Carrots and Kids

Bloggy Bits

Whoa! I'm feeling a bit stressed. Not sure why. But I do know that sometimes enough is not enough. I really must exercise my contented muscles a little more methinks.

Anyway, I have spent the morning cutting and pasting. I have made a mood board of my blog. Actually I am quite fond of it and have stuck it above my computer where it keeps distracting me.

It is a visual representation of what I'd like my blog to become. Maybe some elements are there, who knows, it's hard to really see things when you are so close to them.

The board contains my children, a calm space, coffee pots (because I want a visit here to be like we're nattering over a cup of coffee), a tag exhorting people to "Just Do It" (at the risk of sounding like Nike), Alys Fowler (coz I like her), my photos, choc pud (comforting) and is colourful.

Really, I shouldn't be sitting here faffing. I have spent all morning faffing. I should be making beef stew and dumplings for nine. Whoops! Just remembered, no root veg. No, there are no swedes or parsnips in my garden. Let's not go into why.

So, beef casserole it is. With couscous. Anyway, the point is I shouldn't be here. I should be managing my time more. But the trouble with my time is that it is quite irregular and in quite short supply, despite appearances to the contrary. So I add "Get Good At Time Management" to my cerebral To Do list.

Just in case you have time to spare (I know you probably don't either but you might be good at pretending like me) have a look at this list. Yes, I'm on it! But also so are some fabulous, new-to-me gardening blogs too. Happy reading and have a great weekend!

* Edited to add: I should've put my mood board in context (rushing as usual) but it's part of an e-course I'm doing which is making me think a lot....

* Edited again (tsk, so indecisive) to add/change the pics for more close-ups. Think I'm done now....

My Library #2 - Tender

I was lucky enough to receive Nigel Slater's hefty tome Tender v.1 A Cook and His Vegetable Patch at Christmas and I am so thankful that I did. I love this book.

It's not so much a gardening book, more of a "look what I grew in the garden and am now cooking with it" book. I can't wait for harvest time at the plot and the allotment now.

Of course, I may have just put a jinx on my growing season. I may now just harvest a handful of raspberries and a few broad beans.

But ever the optimist, I am going to dream about all the lovely dishes I am going to make with my many aubergines I shall pick. Ho yes. And I shall forget that last time I tried to grow aubergines, it wasn't exactly what you'd call a success.

I am also taking Nigel's advice and generally copying his seed selections. I figure he would go for the tastiest and, well, if it's good enough for him....

This book is more inspirational than Jamie At Home (another favourite of mine) mainly because Nigel's garden is a lot smaller and he appears to do all the work himself.

And he doesn't seem to set himself up as a Veggie Growing Perfectionist (after all, why would you waste precious growing space by edging your veg beds with box hedges?) which makes him easy to relate to. One this non-perfect veggie grower can relate to.

This books accompanies a television series of the same name which I seemed to have been clever enough to have missed but which I'm hoping will come out on DVD. The programmes sound every bit as wonderful as this book is.

My Love for Dirtgirlworld knows no bounds

 

It's true. I clear the decks for ten minutes at 4.50pm every day now. No, I cannot help locate AWOL homework books/answer the phone/make tea. Not for ten minutes.

I am glued to the television because Dirtgirlworld is on. We all watch it. The big ones find her "scary looking" while the little two sit transfixed. And me? I learn something new (nearly, it's only been on twice at time of writing) every day. Which either says something about my intelligence or tells you how brilliant DGW is.

I admit her face is a little....strange. Those proper eyes and mouth, which sort of talks funny. And the real faces on Grubby and Ken the Weevil are a bit odd. But it all works for me.

Being very into the visual, I loved the way real objects are mixed with animation - it reminds me a bit of Charlie and Lola design-wise.

On Tuesday I learned that all carrots used to be purple (and we love us a purple carrot in the Carrots house) and the largest one grown was as big as a canoe! Imagine! Of course, DG could be making this all up but I think not.

