Take advantange of our special Spring Sale with 10% off * Pop in to one of our showrooms and see how our windows and doors stand out from the crowd. Our friendly staff would be pleased to listen to your requirements, offer advice and provide ideas of cost. Woodbridge Notcutts Garden Centre, Ipswich Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 4AF. 01394 386666 Bury St Edmunds 8 Fornham Business Court, Hall Farm, Bury Drift Fornham St Martin, Suffolk IP31 1SL. 01284 760222 Ingatestone The Old Forge, 53 High Street, Ingatestone Essex CM4 0AT. 01277 350950 www.burgess-group.com *Not to be used in conjunction with any previous offer. Discount applied to orders placed before 31st May 2015.
BSH specialise in low maintenance, weed free Resin Driveways, Carpets, Wet Rooms, Swimming Pools and all aspects of landscape design. BSH will provide you will the best quality products, installed by Qualified Installers to the highest standard of Quality, at affordable prices.
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... Around Towners to YOUR Rayleigh community magazine! July is one of the most enjoyable months of the year for most. Summer holidays, the kids breaking up from school, some well earned time off for the working folk and sunny warm weather to bask in, to complete the scene. Whatever you are up to this month, we hope you enjoy it. Keeping the kids busy, as well as the adults, can sometimes be a difficult exercise ‘Around Town’ have you covered. Check out our ‘what’s on’ section towards the back of this magazine. Maybe you’re looking to move home or get some work done around the house or garden, our trades section is filled with qualified professionals, who will be more than happy to help you in whatever your needs. For More details on all the Around Town titles, check out our website www.aroundtownmagazines.co.uk Until next time... Enjoy the Summer.
From the Around Town Team
Features 7 Mark Francois Political Update 10 Around Town Sports Focuses on Golf 14 - 15 Martin Lewis The Money Saving Expert 17 Know Your Tradesmen Kitchen Solutions 19 Nature Notes EWT Volunteer Neil Sumner 22 Essex Soul By Darren Bull 23 Rayleigh Lions Club / Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill Organisations ‘Around Town’ 24 What’s On When & Where... 25 A View from the Church Rev. Mike Lodge 26 On Your Plot Gardening Tips 27 Useful Numbers
Why Advertise? We hand deliver 15,000 copies every month to homes and businesses covering the whole of Rayleigh. This includes several thousand copies available from venues throughout the town and an online edition. To Advertise Contact our details below.
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Booking deadline for our August edition of Around Town is: Wednesday 15th July.
Copyright 2015. Around Town Rayleigh is an independent magazine and does not endorse the products or services that appear in the magazine. Opinions expressed in Around Town do not necessarily represent those of the editors of Around Town Magazines. Around Town Magazines are published by Black Square Print Media Ltd produced by Black Square Litho Ltd.
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Rayleigh Lawn Tennis Club www.rayleighlawn.co.uk Watchfield Lane, Rayleigh SS6 7SG Adult and Junior Lessons with 2013 Essex Tennis Coach of the Year
FIRST GROUP SESSION IS FREE Adult Memberships available from only £75 a Year
Junior Memberships available from £40 a Year Book a space in one of our Free Adult Open Sessions: Saturday 27th June 12.30-1.30pm Sunday 28th June 9am – 10am Tuesday 30th June 11am – 12pm
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M&S IS COMING TO RAYLEIGH, TWICE OVER! Shoppers in Rayleigh are going to
However, it has now also been
As the local MP, I think it is very
benefit from wider choice in future
announced
be
good for Rayleigh that we now
as Marks and Spencer open not
opening a much larger Food Hall
have an upmarket retailer like
in the old Co-op store on Eastwood
M&S coming to the town. I believe
Road in Rayleigh Town Centre. It
it will improve choice for local
one, but two, new retail outlets in the town. The first, which will be co-located with the new BP filling station on London Road, has been known about for some time and will provide a small convenience store which is due to open around the time that this magazine goes to press. There are already similar outlets like this on the A13 and I suspect that it will prove quite popular, both with residents who are stopping to buy petrol but also those who just want to pop in to pick up a few items.
that
M&S
will
is not yet clear exactly when this second store will open but for die hard Co-op customers there will still be the Co-op store down at the other end of Eastwood Road (although I appreciate this will be further to travel if you live in the centre of town).
shoppers and indeed for those who want to come in from outside as well. Overall, I think it will be good for residents and business in the town and will help to reinforce Rayleigh’s reputation as a popular place to live.
