Editorial | July 4th 2008

Written by Jonnyboy

Crikey, July already, I don’t know where the time goes (and I certainly don’t know if anyone uses the word crikey other than in print nowadays).

Downsizers’ have shown their love for all things alcoholic to be unswerving, with the art of home brewing being a particular hot topic over the last month, that this coincided with the height of elderflower season means that plenty of old and newcomers to the craft have been able to make this most popular of country wines. Some of the more adventurous members have been trying their hands at more exotic brews, and, ahem, techniques. Easy, cider! Is the latest article on the subject, and if the text matches the title for wit, it should be worth a read.

Lawks, food miles has been one for debate as well, with a great little challenge to create one meal a week from only local produce, and take it from me, it’s harder than it looks. If you fancy joining in, take a look in the ‘seasonal shopping’ section of the forum for this weeks discussion. We’ve also had a few requests for beginners recipes that has garnered some interesting replies. Get yourself in there to add your favourites, or to get over your fear of the frying pan.

Gadzooks! We’ve had a mixed bag on the foraging scene this month, a nifty article on mussels and plenty of talk about dandelion and burdock following its appearance on River Cottage Spring, although mushrooms still seem to be thin on the ground. Still, if you are feeling lucky you can take a look at this perennial favourite for advice.

Bees appear to be our livestock of the month (reader’s livestock, that’ll never catch on), with our apiarists worrying about swarming, and other such B-movie related (geddit) horror stories. But in fact, it’s actually a doddle to keep ‘em. And you can even make mead!

One dark cloud looms on the horizon for next month, but wait, it’s not a cloud, it’s the shadow cast by our ridiculous glut of courgettes. If you've listened to our resident gardening expert you probably never planted them in the first place,so why not blissfully click here to read his advice for this month? Otherwise, courgette wine anyone?

Next month’s editorial will, hopefully, not be written from the priory.