In the jungle, the mighty jungle…

After a couple of weeks holiday, I’ve returned to a very overgrown kitchen garden! Before we left I was careful to make sure that the chickens were being looked after, each honeybee colony was stable and everything that needed watering, pots, window boxes and the like, were moved under a watering system in the veg patch. The added combination of recent sunshine and regular rainfall has set the plants up for a crazy growth spurt.

Oh and in the jungle, we have two black cats (not lions) who are sleeping as much as possible, both day and night…

Whilst I make a list of what needs the most urgent attention, tomatoes need staking and their tops chopped off, the grapevine needs cutting back allowing the fruit to see the sun, I also spot the most humungous yellow courgettes which need to be plucked out to make chutney, whilst smaller offerings have been targeted by slugs.

I’m especially delighted that this is the year that I’ve managed to grow aubergines from seed! I think they’ll still grow a bit bigger – so watch this space for the photos next month, we’ve started eating the cucumbers and salad leaves and padron peppers are on their way…

Down at the allotment, the weather has been good for both fair and foul. Beans and potatoes are ready to harvest – we had some for supper with poached eggs tonight – apples and raspberries are a ready refreshing snack, but the grass and weeds are also growing with confidence. I’ll start by strimming the grass on the pathways and then tackle unwanted growth in each bed one by one.

This afternoon I inspected all nine colonies of bees, they certainly know that midsummer is over and are busy making preparations for winter. They are all storing honey, some have reared new queens, and the foraging workers are collecting sticky propolis to glue the hive secure making it watertight, draught proof and well defended against predators.

Gardeners’ World Fair – Competition

I’m ready looking forward to being back at the Gardeners’ World Fair – Autumn at Audley End House on Friday 29th – Sunday 31st August. I’ll be working with TV presenter Chris Bavin at The Autumn Table leading two sessions each day:

• Apples Galore – Harvesting, Preserving And Tasting
• Say Cheese! An intro to making your own cheese

*Competition*

The event organisers have kindly offered us a pair of tickets for Sunday 31st August (worth £49) exclusively for subscribers of this blog.

If you’d like to come, leave a comment on this post (below) to let us know and we’ll enter you in the draw (please double check that you’ve subscribed to our blog – bottom of page).

Competition closes on Sunday 17th August and we will notify the winners by email on Monday 18th August.

 

Buy One Get One Free: Making Bagels, Muffins & Swirls (Thursday 21st August)

Our courses are always fun when guests bring a friend, so if you fancy getting your fingers in the flour making perfect picnic treats, make the most of this Summer Sizzler offer. We are offering Buy One Get One Free on Making Bagels, Muffins & Swirls (Thursday 21st August) while spaces are available. Contact us if you’d like more details on this offer.

Coming up at Hen Corner:

August

Introduction to Scandinavian Baking Tuesday 12th

Full Day Bee Keeping Thursday 14th

Bees for Children Monday 18th

Urban Hens – Keeping Chickens in London Wednesday 20th

Making Bagels, Muffins & Swirls Thursday 21st

Bees for Children Tuesday 26th

Introduction to Making Bread Thursday 27th

Gardeners’ World Fair – Autumn Friday 29th – Sunday 31st

September

Introduction to Pickles & Preserves Tuesday 2nd

Full Day Making Sourdough Thursday 4th

Making Cheddar, Stilton & Sourdough Tuesday 16th & Wednesday 17th (Two Day Course)

Introduction to Making Cheese Wednesday 24th September

Other news:

• Our first attempt at making goats cheese was a huge success; we’ve got a soft mould ripened cheese and a hard cheese for grating
• Bees for Children, our most popular course, has just two more dates with spaces this year: Monday 18th & Tuesday 26th August
• We somehow managed to save the peaches from the squirrel – they were absolutely delicious!

Jobs for the week:

• Crank up the ovens for Introduction to Making Bread 
• Prep bags of apples to make dried fruit rings
• Take some bees in a glass hive to a London Children’s Centre as part of their Summer Holiday Activity Programme

There’s lots going on and we’d love you to join us!

I hope to see you soon,

Sara