A few weeks of ... Can't do very much .... Mostly due to family commitments and work. Very busy Hospital but at last have a day to potter, once a few jobs are completed! A few trays of broad bean and pea seeds have been started, and all three patches dug over and composted, so feeling like I should ...

Dear Bill, I am a relatively new veggie gardener, so I just wanted to say to you, and all those that post here .... Thank you - you inspire and help me, and will never know it ... But you are helping as I read and get ideas. Thank you all. Hoping to get out in the garden today, beautiful morning her...

Dear Silverback, Thank you so much, this was so helpful, I have to sayi thought we were being daft - so very reassuring. Interesting idea that a glitter ball could keep them away .... Exmoor National Park could do with a glitter ball I'm on a mission! Thanks again ... Have a little glimmer that Shei...

We have just two piles of feathers to show for our smallest chicken, who disappeared during the day, and seems to have gone for good. We have had a family of buzzards circling and watching from the trees on Exmoor, and we are wondering if the largest bird has taken the chicken? It seems very rare bu...

Thanks Lancashire Lass, will keep fingers crossed x

I tried celeriac last summer, still eating them, had a bumper crop ... So really pleased with outcome .... What shall we try this year?

Oh dear .... March 2014 ..... Clearly failed in my diary, but not in the real thing! Great year, Daughter still at home which is lovely .... Veggie patches a great success and determined to continue this year. Had a soup maker for Christmas so even more determined for a frugal year and a lovely book...

I have better looking chooks this year, but think I have lost "Sheila" my smallest chicken to a buzzard ... Found several piles of white feathers (not brown) but she didn't come back to the coop last night and we have searched high and low. We have had a buzzard "watching" for a ...

And so to the 1st March ... Our Daughter has moved home, so life has taken an unexpected turn with one extra dog too, and, of course, our lovely girl, who doesn't seem to have learnt to turn lights out ... Or shut doors! We feel like a couple of old nag bags .....lights, doors, lights, doors!! So, f...

Dear Ll,
Sounds like you have had a great week, I can understand how old habits die hard, but the little things do mount up, and hopefully with the small steps comes real progress, so well done, you are inspiring the rest of us too as we read your ideas and thoughts ... Thank you x

Having a great week! Frugal February is working well, I did a shop last Sunday just before closing, and bagged some real bargains. I sat and worked it out and I paid £44.78 for a shop that should have cost £72.36 so I was so chuffed. I cooked down some of the veg that needed using up - only pence in...

Hi Jackian, thank you for your response, and glad Hubby's hand is improving, gently does it and do all the exercises given to try and keep things moving ... Hands ... We never notice until we can't do things so easily! Thanks for the broad beans idea, I will try that tomorrow. I have had a productiv...

I hope everyone is ok with the weather, certainly been a difficult week in Somerset. On the frugal diary front, things are moving along, and I am enjoying reading other posts about progress. I do hope Jackian things improve for your Hubby, difficult times I can imagine. So, in total we have spent £1...

Thanks Perchy what an interesting article. I have just taught my 21 year old daughter, who is living in a shared house, how to make chicken pie (although she opted for a mash top rather than making pastry!) to use up their Sunday left overs, so it is not a dying art! My Parents were brought up in th...

I have been inspired by the little bit of brightness we had today to get out ... And get organised. We have been in our new house 18 months now, so I am still learning what grows well here near Dunkery Beacon on Exmoor, we are quite high up so about two weeks behind the local lower levels such as Mi...