Ed Jones

When we arrived at Happy Cottage we were pleased to note that there was a vegetable garden, albeit one which needed a bit of work!

Both our parents gave us seeds, which was great. Pretty soon after arriving we (along with John, the gardener we employ once a week) got stuck into clearing the ground and getting some of them planted, namely:

• Climbing beans (are these the same as runner beans? Not sure – we’ll have to let you know)
• Baby tomatoes
• Yellow courgettes
• Aubergines
• Carrots
• Parsnips
• Radishes
• Lettuce
• Basil

We’ve had varying degrees of success with germination – no carrots or parsnips yet, and we think some seeds might have been washed away in the heavy rain. However, we reached a pleasing milestone today: a bowl of lettuce from our own garden took pride of place at dinner this evening.

The courgette plants all germinated and grew with triffid-like ferocity. The beans all germinated and then half of them died – we’re not sure why. Someone here suggested a ‘bad worm’. Nevertheless, the others are doing well, as are the tomatoes, lettuce and (latterly) the aubergine plants.

Yet another example, as if one were required, of our love of food. Especially when we’ve grown it ourselves.