Kitchen Garden Forum

Monty Don's campaign outlined at the Hay Festival doesn't look quite as fanciful as some people seemed to think. See this BBC news item from this morning.

Dear Alan,
I work at one of the Cambridge Colleges and I already practice this, but I supose that I have a head start being one of the gardeners! I maintain the herb garden and try to encourage the chefs to use them. The kitchens have been self sufficient in rosemary and bay leaves for years now. I also provide carrier bags of basil from early March until October from the main glasshouse. The rest of the herbs can only be used as garnish as there is not nearly enough to use in the dishes for more than one or two meals (for 250+). We also have apples, plums, quince and mulberies in the grounds and we use those as well.
I also borrow some of the cut flower area to grow a few rows of things, usually carrots as they are rather portable from my allotment. This year I have hijacked the small polytunnel that we have and I have filled it with tomatoes, peppers and aubergines. They go in after the bedding plants have been taken out and the tunnel would otherwise be empty for the summer. I use a mixture of leaf mould and slow release fertilizer and they do very well. My onion, shallot and garlic harvest is laid out on the staging in one end of the glasshouse well out of the way of light, little fingers at the allotment.

It drives my boss to distraction sometimes the way I make the most of every opportunity to utilize something that would otherwise go to waste. But do you know what I DON'T CARE!!!!! He may bitch about it today but it does not stop him partaking of some home cooking involving said produce. Or using the bit of timber I fished out of a skip the previous week. He called me an unmitigated hoarder on Monday and I was quite flattered; not that he meant it that way I think.
Regards Sally Wright

Sally

Sounds like you have made a big step in the right direction

They've been doing it in Cuba for years, with everyone, including schools and hospitals growing their own. It was the only way they could survive America's blockade. They've been doing it without using chemical fertilizers and herbicides too as they hadn't got any.

Glad you're promoting the idea Sally.

I think a lot of our schools are doing the same on a small scale.

I hadn't noticed Monty mentioning it - perhaps I missed it. I suppose he got the idea from his world trip when he visited Cuba. Good to know he's spreading the word (even though I still can't stand the bloke)