Growing your own… A Growers Perspective
Lee Maycock • April 23, 2021
Lee Maycock is a Fellow of the Craft Guild of Chefs, Founder Roots @Foxholes Garden Kitchen and Event Director of the Universal Cookery & Food Festival. He has supported Love British Food's activities for many years.
There is nothing better in life than sitting in the sun with a hard earned cup of tea looking out across your plot at everything you have grown.
This usually happens at dusk or dawn just after a mammoth weeding session or an hour long watering task.
Everything grown from organic real seeds, hand potted and started in the poly tunnel then moved outside once the warm spring whether allows. Letting them out once you feel it’s safe to do so, and not a moment before. It’s a little like watching your children grow, nurturing and helping but also letting nature takes its course, plants and vegetables like children want to grow big and strong and if given the right environment and right foundations they will succeed.
If you take care of the soil, the soil will take care of vegetables, and the vegetables will take care of you. Growing your own is very much a life lesson and we learn from it daily, weekly &
yearly, we constantly battle with nature as much as much as we work with it.
Everyone of gods great creatures seems to want to eat our home grown crops, the brassicas, the carrots, the potatoes all under constant attack non various forms. Rabbits, Pigeons, Slugs, Mice, I even had some goats eat an entire row of sweetcorn one year.
We try to protect them but sometimes natures beats us, then it’s the challenge of too much sun, or not enough sun, too hot or too cold, unexpected frosts, dry periods with days and days of no rain or days and days of constant downpours.
Once the initial challenges have passed and the vegetables are coming on nicely its time to start taking small amounts to feed the family, there is a limited time before everything catches up and you have gluts of produce you can’t eat quick enough.
The courgettes go from beautiful flowing vegetables into oversized marrows in what
feels like overnight. The beetroot tops change from delicate salad items into hardy broad leafs before your eyes, the tomatoes go from green to yellow to orange to red in a heartbeat.
Once the picking season is upon us you realise again how rewarding growing your own really is, picked, cooked and eaten within the hour is second to none. Fresh, simple, natural, real, healthy food is unbeatable. Cutting asparagus, chargrilling and serving with real butter and a little Cornish sea salt will not be beaten in the months of May & June.
Planning your plot, garden or patio correctly will give you an abundance of fruit, vegetables and herbs all year long. If you have a window box you will want a patio, then you will want a garden, then a plot, then an allotment, then a farm…!
Plan to grow what you enjoy to eat, then when the asparagus finishes, the peas start, followed by courgettes, beets, carrots, chard.
Then the colder months will produce purple sprouting, cauliflower, celeriac, Jerusalem
artichokes, pumpkin, butternut etc the list is endless, then waiting for a frost before you pick your parsnips.
Just imagine going into the garden on Christmas morning to pick your Brussels for lunch.
Picking rocket for a fresh salad or taking tomatoes of the vine on a warm summers evening will never be rivalled. Taking raspberries and blackberries off the bush and placing into a bowl of breakfast granola on a summers morning is wonderful.
Don’t forget you will grow your own better and cheaper than any supermarket, farmers market or delivery box scheme.
Once you start there is no going back, its then a matter of what to do with an abundance of raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, cherries every summer. Jams, pies, pickles, chutney
You might need a bigger freezer…
Happy Growing & Healthy Roots!
Share:
You may also be interested in...
Our Prime Minister Keir Starmer was quoted in an interview last week by saying voters must choose between a 'tax break' for farmers or tackle the NHS backlogs. How about our government invests in farming and start to revolutionise the food system to produce highly nutritious food in more accessible places and affordable avenues to ultimately reduce the consumption of ultra processed foods and to deduct revenue and profit from the large corporations who are contributing to the current obesity and mental health crisis? Surely the corporate fat cats are morally and directly responsible for the heavy burden upon our NHS? Jenny Jefferies explores further the widening gap between farmer and consumer for Love British Food…
Love British Food and No Farmers, No Food are delighted to announce a partnership dedicated to promoting British farmers. Together, they will champion initiatives to ensure British food is the primary choice in public institutions and push for fair supermarket pricing that reflects the true value of our farmers' hard work.
Love British Food, the leading organisation promoting British food at grassroots and industry levels, is delighted to announce the appointment of Cathy Amos as Non-Executive Director. Cathy, who currently holds the position of Head of Customer Marketing at Brakes, is celebrated for her extensive experience in the food service sector, particularly within the public sector which is integral to Love British Food's mission. Cathy Amos has devoted her career to the food and hospitality industry, with a focus over the last decade on supporting caterers in public and care settings. At Brakes, she leads a team of development chefs who specialise in these sectors. She has also collaborated closely with leading contract caterers and various public sector bodies, including PSC, LACA, TUCO, NACC, and the HCA. She joins other non-executive directors: Derek Wright (Blackpool Catering), Tim Radcliffe (NHS England) and Ben Bartlett (Master Chefs GB).
