St George's market

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall sent out an email during the summer targeting all subscribers to the River Cottage newsletter. Most of them including myself were too busy tending their own vegetable plots to reply; in any case he wanted us to recommend a junk food addict, someone who couldn't tell a slug from a worm, someone he could convert to the delights of fresh home produced food. Tough job I thought; most of the pleasures associated with digging and weeding a vegetable plot are obscured by annoying flies and an aching back. Once complete, a weeded plot composted and ready for sowing or freshly dug to face the winter frosts is a satisfying sight. This type of satisfaction is much more apparent when reading about growing vegetables than when actually attempting to grow your own. A stainless steel spade is the ultimate luxury for a gardener; clay slips effortlessly from its face but it doesn't do the work for you and an hour's work in vegetable plot is enough to dispel any fancy notions about going self sufficient. John Seymour's classic text "The complete book of self sufficiency" got me started and ever since I have attempted to at least grow a few vegetables with limited success. Fearnley-Whittingstall and others continue inspire devotees to cut through the turf and attempt to grow a portion of their own food; I've scaled down my initial plans in terms of plot size and unusual varieties; peas, potatoes, onions and tomatoes now form the bulk of my harvest. An easier option, perhaps more suited to an unconverted junk food addict is a plot on Vista Allotments outside Belfast, busy gardeners can choose a suitable plot size and then employ of a range of services from carting manure to all the digging, sowing, weeding and watering chores. I'm not aware of anyone providing a similar service in the Mournes but its easy enough to buy fresh produce at a farmers market. My painting is based on an early morning visit to St George's market, a great place to sketch and not a weed or a slug in sight.
If you are interested in a painting you can contact Eamonn by ringing 07962 189132

Couldn't tell a slug from a worm
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall sent out an email during the summer targeting all subscribers to the River Cottage newsletter. Most of them including myself were too busy tending their own vegetable plots to reply; in any case he wanted us to recommend a junk food addict, someone who couldn't tell a slug from a worm, someone he could convert to the delights of fresh home produced food. Tough job I thought; most of the pleasures associated with digging and weeding a vegetable plot are obscured by annoying flies and an aching back. Once complete, a weeded plot composted and ready for sowing or freshly dug to face the winter frosts is a satisfying sight. This type of satisfaction is much more apparent when reading about growing vegetables than when actually attempting to grow your own. A stainless steel spade is the ultimate luxury for a gardener; clay slips effortlessly from its face but it doesn't do the work for you and an hour's work in vegetable plot is enough to dispel any fancy notions about going self sufficient. John Seymour's classic text "The complete book of self sufficiency" got me started and ever since I have attempted to at least grow a few vegetables with limited success. Fearnley-Whittingstall and others continue inspire devotees to cut through the turf and attempt to grow a portion of their own food; I've scaled down my initial plans in terms of plot size and unusual varieties; peas, potatoes, onions and tomatoes now form the bulk of my harvest. An easier option, perhaps more suited to an unconverted junk food addict is a plot on Vista Allotments outside Belfast, busy gardeners can choose a suitable plot size and then employ of a range of services from carting manure to all the digging, sowing, weeding and watering chores. I'm not aware of anyone providing a similar service in the Mournes but its easy enough to buy fresh produce at a farmers market. My painting is based on an early morning visit to St George's market, a great place to sketch and not a weed or a slug in sight. If you are interested in a painting you can contact Eamonn by ringing 07962 189132

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