The Garden Smallholder

LATEST ARTICLES ( 197 )

• Blackberry Jam

  

  I’m really enjoying using my new Maslin pan, I love experimenting with jams and jellies, it makes things so much easier. I wish I could say the same for... Read more

  Posted on 08 September 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Foraging Walks

  

  We really enjoy our dog walks through the beautiful countryside surrounding the village. At this time of year the hedgerows have so much to offer, so our dog... Read more

  Posted on 04 September 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Plum Jam

  

  It was time to relieve our Victoria plum tree of its heavy branches of fruit, so I set about picking lots of gorgeous plums over the bank holiday weekend to mak... Read more

  Posted on 01 September 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• The Crafted Garden, Stylish Projects Inspired by Nature Book Review

  

  The Crafted Garden by Louise Curley is a wonderful book for gardeners and crafters, offering 50 seasonal craft projects inspired by the gifts of nature with eas... Read more

  Posted on 25 August 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Pretty Pullets

  

  We collected a Light Sussex and a hybrid pullet named after the rather posh Clarence Court eggs from our friends at Cock and Pullet last weekend. Read more

  Posted on 21 August 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Tour of the New Kitchen Garden

  

  The new kitchen garden has been a joy to work on, it’s great to finally see my plans before me, rather than on paper. Each raised bed will be filled with compos... Read more

  Posted on 18 August 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Chewy Choc Chip Cookies

  

  Today it rained heavily, not a great day for gardening so I made cookies instead. The teenagers of the house inform me they’re very tasty, so here’s the recipe... Read more

  Posted on 13 August 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Rest Your Eyes on This

  

  Due to the previous blog theme not being mobile or tablet friendly (I despair at technology sometimes), I spent most of today pulling my hair out to find a... Read more

  Posted on 12 August 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Poorly Hen, Egg Yolk Peritonitis and Other Problems

  

  My beautiful Speckledy hen is feeling under the weather at the moment, it’s a complicated situation not made any easier with chickens naturally hiding illness. Read more

  Posted on 06 February 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Wordless Wednesday

  

  Ah! The wonderful long hot summer of 2014 Filed under: Allotment Tagged: allotment, allotment shed, photography, pretty allotment, wordless Read more

  Posted on 04 February 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Plan and Build a Raised Bed Vegetable Garden Book Review

  

  I’m a big fan of raised bed gardening, successfully using raised beds to grow vegetables, soft fruits and cut flowers in my vegetable garden and at my... Read more

  Posted on 03 February 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Boysenberries from Mow It Sow It Grow It

  

  I received two little Boysenberry plants in the post yesterday, kindly sent to me to trial from Mow It Sow It Grow It. Boysenberry is a cross between a... Read more

  Posted on 30 January 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• New Year New Garden

  

  As the new year gets underway, my mind is full of plans for the new vegetable garden. Ideas and designs have spent the best part of 2 years in a sketch pad, I... Read more

  Posted on 28 January 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2015

  

  I’m taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch this month, it will be my 5th year of doing so and I look forward to it every year. Read more

  Posted on 19 January 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• Cock and Pullet

  

  is a family run poultry business tucked down a country lane in the North Bedfordshire village of Sharnbrook. I started buying my chicken feed and supplies from... Read more

  Posted on 13 January 2015 GARDENING, HOME

• How to Grow Garlic

  

  Now is the time I start planting garlic. According to the search stats finding my blog recently, the topic of how to grow garlic seems be quite popular. Read more

  Posted on 14 November 2014 GARDENING, HOME

• Work Starts on The New Kitchen Garden

  

  Our little gardeners We started work on the new kitchen garden recently, mainly clearing up, cutting back and deciding where everything will eventually go kind... Read more

  Posted on 13 November 2014 GARDENING, HOME

• Pumpkin and Raisin Cake

  

  With plenty of pumpkins stored away I’ve been looking for recipes to make something a little different with them. I found a scrummy recipe for pumpkin and raisi... Read more

  Posted on 11 November 2014 GARDENING, HOME

• How To Hollow Out a Pumpkin the Easy Way

  

  Each year I grow a couple of extra pumpkins to carve for Halloween. Instead of scooping out the insides myself, I give the chore to my chickens. Read more

  Posted on 31 October 2014 GARDENING, HOME

• Chicken in a Bucket

  

  Ok, it’s actually chickens in a garden trug, not a bucket. I just couldn’t resist the blog title. The muddy young pullets taking a dust bath are the chicks my... Read more

  Posted on 29 October 2014 GARDENING, HOME