widespread delays and cancellations.”
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/autumn2000.html

In as much as these catastrophes do not directly impact on our site, they are close enough to be considered indirect threats as roads are blocked and utility services affected. Flooding can also affect the coast lines too. Without adequate sea defences much of the Sussex coastline would not be as “stable” as it currently is:

“Global warming and rises in sea level are in the news practically every day and in Sussex, particularly at Selsey, there are great worries that eventually the sea may wash away the town. This is nothing new. Thousands of acres of Sussex have been gobbled up by the sea over the last 10,000 years.”
http://www.westsussex.info/coastal-erosion.shtml

Tsunamis, although very rare, have to be considered as a potential catastrophe for any coastal settlement:

“Dr Steven Ward, a geophysicist as the University of California, Santa Cruz, has modelled a tsunami generated by a comet impact offshore western Ireland as envisaged by Haslett and Bryant. The results indicate that flooding described in the historic records from Cornwall, Cumbria, Hampshire, Sussex, Kent, North Wales and Holland can all be explained by a tsunami generated by such an impact event.” (My emphasis)
http://www3.newport.ac.uk/displayPage.aspx?object_id=8242&type=SEC

Tornadoes are most commonly associated with the American Midwest, home to Jessica, but surprisingly, the UK in general and the Sussex coastline more specifically is not free of them:

“On average, 33 tornados are reported each year in the UK although the number can vary significantly from year to year. The UK has the highest frequency of reported tornadoes per unit area in the world, although they are nowhere near as intense as those reported in the USA. An example of a tornado that affected southern England is the one that struck Kensal Rise in west London on 7 December 2006. Up to 150 homes were damaged and 6 people were injured in violent winds that lasted less than 1 minute. This was the first tornado to cause significant damage in London since one at Gunnersbury, west London, in December 1954. A further example is the tornado that struck Selsey (West Sussex) on 7 January 1998 causing an estimated £10M of damage to 1000 buildings. This part of the south coast seems somewhat prone to tornadoes, and Selsey also suffered damage in November 1986 and October 2000.”
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/so/print.html

Our final catastrophic occurrence we identified, purely due to the lack of preparedness that the local community displays, is snowfall. According to the Met Office, the least snow-prone areas in the UK are those situated close to the English Channel. Which is great when considering catastrophe preparedness, but historically we can still be “caught napping”:

“More snow hit Mid Sussex tonight only a few days after its heaviest snowfalls for 22 years disrupted services.”
http://www.westsussextoday.co.uk/mid-sussex-news/Snow-returns-after-worst-Mid.4956616.jp

“January and February are the snowiest months in the UK, whilst snow is more likely in March and April than November and October respectively. And really this is where talk of snow might be expected to end. However, having already most likely teased us with some pleasant summer-like weather earlier in the spring May is prone to throwing in a touch of winter, perhaps more often than might be thought...”
http://www.dandantheweatherman.com/Bereklauw/latesnow.html

2. What is the prediction for future catastrophes? Is your home site in an at-risk area?
The Environment Agency produces a detailed map that shows clearly the areas it believes based on historical data can and probably will suffer flooding in the future:

http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiybyController?topic=floodmap&layerGroups=default&lang=_e&ep=map&scale=3&x=557847&y=117982

If we consider flooding/coastal erosion as one potential catastrophe for the area, then our site is pretty well protected from this. The site is located approximately one to two miles inland from the coast and at approximately 75 – 100 metre elevation too thus taking it well out of the range of most of the potential flood water range. The recent record snowfall that we had in Sussex didn’t pose too many problems either to the site, with the exception of a slightly more tricky access road.

3. What can you do/have you done to minimise the risks for loss of life and property?
For the most part we are pretty lucky to be in an area with little threat of a major catastrophic event. This could be viewed as prudent pre-planning to identify a suitable site free of risk from these types of unpredictable events. Every element of our design process is building up the armoury of our site. Our planning, then execution of those plans is ensuring the longevity of our home site. By examining each element and how it fits with corresponding elements, we are already building in fail safes and disaster mitigation strategies as we go.

We are slowly building a robust and well-thought-out site, leaving nothing to chance; amending as and when necessary to ensure we aren’t just utilising the site for our own purpose but also strengthening and protecting it as we go to satisfy our ethic of “Care of Earth”. All these design steps should lead to a well-protected site from unforeseen future catastrophes!

