“ There is a correlation between flavour, the earth and how rich it is.
Shopping in the supermarket makes you lose the ability to recognise true freshness”
www. citycottage. co. uk
I have to say I like Raymond Blanc’ s philosophy when it comes to vegetables. He said once that his father made him taste the earth, and this taught him how good vegetables should be. I haven’ t eaten earth on purpose- actually, plenty of it on the rugby pitch, but I do smell it.
There is a correlation between flavour, the earth and how rich it is, and absolute freshness. We supermarket fed duffers have simply lost the ability to recognize this freshness. You can’ t tell a good spud when you never had the best spuds!
Easy to grow
The garden is a simple place. It has been the home of man since the beginning of time, and I have to say we live in the garden, the house is just somewhere to sleep- well, more or less.
However, growing good vegetables requires experience, care, time and a feeling for what you are doing. To know the difference between a potato from Kenya, and one from my garden, takes years of growing potatoes. That way I get to know what my soil is like, how the climate affects the flavour, how disease can change a crop.
Yes, they might be boring old cheap to buy spuds, but in truth, they are so much more.
But there is more to it than even that!
“ There is a correlation between flavour, the earth and how rich it is.
Shopping in the supermarket makes you lose the ability to recognise true freshness”
Growing vegetables is something the whole family can get involved in, and can help improve your fitness too!
Call me a nutter if you like, but I am working to make it so that I do not rely on a supermarket for my supply of food. Sure, supermarkets have their place, but sourcing their food from around the world, how can we be sure this supply is secure? We are already being outbid by China, India, the USA for commodities such as wheat and rice, how far off is the same price rise of peas and potatoes, plums and cherries?
For us at least, we will continue to grow salads and cabbages, potatoes and onions, for flavour, for convenience and for our children to learn how to do it too!
Learn to grow in the smallest space! Click to buy the book