Harvesting your own Sunflower Seeds

I finally took down the last sunflower in the back garden, sending most of it to compost, saving a bit of the stalk to try to hollow out for a recorder and the flower for harvesting the seeds.  They were just a bit damp from all the rain (wetted November on record!), but otherwise came out with ease.  We filled a small bowl and then set about the menial task of breaking each shell open and removing the small seed.  While most recipes for eating sunflower seeds leave them in the casings we chose to remove them for cooking...especially enjoying them with a bit Kale, butter and salt!

After a few hours and a little help from my dear wife we had a small bowl of seeds.  They were then placed in a single layer in a small pan and placed into the oven at 150°C for about 15 minutes.  However in retrospect this was a little too long.  They also may have benefited from just drying out a bit more first as some of them 'puffed' a bit, probably from the residual moisture boiling inside.

I then took the seed head and the 'rejects' and placed them out in the garden in a pan for the birds.  Many people claim to have problems with birds, but we would love to see few!

Keeping Your Own Garden Journal

"The smaller the garden, the more vital it is to make full use of the space.  I garden organically and try to ensure the health of the soil and their crops using companion planting, rotation and observation.  No scheme is foolproof -- conditions vary radically in different parts of the country and from garden to garden; the weather will be unpredictable.  But I hope this journal will suggest and remind you of what to do when, wherever you live and whatever you grow.  Happy Gardening."

I was given Carol Klein's Grow Your Own Veg Journal as a gift recently.  I take notes of all sorts of things, but I hadn't considered recording developments in the garden; a record of things that work well and those that need improvement.  A scribing of the highs and lows that come with investing your time and energy into tenderly caring for plants through all conditions.

Wonderfully she has also included in this journal helpful reminders of what to consider in caring for you garden during different times of the year.  For example, next to the third week of October is recipe for Green Tomato Chutney.  What a great way to use those end of season tomato's that have given up home of ripening.

For November  she advises to pile up the leaves - "the most effective way to create rich, crumbly substance that adds humus to the soil so effectively.  The best leaves are oak and beech..."  But if like me you do not have any trees in your garden (or your neighbours for that matter) she suggest local councils can often provide road sweepings.

This journal was a great gift and I look forward to making notes of my garden progress...like the rocket seeds that I was able to save from my plants this year and will they sprout in the spring?!

Inspired to Garden Small

A couple of years ago I picked up a gardening book, Creative Vegetable Gardening, and ever since I have been enthralled by the prospect of one day developing my own potager. Living in rented accommodated like many Londoners poses specific challenges to creating a great garden space. How long will I live there? What will my landlord allow you to change? What is your budget? How much time do you have?

Why London Potager

A couple of years ago I picked up a gardening book, Creative Vegetable Gardening, and ever since I have been enthralled by the passion of creating edible healthy looking vegetables that actually create a beautiful garden.  The stereotype garden of rows of vegetables has been 'composted' and is being replaced in small gardens everywhere with colourful collages of vegetable, fruit and herb medleys.

Just as I was at first inspired by reading the gardening stories of Joy Larkcom, it is hoped that the contents shared through this blog will inspire current and rising generations to enjoy the joy and health benefits from growing your own food, no matter how small your space; whether it is simply a few container pots on a patio or balcony, a small patch in the front garden or a small garden oasis that has been developed to the rear of your urban home.