Organic Vegetable and Fuit

Izzie · Post by **Izzie** » 13 Aug 2007, 20:00

A pal told me about this farm and they deliver it all to you.

I have put in my order and it will be coming on Thursday.

http://www.bellfield-organics.com/

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 13 Aug 2007, 20:11

I used to get a delivery every second Friday from them until fairly recently Izzie, then I could no longer guarantee being home for the delivery and cancelled it. The driver (David) was a really nice bloke, but sometimes some of the veg didn't keep very well at all. I suspect that though my delivery was once a fortnight some of the veg had been picked a while in advance, though I could be completely wrong.

They give you a chatty newsletter and recipe suggestion with every delivery which is really useful.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 13 Aug 2007, 21:06

Marya have you been having an inordinate amount of trouble with vegetables lately?

Post by **wangi** » 13 Aug 2007, 21:10

We used to get a box from Grow Wild. However being away more often than not plus it's often hard to get through the box!

However they've no problem delivering when you're not in.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 13 Aug 2007, 21:23

We use Phantassie and they are really good, they deliver every week if you want. We tend to get a £9 box plus £2.50 fruit. I'd recommend. We once got a courgette which was the size of a melon!

which we stuffed with feta, breadcrumbs, courgette "meat", onion and pinenuts and baked in the oven- it was yummy. They also do a £12 and £16 box. They will deliver to the door mat!

http://www.phantassie.co.uk/

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 13 Aug 2007, 21:26

Sandra wrote:We once got a courgette which was the size of a melon!

Is that not a marrow (can't be bothered looking it up on the 'net!)??

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 13 Aug 2007, 21:28

no, it definitely said courgette on the info leaflet which comes with box.

Post by **wangi** » 13 Aug 2007, 21:28

I bet everyone in Portobello gets an organic delivery from a different company... Just think of the carbon footprint...

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 13 Aug 2007, 21:31

Sandra wrote:no, it definitely said courgette on the info leaflet which comes with box.

Looked it up: "The courgette is basically the young fruit of a marrow, selected when under 6 inches in length and before it’s developed any large seed inside. The marrow is simply a courgette that has been allowed to grow on to a mature size."

Now we know!!

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 13 Aug 2007, 21:35

It said on the leaflet that contrary to the ones you find in the supermarket, courgettes come in all shapes and sizes

certainly tasted like a courgette, we'll just have to beg to differ

Izzie · Post by **Izzie** » 13 Aug 2007, 21:38

wangi wrote:I bet everyone in Portobello gets an organic delivery from a different company... Just think of the carbon footprint...

If only there was somewhere near Porty we could all use

Post by **wangi** » 13 Aug 2007, 21:42

Izzie wrote:If only there was somewhere near Porty we could all use

Well http://www.eastcoastorganics.co.uk/ are based in Pencaitland and http://www.phantassie.co.uk/ are in East Linton.

Izzie · Post by **Izzie** » 13 Aug 2007, 21:47

wangi wrote:
Izzie wrote:If only there was somewhere near Porty we could all use
Well http://www.eastcoastorganics.co.uk/ are based in Pencaitland and http://www.phantassie.co.uk/ are in East Linton.

Sorry Wangi looks like I am just a late starter

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 13 Aug 2007, 22:13

I used to get eastcoast organics (I think it was them) when I had a front garden they could leave the box in, hidden behind the roses. They didn't itemise the contents, so part of the fun each week was guessing what a strange leafy/ bendy/ bald thing was, and whether we could eat it raw in a buttie or should chuck it in soup.

I miss the surprise local element now that I get the veg from Tesco

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 13 Aug 2007, 22:51

Poppy, you are correct what we know as a 'courgette' is simply a baby marrow - between 4 and 6 inches long. They all belong to the 'Cucurbitaceae' family which includes cucumbers, pumpkins, melons and all other squashes as well. The bigger they get the more watery they taste and changes in the density of the flesh take place which give marrows quite a different taste from courgies. They are so easy to grow and will grow even on a compost heap - give them a try.

On a couple of the other issues - organic veg by its nature does not have a long shelf life and needs to be used quickly or the roots kept on smaller things like lettuce and plopped in a glass of water. Lettuce also keeps well wrapped in wet kitchen roll in the fridge. You can also feeze beans, peas and herbs if you don't want to use them right away. Just blanching for the peas/ beans then pop in a freezer bag, tie it up and suck out air with a straw. No need to blanch herbs. Should have this in my recipes & tips section!

All these 'deliveries' do raise an issue and highlight a clear demand for a farmers market in Porty. Alternatively give growing you own a go - even a window box or a few pots make a good start. Container grown veg is just as good if you don't fancy the digging. Happy to give any beginners advice on how to get going.

Izzie · Post by **Izzie** » 13 Aug 2007, 22:59

K would love to grow some veg,but I haven't a clue where to start

The pots sound good though

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 13 Aug 2007, 23:14

You could e mail me with the sorts of things you would like to grow and the space you have available or whether you want to start in pots or grow bags and see how you get on. To start I would suggest herbs and lettuces for quick results. Happy to help get you digging for victory!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 13 Aug 2007, 23:17

PB do you know if coffee grounds are a good fertiliser? Starbucks offer free bags of the stuff and claim that it is.