Care of Earth

Embarrasing as it may be to admit this, I am more singularly focused on this permaculture principle more then any other. It should not consume me like it does, I should spread myself thinner making sure i am doing all I can about Care of People and ensuring a Fair Share too.

Problem is, fewer and fewer of us are caring for our Earth as evidenced by this recent article by George Monbiot.

"The names alone should cause anyone whose heart still beats to stop and look again. Blotched woodwax. Pashford pot beetle. Scarce black arches. Mallow skipper. Marsh dagger. Each is a locket in which hundreds of years of history and thousands of years of evolution have been packed. Here nature and culture intersect. All are species that have recently become extinct in England."

http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2010/03/15/the-naming-of-things

The key point made in this article I would like to emphasise... if we, the pampered twenty percent, who, in large numbers, support environmental causes cannot prevent the extinction of 2 species per year in the UK alone, then what hope do we have for a bountiful, rich and diverse future?

Allotment Photos

This picture is looking from the bottom of the allotment or eastern side of it facing west up the slope. If you look real close you can see the small hazel shrubs planted by Andy's fair hand. We hope this will develop into a large habitable bush for all our garden visitors. The rest of the picture shows about half the entire plot covered in card and/or horse pooh, to increase the amount of humus. At the back (top of the picture) the entire bush is one huge Rosemary.


This one is in the bottom (northeast corner) looking Southwest. You again can see the hazels that have been planted along the boundary, the deck that was constructed in order to house our viewing platform and shed is on the top right and if you look carefully the bamboo poles marking out what will be a spiral planting area.


This is the north side looking south. You can just about see the two swales on the east and west side of the cardboard covered area to encourage water to seep down to the water table instead of just running off. The dew pond is clear to see on the right-hand side as well as the spiral planting section (at least the canes marking it). The pile of twigs and other detritus you see in the middle of the card has been left as is as we spotted lots of lizardy, snakey and froggy creatures using it as a habitat.


This view is on top of the decking area soon to have a shed and decking boards down, looking south east towards the sea. This is going to be fabulous come summer with a fair amount of sunshine all day.


This photo is again from the deck area facing due south. This area will soon be covered with card and this spring we plan on planting a typical North American guild of corn, beans and squash (perhaps corgette cos we like it)


This is a close up of what will be a spiral guild of possibly peppers, aliums, tomatoes and carrots. As you can tell from some of these descriptions, we will be experimenting with a number of companion planting schemes or Guilds to see which plant groupings work best together.

My Ethos

On a beautiful sunny March day I thought about what my reason for doing all this was. I could wax lyrical about the future of life, sustainability, climate catastrophe or what it means to be human in the 21st century; but for once i will plaguarise and with good reason.

I couldn't put it better then the venerable Bertrand Russell who died 40 years ago last month:

What I Have Lived For

"Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. These passions, like great winds, have blown me hither and thither, in a wayward course, over a deep ocean of anguish, reaching to the very verge of despair. I have sought love, first, because it brings ecstasy—ecstasy so great that I would often have sacrificed all the rest of life for a few hours of this joy. I have sought it, next, because it relieves loneliness—that terrible loneliness in which one shivering consciousness looks over the rim of the world into the cold unfathomable lifeless abyss. I have sought it, finally, because in the union of love I have seen, in a mystic miniature, the prefiguring vision of the heaven that saints and poets have imagined. This is what I sought, and though it might seem too good for human life, this is what—at last—I have found.

With equal passion I have sought knowledge. I have wished to understand the hearts of men. I have wished to know why the stars shine. And I have tried to apprehend the Pythagorean power by which number holds sway above the flux. A little of this, but not much, I have achieved.

Love and knowledge, so far as they were possible, led upward toward the heavens. But always pity brought me back to earth. Echoes of cries of pain reverberate in my heart. Children in famine, victims tortured by oppressors, helpless old people a hated burden to their sons, and the whole world of loneliness, poverty, and pain make a mockery of what human life should be. I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot, and I too suffer.

This has been my life. I have found it worth living, and would gladly live it again if the chance were offered me."

Beautiful, wasn't he?

Soils

1. Investigate and report on the soil in your region. Visit the local library (ask to see a reference book if necessary) or contact and agricultural office. As a last resort you might even call a fertiliser company. If you can, ask other gardeners about the local soil conditions. Compare this information to what you can observe yourself. Does your own soil match the description? Is the local soil fertile? What are the negative factors affecting your regional soils? How will you compensate or work with these factors on your own plot?

