The Edible Garden Show - 2015

Last year we attended our first Edible Garden Show held in North London at the iconic Alexandra Palace where we go so many ideas and tips for our allotment. Suffice it to say we were really looking forward to repeating the experience again this year.

We got there just at opening time on a blistery and windy Saturday afternoon stopping briefly to admire the fantastic view from the outside of the venue but the cold did get to us and we went inside.  It is like being a child in a sweet shop - where do you start, which way to turn, there were so many good looking and interesting stalls to visit.  Some of the interesting stalls we visited and people we spoke to are following:

Wolf-Garten tools with their innovative interchangeable pieces of garden equipment.  We have a hand pole and a long pole on our allotment and four tools.  I want to get the hand fork you see below next and a mid-range handle.

The lovely demonstrator from Omniblend making a mango ice cream.

Instead of feeding the meal worms to the birds Charge feeds them and uses their poo as a fertiliser for increasing the vitamins and minerals you put in to condition your allotment soil in a completely natural way.  I was given a 1ltr tub and asked to use in one of my allotment beds and to report back in a future post.

Mr R was really taken by the Wood BlocX system of raised beds.  They are simple and easy to assemble in your own garden however are made to fit the size and area you need for your own raised beds.  I have an area in my flower garden which has concrete under the surface and very difficult to plant anything over.  I think a raised bed from BlocX will be perfect!

I love the fact that you can have a curve, this is exactly what I need in my garden.  The big question is how many I need.

Flax Farm Linseed where I learned loads about the linseed including the fact that linseed and flax are in fact the same thing. The Americans use the word flax and the British say linseed. Linseed oil is high in Omega3 and fibre and is rich in antioxidants helping you to feel fabulous, feel great and look amazing!

There were lots more companies worthy of a mention but I only had space to mention a few. I have lots of ideas and projects from visiting the show. I will be attending next year so keep an eye on this blog for dates and ticket giveaways.

I was a guest of The Edible Garden Show but was not required to write a positive review. As usual all opinions and photos are my own.

The Edible Garden Show 2014

Today I went back through my old stomping grounds to Alexandra Palace in North London to attend The Edible Garden Show.  I was given two tickets to attend and managed to persuade Mr R to come with me.

The Grand Hall was filled with rows and rows of stalls all selling things or educating people about the world of growing your own food.  The show itself was sponsored by Maldon Sea Salt who have been harvesting salt from the sea in Essex for over 130 years.

Maldon Sea Salt sponsored the kitchen theatre and I watched chef Phil Vickery turn a bag of frozen peas into three delicious recipes to celebrate Spring!

We wandered around and met some lovely people and I was given some very interesting products to trial on the allotment and reiview for you at a later date.

There were loads of stalls with chickens and every thing you need to keep them and look after them and then enjoy your own home produced eggs.  I really fancy keeping chickens (there are a couple of people keeping them at the allotment!) but Mr R says absolutely not! But of course watch this space - I never take no for an answer!! There was also this beautiful fellow to say hello to!

Mr R was particularly taken with the Wolf Garten range of gardening tools. One handle and interchangeable tools. We bought a grubber and handle but the sad thing is that Mr R leaned the handle against something when we sat down and forgot to pick up the handle so we won't be trying it out tomorrow on the allotment!

I had a chance to listen to Christine Walkden giving a talk about making the most of your vegetable patch and learned a few new tips. It was nice to say hello to Christine after her talk because we worked together many years ago at Capel Manor Horticultural College. 

After quite a few hours of walking around and talking to loads of very interesting people Mr R was ready for a refreshing cold drink and a sit down.

 

I will be writing in more details about some of the products we got at the show and I will also be cooking with the Maldon Sea Salt over on my food blog.  But for now, a cup of coffee and a browse through all the catalogues I picked up today!