New paperback edition of Collins' best-selling gardening title. This wonderfully illustrated book celebrates the blood sweat & joy to be had in 'growing your own' in an allotment.

Includes:: in-depth practical gardening know-how stories from allotmenteers & recipes. No longer considered the preserve of old men in sheds allotment gardening is currently enjoying a renaissance of interest. People of all ages & from all walks of life are digging their own plots in search of the ultimate in fresh organic produce
- & you cannot get more locally-sourced than your own allotment! This book testifies to the new vibrancy of allotment culture aiming both to inspire the next generation of plot-holders & to provide all the practical knowledge needed to turn a patch of soil into a lifelong adventure. Open to all the new eco-gardening techniques & the various weird & wonderful ways people make use of their plots contents include: * the history of allotments
- from 19th century origins through wartime ' Dig for Victory' to the cosmopolitan communities of today; features photos & interviews with current plot-holders * planning your perfect allotment
- finding it assessing it clearing the ground & working out what to grow * the brown stuff
- all you need to know about soil management the key to growing success * choosing a gardening method
- organic biodynamic rotation beds companion planting greenhouse multi-level potager cottage garden & so on...* the hard stuff
- constructing sheds compost bins cold frames fruit cages ponds seating & play areas * selecting crops
- what & how to grow from parsnips & peas to chilli peppers & lemon grass * cultivation techniques
- digging sowing feeding weeding & harvesting plus troubleshooting pests & diseases * the allotment calendar
- extensive month-by-month look at what's in season jobs for now & looking ahead










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Michelin-starred chef & star of BBC 2s Economy Gastronomy Paul Merrett is using the plot... This is the story of how one man swaps his shopping trolley for a wheelbarrow & cooks up fine homely food as a result. This is the story of how a famous foodie turns to a small plot of communal land to feed his family. Having become tired of poor-quality supermarket food & disillusioned with the dubious ethics of large corporations Paul Merrett takes an allotment to see if he & his family can live off the fruit & vegetables they are able to grow. Along the way Paul reconnects with his grandparents legacy of self-sufficiency & discovers the unbeatable flavour of a home-grown green tomato (especially when its turned into salsa with spring onion & mint). He also learns that our romantic notions of a simpler life are not as simple as they seem... The Allotment Chef follows Paul his wife & two reluctant children as they learn to garden make what they hope is their final trip to the supermarket build relationships with fellow allotmenteers & slowly watch their crops flourish & sometimes fail. They contend with the inevitable disappointments along the way with good humour & perseverance & only the occasional temper tantrum. As the asparagus poke through the soil & the battle against the lettuce-munching slugs is won Paul turns his humble vegetables into recipes worthy of his epicurean background. He

Includes:: over 85 allotment-inspired recipes including simple dishes such as One Pot Vegetable Stew & Meringue Cake with Summer Berries as well as more involved dishes such as Pumpkin Ravioli Tea-Smoked Chicken Breast on Allotment Vegetables & Steamed Walnut & Allspice Sponge with Roasted Plums. Pauls charming narrative is interspersed with his personal take on food ethics celebrity chefs & the legacy of his self-sufficient grandparents. Reportage & food photography accompanies his story. Part recipe book part memoir The Allotment Chef is an engaging informative & humorous read.

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This title offers 200 simple recipes using the produce from your plot. The Allotment Cookbook Through the Year" is the recipe book for those gardeners that would like to know how to cook delicious seasonal dishes to help make the most of their home-grown produce. Featuring over 200 recipes for popular crops such as apples berries & herbs this is packed with imaginative & inspiring ideas to turn your produce into healthy fresh meals. Including techniques & expert advice to help you harvest preserve & prepare your crops successfully this is the perfect veg-growers kitchen companion." ...