Our family business, the British Hamper Company, was founded in 2014 by our eldest son James, together with my husband and me.
Soil Associations’ Food for Life and Love British Food join forces to amplify the need for British food to be accessible for all Two leading food campaigning organisations have joined forces to champion the importance of buying British in public sector settings. Soil Association’s Food for Life and Love British Food will support each other’s mission for good food for all in the public sector, hospitality and beyond. [EB1] With a deep synergy between both organisations', together they will advocate for shorter, more sustainable supply chains to make British food a central part of schools, hospitals and other settings. “We are delighted that Food for Life’s sustainable catering team has approached Love British Food proposing that we collaborate to further both our organisation’s activities. I am excited in particular that Food for Life schools will now be invited to take part in British Food Fortnight, joining the hundreds of schools that already run special menus for children during the national food celebrations.” Alexia Robinson, CEO, Love British Food It’s a great time to join forces with Love British Food to amplify the work that both charities are doing to put more fresh, minimally processed, British food on the plates of the nation. We look forward to collaborating with each other to strengthen our combined calls for change across the food industry and support caterers and suppliers to access our homegrown produce. Amit Dattani, Director of Healthy and Sustainable Diets, Soil Association Notes to editors: Food for Life – Founded in 2003 has been running for over 20 years to make good food accessible for all. A Soil Association programme working directly with caterers, schools, and communities to implement sustainable and lasting change within the broken food system. Food for Life Served Here is the sustainable catering certification run by the Soil Association. It currently has certified caterers in over 6500 schools across the UK. Food for Life Schools Award empowers schools to build solutions that reach beyond the school canteen through the pioneering whole school approach. Focusing on system wide change and supporting people and communities to understand how to advocate for improved access to, and education around, good food. Currently operating in over 600 schools in England. The Soil Association is a leading sustainable food and farming charity. Since 1946 the organisation has impacted millions of people, creating practical, nature-based solutions to recover climate, nature and health through sustainable and regenerative food, farming and forestry. Promoting the connection between people, food, and the natural world, lobbying government on key environmental policies, helping to serve millions of certified school meals and engaging thousands in farmer-led research. Love British Food Love British Food was founded by Alexia Robinson in 2002. It is the leading voice promoting British food in communities around the country, working at grassroot and industry level. Its work focuses on creating a vibrant domestic market for British food that gives farmers and producers the confidence to invest and ensure our food security, enabling sustainable supply chains that make good food available for all. It is the organiser of British Food Fortnight, the national food celebration that reaches millions every autumn. 1,000s of shops, pubs, restaurants and communities, large and small, take part. Love British Food’s activities aim to make quality British food available to all sectors of society. It is a uniquely trusted voice in the public sector, where Love British Food has become an established promotion in schools, universities, hospitals, care homes. As part of this, it is the longest serving representative of the British food industry on the Public Sector Catering Alliance; working to ensure British food is the first supplier of choice. It runs a national programme of farm visits for caterers, giving them a new appreciation of the value of British food to the supply chain. To date it has hosted 193 NHS caterers on 9 farm visits. And it facilitates working groups of public sector chefs providing the industry with a knowledge exchange platform. It has a long association with the education sector having published the first guide to teaching food and cookery within the national curriculum: ‘Putting the Ooo back into Food’, endorsed by the Department of Health and Department for Education and Skills. Distributed to 35,000 schools, this established British Food Fortnight as a core event on the school calendar. Hundreds of teachers and school catering teams have taken part in the event over the years. Love British Food has a very active social media presence and a Love British Food farm to fork podcast. It launches a new series for chefs in 20245: Get Seasonal with Love British Food, aiming to help chefs buy British more easily through the wholesale sector. Further information: E: alexiarobinson@lovebritishfood.co.uk W: www.lovebritishfood.co.uk
Love British Food is delighted to announce Trimsaran Primary School as the winner of Love British Food's 'Community Competition', a highlight of this year’s British Food Fortnight. Recognised for their outstanding contribution to making good, healthy food accessible, the school was celebrated for its innovative food hub made from repurposed shipping containers. This transformative project, driven by the school’s staff and its 180 pupils, has turned underutilised shipping containers into a bustling community food shop. The hub offers a range of healthy food options at reduced prices, vital in an area where public transport is sparse and access to affordable nutritious food is limited. The school’s initiative promotes environmental sustainability by featuring homegrown produce cultivated in raised beds and a large polytunnel maintained by pupils under the guidance of a retired local gardener. The produce - including tomatoes, leeks, cucumbers, cabbages, and potatoes - is sold directly from container to community, eliminating food miles and providing the freshest ingredients to local consumers. Community Champions from Morrisons stores across the country reached out to their local communities to find the nominees for the 'Community Competition' and the winning school receive £1,000 of products from Morrisons that can be spent over the year. David Scott, Corporate Affairs Director at Morrisons and one of the competition judges, praised the project for its "intergenerational learning and the impressive repurposing of shipping containers." He highlighted how "this initiative brings the rural community together, turning the school into a linchpin of local life." Liz Earle MBE, a wellbeing broadcaster, entrepreneur, and Love British Food Ambassador, also commended the project: "It resonated with me as being distinctly innovative—using shipping containers to bring fresh, local, and well-priced food into the heart of the community. The involvement of all ages in both education and contribution creates a vibrant model for community health and cohesion." The food hub not only serves as a critical resource for affordable food but also as a social venue where the community can gather and support the school. Plans are underway to establish this initiative as a registered charity, ensuring its sustainability and potential for growth.
