Clodagh Mckenna
FOLLOW THE CHEF AS SHE SHARES STORIES FROM HER HAMPSHIRE SMALLHOLDING
Iam so excited to start my monthly column about all that happens in our sustainable homestead, Broadspear. I’ll share stories from my plot, and any knowledge I’ve learnt, from growing vegetables and tending an orchard, to keeping hens, bees and – coming soon – pigs! I live in Broadspear with my husband, Harry. It’s a charming property that sits within its own 80 acres of Highclere Park in Hampshire. When we first moved in, the task of getting a garden going was overwhelming. Close to the house lies a walled garden built in the 1700s, but it had been neglected for over 100 years. Being a chef, I’d always dreamed of growing my own vegetables and fruit, so we started here. We levelled the entire space and built 10x8ft raised beds for vegetables, herbs, salads and soft fruit. We also put up a pergola in the centre so we could eat, cook and relax while enjoying the fruits of our labour! We’ve planted an orchard, sown a wildflower meadow and we’re starting a half-acre cutting garden. In 2019 we introduced two bee hives, then added another three last year. Honeybees are natural pollinators, so they are really important to the full circle of sustainability we are attempting. They also provide us, our family and friends with honey all year around. And on to our hens – our beautiful girls! We now have 14, a mix of Burford Browns, Old Cotswold Legbars, Olives and Dekalb Whites. They bring so much joy to Broadspear, as well as the most delicious fresh eggs. They have an important role in our sustainable cycle, as their poo is brilliant for our compost. I love this time of the year, as it’s all about new beginnings. I like to grow from seed; it’s more laborious but you get a stronger plant. Over the next few weeks I’ll be sowing tomatoes, peas, aubergines, beans and salads. You need a propagator and seed compost for this. For those of you who are new to growing veg, a propagator is a tray with little modules to pop all your seeds in. It has a lid to keep the seeds lovely and warm. I’ve just received my tomato seeds in the post; I’ve chosen Tigerella, Chocolate Cherry, Noire de Crimée and Stupicke Polni Rane. Growing season is here; let the fun begin!
NEXT MONTH:
Clodagh introduces us to her chickens, aka ‘the girls’
Discover Clodagh’s recipes and more at clodaghmckenna.com