There is plenty of foraging to be done in France with an abundance of fine foods free for the picking in the countryside from truffles to giroles but what about the humble nettle?

This simple recipe is simple and delicious and full of vitamins and minerals and gives you an excuse for not weeding!

Go out at this time of the year while the nettles are young, it is best to go foraging in the morning to pick fresh nettle tops, just the first few leaves of the new shoot are the most tender. You may want to use gloves if you are sensitive to nettle stings.

To start the soup saute a finely chopped medium sized onion in a little olive oil and a small nob of butter (optional), add a little fresh or dried sage and if you are a garlic fan you can add a couple of cloves too (optional).

Then add two medium potatoes that have been chopped into 1-1.5cm cubes – remove any damaged skin from the spuds but keep the skin on for more vitamins if it is clean and blemish free. Saute for a few minutes along with the onions.

Add a litre of vegetable stock, season and bring to the boil. Add the nettles – they are difficult to weigh but a litre jug loosely filled is about right, take off any tough stalky bits and chop roughly before adding (again, you may need gloves).

Simmer for about 15-20 minutes until the potatoes are soft. Next you need to blitz it with a hand blender or liquidiser. If you like a creamy soup you can add a little cream, milk or yogurt before blitzing but I prefer it without. Check your seasoning and serve with fresh multigrain bread for a nutritious and vitamin packed lunch! it is yummy!

We now have supplies of professional grade potting compost for sale.

We have found it difficult to purchase good quality potting compost with a fine texture that is suitable for seed sowing as well as potting and bedding in the local outlets so we have ordered in bulk from a professional horticultural suppliers. Our potting and bedding mix comes in 70 litre sacks, is a fine blend of responsibly managed peat, fine grade wood waste to reduce the peat content and give a good balance of air and water retention and milled clay for stability, nutrient retention and improved re-wetting.

10.99€ a sack or 3 sacks for 30€

On sale Saturdays 10.00-4.00 from our nursery, if you want to pre-order/reserve some then drop us an email at lejardincreatif87@gmail.com

Onions are well worth growing and pretty easy  as they do not suffer from many pests and diseases. However, they are prone to bolting in dry weather which can be a problem in a typical summer in France.

It is a good idea to buy onion ‘sets’ rather than growing them from seed; sets are immature onions, part grown and then dried and stored in a dormant state. They have usually been given ‘hot water treatment’ which can help to kill off any diseases and prevent bolting. (bolting is the term used to describe early production of the flower which will make the bulb unsuitable for storing and reduce the yield considerably). Sets not only give you a head start and therefore a longer growing season but are easier and more reliable than growing from seed.

This very cold wet start to the year means that for most of us the soil is still far too wet and cold for sowing or planting but you can get your onion sets off to a good start by planting them into trays of modular cells or seed trays. This will endure that a good root system has developed before you plant them out into the soil and that the sets are viable. It can also help to prevent birds or rodents from disturbing the newly planted sets, without roots they are easy for them to steal!

They don’t need any warmth or protection – a cold frame, unheated greenhouse or polytunnel or just a sheltered spot in the garden. After about 3 weeks the shoots will be about 5-10cm long and ready for planting out in rows at about 15cm apart. You can start garlic and shallots off in the same way.

Before planting make sure that you have added plenty of well rotted organic matter to the soil to retail water and therefore helping to give the onions an even supply over the summer. If necessary you can irrigate using a seep hose laid alongside the row, keeping the soil moisture topped up by watering in the evenings when necessary. This will deliver water directly to the soil. Onions need a regular water supply to swell to full size and can split and rot if a period of drought is followed by heavy rain or watering so managing the irrigation is important.

Onions are ready to harvest when the tops have dried out and tumbled over, lift the onions on a dry day and allow to dry out on well aired racks in the sunshine for several days before storing. Onions should be stored in a light, airy and frost free place – keeping them in the dark will induce growth. You can plait them into strings or hang them in onion sacks.

Greenwood crafts: Use a traditional pole lathe to turn a dibber or a string line. 10.00-4.00 either Thursday 8th March or Saturday 10th March. 35 Euros per person including materials and light lunch: Greenwood crafts info and booking
Introduction to Tree identification Learn the basics of plant identification and get to know some common trees in winter to enhance your enjoyment of your garden and the surrounding countryside. 17th March 20 €: Tree Identification info and booking
Tool maintenance: learn how to service and sharpen your hand tools. 22nd March or 24th March. Bring along your secateurs, loppers, axe, shears etc. 2 hour session 20 €: Tool maintenance info and booking 
Make a bird box or bird table: be creative and make a quirky bird box or feeder. 12th April 10-2.30 35€ inc materials and light lunch: booking form coming soon

Willow weaving: learn basic weaving skills and weave an ‘acorn’ lamp for your summer garden 14th April 35€: Willow lantern info and booking

Garden design: Learn the principles of garden design, garden surveying and planting plans and create a design for your garden. 2 days 26th April /3 May 80€: Garden Design info and booking
Chicken wire sculpture: Create a chicken in wire for a bespoke garden feature. 28th April 10.00-4.00 55€ inc materials and light lunch: Chicken sculpture info and booking

Watch this space for details of forthcoming courses: eco-printing, dye your own silk scarf using plants and natural dyes, organic growing, willow sculpture, Basic botany