The music is catchy too, I have "I'm going outside and I'm gonna get grubby" whizzing round my head. Really, what is there not to love? It's informative, colourful and positive without being patronising.

It doesn't show children how to grow cress heads, or how to make this or that. Even the Green Thumbs (real kids in real gardens) are ok, being as they're on for a minute and silent.

My only gripe is why did the BBC put it on at this time of year? By the time it's finished, it's getting dark and any child who might be inspired to go outside and get grubby probably won't. Spring would have been better.

Even boys are included with Scrap Boy (but I have no problems with it being based on a girl. Heaven knows girls need positive, powerful role models that have nothing to do with body size, the colour pink or waiting for a man to rescue them. Oops, appeared to go off on a rant there...).

As I was doing the Brownie run (really, it feels worse in the rain, dark and cold) I started to think about DGW (I know, I'm worried I've become a bit obsessed too...). I thought how I'd lost my gardening mojo a bit (but with winter fast approaching and life being busy I hadn't really noticed or worried). Then I thought about DGW and her lovely garden (I know, I know, it's not real) and I started to feel excited about growing stuff again.

And if it has that effect on me, goodness knows what it's doing to the children.

Let's Hear It For a New Gardening Heroine

I am very excited. At 4.50pm every weekday night (well, nearly) you will find me glued to the screen to watch my new gardening heroine. We shall gloss over the fact that she's on CBeebies and aimed at 4-7 year-olds.

Yes, today Dirtgirl will premier in the imaginatively titled Dirtgirlworld, a new to the UK show created in Australia featuring, yes you guessed it, a girl who loves gardening, wears gum boots, drives a tractor (of course) and grows awesome tomatoes. She also knows all the cloud names. How cool does she sound?

The programme encourages children to "get grubby" and is a "celebration of life outside". Goodness, what's not to love? And there's funky pop songs. Apparently.

We do have amazing children's programmes here but sometimes they can be a bit....earnest. I long, sometimes, for the old fashioned Postman Pat of my eldest's toddlerhood. Now we seem to think unless we keep on at children they won't learn any of the wonders of the world. How patronising. Don't get me started on the Green Balloon Club...

So I have high hopes for this new show, although am slightly perturbed by the mention of Greenthumbs - "real kids in real gardens having unreal fun". Hmmm. Still, as Dirtgirl says "it's all about balance".

Bloggy Love #1

I am never entirely sure what I do with my time. Oh, I know a lot of it involves food, quite a depressing amount really. And clothes. But the rest? No idea.

And so I read emails then put them straight out of my mind without replying, find blogs I forget to bookmark and read posts without commenting (occasionally, although I can't comment on a lot of Blogger blogs if the name/url option isn't listed. Just saying).

I have also started a regular guest blogging spot at the beautiful Fennel and Fern. A seriously gorgeous blog with interesting posts (that sounds big headed, I mean all the other posts). Have I written about it? Nope.

My posts will be about.....I think I shall try to entice you over there to see. I will say that my first one's about how I think the best way to foster a love of gardening in children isn't through Blue Peter type projects or  even school gardening clubs. Which is a strange thing for someone who runs such a club to say. Perhaps.

While I am extending the bloggy love I thought I'd highlight a truly delightful blog that I've just discovered. Gardenmama is full of wonderful, creative posts and beautiful pictures.

I love finding blogs that aren't well known, to me at least. Especially if there are beautiful photos involved. Another gem that is new to me is Sweet Myrtle. Another creative mother who takes wonderful photos (do I detect a theme here?). Like all the best blogs, I have no idea how I found it but I'm so glad I did.

What blogging gems have you discovered lately?

My Constant Allomtment Companion

Anyone who reads this blog will know that there are a couple of things that always accompany me up to the plot - a flask of coffee and my camera.