MARK FRANCOIS
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Rayleigh & Wickford
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ROCHFORD HUNDRED RUGBY CLUB Rochford Hundred Rugby Club is a local rugby club formed by three local residents in 1962 and today showcases rugby across all ages, ability and both genders covering over 20 teams. The 1st XV play in the RFU London 2 North East league and the club’s main focus is developing local players to as high a standard of rugby as it possibly can.
WOULD YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER LIKE TO TRY RUGBY? We are celebrating over 25 years of youth rugby and looking for girls and boys of all ages and abilities to continue into the next 25 years.
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Golf takes centre stage mid July when the 144th Open hits our screens once again. One of the oldest tournaments still going in the sporting calendar will ensure tourists and Golf enthusiasts flock to Scotland for a week of thrills and spills as Golf’s finest players swing, chip and putt their way trying to lift the most prestigious of golfing majors.
we do it and are we all a bit worried about how much it is going to cost for us to hit the turf more than we hit a ball?!?
As a sports fan, I of course, will keep up to date with the leaderboard come July 12th, but many years ago this would have not been the case. I struggled to appreciate the excitement that Golf can bring. However, after watching some enthralling Ryder cups of recent years and being encapsulated by the British favourite Rory Mcilroy, Golf has crept into my sports viewing schedule. (My partner is very pleased about that!!!)
Being a member of a golf club is one thing, however how does a club unlock the competitor in me? Do you have competitions etc?
I have learned that while it does not have the all action appeal of a fast paced Football, Rugby or Basketball, it has a steady build to a, more often than not, final day climax that you cannot take your eyes off. I liken it to watching a Shawshank Redemption compared to a Die Hard. You can appreciate and love both, but one you can watch and be thoroughly entertained as the action never stops from start to finish. Where as the other is a slow burner, you will need to concentrate, but you can appreciate the skill and plot lines/ twists and then you are left with a fantastic ending. Also it is quite refreshing to see a sport which throws up many different winners. The dominance of Tiger Woods is well and truly over and while you still have favourites, picking a winner is not as easy as it is other individual sports like Tennis for example. After making a campaign for Golf as a spectator sport, I wanted to see how us locals start picking up clubs and swinging ourselves. Where can
I have been speaking to a local golf club member. I asked him a few questions about Golf generally and asked him about his club and what they have happening on our doorstep.
Yes it certainly does, we host a variety of competitions ranging from your standard monthly medal to the prestigious Club Championship! I wrote about Tennis last month and asked the question relating to tennis being a rich persons sport, Golf I think has that label firmly attached to it, even more so than Tennis. What would you say to this? Will this put off youngsters playing and therefore reaching the dizzy heights of a Rory Mcilroy? Due to the mass popularity of golf and the amount of youngsters taking the game up I believe the ‘rich persons sport’ label is slowing wearing away. These days you can pick up a good quality starter set from £100.00. Obviously people would argue that £100.00 is expensive in which I agree but if you play football and want the latest Nike football boots worn by Ronaldo I am certain it would set you back a bit more. Playing ‘The Devil’s Advocate’ what would you say to a local parent that wants their child to partake in more physical sports such as Rugby or Football, rather than a stroll around 18 holes? Firstly I would let them know how the etiquette in golf teaches young children superb manners, having grown up in the game myself and also
played various sports I believe the most children benefit extremely well learning the etiquette and rules of golf. What people do not realise is how physical the game is. It’s not as easy as hit the white ball round a field and chase it. It requires a strong mind set and physical endurance to walk and play 18 holes. It also can show a great deal of development from getting your first handicap, playing in your first competition and seeing your handicap come down. There is nothing more rewarding in sport then seeing your hard work and practice pay off and golf displays this incredibly well. How do I sign up? It’s as easy a 18 inch putt (obviously in a practice round and not for a major tournament)…. All you need to do is fill in a form and a few details and you are in. We do not require you to attend any interviews or provide any golfing experience! I am a firm believer in everyone starts from somewhere, we do not expect you to get on the first tee and hit a driver 300 yards and run after it. www.boycehillgolfclub.co.uk www.therayleighclub.com
