Thursday, June 30th, 2011
Using reclaimed materials or wood from the timber yard we give you plans for making a cold frame to house tender plants this winter plus a look at electric fencing for the home farm
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Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
Much can be learnt from just checking around the pen and the coop for the appearance of your chickens’ droppings writes Clare Beebe. We also look at the perfect House Cow, what to do when the vet calls, how to keep your chickens cool in the blistering hot BBQ summer, starting with guinea fowl and producing soft-set honey.
Tags: BBQ, Clare Beebe, guinea, House Cow
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Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
The Jammy Bodger makes jams strictly for the grown ups, we discover the ultimate peasant food – pea soap which you can wash down with Ben Hardy’s easy to make strawberry wine. Plus we have recipes for picnic food including fabulous finger licking cold chicken and plenty of recipes for using up your surplus eggs.
If you’ve read this article in this months issue we would love to hear from you. Please use the comments box below, and share your thoughts using any of the social sites below.
Tags: Ben Hardy, Jammy Bodger, JULY
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Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
One farm has found a unique way of diversifying their business with the help of Ben Law PLUS you can enter our competition to stay in this fabulous self-catering cottage. HF reader Andrew Lake shares his plans for converting an old filing cabinet into a smoker and we have plans for making a 3 tier planter.
Tags: Andrew Lake, Ben Law, HF, PLUS
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Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
Want a self-composting raised bed? Joel Karsten spreads the word on planting veg in a straw bale, Tim Wootton gives ideas for working smarter, not harder, in the garden, Terry Walton brings out the water cannon for the aphids and Brigit Strawbridge focuses on permaculture in the garden.
Tags: Brigit Strawbridge, Joel Karsten, Terry Walton, Tim Wootton
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Friday, May 6th, 2011
We’re chilling…hope you’re chilling too making 5 of the very best, most delicious and wicked ice creams at home. Plus we have The Jammy Bodger enjoying the bountiful fruit harvests and putting June in a jar, we discover the forgotten Pig’s Fry and mamma mia! the editor gets his pasta making machine out and makes fresh ravioli, Ben Hardy makds elderflower wine and eyes up purple roses for July’s wine making schedule and we have plenty of foraging with recipes for neetle soup.
Tags: Ben Hardy, Jammy Bodger, Pig Fry, Plus Jammy Bodger
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Friday, May 6th, 2011
Now we have your attention…this is how to handle birds of the feathered kind with Terry and Clare Beebe’s expert advice on how to handle birds properly to reduce stress and harm. Plus we look at starting with pigs, curing your own rabbit furs and caring for your livestock (and vegetables) when on holiday and rules and regs for selling eggs.
Tags: Clare Beebe, Terry Clare Beebe
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Friday, May 6th, 2011
Jayne Neville is looking forward to growing the best tomatoes ever and making liquid fertiliser – poo! In our series on Viable Self-Sufficiency we consider how much land you actually need, Tim Wootton considrs the long term benefits for the planet and your veg for nurturing the soil. We continue the series on growing under plastic with the Polytunnel experts Andy McKee and Mark Gatter and get expert advice on pricking out.
Tags: Jayne Neville, JUNE
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Friday, May 6th, 2011
Beekeeper and pig farmer Joe Jacobs shows us how to reduce the initial cost of keeping bees from over £200 to just £40 by making your own beehive. Meanwhile John Butterworth continues his search for affordable sources of renewable energy for the home, concentrating this month on heating.
Tags: Joe Jacobs
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Thursday, March 31st, 2011
Stephen Chilcott knows a thing or two about DIY, and about chickens so we set him a challenge: Show us how to build a luxury, fit for purpose chicken ark to house 3 hens in style for under £75. We also have Clare Beebe looking at the importance of correct internal ‘furniture’ for the poultry house. Plus John Butterworth looks at the best options for renewable energy sources around the home farm and we introduce our new products review and the Tyne’s outline their self-sufficient system on their smallholding.