I don't have a shed so I have a mobile one, my "lottie bag", which is a disgusting mess but usually contains an assortment of things (no first aid kit though. Tut). I am a bit hopeless at ensuring I do have what I need though. One time I forgot my shovel and quite often I don't have a pencil. Or string. Or something to cut it with.

But one thing I always have on me is How To Grow Your Own Food by "Dirty Nails". Honestly, I love this. It's in sections, so I just look at what I have to do in the second week of August, or whatever it is, and do it. I also check forward and back just in case. I have no idea if it's deemed good or not, I just love it.

It is, sadly, now quite ruined after, unbeknown to me, a flask leaked and the pages are quite stuck together. Still, I shall prise them apart (I am really reluctant to buy a new one, despite my love for it).

I did used to feel quite, well, guilty as though I were cheating which is absolutely ridiculous because I could not care less if anyone saw me browsing it. But I cheered a little when I saw Lovely Allotment Lady with her book in her trug. A different one, but one on growing veggies nonetheless.

While blogs are great, and I spend far too much time reading them, I can't exactly cart my laptop up there to see what Matron or Gill are doing. Well, I could except it wouldn't work. Sometimes nothing replaces a book. Thank goodness.

My Library No #1: Homemade Happiness

Today I'm feeling tired. I've no idea why but there you go. When I feel like this there's only one thing for it: a cup of freshly brewed coffee, the swingseat, and a lovely book to look at (novel reading would make me drop off). This what I like but in reality it is five minute snatches before being needed elsewhere.

My book of choice today is Homemade: Gorgeous things to make with love by Ros Badger and Elspeth Thompson. It is gorgeous. And it is making me sigh a lot. I tote it around with me, ready to dip into for a refreshing five minute boost, while I drink the coffee, naturally. 

You can tell it's going to be lovely, just from the cover. I know you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover but I do. It is fabric, simple and beautiful. Much like the rest of the book (apart from the fabric bit. Fabric pages would be silly).

As I flip and ooh and ahh I wonder if I'll ever find the time to make the lovely things it contains within. I am homemade by nature and necessity but I could do more. I am sure this book will inspire me.

It's arranged seasonally which is handy (I used the recipe for elderflower cordial from this book). And there are a fair few ideas for your garden, some of which you may know.

Although not a gardening book, it contains good ideas for prettying up your patch. I am already making a list of things I shall do: bunting, paper-lined night-lights, making more use of recycled containers and, come the autumn, an autumn chandelier.

Well, that's the idea. The reality shall probably be more of the same - running round like a headless chicken. I'm not sure where the time goes, what I do with my days but I would dearly love to slow down and make nice things.

And I know I'm not the only one. Homemade is no longer thought of as naff. With books like this, it is stylish, simple and a bit of a no-brainer really. I might even take a ball of yarn and a crochet hook to my friend's tonight where I am babysitting. I've been meaning to learn for ages and there's a lovely crochet square blanket in the book.

Goodness, I feel quite fired up. Maybe this is what I've been needing; a kick up the bum to try something new. And I guess that's the job of a book like this - to inspire you.

More of me

If you've ever clicked on my Twitter stream you may come to the conclusion that I can't multi-task. I know I'm supposed to but I can't. Actually, I'm not sure multi-tasking actually exists - it's distraction-tasking instead. I'm good at that.

What I'm trying to say in a very roundabout way is that I feel I've neglected my blog a bit because, not being able to do more than one thing at once, I have been writing elsewhere.

Yep. And I'm pretty proud of it (if pride doesn't come before a fall). I write for Parendish UK. I'm pleased because it's a big site, with lots of hits and is pretty super. There's some cool posts on there (and no, I don't mean just mine). It is, as the name suggests, all about parenting.

I write about nature/gardening/outside activities with children as well as thrifty family things to do. And yes, these truly are thrifty (and not just helpful "buy your clothes off ebay" type of advice).

