…well with the temperature at -8C this morning, I harvested these Worcesterberries, as hard as marbles, and after thawing they are still good :)
This is the only freezer you will find at my place :)
Two flocks of pink-footed geese (kortnebbgjess) passed over the house today…on the way south from the stopover area just north of here…this morning it was -8C and the same is forecast for the next two nights…
As I suggested earlier today, veggie quiche would be tonight’s dinner (as two years ago on this day) now that I’m back here in Malvik :)
With cold weather getting colder and the forecast insulating snow not happening, I spent the day harvesting before it’s impossible to dig the soil!
The quiche turned into an invasive (svartelistet) quiche as it contains giant hogweed (Tromsøpalme) seed spice (golpar) and this year it is topped with dried Himalayan Balsam (kjempespringfrø) seed, two of the “worst” invasive species here in Norway and other parts of Europe :) Other veg includes leek, parsley, garlic and chili.
The pie crust was made of whole grain fine naked barley flour (Hordeum vulgare var. nudum).
Last Monday I arrived in London for a work /family trip and despite a 2-3 hour delayed flight due to fog, I was able to have two hours at Chelsea Physic Garden before closing time at 4 pm.
So, here’s some pictures of mostly unusual edible plants spotted during my visit!
One of my favourite gardens…
On the second day of my stay with Kirsty Reid and Chris Johnstone at Teeny Weeny Farm (Dyke, Moray) I cycled over to visit Findhorn! There had been several from Findhorn at my talk the night before (see http://www.edimentals.com/blog/?p=6786 ) and I was invited by Ariane Burgess to visit the Findhorn Forest Garden (more of that later) and Craig Gibsone, one of the elders who has lived there for 40 years! The pictures are mostly of edibles I found on the bike ride and most are also invasive plants unwanted by most, but foragers look at these plants differently!
Some pictures of my beds of perennial kales. I took cuttings of 6 or 7 varieties today in case the mother plants don’t make it through the winter. I’ll do the second bed next weekend!
I also finally flowered a yacon here! I’ve been growing Yacon now for 10 years, my first harvest here was on 28th October 2006 and I was pleased that I got 1/2 kg for each plant! I had got used to low yields on other South Americans like oca and ulluco when harvested in October, so this was a pleasant surprise!
This yacon was grown on the balcony outside in a large pot, was frosted 2 weeks ago, resulting in some leaf drop, but having moved it inside it has recovered and the flower bud has finally opened!
I’ve unsuccessfully tried growing figs in my old unheated greenhouse, overwintered in the cellar. Now, for the first time I’ve finally succeeded! This young Bornholm fig grown all year in an unheated bedroom has 4 figs and one was eaten today! Delicious!
Perennial vegetables, Edimentals (plants that are edible and ornamental) and other goings on in The Edible Garden