June is such an exciting month.  It’s when everything starts to come together – all the planning, all the sowing, the weeding, the essential preparations throughout the sometimes gloomy winter months.  Our field in Sheepscombe has burst into life.   We’re harvesting peas and mange tout, broad beans and kale, to name a few, while at the same time continuing to plant out later varieties of salads, spring onions and brassicas. 

We’re continually amazed by the miracle that is growing food from a seed, the magical properties of soil, the effects of sunlight, water and photosynthesis.  Care for the soil and the eco-system and –  as we see just from our endeavours, here and in other plots, – you will be richly rewarded.   The difference between crops grown in harmony with nature, rather than artificially, is in the eating – these crops taste of summer, of goodness and natural sweetness.  The flavours range from intense (tomatoes – when did you last really taste a tomato from a supermarket, that had proper flavour?) to subtle variations in different species – some of our salads are peppery, vivid, while other leaves have a gentler flavour and aroma, adding just a tang to a mixed bowl.  Delicious.

In the next few weeks, we’ll be sending out some different types of tomatoes; as well as the popular British heritage species we nurture, we’ve planted the fantastically shaped Italian ‘Cuore di Bue’ tomato, which is work of art in itself and really only needs some olive oil, perhaps the minutest sprinkling of good quality salt and fresh basil .  Courgettes, onions and cucumbers are coming on well, too.  We’d love to hear from you about how you prepare your veg mix each week – nature is so full of inspiration, isn’t it?  Enjoy.  There’s plenty more sunshine and flavour to come, with each delivery.