Blimey, it is cold in the Midlands! - up North in Sheffield (well ten miles away) we've had about an inch of snow and the gardens are covered over, but the roads are clearing and it is nice and sunny, so I'm just getting my coat on and going for a walk up the moors.

Here is one I do like - Sarah Raven, she knows about plants, is a great cook, wears proper gardening clothes - an old coat and boots, and her hair is usually messy. They do try to smarten her up occasionally by getting her to wear a flowery skirt and cardigan, but she usually goes back to her old st...

Cubans had to grow their own food without using fertilizers and a lot of other things after the Cuba crisis when they were blockaded by the Americans. They have managed surprisingly well and I think that schools, hospitals and other institutions all had to grow their own food. It is amazing what peo...

I've been thinking about my previous comment on Monty Don and realise it isn't the man I don't like, but the artifice involved in making the programmes in general. He is a good presenter and is reading a script provided by researchers. He is demonstrating what they want to show in a little snap shot...

I'm afraid I too can't stand him presenting anything to do with gardening. I felt really angry when he was described as a gardening expert when they were advertising the new series of gardens around the world. I think most real gardeners have him sussed out and cringe when they show him digging a pl...

We did the bird watch in the garden on both Saturday and Sunday and sent in the best, which was Sunday with 16 species including a female Black cap, Greater spotted woodpecker, siskin, bullfinch and all the usuals. Like you say, the 1 hour limit seems a bit daft because the flock of long tailed tits...

I think that the way they are ripened also has a lot to do with the poor flavour. They are transported unripe, kept in cold store and then artificially ripened with ethylene, so they don't have the chance for the sugars and flavour to develop as with natural sun ripened fruit. Of the shop ones, I do...

I've grown Aquadulce for a heavy yield, but much prefer the flavour or the Crimson Flowered. They only have about 4 beans per pod but keep their lovely green colour and taste delicious. They also look very pretty. I got the seeds from Heritage Seed Library a few years ago. I'm going to make note of ...

I usually cover the manure with cardboard and weight it down and as you say the worms do a lovely job over winter. It is quite a good way to catch lots of slugs when the weather starts to warm up - just turn the cardboard over and let the birds eat the slugs, or do a little dance on them and give th...

There is an excellent article in the current Organic Gardening magazine by Terry Marshall on growing tomatoes detailing exactly when to plant, taking account of light, temperature, and when you want your first crop.

Won't all ruminants produce methane due to their digestive process? That would include deer, sheep, goats, etc. I'm not arguing, just pondering on the gas producing effects of animals from the point you make. Don't horses fart/burp too? I should imagine the meat from most animals is quite palatable ...

Not quite the same topic, but Dad used to feed the rabbits with herbs - sage and thyme etc, with the ulterior motive of making them taste more flavoursome for the pot.

I've heard that cider vinegar keeps them worm free, so I suppose it is the vinegar rather than which kind that works.

I thought you would use the crushed garlic cure living in France. Although I do wonder if it flavours the eggs. It would be OK for savoury dishes though.

I would usually cut up the Runner beans before freezing - that's why I haven't tackled the ones my son froze whole yet. I do usually leave the french beans whole and cook and serve them whole. I just freeze them in meal sized portions. I'm probably just lazy.

I also just add a sprinkle of lime to the compost occasionally. Dad used to do this too "to sweeten it up". We do put in lots of citrus peel, onion and leek peelings - that don't go into the wormery - but still have hundreds of brandling worms in the compost, so it seems to work.