Emma Cooper's linklog

El olivo en México

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:01:07 GMT

El enlace para hoy es sobre la historia del olivo en México. ¿Cómo se arrive?

Which bees sting?

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:26:33 GMT

Bees are in trouble for a variety of reasons, and our gardens (and our food supply!) is threatened by a decline in the pollination services they provide for free. We need to support them by planting more bee-friendly plants that flower all through the year and give them something to feed on.

However, some people are afraid of being stung by bees, or that their children will be stung by bees. Brigit Strawbridge has written up a lovely blog post explaining which bees can sting you, and how likely they are to do so.

Which bees 'sting' and which don't?

Meyer Lemon love

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 07:37:40 GMT

Today’s Link of the Day is two, but they are linked together so I can get away with it ;)

It all started with a post from one of my new favourite blogs, Kitchen Butterfly, about Meyer lemons. It’s called The Anatomy of Meyer Lemon, but it’s more of a love poem than a science lesson. It’s all about making use of every tiny particle of a Meyer lemon once you’ve managed to get your hands on it.

And Kitchen Buttefly links to another lovely post, on how to grow Meyer lemons from seed, so once you have got your hands on one you need never be without them.

The Anatomy of a Meyer Lemon

Sky Prawns

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:00:07 GMT

Plagues, entomophagy and the Jekyll and Hyde nature of Jiminy Cricket.

The crunchy, kosher snack taking Israel by storm

Walnuts, vipers and avocados

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 06:53:24 GMT

The life of a plant collector is never easy – jetting off to far flung places can be fraught with dangers. Vipers, for example. But it’s important work for those intent on conserving our agricultural biodiversity, and they persevere. This piece from Slate is mainly about avocados, including a variety that is nice in smoothies.

The World's Rarest Avocados

Golden Needles

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:15:52 GMT

Edible flowers are trending upwards at the moment, although (with no garden) they’re a bit tricky for me to grow at the moment. This blog post is a lovely one, explaining the best moment to harvest daylily flowers, with an idea of what to do with them once you have.

Golden Needles Harvesting Has Started

Shamrock-flavour crisps

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:37:07 GMT

To celebrate St Patrick’s day this year, a farming family in Dublin have come up with a new flavour of crisps – Shamrock and Sour Cream*. Apparently the shamrocks used have come from the same farm that supplies the White House. 250,000 bags have been shipped to the UK and are in sale in branches of Tesco.

*Apparently shamrock and garlic isn’t very nice. Who knew? For more about shamrocks and clover, listen to episode 101 of the Alternative Kitchen Garden Show.

Shamrock-flavoured crisps

Lichenology

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:19:11 GMT

I recently blogged about a trip to the Kew Fungarium, where I encountered some useful lichens (which aren’t plants, but a double-act of a fungus with (usually) a green alga). Lichens are fascinating things, about which I know very little, but OPAL have produced an identification chart for common orchard lichens, which is downloadable as a PDF file – so you can have a go at spotting them when you’re out and about. There’s also a second guide for orchard mosses.

Opal's orchard lichen ID chart

Death of a sperm whale

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 09:38:21 GMT

Marine biologists have discovered that a sperm whale that washed up on the Spanish coast died from ingesting plastic waste from greenhouses on the coast that supply tomatoes and vegetables for British supermarkets. It’s not pleasant reading supermarket shoppers, but then neither was the Salad Slave report from 2011. I’d grow your own, if I were you.

Spanish sperm whale death linked to UK supermarket supplier's plastic

Serving suggestions: locusts

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 07:09:09 GMT

A chef in Israel has come up with a novel suggestion regarding the plague of locusts that has just been swept in on the wind from Egypt – he’s going to turn them into risotto. There’s a distinct religious lean to this piece from the Guardian, but there’s also some intriguing hints on eating and cooking locusts, including a pasta recipe….

Israeli locust plague is a blessing for adventurous palates

Kaffekask: the drink that time forgot

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:31:55 GMT

Apparently Kaffekask is the 19th century Swedish version of an Irish coffee. It doesn’t sound too appetizing, but I love insights into other cultures. This one is a short and snappy piece from Aardvarchaeology, and how can you go wrong that as a blog name?

Kaffekask from Aardvarchaeology

Black Pepper Syrup

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 08:02:35 GMT

An intriguing idea from Medicinal Mixology – spice up your cocktails with homemade black pepper syrup. Anyone brave enough to try it?

Black Pepper Syrup

Devil's Dung

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 07:42:34 GMT

A lovely piece from Saudi Aramco World about asafoetida, the world’s smelliest spice (Ferula assa-foetida). There’s also some intriguing thoughts on silphium, the Roman’s legendary spice that’s believed to be extinct.

Devil's Dung: The World's Smelliest Spice

Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 08:11:17 GMT

A lovely audio slideshow from the Beeb, shining some light into the dark corners of the Rhubarb Triangle, and the production of forced rhubarb.

Yorkshire forced rhubarb: Made in the dark

The botany of sweet potatoes

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 08:05:30 GMT

The Botanist in the Kitchen is a lovely (if geeky) blog about botany and food, and today is hosting a delightful (if geeky ;) post about the sweet potato (and yams) for Thanksgiving.

Of sweet potatoes and putting down roots

Plant Olympians

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 23:21:02 GMT

The BBC News website has a lovely slideshow today, commemorating some of the heroes of the plant world. Find out which species would win medals for speed, long distance, root depth, wrestling or height.

