Posts Tagged ‘potato’

DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman PARSNIPS

Sunday, May 2nd, 2010

PARSNIPS Having waited for some decent, warmer, growing weather, it seems counter intuitive to be already thinking of next winter. But growing your own food year-round is only realistic if you plan some months in advance. This week I’ve been doing just that, specifically with my parsnips. These cream-coloured, taper-rooted cold season essentials reach their peak after [...]

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23 January 2010 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman ROAST

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

ROAST What’s nice about tonights roast dinner with Sue and Tony is that all the veg remains home-grown. Despite concerns back in the harvest period about the long-term storage viabilty of certain crops, they’ve all lasted really well. Sure, much has been lost along the way, but I’ve been meticulous and consistent in my weekly examinations and this attention [...]

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8 January 2010 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman THOUGHTS & OBSERVATIONS, SNOWBALLS

Friday, January 8th, 2010

THOUGHTS & OBSERVATIONS – A man eyeing up cakes in the supermarket. Thinking of getting one to have as a treat on the way home. Sharing hello’s and a chuckle. ”No one will know unless you fall over and leave one half sticking out your gob!” – Buying pearl barley for the first time in Donkey’s [...]

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24 November 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman WHILE DIGGING OUT COMPOST

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

WHILE DIGGING OUT  COMPOST Owd Robbie nigh on lands upon my boot, flutters to a fallen twig and back. In the moist and fertile crater, he finds many a good thing to eat, and joins me for a snack. A clutch of suprise new potatoes plucked, from the crumbly soil. Three of hen and one [...]

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6 October 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman FIELD BEANS FOR GREEN MANURE

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Field beans are my green manure of choice once autumn comes and today I took a lunchtime break to get some in the ground. Field beans are the poor relations of our edible broads. Seeds are smaller, though still chunky, brown, and feel like magic in the hand. I concentrated my efforts on open soil [...]

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4 October 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman MRS NAILS’ LENTIL CARROT & CORIANDER LOAF

Sunday, October 4th, 2009

I thought it’d be nice to have a recipe for a change. We tried this invented dish yesterday as the ‘meat’ in our meat-free meal and were amazed how bloomin’ lovely it was. It’s very easy too, so why not rustle up a portion and see how it tickles your fancy? Ingredients 2 onions 2 [...]

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3 October 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman CARNIVAL DAY

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009

Didn’t get up this morning until within an hour of noon. Knew I wasn’t feeling well because every position I assumed felt the most comfortable yet. Usually it’s a struggle to get comfy like that. The first Saturday of October. Carnival Day in Shaftesbury. Silver band marching, playing along the crowded High Street, roasted chestnuts [...]

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14 September 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman MAINCROP TATTIES

Monday, September 14th, 2009

14 September 2009 MAINCROP TATTIES A landmark has been reached on the plot, despite conspiracies between other urgent tasks to keep me off it until late in the working day. The landmark? Lifting the last Second Early Kestrel spuds and making initial inroads on the Maincrops. These are the tuberous portions which’ll hopefully keep our [...]

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10 September 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman POTATO HUSBANDRY ON A STUNNING AFTERNOON

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

10 September 2009 POTATO HUSBANDRY ON A STUNNING AFTERNOON At first light it was chilly. I went for a constitutional and had to walk briskly until I got warm. By breakfast time the sun was out but in the shade it was still nippy. Now, at ten to three o’clock it’s a stunning afternoon. Breezy, [...]

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30 August 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman SUNDAY MORNING AT THE END OF AUGUST, THREE LADS ON BIKES IN MISTY SHASTON, SOUNDS OUTSIDE THE BACK PASSAGE

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

30 August 2009 SUNDAY MORNING AT THE END OF AUGUST (Yesterday afternoon and) This morning the plots were full of allotment folk bending backs, hoeing, cutting, shifting piles of this and that. As a feather-soft drift of misty rain came in westerly before lunchtime, with quiet focus so we worked. Much to do, not a [...]

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