We carried out research into the type of soils that our project site is part of. We collected information firstly from the British Geological Survey which categorised much of the Sussex coastline around Brighton & Hove to be London Clay up to 10 metres in depth with upper & middle chalk under that up to 325 metres in depth. “Head is the most widespread drift deposit of the district and varies considerably in lithology. It is a brown silty loam with variable content of flint & sandstone fragments.” (Brighton & Worthing – Solid & Drift Geology, England and Wales series sheet 318/333

Secondly we looked at the agricultural use of the area, which was classified as being predominantly in urban use (for obvious reasons as the project site is based in Brighton & Hove City boundary). But the areas within the city boundaries available to agricultural use are considered Grade 3. (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food – 1972)

Finally we looked at a very detailed map of the types of soil in our project area which were categorised as such:
Soil Group Parent Material
Rendzinas Chalk
Brown Earths Flinty Silty Head
Brown Calcerous Silty Chalky Head
(Soil Maps of Sussex Coastal Plan 631.4942)

If we compare our actual site to these provided, we can see that ours is very much a lime-rich soil over chalk, which fortunately provides reasonably fertile humus for us to use. The soil matches quite closely what these descriptions offer. It is a freely draining soil which we have talked about previously in the project and can mitigate against by providing solutions to prevent runoff. We should encounter few obstacles though to producing year round produce on our project site.
(We also found useful in researching this subject: www.landis.org.uk/soilscapes)

2. Carry out the soil test for particles (silt, sand and clay) outlined in this section. Be sure to use a smooth-sided glass jar with a wide mouth. Do three samples for accuracy. Send in a drawing of your findings. Buy or borrow a test kit for pH and use it on each sample.
All three samples returned a pH of 7.

Chemical characteristics of soil
The pH indicates the acidity or alkalinity (basic) of the soil. Different plants have differing optimum soil pH requirements. The majority of plants prefer a pH of around 6 to 7, which is very slightly acid.

The soil pH is important in determining the availability of soil minerals. At pH extremes some minerals are "locked up" and cannot be used by the plants, whilst other minerals may become toxic. e.g. aluminium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese and boron become more soluble under acidic conditions and can reach toxic levels. The application of different fertilisers can affect the pH of the soil.

If a soil is too acid then it can be modified by the addition of lime. If it is too alkaline then elemental sulfur may be added which is oxidised by specific soil bacteria to form sulfuric acid. Ploughing in green manure crops and animal manures also lowers soil pH. Soil pH can have an effect on microbial activity in the soil.

VEGETABLES pH

Asparagus 6.5-7.5
Bean, french 6.5-7.0
Bean, broad 5.5-7.0
Broccoli 6.5-7.5
Brussel sprouts 5.5-7.0
Cabbage 6.5-7.5
Cauliflower 6.5-7.5
Carrot 6.0-7.5
Celery 6.5-7.5
Cucumber 5.5-7.0
Lettuce 6.5-7.5
Leek 6.5-7.5
Onion 6.5-7.5
Potato 5.5-6.5
Rhubarb 5.0-6.0
Swede 6.5-7.0
Tomato 5.5-7.0
Turnip 6.5-7.0

TREES & SHRUBS

Conifers 4.5-5.5
Deutzia 6.5-8.0
Escallonia 6.5-8.0
Forsythia 6.0-7.5
Heathers 4.5-5.5
Hydrangeas (blue) 4.5-5.5
Jasmin 6.0-7.5
Ligustrum 5.5-7.0
Magnolia 5.0-6.0
Philadelphus 6.5-8.0
Pyracantha 6.5-8.0
Prunus 6.5-8.0
Rhododendron 4.5-5.5
Willow 6.5-7.0

FRUIT

Apple 5.5-7.0
Black Currants 6.0-7.5
Cherries 5.5-6.5
Pears 5.5-7.0
Plums 6.0-7.5
Strawberries 5.0-6.0

Seasonal Foods - February

How did you all get on last month with your new found seasonal foods knowledge? Those of you local to me (Sussex) have a little help this month as i figured what better way to buy seasonal then to visit the local farmers markets, dates and times below:

Saturday 27th February, 10:00 - 15:00, Brighton & Hove Farmers market, George Street, Hove and the fourth Saturday of each month following.

