Category Archives: Garden tour

The Teeny Weeny Farm

It’s only taken me two years to blog about the garden at Teeny Weeny Farm, a permaculture inspired market garden in the teeny village of Dyke in Morayshire in North East Scotland, not far from Findhorn!
Today FB told me my visit was already two years ago…so I decided to do something about it. The garden was relatively young when I visited but packed with interesting plants intermingled with plants being grown by Kirsty Reid for her cut flower business (many are edimentals!). I was told that her partner permaculturist Chris Johnstone was in charge of the fruit trees and berry bushes!

From my talk at Teeny Weeny Farm with a load of Findhorn luminaries!
http://www.edimentals.com/blog/?p=6786
Earhways and Ludwig Appeltans (now on the Isle of Skye)
http://www.edimentals.com/blog/?p=8548
Findhorn’s Forest Garden
http://www.edimentals.com/blog/?p=8381
Bike ride to Findhorn
http://www.edimentals.com/blog/?p=8060
Craige Gibsone at Findhorn
http://www.edimentals.com/blog/?p=8441

Climate Festival garden tour 2018

I’ll once again be inviting Trondheim Climate Festival (Klimafestivalen i Trondheim) to hear about and witness climate friendly vegetable growing in my garden this Thursday (6th September)…tickets are still available via https://trdevents.no/en/event/hagebesok-hos-stephen-barstow/2018-09-06

The last two years, both garden tours sold out, so be quick! Here’s a picture from last year’s event:

Visiting McMillion’s acres!

On Sunday I finally found the opportunity to visit my friend and fellow Norwegian Seed Savers (KVANN) board member Andrew McMillion who lives on a small farm in Nes, Akershus! We were joined by Amandine from France who is doing an Msc in Agroecology in Ås (Norway). She had joined us in Trondheim and Malvik at the KVANN weekend in June!
In Andrew’s tunnel greenhouse I saw several plants I’d never seen before and Andrew’s belief in the importance of diversity in a secure food production is evident everywhere! His greenhouse reminded me in fact of Alan Kapuler (Mushroom)’s amazing kinship (biodiversity) gardens in Oregon, USA (see http://www.edimentals.com/blog/?page_id=3325)
It’s amazing how Andrew grows  what for many are impossible vegetables with minimal additional heat!
Outside, he is developing the ravine on the side of the property with perennial vegetables! He is also a champion of Shetland Cabbage as a future hardy vegetable in Norway and this is one of many vegetables he offers each year through Norwegian Seed Savers!!
I look forward to following Andrew’s projects over the next years!!

Ringebu Prestegård

I travelled yesterday from the PDC course at Hurdal Prestegård (rectory) to another rectory in Ringebu in the Gudbrandsdalen about 3 hours north by train! I was invited by KVANN (Norwegian Seed Savers) member Halldis Myhre Tvete to give a talk on perennial vegetables and edimentals to the gardening group (hagegruppa på Ringebu Prestegården)!
I was very impressed by the garden which the largely voluntary gardening group have created since 2006 from an overgrown garden with just a few original plants such as the Ringebu rose!
Most of the plants are Norwegian heritage plants, including a large collection of historical roses, berry and fruit trees, hops, Dahlias and herbs!
The view from the garden is also spectacular looking down and north along the green glacial river (Gudbrandslågen) and the neighbouring Ringebu Stave Church!

30 years in Norway salad

7 years ago (11th August 2011)  and 40-50 people from the Trondheim Useful Plants Society (Nyttevekstforeningen) turned up for a walk and talk in my garden, including two journalists. Bente Haarstads pictures can be seen here:
https://bentehaarstad.photoshelter.com/gallery/Edible-plants-Stephen-Barstows-garden/G0000yLcSVBDTqqI 
Bjørg Hernes from local paper Malvikbladet wrote an article about the event which included a salad made with (only) 30 edibles to commemorate my 30 year anniversary of veggie growing in Malvik!
This was also the event when Saideh, originally from Iran surprised us all telling us that she ate naturalised invasive Tromsøpalme (Heracleum persicum)  collected in the centre of Trondheim…this encounter was later related in my book and Saideh kindly provided recipes!

Below the pictures is a list of ingredients!

