Chooksandroots

LATEST ARTICLES ( 235 )

• A Hot Sweaty Man in My Garden

  

  Our ‘man what can’ arrived earlier in the week to start work on the garden. The sun was beating down, and he was working like stink. The dogwood that had so... Read more

  Posted on 06 October 2011 GARDENING, HOME

• Winter Peas… a Tad Premature

  

  Alright, alright… I know the book (and seed packet) said to sow my overwintering peas in October, but I just couldn’t wait – and the weather was very Octobery... Read more

  Posted on 28 September 2011 GARDENING, HOME

• The Best Carrot Cake in the World

  

  You may think that a rash statement, but try it and see! By far and away the best baking book I’ve ever purchased was ‘The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook’.... Read more

  Posted on 22 September 2011 FOOD & DRINK, RECIPES

• Ginger Biscuits

  

  I found half a jar of stem ginger that had been lurking around for ages in the fridge, so decided to clear it out and make some use of it. Ginger biscuits,... Read more

  Posted on 21 September 2011 FOOD & DRINK, RECIPES

• Sloe Gin: in Five Easy Steps

  

  So back we came with our haul of sloe berries. I’d saved four wine bottles to make the sloe gin in (never short of those in our house!), and they were clean... Read more

  Posted on 18 September 2011 DRINK, FOOD & DRINK, GARDENING, RECIPES

• Sloe Gin: the Harvest

  

  It’s an annual tradition for me and the 13 year old to venture out into the wilderness to collect sloe berries for the Christmas gin. Read more

  Posted on 18 September 2011 GARDENING

• Elderberry Wine in Five Easy Steps

  

  I was finally ready to embark on my virgin flight of hedgerow wine-making. The only bit of equipment I had was a demijohn that had been rescued from the depths... Read more

  Posted on 15 September 2011 DRINK, FOOD & DRINK, GARDENING, HOME

• Beetroot: Harmless Veg Or Spawn of Satan?

  

  I’ve never actively sought out beetroot as a ‘nice thing to eat’ since primary school, where I was involved in an unfortunate incident with a fat dinner lady an... Read more

  Posted on 11 September 2011 FOOD & DRINK, GARDENING, HOME, VEGETARIAN & VEGAN

• Here Today, Plum Tomorrow

  

  Last weekend, the plum tree was laden with fruit, and we could see ourselves gorging on plum-related goodies all through the winter. However, nature had... Read more

  Posted on 09 September 2011 GARDENING, HOME

• Elderberry Wine

  

  Whilst chatting to my friend last week, the subject of elderberry wine came up – I’d heard of it, and fancied trying my hand at making some. Read more

  Posted on 05 September 2011 GARDENING, HOME

• A Frock for the Flock

  

  When we first had Aggie, she was definitely not ‘Top Chicken’. Winnie was bigger and burlier, and showed this by continually pulling out Aggie’s feathers…. Read more

  Posted on 02 September 2011 GARDENING, HOME

• Waging War on the Cabbage White

  

  I don’t know how to say this… my purple sprouting broccoli (PSB to those in the know) have been violated in their own homes.War on the cabbage whiteI’d started... Read more

  Posted on 30 August 2011 GARDENING, HOME

• Tommy Two Sheds – Part Two

  

  Shed 1 - at the top of the gardenThe sheds are up and painted, and I have to admit I’m rather pleased with them. This one at the top of the garden keeps the... Read more

  Posted on 27 August 2011 GARDENING, HOME

• The Lonely Tomato

  

  We grew our tomatoes from seed. The seeds were part of a six pack, so we picked out four varieties and sowed them in four corners of a seed tray. Read more

  Posted on 26 August 2011 GARDENING, HOME

• Extreme Blackberrying Down Rapey Lane

  

  Rapey Lane used to be called ‘Holiday Lane’, as it is so far out of character for our village, you could actually be mistaken and think you were on a little... Read more

  Posted on 23 August 2011 GARDENING, HOME