Olympians of the botanical world

Take a break: holiday care for the garden

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:02:53 GMT

My latest blog for The City Planter encourages you to spend a few minutes outside getting your garden ready for your absence – before you start packing for your vacation.

Take a break: holiday care for the garden

How to grow your own salad in a window box

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 23:36:47 GMT

Alys Fowler distills years of experience into a basic how-to guide to growing your own salad on a windowsill or balcony.

How to grow your own salad in a window box

Gardens: sharp practices to encourage hedgehogs

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 23:35:18 GMT

If you’ve ever wanted to encourage a hedgehog into your garden to deal with your slug problem once and for all, Dave Hamilton’s piece on gardening for hedgehogs (complete with advice from Hugh Warwick) is a must-read.

Gardens: sharp practices to encourage hedgehogs

Carry on Sowing: Vegetables for Summer

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 12:33:46 GMT

My latest article for City Planter is on crops to sow now, for harvests through the summer and into autumn and winter.

Carry on Sowing: Vegetables for Summer

Alys Fowler on wild strawberries

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 02:18:16 GMT

Alys Fowler’s latest Guardian column is on strawberries that can’t be bought, but are a delight to grow.

Alys Fowler: wild strawberries

How to grow vegetables: simple ways to get started

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 02:02:38 GMT

My latest blog for The City Planter is all about how to take the strain out of starting your own vegetable patch this year.

How to grow vegetables: simple ways to get started

Planning a vegetable garden? Options for urban plots

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 02:04:56 GMT

My new blog for The City Planter looks at starting a new veg patch in the city – whether you’re short on sun, soil or space – as well as options to make it look lovely.

Planning a vegetable garden? Options for urban plots

Drought-tolerant vegetables

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 03:38:24 GMT

Val Bourne has written a nice piece for the Telegraph, looking at which fruits and vegetables succeeded in the dry weather last year.

Plot to beat the drought

Jungle Seeds Seed Sowing Calendar

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:12:57 GMT

Lots of gardeners find a seed sowing calendar essential – it keeps them on track throughout the season and means that sowing/ planting and harvesting times don’t pass them by. But once you move off the beaten track it’s hard to find one that covers the more unusual vegetables, unless you make your own. But Jungle Seeds have come up with one that covers the seeds that they sell, and so includes such exotics as amaranth, orach, yard long beans and perilla alongside the more familiar vegetables. Click the link to download the PDF file.

Jungle Seeds sowing guide

Winter harvests

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:44:01 GMT

A lovely post today from a Scottish forest garden, detailing perennial plants that are still productive in winter.

Perennial winter harvests

Insect-friendly leaf mould

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:05:44 GMT

Kate Bradbury explains how to make leaf mould, and how to ensure it’s not a death trap for the local wildlife :)

Making leaf mould

Oranges are not the only fruit

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:02:54 GMT

An amusing piece on what is, and what is not, a proper fruit.

The Fruit Is A Lie

Grow your own kitchen staples

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 03:34:17 GMT

Onions and garlic are easy to grow, don’t take up much space, and needn’t be dull :)

Save a space for staples

Top 10 copyright myths

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 12:46:23 GMT

A nice summary of things that people commonly believe about copyright, but which have no basis in legal fact.

Top 10 copyright myths

Dealing with fallen leaves

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 06:57:05 GMT

The gorgeous colours currently clothing our trees mean that it’s only a matter of time before we’re faced with a garden clean-up session.

Six ways to use your fallen leaves

Fruit trees for small gardens

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:54:31 GMT

My latest post over at The City Planter magazine is on fruit trees for small gardens and containers.

Growing fruit in small spaces

Hens do the funniest things...

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 01:34:46 GMT

Patrick Vickery’s tales of the peaceful countryside – angry crows, kamikaze hens and amorous ducks.

Rural Ramblings 7: Patrick's rooster boosters

Lovely leaf mould

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:31:39 GMT

It’s that time of year again, folks, and I’ve got my Master Composter hat on to talk about how to make leaf mould on the BBC Gardening blog.

BBC Gardening blog: Leaf mould

Oriental vegetables for autumn

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:30:20 GMT

Today I am posting over at The City Planter, on Oriental vegetables you can sow and grow now to feed you through the autumn and into the winter.

Pick oriental vegetables for autumn

Going nuts

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:54:38 GMT

There’s increasing interest in nuts as a low-maintenance garden crop, and Martin Crawford from the Agroforestry Research Trust is sharing his thoughts on some well-known and some less familiar nuts on the BBC Gardening blog today.

It's nut season again

Sustainable foraging guidelines

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Sage advice from Carl Legge on safe and respectful foraging.

Sustainable Foraging Guidelines

Composting Options

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:13:13 GMT

I’m blogging at The City Planter today, the online magazine for urban gardeners, with a look at all the different composting options.

Heaps of choice: composting options for urban gardeners

Eat your houseplants

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 02:43:19 GMT

A bit of a blog hopping odyssey turned up this lovely gem about a restaurant, a houseplant and a Vietnamese recipe from Berlin :)

Berlin: Houseplants for Lunch

Foraging at home

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 02:35:41 GMT

Alys Fowler is encouraging you to start foraging in your own back garden in the Guardian today, with plants that you may already have planted for their ornamental value.

Gardens: foraging in your own back yard