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FIRST TIME BUYERS It’s perhaps the cheapest time in history to get a first time buyers’ mortgage with rates at historic lows and the new Help to Buy ISA due. Yet that’s not the same as saying it’s the best time to buy a house. Property is an ‘asset class’ that means prices move so never assume buying a home is as safe as houses. It’s far more important to examine your own reasons for buying. Here’s what you need to know… Step 1. Learn the lingo. A mortgage is likely to be the biggest financial transaction you’ll make, so arm yourself with knowledge to understand the terms commonly used. Here are the key facts you’ll need to understand about any mortgage. a. The Rate: This is the interest you are charged, and it dictates the amount you repay each month. b. The Type: Most mortgages have rate reductions for the first two to five years. These come in a few types. Fixes are where the rate is locked in. Trackers are where it can only move in relation to UK base rate moves and variable rate, where they tend to move with UK base rates, but can also move at the lenders whim. c. Length of the deal: If it’s a short term deal (e.g. a 2yr fix), when does it end? d. Term: How long is the entire mortgage borrowing length e.g. 25yrs and when will it be fully repaid? e. Penalties: Are there any early repayment penalties if you try and pay it off or move, before the deal ends? f. Can you overpay? Are you allowed to pay
more off without any penalties? This can be very useful as it means you pay less interest over the mortgage terms and clear the debt more quickly. g. Your loan-to-value (LTV): The proportion of your home’s current value you are borrowing. e.g. a £20,000 deposit on a £100,000 means you are borrowing £80,000 so it’s an 80% LTV. The lower the LTV, the better deal you can get. To help with this I’ve a totally free 60 page First-Time Buyers mortgage booklet you can download from www.mse.me/FTB. Step 2. Deposit, deposit, deposit. Every 5% bigger deposit up to 40% cuts the rate so a little more can have a big impact. Of course saving for a deposit is often a struggle. From autumn you’ll also be given the chance of a cash boost towards buying your first home if you save into a new type of Help to Buy ISA. You can save up to £200 every month and the Government will add 25% on top (so £50 on £200). You can also save an additional £1,000 when you first open it, meaning you can save £1,200 in the first month. The minimum you need to have saved to get the bonus is £1,600 (so a £400 bonus) and the maximum the Government will contribute is £3,000. Step 3. Speedily compare to benchmark your cheapest. It’s important to start to work out the exact cost you’re likely to pay as soon as possible. Mortgage rates are currently the lowest they have ever been, with even 5 year
fixes below 2%. While there is always the chance that they could sneak even cheaper, there’s not that much room to fall, yet there’s far more room for them to rise in the future. To find a mortgage you want to look across the whole market if possible. There are a number of lenders like Yorkshire BS, Tesco Bank and HSBC who only offer their mortgages direct, and these may be missed by mortgage brokers. So it’s important to start by doing a comparison that includes all deals. Step 4. Two things that can kibosh your application. The days when lenders flung out deals to all and sundry are long gone. Getting accepted is now a challenge I would suggest you start preparing and you position yourself at least a year in advance. a. The credit check. It’s crucial to manage your credit score, preferably months in advance, e.g. never make late payments, minimise other applications and put a landline not a mobile on applications. b. Affordability checks. Lenders must stress test if your mortgage is affordable, even if rates were 6-7%. They’ll want evidence of income, big bills, expenses, even eating out. So being frugal in advance helps. One way to navigate through these checks, is to use a top mortgage broker, you can search for one using www.vouchedfor.co.uk or www. unbiased.co.uk they have info on how harsh each lender’s checks are and can help ease acceptance. You’ll generally pay a fee for face to face advise though brokers like www. lcplc.co.uk operate fee free via the phone. Step 5. Don’t fall for ‘Help to Buy Mortgage’ branding.. While much hyped, the main Help to Buy scheme (i.e. not the original only for new builds) is about the Government giving LENDERS a guarantee to enable them to
offer more 5% deposit mortgages, meaning more are available. If you’re looking for a 5% deal, it makes no difference to you whether it’s a Help2Buy or not. Just go for the best available. Step 6. Fixed or variable? With a fixed mortgage, the amount you repay is, fixed so it’s like buying an insurance policy against possible rate rises. Variable deals move with UK interest rates (sometimes just at the provider’s whim). Currently you only pay a touch more to fix.
It’s very difficult to predict future interest rate moves. Even top economists are singing a different tune now from a year ago, and there’s even the possibility they may fall before that. So focus on your own situation.
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KITCHEN SOLUTIONS
including plastering, electrical and
new
gas work.
and offers anything from design,
John has been running Kitchen
and his colleagues provide and
Solutions, based at Alpha Garden
his loyal customer base.
