broad beans and leeks in one of the raised beds
I have just planted over 300 little leeks, lots of kale and purple sprouting brocolli seedlings, carrots, radish, garlic, basil, sunflowers and flat leaf parsley as an alternative to the madly (but wonderfully) continually self seeding curly 
allotment bit at bottom of garden, greenhouse left
The thinking of the planting this year is to grow things that both do well up here and that we eat lots of, no experimentation with things like aubergines which only just manage to flower before winter! Also in are lettuce, rocket, mixed salad leaves, french beans, broad beans, peas, potatoes, onions and in greenhouse there are tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, courgettes and a giant grapevine obtained on freecycle and doing very well so far. Perennial things like rhubarb, chives, lovage, bronze fennel, mint and leafbeet are thriving. Fruit bushes and trees all look to be heading for a bumper year. Cold winter can’t have hurt them 
sitting together continues, even in sunless situations
and the eating: chocolate sesame snaps now have thick chocolate stripes on them
chocolate sesame snaps
Made some gorgeous dandelion fritters to go with wild garlic pesto – saw them on home baked a while ago and used basic vegan pancake mix of soya milk and self raising flour beaten to a thick batter, a flower in each spoonful/fritter:
a nice lunch
no shortage of this ingredient in the garden
next wild food recipe on the list to try – Cat’s nettle pies!
stones and sea
broken arm update: after two weeks it has healed so well it does not need cast anymore and writing can take place again
The Artists Way: A Course in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self - an intensely powerful and synchronistic way of clearing blocks, old psychological patterns and dysfunctions of the past. Get doing your morning pages, they're amazing!
fabulous guide to foraging in Britain.
amazing Russian books these: spirituality; growing; living naturally; raising children with love and respect; quite magical. Release any preconceived ideas of how life should be (or books) and create your space of love!
A very well researched novel which, alongside Picoult's usual 'heading to a trial' plot, explores many facets of and perspectives on Asperger's Syndrome. The potential and common effects of AS on siblings is especially well documented here. As gripping and informative a book as 
a great storehouse of food growing knowledge from Dirty Nails :)
"Girls just wanna have... wanna have fun...", and we still are :)
Hiya Lucy
wow as tasty as ever, I love your blog.
sorry i’ve not been in blogland much xx
that lunch looks scrummy
I was suprised my fruit bushes are thriving too – I half expected the long winter had killed them off but no I still have mass lot of strawberries and some raspberries and blackcurrents all looking ready to boom. I’m also now growing herbs: Apple mint, rosemary and parsley.
I’ve grown some veg but I’m a bit hesitant as I have no idea how to grow. Carrots, courgettes, peas, french beans and broccoli – I’ve never grown them before so I’m hesitant. But wow 300 seedlings! And I didnt know you could grow grapes here, I assumed they needed LOTS of sun.
I know Dandelions are straight forward, those yellow flowerly weeds that grow in the garden but I’m terrified of picking the wrong thing and poisoning myself.
Hi Dawny – nice to see you, I find it hard to get round blogland much these days too…
love nice lunches
good luck with your growing Mel – it is so satisfying when it goes well! grapes do need a greenhouse here, as to how many grapes we get, we’ll just have to wait and see