Malvikbladet (local newspaper)          

List of ingredients:

  1. Adenophora Ex- Amethyst (blomst);Ladybells;
  2. Aegopodium podagraria;Ground Elder;Skvallerkål
  3. Agastache anisata (blomst);Anise Hyssop;Anisisop
  4. Agastache anisata alba (blomst);Anise Hyssop;Anisisop
  5. Allium cepa #1;Salad Onion;Vårløk
  6. Allium cepa #2;Salad Onion;Vårløk
  7. Allium fistulosum “Svenskelauk”;Welsh Onion;Pipeløk
  8. Allium fistulosum #1;Salad Onion;Vårløk
  9. Allium fistulosum #2;Salad Onion;Vårløk
  10. Allium flavum (blomst);Small Yellow Onion;Doggløk
  11. Allium nutans “Lena” (Slizun) ;Blue Chives;Sibirsk nikkeløk
  12. Anthriscus cerefolium;Chervil;Kjørvel
  13. Apium graveolens #1;Celery;Selleri
  14. Apium graveolens #2;Celery;Selleri
  15. Artemisia dracunculus sativa;French Tarragon;Fransk estragon
  16. Atriplex hortensis rubra;Orach;Rød hagemelde
  17. Borago officinalis (blomst); Borage;Agurkurt
  18. Borago officinalis alba (blomst); Borage;Agurkurt
  19. Brassica oleracea var sabellica;Kale;Grønnkål
  20. Calendula officinalis (blomst);Pot Marigold;Ringblomst
  21. Chenopodium album “Magenta”;Lamb’s Quarters;Meldestokk
  22. Cichorium intybus #1;Chicory;Sikkori
  23. Cichorium intybus #2;Chicory;Sikkori
  24. Cichorium intybus (blomst);Chicory;Sikkori
  25. Commelina coelestis (blomst);Blue Spider Wort;Knollhimmelblomst/Dagblomst
  26. Commelina coelestis alba (blomst);Blue Spider Wort;Knollhimmelblomst/Dagblomst
  27. Cryptotaenia japonica atropurpurea;Mitsuba; Japanese Parsley;Mitsuba; Japansk Persille
  28. Cucurbita pepo pepo (blomst);Courgette/Zucchini;Zucchini/ Squash
  29. Daucus carota #1;Wild Carrot;Gulrot
  30. Daucus carota #2;Wild Carrot;Gulrot
  31. Diplotaxis tenuifolia;Perennial Wall Rocket;Steinsennep/Flerårige Rucola
  32. Fedia cornucopiae;African Valerian;Afrikanskvendelrot
  33. Hablitzia tamnoides;Hablitzia;Stjernemelde; Kaukasisk Spinat
  34. Hemerocallis #1 (blomst);Day Lily;Daglilje
  35. Hemerocallis #2 (blomst);Day Lily;Daglilje
  36. Hosta ventricosa (blomst);Hosta ;Bladlilje/Hosta
  37. Impatiens glandulifera (frø);Jewelweed/Himalayan Balsam;Prydspringfrø
  38. Lactuca sativa #1;Lettuce; Salat
  39. Lactuca sativa #2;Lettuce; Salat
  40. Lactuca sativa #3;Lettuce; Salat
  41. Lycopersicon esculentum ; Tomato;Tomat
  42. Malva crispa;Salad Mallow;Kruskattost
  43. Malva moschata;Musk Mallow;Moskuskattost
  44. Malva moschata alba;Musk Mallow;Moskuskattost
  45. Malva sylvestris mauritanica;Common Mallow;Apotekerkattost
  46. Mentha aquatica (blomst);Water Mint;Vassmynte
  47. Monarda didyma “Adam” (blomst);Bee Balm, Bergamot,Oswego Tea;Vanlig hestemynte; Etasjeblomst
  48. Nasturtium officinale;Watercress;Grønn engelskkarse
  49. Petroselinum crispum;Parsley;Persille
  50. Phaseolus vulgaris;Bush Bean;Hagebønne
  51. Pisum sativum “Purple Podded”;Pea;Hage/Sukkerert
  52. Pisum sativum #4;Pea;Hage/Sukkerert
  53. Pisum sativum #5;Pea;Hage/Sukkerert
  54. Pisum sativum “Golden Sweet” ;Pea;Hage/Sukkerert
  55. Pisum sativum “Sugar Snap” ;Pea;Hage/Sukkerert
  56. Raphanus sativus (umodne frøkapsler);Radish;Reddik
  57. Rubus idaeus #1;Raspberry;Gulbringebær
  58. Rubus idaeus #2;Raspberry;Gulbringebær
  59. Rubus idaeus “Aprikos”;Raspberry;Gulbringebær
  60. Rubus idaeus “Gul”;Raspberry;Gulbringebær
  61. Rumex acetosa ;Sorrel;Engsyre
  62. Rumex scutatus;Buckler-leaved Sorrel;Fransksyre
  63. Sonchus oleraceus;Common Sow-Thistle;Haredylle
  64. Talinum paniculatum;Pink baby-breath;
  65. Taraxacum pseudoroseum;;Rosaløvetann
  66. Taraxacum variegatum ;Variegated Dandelion ;Broketbladet løvetann
  67. Tropaeolum majus (blomst);Nasturtium;Vanlig blomkarse
  68. Valerianella locusta ;Cornsalad; Lamb’s Lettuce;Vårsalat
  69. Vicia faba;Broad Beans;Bondebønne

 

46 botaniske arter; 69 sorter

Parkens Grøde

Thanks to Elena Katarina​ for showing me Parkens Grøde at short notice on Sunday evening before I took the train home! The other gardener Marcia Kyle and a newly arrived Swedish guy, Marcus Ivarsson also joined us!
I was very impressed….in a similar way to the first time I visited Holma Skogsträdgård in Sweden….
Parkens Grøde is a permaculture inspired urban farming project in Oslo with many interesting elements including forest garden, hugel beds, insect friendly plants and habitat.
See http://www.xn--parkensgrde-ogb.no/ for more details..