Sunday 7th March, 10:00 - 15:00, Hove Farmers Market, Ralli Hall, Next to Hove Station and the first Sunday of subsequent months.

Saturday 13th March, Shoreham Farmers Market, East Street, Shoreham and the second Saturday of every other month.

There are others to be found in Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath, Worthing, Billinshurst, Petworth, Arundel, Chichester, Ford, Hassocks, Horsham, Midhurst, Slindon and Steyning, but i'm trying to encourage you to not travel too far for your locally produced fresh fruit and vegetables.

February Vegetables

Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Leeks, Parsnips, Rhubarb, Shallots, Swede

February Seafood

Brill, Clams, Cockles, Haddock, Halibut, Hake, Lemon Sole, Mussels, Oysters, Salmon, Skate, Turbet, Winkles.

Opportunities are aplenty, so go out and buy fresh and seasonal. Yummy!

Classical Landscape Patterns

1. Consider the region your chosen design site is located in. Does the region match any of the landscape types discussed in this section? Is your site representative of this region? Is its climate temperate (cold), tropical (hot) or desert (dry)?

Our chosen design site is typical of the Humid Landscape. The South Downs are all gentle sloping hills that start 50 miles to the west near Portsmouth and continue about another 30 miles east to Eastbourne. The climate is temperate pretty much for the entire United Kingdom not just our chosen design site, with an additional splash of coastal-type climate thrown in. The actual physical design site location is well protected from the typical coastal hazards of sand, salt and the prevailing winds as it lies on a slope facing eastwards thus being afforded protection.

2. Provide an analysis of characteristic features and design implications for your design site’s region. This should include information and design considerations for rainfall patterns (water collection, storage and distribution), hazards (wind, tsunamis, earthquake, landslides, fire) and seasonal temperatures (length of growing season, crop potential, insulation requirements).

To the bane of most English-people, we do not suffer from a lack of precipitation. It’s a rare month that we do not have a measurable amount of rainfall. The primary consideration for our design site is how to store rainfall from the wetter winters in order to supplement the drier summers. A couple of above-ground water collection devices (such as water butts) should suffice for the area of land we are designing for, supplemented by our pond which will provide water to resident mammals, birds, reptiles and insects.

We have also designed swales into our overall design in order to encourage the (heavy) rainfall to not simply runoff but to seep down through the soil layers, thus benefitting all our plants throughout the site. At this stage, we aren’t sure whether the site would benefit or in fact actually need any kind of irrigation system, we will continue to observe as the seasons change. Collection and storage for the entire site will be to the west which is on the upper part of the slope, allowing for easier transport of water down the slope.

The region doesn’t face much in the way of hazards. Some coastal erosion can take place, but this is currently mitigated by coastal defences. Our site is far enough inshore to not face this hazard and at a high enough level to avoid any potential future flooding. Our main concern on such a sloped site is soil erosion. We already plan to mitigate this by planting plenty of root stock as mentioned before to bind what remaining soil we have on our site.

“South East England combines the highest average daytime temperatures found in the British Isles with the highest sunshine averages on the British mainland. There are between 25 and 30 inches (630 and 760 mm) of rainfall; and there can be high variation of temperature between day and night. The climate of the coastal districts is strongly influenced by the sea, which, because of its tendency to warm up slower than land, can result in cooler temperatures than inland in the summer. In the autumn months, the coast sometimes has higher temperatures. Rainfall during the summer months is mainly from thunderstorms and thundery showers; from January to March the heavier rainfall is due to prevailing south-westerly frontal systems. The coast has consistently more sunshine than the inland areas: sea breezes, blowing off the sea, tend to clear any cloud from the coast.”
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sussex)

Our main aim is to better understand the seasonal growing cycles of all crops on our site because if we plan this into our design scheme the region offers us a 12-month growing season. We should be able to keep the site in productive use January to December regardless of the weather.

The coastal climate is hugely favourable meaning that we are only limited to our soil type and intensity of sun at this latitude in the potential for crops that we can sow, grow and eat. As long as we are sensible and we research our choices thoroughly, we should have a site full of a large variety of crops.