Tags: Clare Beebe, John Butterworth, Plus John Butterworth, Stephen Chilcott
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Thursday, March 31st, 2011
Polytunnel experts, Mark Gatter and Andy McKee kick off their new monthly series on making the most of your polytunnel, Julie Moore waxes lyrically about pumpkins, Elisabeth Arter delights in growing strawberries – plus there are 15 strawberry plants worth £14.99 free for every reader (small print just pay £4.50 postage – still a bargin!), Terry Walton takes some time out from his nearly full plot to share tips and Jayne Neville’s talks seasonal kitchen garden stuff ‘On the Plot.’
Tags: Elisabeth Arter, Jayne Neville, Julie Moore, Mark Gatter Andy
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Thursday, March 31st, 2011
Jennie Rutland puts the ultimate comfort food, the sausage, through the mincer with some recipes to make your own including the Vampire Slayer Sausage! Steak and Kidney Pudding is resurrected by Peter Underwood, meanwhile the Jammy Bodger rebrands rhubarb making wonderful zinger chutneys whilst Ben Hardy sticks to making rhubarb wine. Pat Joy prefers to back Hugh FWs fish fight with loads of fishy recipes.
Tags: Ben Hardy, Jammy Bodger, Jennie Rutland, Vampire Slayer Sausage Steak Kidney Pudding
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Thursday, March 31st, 2011
The Rutlands have ‘inherited’ 2 free range llamas on their farm and, despite early reservations, now wouldn’t be without them. Claire Waring takes a close look at how to acquire your bees and looks at swarm control and Janice Houghton-Wallace explains that ‘You are what you eat’ goes for your chickens too.
Tags: Claire Waring, Janice Houghton Wallace
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Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
Brigit Strawbridge sets out a simple plan to attract a wide range of traditional ‘garden dwellers’ to bring your plot alive, Andy Hamilton takes a day off to stroll along the local riverbanks, then makes use of a much maligned villain – Japanese Knotweed – in the kitchen and Rachel Corby sets out to find the abundant supply of free food available from the nation’s woods and hedgerows inthe lean months of early spring.
Tags: Andy Hamilton, Brigit Strawbridge, Japanese Knotweed, Rachel Corby
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Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
Terry Walton sits down in the shed to discuss planting in April along with Jayne Neville who will be busy on the plot. Tim Wootton grows an mini orchard and Lynn Huggins- Cooper looks at the efficient use of different layers and heights of plants to maximum advantage in her forest garden.
Tags: Jayne Neville, Lynn Huggins Cooper, Plot Forest Garden, Terry Walton
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Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
Clare Beebe considers the ideal way to house your chickens and Janice Houghton-Wallace looks at natural incubation. Meanwhile Claire Waring considers what to look out for in early spring inspections as the apiary begins to get busy and the Rutlands weigh up the merits of keeping ducks. We also have both sides of the argument on micro pigs. Cute pet or potentially a threat to farming and a genetic frankinstein.
Tags: Claire Waring, Clare Beebe, Janice Houghton Wallace, Meanwhile Claire Waring
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Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
It’s Home Farmer’s third birthday, so we asked Pat Joy to rustle up a few treats for us in her kitchen. We also have Peter Underwood serving up the perfect lardy cake and Jennie Rutland rustling up pies, without the 4 and 20 blackbirds in them served up with some of The Jammy Bodger’s (aka Mell Sellings) mango chutney and what better way to celebrate than with some of Ben Hardy’s dandelion wine.
Tags: Home Farmer, Jennie Rutland, Pat Joy, Peter Underwood
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Thursday, February 3rd, 2011
An interview with Bill Oddie on birds, bird food and attracting wildlife to the garden
Tags: Bill Oddieon
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Thursday, February 3rd, 2011
The Jammy Bodger has new takes on old fashioned curds – ideal for bringing the summer forward a little
Tags: Jammy Bodger
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Thursday, February 3rd, 2011
Square Foot Gardening is a great solution for any small scale kitchen garden, especially those in a raised bed. Lynn Huggins-Cooper gets her ruler out and starts digging
Tags: Lynn Huggins Cooper, Square Foot Gardening
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Friday, January 7th, 2011
Looking forward to the new growing season, Tim Wootton asks if you should stick to old favourites or risk the possibilities offered by the new
Tags: Tim Wootton
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Friday, January 7th, 2011
Claire Waring describes how to check that your bees have enough food – and what to do if they don’t.