KVANN meet in Trondheim and Malvik; tour of the Edible Garden

Some pictures from Day 2 of the KVANN (Norwegian Seed Savers) meet in Malvik in my Edible Forest Garden :)
As usual, it was a great group!!
Thanks to Margaret M. Meg Anderson for most of the pictures!

Sunny Savage in Malvik

ALOHA all! Thanks to Leda Meredith for the introduction, we had a very enjoyable visit today from Sunny Savage, a foraging author from Hawaii. Sunny is author of Wild Food Plants of Hawaii and is doing great things encouraging and helping folks to eat invasive species and is working on an app to help people find 5 Hawaiian invasives! Great idea which could be adapted elsewhere!! We foraged my garden together and you can see here what we created

Mount Stewart

An album of pictures from my visit to National Trust property Mount Stewart on the Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland!
I return for the Planters Seminar in September!
Thanks to Neil Porteous for having me over :)

PROGRAMMET FOR KVANN-TREFFET I TRONDHEIM

PROGRAMMET FOR KVANN-TREFFET I TRONDHEIM (Program for the Norwegian Seed Savers weekend in Trondheim)

Fredag 15. juni; kl 19  Vi besøker KVANNs planlagte første nytteplante-reservat hos Væres Venner på Ranheim. Oppmøtet ved parkeringsplassen like vest for hagen (se kart); 5-10 minutter å gå fra Væresletta bussholdeplass (buss 38 fra Trondheim, Stjørdal eller Værnes, se atb.no); grusvei fra østeenden av Ranheimsvegen! Etterpå har vi også planer om å besøke Presthus gård hvor vi er også ønsket velkommen til samarbeid. Her planlegges det Trondheims svar på Bygdøy Kongsgård!
Initiativtager og tidligere leder av Ranheim Frivilligsentralen, Sølvi Kvam blir også med og vil orientere om begge prosjekter! Det blir mulighet for skyss mellom Væres Venner og Presthus Gård (det går også buss).

Lørdag 16. juni, kl 10-13  Spiselig hagevandring hos KVANNs leder Stephen Barstow i Malvik etterfulgt av en felles lunsj (med grønt hentet fra hagen). Adresse: Malvikveien 418, 7563 Malvik (bussholdeplass Naustkleiva – nr 38 fra Trondheim, Stjørdal eller Værnes, se atb.no). Plantesalg og bytte. Ta gjerne med planter til salgs!

Lørdag 16. juni, kl 13-17  Tur langs Homlastien i fantastisk natur og for å se de ville standene av strutseving (det blir dessverre for sent å plukke!), andre spiselige vekster og Trøndelags nest største uberørte foss, Storfossen (40m). Vi er avhengig av å komme til startpunktet for stien med privatbiler. Si fra om du kan kjøre! Ta med egen matpakke til turen etter behov! NB! Enkelte deler av stien er bratt! For de som ønsker det er det mulig å gå hele Homlastien ned til Hommelvik (man bør beregne opp til 5t til hele turen med stopp underveis…kanskje 3t om vi går tilbake til startpunktet).

Søndag 17. juni, kl 11-16. Ringve botaniske hages ÅPEN DAG, som arrangeres i samarbeid med hagens venneforening. Det blir plantesalg, aktiviteter for barn, «Spør en gartner», kafé, og stands om humler, spiselige planter, og flere grønne foreninger. Humlevandring kl. 12 og 14. Skjer ved hagens veksthus i Lade allé 58.
Kl 10:30-12:30  For deltagere av KVANN-treffet blir det en hagevandring med Stephen (som er gjesteforsker på Ringve). Vi ser på den nye Allium (løk) hagen som ble plantet i høst samt Gamlehagen (gamle stauder og urter fra Trøndelag) og Renessansehagen. Underveis har vi fått lov å høste spiselige planter fra naturen og samlingene til en mangfoldssalat som serveres til deltagere og publikum fra kl 13.  Serveringen blir fra KVANNs stand.

Overnatting: Vi jobber med å kunne tilby privat overnatting, ta kontakt om du er interessert. Det er også en mulighet for overnatting i landlige omgivelser ca 2km fra hagen på Storsand Camping som har hytter (muligheten for å dele?)!

Velkommen til årets KVANN treff i Malvik/Trondheim!

Deltageravgift: Gratis for medlemmer (det koster bare kr 200 å melde seg inn hos kvann.org – klikk på Bli medlem). Bindende påmelding på lørdagens hagebesøk til Stephen (begrenset plass igjen)!