With the exception of the current winter which has been “the coldest in over 30 years” (according to the Met Office), we rarely get harsh winters. Our winters are on average wet and mild with additional wet. We should be aware of some of the less hardy perennials that we choose and protect them as a matter of course with mulching or simply position them close to protective cousins like trees or hedgerows. The appropriate protection strategy will be zone dependent, zones 0 and 1 being where most foodstuffs will be cultivated thus being the focus of much of our protective thinking. Although mentioned above, the amount of rainfall offers benefits from a growing perspective; it of course can cause us headaches when trying to prevent rotting of any surplus we may produce. We ironically will need to find a way to remove moisture, when all other attempts in our design seem to work in the opposite direction, to protect crops. Proper dry storage will be essential. (http://www.vegetableexpert.co.uk/how-dry-store-vegetables-grown.html)

The Home Project

I feel it's my responsibility to draw your attention to this movie. Remove the voice over and it makes for a simply beautiful documentary of images from the air. Listen to the voice over and it makes a compelling case for action. It is beautiful, heart-breaking, uplifting and pretrifying all at the same time, but i implore you, please take the time to watch it and think about what is being said. Think about your contribution to the issues. Think about your life, the lives of your friends and the future lives of those that will come after us.

Whether you are touched or not, how can you fail to be, please pass this on.

"We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth's climate.

The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort, and HOME has been conceived to take a message of mobilization out to every human being.

For this purpose HOME needs to be free. A patron, the PPR Group, made this possible. Europacorp, the distributor, also pledged not to make any profit because HOME is a non-profit film.

HOME has been made for you: share it! And act for the planet.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU&feature=channel

Collapse Gap Revisited

Good Monday to you.

Two for you this week to get your heads around. Dmitry makes some comments on another article written by Richard Heinberg regarding collapse preparation of the last two superpowers US and China.

"What would make more sense than just trying to put off the inevitable is quite simply to build resilience throughout society, re-localizing basic social systems involving food, manufacture, and finance." - Richard's article can be read here http://www.postcarbon.org/article/67429-china-or-the-u-s-which-will.

"Since collapse is unavoidable, the obvious fall-back strategy would be to invest in local resiliency and self-sufficiency. Since neither government appears the least bit interested in such matters, it is time for us to recognize them for what they are to us: utterly irrelevant. Paying attention to national politics can only distract us from doing whatever we can as individuals and local communities." - Dmitry's comments can be read here http://cluborlov.blogspot.com/2010/02/collapse-gap-revisited.html.

My own thoughts on both are that i'm heading in the right direction. We must all move towards a lower energy use future, whereby local communities provide as much as they can for themselves (remember permaculture 101, individaul Self-Reliance AND Community Self-Sufficiency). We can prepare ourselves for a more austere way of living. We can renew old friendships and seek out new ones. We can learn something new, this week, or this month, or this year, but learn we must! We can do so much now to help ourselves... the alternative is to wait and hope that our "leaders" will make the right decisions for us and provide for us when we can't.

Your call.

Pattern in Design

1. Review the client checklist forms in Appendix four: Patterns. These forms can be used in conjunction with the forms provided in Appendix Three: Design. Fill in the Outcomes form for the site you previously chose for your project.

· Overall we are looking to design a self-sustaining site on a relatively new site that has had little previous work carried out on it.

· We are looking to make this a vegetarian project focusing on making the entire area an ‘edible’ landscape.

· The outdoors is very important to us, but we have no need for the traditional English lawn area. Getting outside, working outside, socialising outside is critical to the type of ‘lifestyle’ we are trying to create.

· The site’s size is limited so we must maximise the edges and margins.

· We want to experiment with forest garden ideas, as this is a highly productive and self-fertile system; we also grew up around the New Forest National Park.

· We want to use lessons from Earthship design and build, or at least borrow from the ethos of green building.

· Substantial grey water collection and reed filtration are also preferred. Composting toilets will also be our human waste disposal of choice.

· Due to the angled geography to the west aspect of the site, much of that side of the building could be part-buried improving insular properties. We’d like to include some geothermal capacity to the property to assist with warming.

· Recycled materials are to be used extensively.

· We want to have lots of experimental build ideas as the challenge is as important as the technologies available. Eco-build from start to finish.

2. Observe your chosen site. Note the functions taking place (how the elements interact with other elements in the system). Consider the functions and elements you want in your system and develop implementation strategies to create them. Fill in the Patterns form in Appendix four: Patterns. This may be difficult if you are not familiar with the site. Be sure to include any patterns of behaviour the client may have.

