Living off the land

We're still a long way from living off the land in the Finglas Garden, but are taking small steps to get there. Every week it's encouraging to bring home even one thing grown locally, like a fistful of mint or parsley. Thanks to Pears and Robin for the little surprise picnic in the sun on the lawn last night. It was refreshing to take a break after weeding and watering the cracked earth. So the spuds are coming up though some have succumbed to the wretched slugs. I get red-hot angry with the slugs. The other gardeners remind me of the Buddhists and peaceful co-existence. Yet the sight of the slugs and snails munching on healthy green leaves makes my blood boil. I'm making a type of mosaic path through the herb garden so if anyone has broken crockery or smashes some up over the next while, please save it for the garden path.

I hear Hugh Fearnley-Whittginstall has been lauding the merits of minimising the time from plant to plate. Not to be outdone by a celebrity chef I race from the garden on my bike and start brewing up the fresh peppermint tea lickety split. Then I wash off the onions and herbs and set to getting the clay pot stew in the oven before the nutrients fly away.

Farm to fork

Here's what's good for dinner right now - Pick some chard leaves, flat-leafed parsely and a fair few sprigs of fennel. Toss them on a pan with some oil and lemon juice. Add in some cooked pasta & a tin of tuna. I do double quantities to have hot dinner one night and then take the rest in a lunch box to work the following day. It's just as tasty as a pasta salad on day 2

Here are a few pics from Spring 2009 in the Finglas Garden: Daffodils, onions and rhubarb!