British Food Fortnight 2024 has concluded its two-week celebration of the very best of British food with resounding success, embracing communities, retailers, and public sector institutions across the country. Kicking off at New Covent Garden Market in London, the fortnight was packed with lively events, promotions, and activities - all aimed at making British food accessible to everyone. The festivities culminated in the National Harvest Service at Southwark Cathedral, supported by HM The Queen, and highlighted the nation’s commitment to sustainable and local food production. This year marked the first British Food Fortnight with Morrisons as the Exclusive Retail Partner, who announced a three-year partnership with Love British Food. They trialled a number of initiatives, including taking customers to visit local farms and a British food module for their in-store tours for primary schools. The event saw outstanding participation, from schools and universities to hospitals and retailers, showcasing the diversity and quality of British food. Thousands of caterers crafted special menus to highlight British ingredients, reinforcing the nation's rich culinary heritage.
As part of the annual British Food Fortnight , Love British Food has issued an open letter to key wholesale industry leaders, calling on them to support the growing demand for British produce by integrating dedicated "Buy British" categories within their offerings. The letter, signed by prominent chefs and industry leaders, highlights the vital role wholesalers play in strengthening the British food supply chain. British Food Fortnight , running from 20th September to 6th October, celebrates the quality of British cuisine. It provides an opportunity for businesses across the UK to spotlight locally sourced produce and support British farmers and producers. The letter has been sent to all major wholesale industry leaders. If anyone would like to sign the letter, please email info@lovebritishfood.co.uk . Letter in full: Let's Love British Food - An Invitation to Wholesale Industry Leaders Dear Wholesale Industry Leaders, As the country embraces and enjoys British Food Fortnight, it is an important moment to reach out to a vital part of the British food supply chain - wholesalers. This two-week celebration isn’t just about appreciating British cuisine; it's about making substantial, sustainable changes that benefit our farmers, our economy, and the health of our nation. Currently, thousands of caterers across the UK are curating tailored menus that highlight the quality and diversity of British produce, a testament to the country's culinary heritage. We’ve seen that the enthusiasm for British food is vast and growing. This surge is supported by a wide array of hospitality and public sector organisations, all keen to showcase what Britain has to offer. Earlier this year, during our public sector event, we gathered and collated insights through a comprehensive report that came to conclusions from leading chefs and industry stalwarts. Our discussion revealed a clear challenge: the desire to source more British produce is strong right across the UK, yet there is a blockage. Both farmers and producers are eager to supply, and kitchens are ready to serve - however supply chain logistics complicate this enormously. While some industry leaders have commendably established a dedicated British category, making it easier for businesses to source local produce, it is imperative that more follow suit. By integrating a 'Buy British' category within your offerings, you not only simplify the procurement process for caterers and chefs but also align with a growing consumer demand for transparency and local sourcing. It is the very definition of a ‘win-win’ for all involved, not to forget the positive message you are sending from your company that you are dedicated to supporting British producers. The benefits of enhancing the visibility and accessibility of British products through your platforms: Economic Growth: Boosting the sales of British foods supports not only local farmers but also the wider UK economy. Environmental Impact: Shorter supply chains mean reduced carbon footprints, an aim we all share. Health Benefits: Fresh, locally sourced produce is key to promoting healthier food choices among consumers. Cultural Heritage: Preserving and promoting British culinary traditions. Company Profitability: The British public want to buy British - give them the option and feel the financial rewards. This British Food Fortnight, we invite you to consider featuring, or boosting, a British category. We, along with prominent figures in the industry, are ready to support and collaborate with wholesalers willing to make this commitment. Through joint efforts, we can further deliver positive change across the entire food industry. Let's lead this change together. Kind Regards, Graeme Collie, Executive Chef, King’s College London Alexia Robinson, CEO, Love British Food Chris Knott, Head Development Chef, Loughborough University Graham Senior, Executive Chef, Southampton University Alex Sim, Development Chef and Sustainability Champion, Bristol University Ben Bartlett, Board Member, Master Chefs Great Britain & Director, Love British Food Karlene Gaskell, Executive Chef, University of Reading Dunk Parsonage, Business Development Chef, Flora Food Group & Isle of Wight Technical College Michael Croy, Executive Chef, University of St. Andrews Liam MacDonough, Head of Catering Operations, University of Edinburgh