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 13 Aug 2007, 23:29

Marya wrote:PB do you know if coffee grounds are a good fertiliser? Starbucks offer free bags of the stuff and claim that it is.

Does it keep snails away? I'll get some if it does...

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 13 Aug 2007, 23:33

Izzie wrote:K would love to grow some veg,but I haven't a clue where to start

The pots sound good though

If Pb inspires you to try lettuce, tomatoes, basil or coriander, I have spare seeds that you and K can have if you like. My crops were doing well until the snails ate them!

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 13 Aug 2007, 23:51

Have heard of people putting coffee grounds on their compost heap, don't know of anyone who puts them straight into the earth, its worth a try though. Hair from the hairdressers is another odd one that I have heard of.

Snails are a pest and are v. difficult to keep under control - they ate all my brocolli and cabbage seedlings this year - in the wee greenhouse. I tend to pick them off and put them in a bucket of water. My dad has another method - snail tennis - lobbing them with the raquet over the hedge into the woods.

Rapunzell - you should get things growing again - you can keep growing lettuce under cover - all year round. Although saying that - last year my outdoor lettuces survived through the winter as it just never got cold enough to kill them off. Egg shells mounded around plants are meant to be a snail deterrant.

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 13 Aug 2007, 23:57

Forgot to say on another post - please don't think of starting an organic fruit and veg plot as tricky or complex - its just common sense and provides greater biodiversity benefits to our community.

Remember just start by attracting the good guys like the ladybirds and the lacewings - with some free SNH BIOd seed mixes in one part of your garden - and they'll take care of munching their way through some of the problem bad guys like aphids. Leave a wild patch with some nettles to attract the butterflies and some little piles of sticks or wood to provide winter hideaways for the good guys and the bees - remember bees are you best friends.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 14 Aug 2007, 09:13

Puerto bella wrote: All these 'deliveries' do raise an issue and highlight a clear demand for a farmers market in Porty.

Farmers Market in Porty would be great idea! Must ask one of our MSPs who started the "Farmers Market" movement if this would be a go-er and how to go about organising one.

We got some purple basil from phantassie - it was gorgeous. That's the thing about box scheme - the excitement of not knowing what you are getting each week!

Izzie · Post by **Izzie** » 14 Aug 2007, 16:01

A Farmers market in Porty would be fabyyyyyyyyyy

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 14 Aug 2007, 17:05

Can I put in an order for tomatoes, apples and random salad veg now please?

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 15 Aug 2007, 11:48

I have spoken to our MSP who started farmers markets and he said Balerno has farmers market so it could be a possibility that Portobello could have one too.

He has given me a couple of contact names and numbers and I can mention his name.

I will go down this avenue and post back with the response I get.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 15 Aug 2007, 13:49

Puerto bella wrote:..Snails are a pest and are v. difficult to keep under control.....

My dad leaves the snails beer in an open container, which they willingly dive into - they absolutely love it and he has all but eradicated his snail population this way. And I guess the snails enjoy their last fling.

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 15 Aug 2007, 16:25

A farmers market in Portobello would be fabulous, I love going to the one up town but don't go nearly often enough as can't be bothered trailing up there. I'm sure there would be enough interest here to make it work.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 15 Aug 2007, 19:50

teddygirl wrote:A farmers market in Portobello would be fabulous, I love going to the one up town but don't go nearly often enough as can't be bothered trailing up there. I'm sure there would be enough interest here to make it work.

Thats what I think Teddygirl, I think there would definitely be enough interest even if it was just once a month or once every two months.

Does anyone have any suggestions of where it could be? I've not had time to phone the people but will try and do it tomorrow.

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 15 Aug 2007, 19:58

Sandra, I know the ash pitch at Towerbank Primary School has been used for things in the past. Not sure if it would be available but certainly worth thinking about.

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 15 Aug 2007, 20:47

I was thinking of a small farmers market - stalls in a line or two rows facing each other maybe along the larger space outside Bank of Scotland and area outside Kitcheners or maybe the turning head of the dead end library road opposite the police station.

I think to be successful it needs to be easily accessible to the maximum number of people, not hidden. Towerbank pitch seems a bit hidden to me. Alternatively, what about a section of the Prom or in the Town Hall?

To get the shop keepers on board they need to be confident that people coming to Porty for the farmers market will make visits to and spend money in their shops rather than just visiting the market and leaving. To do this the market and the shops will need to be close together as you know how lazy people are. Another site would be the Prom - next to the Hover terminal..........in the future maybe...

Post by **wangi** » 15 Aug 2007, 20:48

I think you're right re Towerbank... And the same reasoning probably discounts the Prom. High St or nothing really!

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 15 Aug 2007, 21:22

Do you think it's too late to set up an allotment stall for the POD party at the weekend..?

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 15 Aug 2007, 22:21

Puerto bella wrote:Have heard of people putting coffee grounds on their compost heap, don't know of anyone who puts them straight into the earth, its worth a try though. Hair from the hairdressers is another odd one that I have heard of.

I put the contents of the hoover bag on the compost heap as well.

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 15 Aug 2007, 22:26

Rapunzell - allotment holders are forbidden from selling produce for commercial gain, nothing to stop garden growers though. Not sure how allotment holders are placed if its for charity?