the green gal

I’m planted!

So, I've launched myself fully into the world of vegetable growing. You've already read, in great detail, about the potatoes growing in tyres and since then I have planted a hanging basket, two veg beds and some pots! 

Deciding what to grow wasn't too tricky, we just went for what we like to eat that would work in our limited space. That means, as well as tatties, we have strawberries (in the basket), onions, salad leaves, purple-sprouting broccoli, sweet peppers, courgettes and a few herbs. Will be adding tomatoes to the collection once we have a window box in place.

However, the responsibility of planting – is the soil okay, are they they right depth/distance apart, are they in the best spot etc – took me by surprise. But now I've planted most of what I want to grow, the pressure to nurture and cultivate them into

edible crops is weighing even heavier on my shoulders! I think I expected to plonk the seeds/sets/plants in the earth, water them occasionally and then, in a while, eat their produce. Just like that. I didn't actually stop to think what else I need to do! So, any idea on how to do the best by my plants would be thankfully received!

Adventures in knitting

I've finally finished knitting my tea cosy! I know it's not that rock n roll a statement to open with but I'm very pleased with the end product. I started it months ago so really it's about time.

For those of you yet to discover the joy of knitting, have a go! It's the secretly super cool activity that is no longer the preserve of the blue rinse. I ask you, if knitting was only done by the retired would there be a worldwide knitting community called Stitch n Bitch? Think book club with needles. Check out www.stitchnbitch.co.uk for more info.

I've been a solitary knitter so far but I've spread my little woolly goodies far and wide. Everyone knows that homemade gifts, even slightly ropey ones, are valued for the time and effort that went into making them. I started with a good ol' scarf, not dissimilar to Dr Who's. Following that I knitted 16 (count them) squares, half green and half cream, and sewed them together to make a blanket for my nephew/godson. The thing's big enough to keep him warm till college but better that than too small. I then branched out to make baby bobbly hats for another nephew and niece. Having made a little Innocent smoothie bottle hat, I just sized up their pattern. 

The obvious natural progression is a tea cosy! Well, it isn't, especially as I have a particularly smart-looking teapot, but cold tea is just not tasty.

So, what next for me and my needles...?