Patterns -Initial Comments
Frost covers most of the SW corner of the site. Because we are new to the site we have yet to observe how extensive this will be stretching over the rest of the site. - We’ve decided to mitigate this by positioning our property in this location.

Site has substantial angle and we must consider water retention policy we will employ. -Designing swales and a dew pond for over-spill collection from rainwater collection to be designed into the overall build to help minimise runoff problem.

Summer offers full sun to entire site. - We’re designing large amounts of fruit stock to offer dappled shade for both plants and house.

Occasional vacation but not often for long or the same time each year. - Ensure that planting scheme is self-fertile and low maintenance.

3. Consider the special influence of edge on the designs you produced for the last section. Discuss how you will manipulate edge to improve your site design. Remember to maximise edge to increase productivity options and minimise edge when conserving energy. (Anticipate that future assignments will further redevelop your chosen site.)

We have already identified that with the limited space available to us that we must adapt our design to make the most of all the tiny margins we find around it. The steps we are endeavouring to take in order to take advantage of these margins are:

· Plant hedgerows, which we hope to encourage predators and diverse wildlife along with ensuring our hedgerows can provide a yield for us too, brambles are all over the area providing food not just for us, but our animal friends too.

· Spiral planting, to offer more edges but also allowing for a closer cultivation pathway. This will give us close access to our planting schemes whilst not removing productive areas with unnecessary pathways.

· Forest gardening, as mentioned above is a passion for us and with the basic seven-layer approach we can utilise much more of not just the horizontal plane but also design vertical growth into our site.

· Trellising, the access road is quite wide and intrudes through the entire site, by constructing ‘trellis-like’ structure to the sides and over the top of this access road, we increase the areas with which to grow on, including climbing plants to our overall design scheme.

We have plenty of additional margin opportunities that we believe will become apparent the more observations we make, but for now these above are the clearest opportunities we see.

Seasonal Foods - January

So, it's one thing to say we should all eat locally produced and seaonal food, but i bet some of you are asking why? Well to those people i say d'Uh, isn't it obvious?

Seasonal food is fresher and for the most part means tastier! This reduces the amount of energy needed to grow and transport the foodstuffs from further afield, reducing our overal CO2 associated emissions. Typically this also reduces the cost of the food too, as it's not having to travel so far to your plate, it also supports your local economy, local community and reconnects us all with nature's cycle.

I'm not embarking on this little project in some vain attempt to make us all buy British, or American, or whereever you're from; but come on, why would you buy Asparagus from South Africa or Apples from New Zealand when both these can be sourced many months of the year here in the UK and are often better tasting with a wider variety to boot!

So bear with me whilst i find my feet with this. I have challenged Jess to come up with a delicious recipe each month, using only ingredients that are in season. I have asked Andy to do a similar job to me but to identify sowing and planting schedules from month to month; those to follow.

January Vegetables

Beetroot, Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Leeks, Parsnips, Purple Sprouting Brocolli, Radishes, Rhubarb, Spinach, Swede, Turnips, Celery, Shallots.

January Fruit

Apples, Pears.

January Seafood

Brill, Crab, Mackerel, Monkfish, Mussells, Oysters, Plaice, Skate, Hake, Halibut, Lemon Sole, Langoustine, Sea Bream, Turbot.

They you go, January's choices are pretty plentiful so don't be shy, get out there, search for your locally produced and seasonal foodstuffs this weekend!

The Oceans are Coming - Part III

So Excessmas is over (see what i did there!) so back to reality and the need to get thinking ecologically. We've (the Palmer contributors) decided in order to offer more and to help us think about what we need to be doing, we are going to start a monthly theme. This Palmer will be offering his musings on which seasonable foods are good to eat right now, pregnant Palmer will be using my scribblibngs to come up with some recipes that include those seasonal foods and brother Palmer will be offering his advice on what we should be planting as we go through the year, so keep your eyes peeled.

Permaculture is still central to our lifes right now, with more to follow shortly. What with baby Palmer on the way, we need to get on with the course and finished before the summer comes.

Ok todays posting is another one from one of my favourites, Dmitry Orlov. Part three in his series of approaching oceans and elements of it back up my spurious claim earlier in the blog about boats being eco-living personified. Enjoy.

http://cluborlov.blogspot.com/2010/01/oceans-are-coming-part-iii-remaining.html