Centre, Wickford, for the last twelve
said
years offering customers across Essex a variety of kitchen and
to detail. 75% of our business
bedroom fittings and furnishings.
comes
Kitchen Solutions offers a range of
from existing customers’. Kitchen
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can get’.
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and
supply
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installation
to
supply only. Having such a wide
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Stirling Services UK Ltd Building July, the height of summer, is a good time to see damselflies and dragonflies. There is an aspect of wonder with these creatures, life-forms that evolved so successfully in ancient times that they have hardly changed since. These colourful insects haunt ponds and rivers but also roam across country. The damselflies disperse more by how the breeze takes them, but the dragonfly’s powerful flight takes them several kilometres away from where they emerged, as they search for mates and other water bodies. On the way they snatch gnats and flies out of the air by arranging their six legs as a ‘catching basket’ and transferring the tasty morsel to their jaws whilst on the wing! Garden ponds are good to give you close-up views and to study their life history. The damselfly emerges after spending one or two years under water bottom feeding on the tiny aquatic mini-beasties that sail past them. But some dragonflies can remain as a larvae for up to five years before emerging. During that time the larva is a ferocious predator of tadpoles and newtlets. Once emerged, they may only live for six weeks. A garden pond will need to be around 5x2 metres to attract breeding dragonflies but as little as 1 metre square to host breeding damselflies. They need vegetation bordering the pond so when they emerge at night as larvae they have something to climb to undergo a metamorphosis into adulthood. This stage is rarely witnessed, but the dried skins on the vegetation can often be seen after the event. It is amazing how the adult is so much larger than the envelope it has emerged from! In the British Isles we have around 42 species of damsel and dragonflies but probably 20 within our part of Essex. Generally, they are on the wing from mid-May to early October with some colonizer species appearing first and then others emerging as summer progresses. Damselflies and dragonflies are effectively powered by the sun and become more active when the temperature is very warm and there is little breeze about.
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Typical species of damselfly for our area on still water are Azure Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly (see picture), Red-eyed Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly. Over slow moving rivers the Banded Demoiselle is a joy and can occur in great numbers throughout June and July. The typical dragonflies are Four-spotted Chaser, Broadbodied Chaser, Emperor, Southern Hawker (see picture), Common and Ruddy Darter. Since a couple of years ago, the Migrant Hawker has invaded from the continent and is now a regular breeder, often swarming above woodland clearings in significant numbers. w you E: If NOT ASE
If you want to know more about these insects, there are several excellent field guides available. Close focusing binoculars are also recommended to sort out the small details of the differences between some species. o ish t
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The Soul Music Scene For Rayleigh Is Back! As we are now obsessed with the vast amounts of social media platforms offered through our pc’s and mobile telephones and feel the need to desperately share our lives to the world via the web, I can only but notice that the new millennium wave of social networking websites are transforming into an exciting era that we may well look back on with a distinguished pride of being there at the time, being involved, being part of the internet revolution and one particular social platform is evolving into a fully functional tool to promote social events more than ever and has particularly stimulated the 30 plus people & their love of the soul music scene in Essex. This I am happy to report to you also includes, driven by promoting social night outs via the web, our fabulous town of Rayleigh. As you are aware, if over the age of 30 years, the South East of England has always been recognised by many, as the hub of the Jazz Funk Soul scene, with our brothers and sisters up north enjoying the genre of music known as ‘The Northern Soul Scene’ this created somewhat a divide in choice of music at that time, but as expected with the explosion and introduction
of the soul music scene, also encouraged the ‘organised Soul & Motown nights’ since the mid 60’s upwards, the South East didn’t really feel the real impact until the 1970’s to early 1980’s, where many a ‘super club’ and even larger organised soul events took place and without the media social network platforms to promote purely on the basis of the basics such as newspaper adverts & hand-out flyers. However, any follower since that era, will inform you that “the music never really went away, but just changed direction” evident by the specialised soul nights and weekenders that have been running successfully since those days. As well as the social networking platforms there is also a change in the society such as increased divorce rates, a different approach to spending and with these and more combinations it has created an over 30 group who want to socialise and want experience the scene once more, Rayleigh town is no exception, the town has transformed into a small café & socialising experience with many pubs & bars offering the chance to experience once again the soul & bygone club nights for the older age group.
