Spread the veg

I decided to formalise my scheme to dispose of excess herbs and veggies while raising money for the HDRA by providing my work colleagues with cheap organic herbs/veggies. I sent the email below to some of my colleagues, and I raised £6.50 with a couple of bags of veg this morning. I never give away anything that I can possibly eat for myself or store, which is why there are no onions, beetroot, potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes etc on the list. But it is a way of making sure nothing is wasted, raising awareness of why heritage veg varieties need preserving and making my work colleagues happy.

The only danger is that they start relying on what isn't really a steady supply, given that I inevitably prioritise my own culinary needs. As I pointed out to one colleague, I'm not bloody Abel and Cole, you know...

As things get growing on my allotment, I'm looking to dispose of the surplus to good homes. As per last year, suggested donation will remain at 50p or more a go for each item/bunch. I'll be raising money to sponsor rare heritage vegetables.

(The variety we sponsored last year, pumpkin whanga crown, is now about to burst into growth on my allotment - I'll email around a pic once it fruits.)

It almost goes without saying that everything is fresh (picked the afternoon/night before), organically grown, probably needs a good wash and may carry the bonus of a few beasties.

Just drop me an email now if you want anything that's on the "ready now" list below to give me an idea of demand, although I can't guarantee when/how much of anything I'll be able to bring in as it's dependent on when I get a chance to get down the plot (for 50p a shot you don't get a fully operational organic veg box scheme, you understand).

Also let me know if you want me to include you on a periodic "what's on offer this week" email I'll send around, so I don't keep annoying you unnecessarily.

Available now in (almost) unlimited quantities

Bunches of chives, green sage, purple sage, rosemary, curry plant, lemon mint
Rainbow chard
Spinach beet

Available now in limited quantities

Lettuce - mainly bunyard's matchless (crisp lettuce that's a bit like romaine - I have it for lunch nearly every day so just ask for a look if you're not sure)

Available in the next few weeks in (almost) unlimited quantities

Bunches of parsley - Italian flat and curled
Courgettes/squash
Lettuce

Available in the next few weeks in limited quantities

Sorrel (I hope)
Broad beans (if I get sick of them)
French beans
Courgette flowers
... plus a few other things as I tire of them.

Comments

[brian]

Jane,

I notice you have Curry Plant listed as one of your items. I recently began an attempt to germinate some seeds of this type. Would you be so kind as to post a picture of your plant(s) and give any sort of environmental recommendations as to its care?

thanks!

- brian

[Jane Perrone]

hi brian

The curry plant I am talking about is Helichrysum italicum (http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Helichrysum+italicum&CAN=LATIND), NOT curry leaves (http://www.asiafood.org/glossary_2.cfm?wordid=3260).

I don't use it for an awful lot, to be honest: I've heard of people using it in salads but I only really use it to roast alongside/in things like veg and chicken to impart some flavour. I grow it more for the silvery, lavender like leaves and the wonderful curryish smell that wafts around the bed where it grows. It's worth noting that curry plant is NOT, confusingly, what they make curry powder out of. Maybe I should write a blog post as there appears to be a lot of confusion ....

[brian]

aaah... the seeds i ordered are for the second one, the leaves of which i do use when i make curry without the curry powder ( i.e., the more detailed way with separate spices, which i learned from The Naked Chef. =) ) thanks for the clarification.