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The no dig garden website is a venture into publishing on a topic I love. Thanks for joining me on the adventure! I'd love to have your feedback.
Just reply to this newsletter.

In this issue:

1) Why no-dig, why me?
2) Eco gardening tips
3) Recipe: Beetroot salad

First a special note

I shall carry on her good traditions, she'll be watching over my shoulder somewhere I know.

And let's remember some of the reasons we like no dig gardening, plus look at other natural ways we can all help ourselves; our friends and families; and our world.

• No dig gardening is the way nature does it. Layer by layer it builds up its rich, life-giving food for plants, then helps it all break down again, enlisting everything from bugs to bacteria to each work their magic.
• There's a food war on. Our breakfast, lunch and dinner plates have turned into cardboard, plastic or tin foil. The produce in the shops is sprayed, gassed, irradiated, GE'd, artificially fertilised and picked before ripened sufficiently. I'm doing a big generalisation here of course, but this alarming trend is marching forward.
  Revolt by...you guessed it...growing as much as you can with the no dig, organic way. It's not only safe, sustainable and healthy but oh so good for your body and soul.
• Your part in the revolution to claim back decent food will also help the lives and livelihoods of many poorer farmers globally.
  There's nothing wrong with making a buck, but not when giant companies get too greedy and compromise the quality of food, exhaust the land, and poison the environment.
  If their markets dwindle, because we all get out there and do our bit - grow our own, help our neighbors to start their garden, buy locally for what we can't grow, and educate our kids for the future, then we can transform our world back to a better place through our actions.

For those just starting no-dig gardening, out you go in the fresh air, muck in, roll up your sleeves, and take those first steps. For those who are pros, let's get marching!

Eco Gardening Tips and Comments

• "What a man needs in gardening is a cast-iron back, with a hinge in it" ~ Charles Dudley Warner, My summer in a garden.
• Ash is good for plants, either from your fireplace or bonfire, as long as you haven't burnt any toxic material like treated wood. Different ashes contain different amounts of potash, so mix it lightly into your compost first - rather than fertilising your plants straight off.
• To keep kitchen compost buckets nice - hydrogen peroxide works a treat. Use 3% grade and cover the bottom of the bucket with about 1cm. This cleans up any smells and rot and stops further grossness as you add food scraps. When you take it out and dump it on the compost heap, it's all quite harmless.




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Feature Recipe: Beetroot Salad

One large raw beetroot
Approx one third of a medium apple
Vinegar (best is Apple Cider vinegar)
Approx 1-2 tablespoons any mayonnaise, salad dressing or yogurt
Salt and pepper to taste


Grate beetroot and apple and put in enough vinegar to coat it all without it totally floating (don't need to measure, just keep pouring and stirring). Can leave to soak for an hour or overnight if necessary. Add mayo etc. Store in fridge.

(I'm always asked for the recipe when I serve this. Goes with any leafy greens cooked or raw. It makes a great accompaniment to any meats, and I see I've made a note that it went well with Fish Pie and Goats Cheese Galette (now that's a recipe).



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Happy gardening!

Megan
Megan Carter