The Spread Eagle Pub positioned in the high street of Rayleigh town, has transformed into a central hub for the local soul scene, simply by creating a relationship with internet soul radio station ‘Zero Radio’ by hosting a monthly soul night. With up to 200 Soul revellers visiting from as far away as London, Folkestone, Colchester, Brentwood and beyond, The Big Zero Radio Soul Night Out, embraces and offers the old days of night clubbing to the new millennium soul music scene. Organisers Zero Radio Presenters & DJ’s ‘Bully & Merv The Swerve’ offers the night each month complimented with a chance to reminisce about the days of the 1970’s, 1980’s combined with a sprinkle of 1990’s club anthems. Rayleigh has embraced and moved with the ever changing times and by offering a choice of social events and I am happy to say (being an old soul boy) that Rayleigh town also has had a chance to become accepted and be part of the revamped soul music scene.
By Darren Bull
Essex Has Soul 22
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RAYLEIGH LIONS CLUB The Lions Club of Rayleigh is part of the International Association of Lions Clubs, and our primary aim is to raise and distribute funds within out local area. The Lions Club Of Rayleigh was chartered in 1974 and serves the Rayleigh, Hockley, Hullbridge and Rochford areas. Our club is a Voluntary Service Organisation and a registered charity, we are always looking for people willing to help make their community a better place to live. By visiting our website, you will be able to find out about the work of the international organisation of Lions and the Lions Club of Rayleigh in particular, including our activities and also details of forthcoming events, and who to contact for further information. Our club meets on the 1st (business) & 3rd (social) Tuesdays in every month in Rayleigh. Guests are always welcome. http://www.rayleighlions.org.uk
ROTARY CLUB OF RAYLEIGH MILL For most weeks in the year, we meet on Mondays as a club, with our members enjoying a meal at The Rayleigh Club near Hullbridge, Essex. It is followed by a particular kind of meeting such as ‘committee’, ‘business’ and ‘speaker’ - the latter gives us an opportunity to invite a well-known personality or charity organisation to keep us informed about their work or life. We have a members’ raffle at the end of the evening and our Sergeant-At-Arms is an appointed member of the club who manages to extract small amounts of money from us in friendly fun from personal observations of us which goes to our charity box. The evening is run by our President who sits at the top table with his Secretary and we welcome our visiting guests too. Toasts are made to the Queen and our Rotary organisation. We have a Treasurer to manage our accounts and appointed officers to involve us in the more gentle sports, a press officer to publicise our events, an IT specialist to handle our information, a webmaster to run this website and particular members who take on responsibility for an event eg. our Charity Golf Day and our social trips and dinner dances. Our Foundation officer looks to promote the work of Rotary eg. Purple Pinkie support to End Polio Campaign. PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS
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Rochford Hundred Rugby Club
Summer Fest Billericay
Would you son or daughter like to try rugby?
Sunday 12th July
3 weeks free training taster periods for all teams
Sun Corner, Billericay 11am – 5:30pm
Year 1 to Year 7 is Saturday mornings
Event staged by the Rotary Club of Billericay
10am – 12pm
Mayflower
Year 8 to Year 11 and all girls is Wednesday
Family Entertainment
evenings 7pm – 8:30pm
Craft Stalls
Year 12 and Year 13 is Tuesday and Thursday
Live Local Music
evenings 7pm – 8:30pm
Hog Roast
Call 01702 544021
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A Community For All, With All Included… Rayleigh’s first Art Trail last month, co-ordinated in partnership with the Rayleigh Town Team, embraced a number of groups, including the Library, local businesses and four of the Churches, without which the Art Trail would not have been the success it was, with plans already in place to hold another similar event next year; the new Rayleigh Museum being a central focus of this… This month sees another major community event taking place in King George V Playing Field. On Saturday 18 July Rayleigh Churches are holding their annual Free Family Fun Day, with all the Christian Churches in Rayleigh working together to support this ever popular event. Children of all ages are able to enjoy the ‘No Strings’ puppet theatre, traditional sideshows like hook-a-duck and tin-can alley, along with face painting and crafts, amongst many other activities, including refreshments
and the ever popular homemade cakes! The more energetic revel in the football cage challenge and various inflatables, some just for the very young. There is also musical entertainment with live bands throughout the day to suit all tastes… Over 250 volunteers will help make the day a great success, and between 2500-3000 people from Rayleigh and across the district can experience the fun filled and relaxed atmosphere. The role of the church in the community is vitally important; something I would not have said a number of years ago. My experience of church as I grew up was almost non-existent and from an early age my memories and perception of the church was that of an ancient, dark, cold, and austere building, surrounded by hundreds of graves, many of which were overgrown and falling into decay. The scene was intimidating and the vicar added to the alienation! The ‘church’ may have been at the heart of the community, but from my standpoint it was a heart that was not beating! The frequency of my visits to this ‘forbidding’ building was few and far between, consisting of occasional school services and the odd wedding. I was never taken or sent on a Sunday, and so had no experience of ‘Sunday school’, and therefore gleaned no real knowledge of church and the full meaning of
