Week 4: With this seed, I thee wed...

This week we didn't end up going out to the allotment, though this doesn't mean it was spent idly ignoring its existence. Not in the least. Instead it was spent reading and researching through some invaluable advice given from some old masters.

Namely C. H. Middleton,  E. T. Brown and Mr Harry Dodson. Making my way through the Handbook 'Make Your Garden Feed You', soaking up the advice from the printed lectures collectively titled 'Your Garden in War-Time' and watching both 'The Victorian Kitchen Garden' and 'The Wartime Kitchen and Garden'.

Each of these are filled to the brim with good, solid, golden olive branches of practical information on how to grow, where and why. Never skimping on the science of nature, or on tradition. Also, they share with you a world which today seems as relevant as ever, the world of thrift. In our current economical ditch prices are rising and money isn't going as far as we would like, and the 'Make do and Mend' attitude is upon us once more. As is 'Growing Your Own', and these books and broadcasts explain the methods adopted when money wasn't able to be flitted away on chemicals or manure, when it wasn't possible to spend on those exotic vegetables when other things were a necessity for survival. Even down to the ecology of recycling. You cant get manure, therefore make your own substitute from the kitchen scraps. 

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying life is currently as bad as all that, but I really don't want to be forking out a fortune in order to grow some potatoes or other crop if it will be cheaper for me to buy a bag with my weekly shopping. Otherwise what would be the point?

Reading through these manuals gives me a sense of joy. To be able to grow, save money, feeling that I have gained a bargain AND get the added benefits from the pleasure that I grew it myself is marvellous.

With all of this new found old wisdom, I started with my first plantings this afternoon...

I have planted in a propagator Tomatoes (Gardeners Delight), Sweet Peppers (California Wonder), Broccoli (Green Calabrese) and Cabbage (Flower of Spring). All of which are sitting proudly on my window sill. Tomorrow we will be heading out to the allotment and planting our our first early potatoes (Rocket) and in a few weeks time we start to see the shoots turning into tiny little seedlings... this makes me extremely excited. I can only compare it to two things; that first viewing of the sea feeling when you drive to the coast as children and that sense of belonging to the one you love on your wedding day.

To think that I shall soon have an area of land to harvest that will be full of delicious and wonderful vegetables, that I will scarcely be able to move let alone carry home, and all from a small palm full of seeds. From small acorns come mighty oaks...

'Mr Middleton says: "A seed is one of the wonders of the world.'"


Dean