Anyone who's ever spent their weekends evenings & even lunchtimes at the allotment will delight in Kay Sexton's stories of life at the Voodoo Plot & the entertaining characters that keep her amused throughout the year. As the plot thickens & the growers thrive or struggle to flourish there's an abundance of year-round horticultural advice for any kitchen gardener with month by
- month sections on sowing & growing crop care & allotment tasks what to harvest & tried & tested seasonal recipes. Along with numerous helpful tip boxes Kay's diary takes you through a year in the life of an allotment site from mulching to munching & everything in between.
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This manual is essential for the budding or experienced allotment owner. Along with all the details for growing fruit & vegetables that one might expect from an allotment book this manual also details some of the more advanced aspects of modern allotment keeping. It

Includes:: information on planning projects such as an allotment shop & outlines the legal & financial issues that face todays allotment owner. It also has comprehensive A-Z lists making it a one-stop source of allotment knowledge.

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Allotment gardening is becoming increasingly popular as people discover that growing their own organic vegetables fruits & herbs is an attractive & achievable option. Allotment gardening also has additional benefits: its an excellent way to take exercise & be sociable & it can be therapeutic. The Allotment Specialist" is crammed with practical information on every aspect of growing produce on an allotment. Beginning with the basics it

Includes:: tips on choosing a plot preparing the soil crop rotation planting the beds & weed & pest control. Year-round calendars provide at-a-glance information on key tasks & give pointers on keeping allotments productive all year round. Comprehensive A-Z directories of vegetables & fruits guide readers through the most popular varieties their soil & site needs & the best times & methods for sowing planting & harvesting. With reliable practical information & an easy-to-use format this is the perfect companion for every current or prospective allotment owner."

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Get the most from your allotment all year round. For tasty delicious fruit & veg that hasnt travelled halfway around the world Allotment Through the Year" tells you everything you need to know about how to get the most out of your allotment or garden. Now in a larger spiral-bound format this guide to gardening will ensure your plot provides fresh healthy food all year round. Follow month-by-month simple advice on what to do on your allotment & how to do it. Pick up time saving tips & techniques on everything from pruning to dealing with pests. Theres clear guidance on when to sow plant & harvest for excellent results making " Allotment Through the Year" an indispensable companion. It is previously published as " Allotment Month by Month"." ...

The Mistborn trilogy has become a firm favourite with fantasy fans the world over. The imagination that Sanderson brought to the series & his skill at marshalling epic storylines & dramatic action his ability to create vivid characters made him a natural choice to complete Robert Jordans epic wheel of time sequence. But with Mistborn his standalone fantasies & his new series The Stormlight Archive Sanderson has shown his bountiful talents in his own fiction. Now he returns to the series that made his name with a new story set years after the events of Hero of Ages. In a world recovering only slowly from evil a world where allomancers wield immense power through their ability to unleash the magic bound up in common metals someone who can burn metals that no-one has burned before can tip the balance... Sanderson has the knack of giving the epic fantasy reader exactly what they want. This ability has thrown him to the forefront of the genre & the dramatic story within The Alloy of Law shows off this skill to its very best. ...

The Mistborn trilogy has become a firm favourite with fantasy fans the world over. The imagination that Sanderson brought to the series & his skill at marshalling epic storylines & dramatic action his ability to create vivid characters made him a natural choice to complete Robert Jordan's epic wheel of time sequence. But with Mistborn his standalone fantasies & his new series The Stormlight Archive Sanderson has shown his bountiful talents in his own fiction. Now he returns to the series that made his name with a new story set years after the events of Hero of Ages. In a world recovering only slowly from evil a world where allomancers wield immense power through their ability to unleash the magic bound up in common metals someone who can burn metals that no-one has burned before can tip the balance... Sanderson has the knack of giving the epic fantasy reader exactly what they want. This ability has thrown him to the forefront of the genre & the dramatic story within The Alloy of Law shows off this skill to its very best. ...

Coco Chanel invited Paul Morand to visit her in St Moritz at the end of the Second World War when he was given the opportunity to write her memoirs; his notes of their conversations were put away in a drawer & only came to light one year after Chanels death. Through Morands transcription of their conversations Chanel tells us about her friendship with Misia Sert the men in her life
- Boy Capel the Duke of Westminster artists such as Diaghilev her philosophy of fashion & the story behind the legendary Number 5 perfume... The memories of Chanel told in her own words provide vivid sketches & portray the strength of Cocos character leaving us with an extraordinary insight into Chanel the woman & the woman who created Chanel.
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