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Sarah D

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 05 9:39 pm Post subject:

Do you mean unblanched rather than unbalanced? If so, then the answer is no; it is forced in the winter like Whitloof chicory, and it is the blanched stems that are eaten.

I grew tree tomatoes for the first time last year - they do best under glass, but produce a very thin and straggly plant that needs good support. They are known as tamarillos as well, and are native to New Zealand I think. You can buy them over here. Mine didn't fruit in the end, and I've never tasted them, but would give them another go.

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 05 9:53 pm Post subject:

Yes I did mean unblanched (spell checker error

I'm not very good at that).

I've seen it as Wisley but never tried it, OH is very happy to try to grow it.

I've seen fruiting tamarillos at Kew Gardens. I've also got tea but this may take a while before trying.

One comment, I have read a fair bit and seen a good bit of TV (

) but not seen much of permaculture in name. Is this just me or is it not publicised?

Tristan

Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 392
Location: North Gloucestershire

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 05 9:56 pm Post subject:
Permaculture made the RHS magazine last year, also the Country Smallholder, but usually seems associated with sustainable agriculture in South Africa Tristan

Sarah D

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 05 10:01 pm Post subject:

It's not widely known, and most who are aware of it have come to it through organic gardening, and regard it as a further step. They tend to be "green" (for want of a better expression) thinkers and doers as well, and it is definitely not mainstream, and I don't think it ever will be in this country anyway.
I would thoroughly recommend Permaculture magazine as one of the best magazines available in this country, it's wonderfu and hugely inspiring, and is fairly cheap, but by sub only I think. They probably have a website too. They do a huge catalogue of environment/permaculture books called the Earth Repair Catalogue, run by a sister organisation called Permanent publications or similar.
There are also distance learning courses in permaculture theory and design available via Australia, and courses run all over the country here if you want to take it further. I like some of the design components, such as the keyhole beds and the mulch beds, tyre ponds, mandala gardens, etc.

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 05 10:15 pm Post subject:

The magazine will be ordered next week.

I'm also a big fan of Bob Flowerdew.

At the moment I like the idea of encouraging nature as much as possible and going further. For example, enhancing hedges to include as many wild plants as possible and maybe other things such as raspberries, hops, even beans. Encouraging the wildlife and eating some game also seems to fit it well. It's another vast subject.

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 05 10:16 pm Post subject:

Tristan wrote:

Permaculture made the RHS magazine last year, also the Country Smallholder, but usually seems associated with sustainable agriculture in South Africa

Tristan

I do get both of those (Country Smallholding?) but must have missed them

. I'll dig them out.

Tristan

Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 392
Location: North Gloucestershire

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 05 10:19 pm Post subject:
Might come across the articles again myself soon, only New Year's resolution was to try to organise and index mags b4 erself throws them out !!!

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 05 11:38 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

Herbs and wild plants will be some other excellent threads.

The line between a herb and a vegetable, like the line between wild and cultivated plants, is rather narrow.

I grow some weeds on purpose; there are a couple of sow parsley plants on our lawn that I tend to mow around so I can always have some to pick, there's a wild sorrel plant in my herb patch that I rescued from a roadside after it had been dug up last year, and there are some dandelions in the garden that I give liquid fertiliser to at least as often as I do my other vegetables!

And a lot of the herbs I grow are used as much for salad as anything else; mint and lemon balm especially, but also oregano, basil and chervil. I'm not entirely sure where the line between leaf vegetable and herb really should lie.

I rekon that the easiest way to ensure low-maintenance permanent food plants in your garden might be to nurture those edible plants that -want- to grow there. You'd really, really struggle to find an easier one than, say, ground elder.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 9:47 am Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

Tahir, when is your permaculture ready to be published.

Not me mate, no actual experience but I have spoken to a few permaculture bods, hopefully it's only a matter of time till one of them gives in

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 10:49 am Post subject:
Permaculture sounds really interesting - it's a shame there isn't more around about it. I imagine for a lot of people it's a whole system, but for people like me (who are beset with good intentions about the garden!) it sounds as though there are some very sound principles that anyone could apply - like putting crops you need to do most to closest to the house.

Sarah D

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 2:31 pm Post subject:
Like a lot of things, permaculture lends itself very well to extracting the bits you want to use or have a go at that are relevant to you and your situation, and leaving what is not so suitable without having to apply the whole system.

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