its existence. Of course, these are only memories of my early years as I grew up in that village. They may not have reflected the real situation, but as far as my memory serves me they are fact. However, these reflections are important in the context of questions that have continued to follow me since I came to faith in my mid-twenties. If this is the case for me personally, how many more people can share similar experiences in their early years, or indeed, throughout their lives? I firmly believe that the church has a very specific role to play in the community, although often misunderstood and sometimes perceived to be seen as a part of, but often apart from, the community; an institution in a mess, lacking direction and motivation, past its ‘sell-by date’ and needing replacement. This is just one reason why I am so passionate about being involved in the community of Rayleigh and supporting the work of community groups and businesses, as well as all the churches as they share the love of God, through His Son, Jesus, to bring meaning and purpose to the lives of all people that all may have life in all its fullness. Now, that is community… Yours in the love of Jesus, The Revd Canon Mike Lodge Team Rector Parish of Rayleigh 01268 742151 info@parishofrayleigh.org.uk www.parishofrayleigh.org.uk
The Revd Canon Mike Lodge
on your
PLOT Hoarding
It’s hard to remain excited when you’ve had courgette at every meal for a week, and marvellous though raspberries are there is a limit to just how many you can eat at once. Take a bit of time to store your harvest and you can be enjoying home grown right through the winter. Jobs for August:Water regularly - try to water either in the evening or early mornings. If you are growing main crop potatoes, watch out for signs of blight. Brown patches on the tops and edges of leaves are usually a first sign. Pinch out the tops of runner bean stems that are outgrowing their supports. Keep harvesting courgettes!
those
Sow turnips and oriental salad plants such as Pak Choi and Chinese Cabbage Strawberry runners that were potted up in June to produce new plants can be planted out now.
If all has gone to plan (that’s a big if!) then August should be a very satisfying month on your plot, with your hard work being repaid by ample harvests of a good range of fruit and veg.
Blanching and then freezing works for loads of vegetables. Key to success is to cool quickly after blanching so have a bowl of cold water at the ready and don’t forget to label what you are freezing!
The reality tends to be that the excitement of seeing your crops grow and ripen is initially followed by much enjoyment of the first fruits of your labour which can soon be replaced by a panic stricken ‘What the heck do I do with all these’! Certain crops (courgettes and tomatoes spring to mind) can almost guarantee this sequence of events!
Another option, and one that can work well for all those tomatoes, is to find a good recipe that you can cook, freeze and use later (how about a wonderful pasta sauce with your own tomatoes and home grown basil?). Even ‘difficult to freeze’ veg such as courgettes can either be incorporated into a sauce, or blanched, frozen and then added to a stew at a later date.
Sharing with friends and neighbours is great but very often they will have a glut of exactly the same thing at just the same time. What is called for are some simple ideas for storing and preserving your produce. It may be a long time before you are harvesting fresh peas or raspberries again but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be enjoying your home grown produce throughout the winter - it just takes a little planning and now is the time to do it.
Cooking and freezing can work well for fruit too - apple or rhubarb are good stewed and frozen all ready for use in a crumble or pie. If you have a truly wonderful fruit crop then why not arm yourself with a good recipe book and get started on some jam making? It’ll be delicious on your toast in the morning, and what better gift than a pot of homemade raspberry jam?
Onions (and garlic) that have been lifted and left to dry can be plaited and hung in a cool, dry place. Net bags, or tights, also work if you don’t fancy plaiting. Potatoes can be stored in boxes or paper sacks in a dark, dry building but you should check them regularly, removing any that show signs of rotting. A good size freezer is a real boon for making the most of your produce.
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It’s amazing how many books there are that tell you how to grow your fruit and veg, but how little information there is on just how to store it all! One wonderful little book, that deals with just this question is ‘How to store your garden produce’ by Piers Warren. It’s packed with information about how to store just about anything and a great addition to any gardeners library. Happy harvesting!
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