Bringing the crops home

I can't believe it. I've picked some of my spinach and had a raspberry from the garden. That's the raspberry.

Dorothy used the spinach in fishcakes she made us for tea, also some of the chives given to me by my friend Alex 'Pip' Paton. Jolly nice meal.

A visitor calls

My mate Alex 'Pip' Paton (he's a bit posh but knows about gardening) came bearing gifts.

As well as a pile of magazines including The Oldie (I like it and I'm but a young 'un), he had some vegetable stuff for me. There's was a splendid Reader's Digest Gardening Year, a couple of catalogues and the 50th anniversary edition of Organic Way - good reading material.

With his package of gifts was a bunch of chives ready to plant out. I can do it now, he says, so I will. Apparently, they will die back a bit and then thrive later on.

He's noticed that I've been reading Maye E Bruce's book on compost and suggests I should try Gardening with Compost, by F C King. The author's name sounds suspiciously made up to me.

Revving up again

My mate Alex 'Pip' Paton (he's a bit posh) has offered to give me his Reader's Digest Gardening Book.

Bloody good of him as I am sorely in need of advice, both verbal and written. I'm heartened by the friends who are supporting me in this little project. I think my energy had dipped a little after planting the seeds and getting no growth, but I'm back in the driving seat now and planning ahead for autumn and winter.