But do you know one of the benefits of writing for Parentdish, that I hadn't even considered? It allows me to really think about our family life and to realise it's, despite the tough times, rather wonderful. Sometimes, in all the hurly burly, you need that.

When I'm not Gardening I'm Reading or Writing About It

When it's dark, raining or I'm waiting before I have to drive or collect a child, gardening and in particular growing veggies is on my mind. A lot.

So what's an addict to do? Sometimes I browse my growing gardening library, watch Gardeners' World (if it's a Friday night) or hit the computer (not literally) and read blogs, write blogs or Twitter (that's also quite addictive).

Sometimes my fixes actually result in something real and tangible and I'm delighted to point you in the direction of such proof that I'm not just wasting my time - yes! I am a guest blogger at Fennel and Fern's gorgeous new site.

My guest post is about - you've guessed it - how to ensure you have family fun at the allotment (and no, it doesn't involve shutting little people in sheds at the first whinge). There is, of course, lots of other wonderful things to read and look at on the new site. Hats off to Isablel, she redesigned it herself and I am mighty impressed. It's wonderful.

I was also busy a couple of months ago writing a feature on hunting for wildflowers for April's edition of the parenting magazine Junior. I am now a bit of an expert on the varieties found in diverse places and what your wildflower seeking kit should include. I realise I should have blogged about this last month (May's edition is already out) but.....seeing my name in print makes me strangely shy/uncomfortable/modest. Obviously this doesn't happen with blogs because I am largely anonymous. Yes, I am like a shy Jack-Go-To-Bed-At-Noon. See, told you, expert now. That's a flower that closes at about midday.

Diggin' Gardener's World Dig In

I've just watched Gardener's World and, before the golf lulls me to sleep, felt the urgent need to add my tuppence about the new garden, Toby, Alys's prominence and whether the shed doors should've been left unpainted.

Firstly, the shed's horrible. Nice inside (how much did that vintage-vibe chair cost I wonder) apart from the cringey What's Hot/Not board that should be scrapped forthwith (please) but the fork and shovel handles are horrid as is the colour of the timber and the actual doors.

Not that I know anything about sheds, not owning one myself (can you hear those violins?) so perhaps it's just my inner Green-Eyed Monster talking.

But I have to say, I did love this second edition. Maybe it's because Joe wasn't in it much. No Joe, the allotment craze sweeping the country has, I'm fairly sure, nothing whatsoever to do with you. Loved Carol's small bit about the school garden, although I'm fairly certain my club hasn't improved anyone's science scores.

The new Dig In campaign is great (will Toby be manning that van each time, must check out the website, she says hurriedly) even if some people refused the seed packets. It's free food people! For very little effort! The man was handing you Magic in a Packet!! Doh! I have, of course, sent off for a pack for the school.

I loved the Rose Man (where do they find these people?) who has convinced me that I need a rambling rose. He was brilliant, passionate and knowledgeable with a veg bed too I noticed. He also referred to one rose as a "he" which had me thinking S'funny I always thought of all roses as female.

I loved it when he spoke to one rose, propped another heavy-headed one on a special support and didn't seem too fussy about pruning (lopping off one rambler half-way with his hedge trimmer apparently) and rather dismissive of not planting a rose where another had been. Yes, he was a gem. More like him please.

And Alys. What can I say about her? She grows on me each week and I'm stealing her tin can for sunflower seeds idea for both home and school. I also carefully noted how she was planting her potatoes in containers - so clever bulking out compost with shredded paper - she's an asset.

This episode was clearly aimed at complete beginners but because it was mostly about veg I loved it. I've liked Toby from day one, don't find him patronising but instead passionate and he has a twinkle in his eye...

Really, there's so much to say I wish I could start up a GW Club, where we all meet up on a Friday night for nibbles and wine to watch and then dissect the latest episode. Bit like a book club but with the latest episode up for discussion. Now there's an idea.....