Tags: Claire Waring
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Friday, January 7th, 2011
For just a short period each year Seville oranges become available. Pat Joy invites us into her kitchen where marmalade is the order of the day.
Tags: Pat Joy
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Friday, January 7th, 2011
Terry and Claire Beebe check out the poultry housing at the end of another harsh winter and set out the all-impportant jobs to get your chucks back into action for spring.
Tags: Terry Claire Beebe
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Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
Are you ready for next year? Are any of us? With the year opening with that familiar hangover, and all those resolutions that you need to start accomplishing, we’ll forgive you for not being prepared – but your garden won’t! This month Paul Peacock gives us absolutely everything we need to prepare our soil for the upcoming months. So if you aren’t ready now, you will be after you’ve read this month’s Home Farmer!
Tags: Home Farmer, Paul Peacock
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Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
Chorizo is one of those Southern European sausages that everyone should try, so this month we’re showing you which is the best meat to buy, how to flavour your meat and how to prepare and then cook it. Fancy something new this winter? Chorizo is everything you could want and more!
Tags: Southern European
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Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
Craig Hughes, resident Bee expert and Author of ‘Urban Beekeeping’, has taken it upon himself this month to explain some of the heartbreak bee diseases can cause. Turn to page 58 in this month’s magazine and learn how to protect your bees!
Tags: Author Urban Beekeeping, Craig Hughes
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Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
How do you know how to plant seed potatoes, when to harvest the peas, the best time to water your young vegetables, and all the rest of the basic information you need if you are to grow your own or rear chickens? Peter Underwood looks back to a time when growing your own was a necessity, and asks you – who taught you?
Tags: Peter Underwood
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Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
It’s the absolutely epitome of the perfect self sufficient Christmas dinner – your woodburning stove is crackling away nicely whilst the dog lies in front of it, the delicious free range turkey you spent the past few months expertly rearing has been carved and devoured by the family, and your homemade Christmas crackers have all exploded in a fabulous cloud of glitter and plastic toys. But there’s one thing left to do – eat your own homemade, luxurious yule log! Diana’s recipe is the very best, and we seriously hope she makes too much this year so we can see in the New Year with it too! Turn to page 36 in this month’s mag to descend into chocolate heaven.
Tags: New Year Turn, turkey
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Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
You can’t help but notice the increasing alarm generated by TV nature programmes and the press about our declining ‘biodiversity’. What with ‘monoculture farming’, pesticides, degraded habitats, and climate change, we’re told that it all adds up to a terrible decline in…whatever biodiversity is. So the real question is – what is Biodiversity, and what can we as individuals do about increasing it?
Tags: TV
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Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
Special bread for a special season – Diana Peacock bakes some traditional bread…and the house smells wonderful!
Tags: Diana Peacock
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Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
The song was written in 1967, but its message still rings proud and true today. Rosmaund Young firmly believes that the animals on her farm live the very best life possible, and all because she takes the time to learn their habits, and to listen for sounds that can be transalted into emotions. In this month’s issue, Rosamund takes a special look at the grandson of her cow, Dink, and how his actions provided something miraculous to happen. Turn to page 74 to find out more…
Tags: Rosmaund Young
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Monday, October 4th, 2010
You may be asking yourself “Why Bother?” with renewable energy. Well, the proposal for a new scheme called The Renewable Heat Incentive is being mulled over to encourage us to install more ‘renewable’ heating, mainly using biomass. Resident energy and, consequently, money saving expert John Butterworth is here with everything you need to know.
