Pumpkin

one of 4 plants have survived but it is growing well so far...

The Herb Garden

early picture...

Rainbow and bonfire, and how it was...

fine produce...

Pear Chutney

3 lb. pears
1 lb. onions
1 lb. green tomatoes
1/2 lb. raisins, seeded
1/2 lb. celery
1 1/2 lb. Demerara sugar
1/4 level tsp. cayenne
1/2 level tsp. ground ginger
1/2 oz. salt
5 peppercorns
2 pints vinegar

Peel, core and slice the pears, peel and chop the onions, wipe and cut up the tomatoes and cut up the raisins. Put all these ingredients into a pan and cook gently until tender. Add the vinegar and simmer for 4 hours, until the chutney is sufficiently thick. Pot and cover.

* From the 'Good Housekeeping Colour Cookery Book', 1967

Some tips

• When growing marrows you must pick the first one off – if you wait for it to grow first, the others won’t follow
• The less water you give onions the stronger they’ll taste
• Weeds are easier to pull out after it has been raining
• Mint should be contained or it will be greedy and take over more space than needed
• Vegetables should be planted in different spots annually - it is good for the soil