The Poultry Keeper

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1196 Location: Cornwall

Not having a garden big enough to have a proper veg garden, I have to bung the veg inbetween the shrubs and flowers like the cottagers did years ago.

Which means I dont have a plentiful supply of greens for me chooks, so my brothers asked at his local green grocers and has arranged to pick up a sackful once a week!!

As long as there's no spiders in it like the one on Eastenders Shocked

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 2041 Location: norfolk

It's a great excuse (as if you needed one) to take a poly bag with you when you go for a walk and pick dandelion leaves, a spot of groundsel, chickweed and sow thistles. Your hens will love you for it. If you're me then you pull them out of the hedge bottom surrounding the veg plot and veg garden itself Rolling Eyes

Elly · Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 335 Location: Norfolk

We ask for carrot tops, outside cauli leaves etc when we go to the market. The stall holders just throw them away and have always been happy to give us a bag full. With so many pets its a great help.
Just goes to show what you can get for free Laughing

Keep smilin
Elly

GTB · Joined: 16 Jul 2008 Posts: 30 Location: Heart of Wiltshire

Great idea to get excess leaves from greengrocers. When I had a smaller pen I used to grow perpetual spinach in the flower borders which took up minimal room and feed them a few leaves every other day from it mixed in with the odd kitchen scraps. Rhubarb chard looks great in a flower border and it tastes great as well.

EGirl · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 1277 Location: Dublin, Ireland

I've been starting my Edible Garden this year, with moderate success. Like you Pekinout, I have to shove the veg where I can, in pots, in beds and on walls, and have only a small veg bed. I love to go around picking lettuces and rocket for the girls, with a few chives thrown in. I'm going to try them on Nastursium leaves tomorrow....actually I'm testing it on us all as I plan to flavour the rice with the leaves! The sooner my oh realises that the kids don't need to play in MY garden, the better! Laughing

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1196 Location: Cornwall

lol

they should love nasturtium leaves, they're nice in salads too and the flowers.

comfrey is good for them too in small amounts, its good for horses too.

mojo · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:54 pm Post subject:

flash fry nastirtian flowers and toss in your rice

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1196 Location: Cornwall

I'm hungry now

CP · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 1:13 am Post subject:

Apparently you can pickle the nasturtium seeds & eat them like capers. Wink

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/todo_now/faqs.php?id=77

crazypianolady · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 766 Location: Nottinghamshire

I did some pickled nasturium seeds last year, they're very tasty on a green salad. Peppery without being fiery.

When the plants get too straggly, I give them to the hens. They peck at the leaves until the stems are bare.

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2623 Location: South Cumbria

I grew them over the hen run for shade at my last house they looked nice and the hens had a tasty snack, the pickled seeds are good too as are the flowers in a salad