Tags: John Butterworth, Renewable Heat Incentive
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Monday, October 4th, 2010
Do you know where your bees are from? Devon? Norfolk? Newcastle? Or perhaps they’re from Paris, Warsaw or Bratislava? Craig Hughes looks at the various strains of honeybees, where they come from and they live…
Tags: Devon Norfolk Newcastle, Warsaw Bratislava Craig Hughes
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Monday, October 4th, 2010
In celebration of our British Hen Welfare Trust issue, we thought it ‘eggsactly’ the right thing to do to include some egg recipes! Diana Peacock and Anthony Worrall Thompson get cracking…
Tags: British Hen Welfare Trust, Diana Peacock Anthony Worrall Thompson
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Monday, October 4th, 2010
Dot Tyne, along with husband and resident sheep expert Tim, have been striving for a viable, self-sufficient lifestyle for a number of years now. Their expertise and knowledge on the subject allows them to share their experiences in a friendly and welcoming manner. This month, Dot plans her self-sufficient garden and gives us a good few valuable tips in the process!
Tags: Dot Tyne, Viable Self Sufficiency
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Monday, September 13th, 2010
We recently ran a competition that opened up the exciting and promising world of writing for Home Farmer to everyone! The eventual winner was Bethany Stanton, and her article on keeping and rearing Rabbits for meat really opened our eyes, aswell as making us hungry!
Tags: Bethany Stanton, Home Farmer
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Monday, September 13th, 2010
Then fear not! Diana Sutton always smells gorgeous, and this month she’s letting her very best home-made Fragrance recipes loose to you, the Home Farmer’s of Britain!
Tags: Diana Sutton, Home Farmer, Home Farmer Britain
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Monday, September 13th, 2010
Mike Rutland, resident Clay Oven expert, is an Architectural Designer / Project Manager in his spare time. He’s interviewed Kathy McAdam, Lead occupational Therapist, Forensic Mental Health, South Staffordshire and Shropshire NHS Trust, on implementing the 52 Meals ideal in her work…
Tags: Mike Rutland
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Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010
I love writing for you guys!
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Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010
We have had a complete revamp of our existing website, let us know what you think!
Tags: Home Farmer
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Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
We’ve got two training days taking place on the 31st of July and the 14th of August.
Mike Rutland will be showing you how to build and use your own clay oven! The training days take place from 10am through to 5pm, and each person who attends will be given a free copy of Mike’s forthcoming book ‘Building and Using Your Clay Oven’.
Places are running out fast so call 01772 633444 to order your place now!
Tags: Building Using Clay Oven, Mike Rutland
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Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
In February’s issue John Butterworth showed you how to build your very own Barn Owl Box, and now he’s back to show you how to put it up! Is there anything this man can’t do?
Tags: Barn Owl Box, John Butterworth
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Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
We’ve all been there – everything’s been planted in time, the chickens are happily laying away and the tell tale signs of summer are fast approaching. You’ve got a spare bit of plot, so you think to yourself, “Why not keep ducks?”. Well fear not Home Farmers! Liz Fairbrother is back with her series on Waterfoul, and she’s got all the answers you need on choosing the right breed to suit your needs.
Tags: Home Farmers Liz Fairbrother
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Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
In this compelling article from Stephen Chilcott, he looks at the dangers working with hay brings. Everything from price to science is covered, as well as a comprehensive look at why hay catches fire. Make sure to read this article – it could save you a lot of money, time and, most importantly, a trip to the hospital…
Tags: Stephen Chilcott
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Monday, June 14th, 2010
Diana Sutton is the best chef in the land. Her monthly recipes ensure that none of us here at Home Farmer ever go hungry, aswell as giving us tips for our own inventions! This month, she’s giving us six – yes, SIX! – delicious recipes for lamb based meals. Bhaaa-rilliant!
Tags: Diana Sutton, Home Farmer, SIX
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‘Crab apples produce a wine which, unsurprisingly, has much in common with cider. Again, unsurprisingly, there is an unmistakable taste of apples, but I find the taste lighter and more refined than even a bottle of good quality cider. It is also more alcoholic…’
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