A new emotion – Potager envy?

Potager to our immediate left

I don’t think I am an envious or jealous person however this ‘new’ emotion has got a real good grip on me.  Who knew there was such a thing as potager envy.... and trust me I have got a large dose of it.

We always knew that the Jardin Legume would be a challenge the plot that we are able to use has not been worked for a couple of years or so and the weeds are high and solid.  However, not to be daunted we choose a bit to work on and clear which hopefully we would be able to plant some potatoes in sooner rather than later.

Potager to our right

We were lucky as the first day we began the big dig  it had rained the night before which somewhat eased our task but it was still hard going.  We began to dig the larger weeds, then tackling the smaller plants and grass.  In need of inspiration I would glance at our neighbour’s perfectly prepared neat and tidy garden and think one day, our patch could look like that too.

As it was in the beginning...

It took several days of hard digging, pulling, plucking, raking just to be able to begin to hoe some furrows.  I kept the target in sight by glancing at the neighbours neat rows.  After checking the lunar calendar for the optimium planting days; the day was almost nigh when the ground would be ready and the seed potatoes could go in.  I am determined to be as chemical free as possible in all our gardens and if bio-dynamics and the phases of the moon aid and assist, it’s all good as far as I’m concerned.

Pomme de terre planted

So the big day arrives and after a little extra hoeing of furrows we could plant our potatoes, so exciting.  I made an earlyish start as it was a warm day and even after the first hour of fine-tuning I was sweating like a pig.... very attractive I know, but hopefully the effort will be rewarded. Planted and watered we will now have to wait and see how our crop fares, the weather has really been kind with soft gentle rain at night to help our cause.

Lézard Vert  

Looking around the plot I was feeling overwhelmed with gratitude and wonder, so many beautiful things and creatures to see and hear.  The bird song is truly amazing sometimes almost deafening.  There are loads of ‘good’ bugs, worms and lizards and hubby was fortunate enough to see a pine marten lurking under the cherry trees. The garden is directly below the mountain (which has the cross on it) and the potagers on either side are full with straight rows of vegetables and beautiful flowers. The river is not far away and we can hear it bubble and gurgling as we work.

However, we have so far to go, but in the meantime we can and do use our envy for inspiration and just enjoy being in the town but in a beautiful setting surrounded by abundance of life.

Recently, we have also agreed to look after G's town garden, probably one of the bigger gardens attached to a house in St Paul.  It is really big and needs a very good mow but needs to be scythed/chopped first.  It too has an abundance of fruit trees, which are old and established. 

As for the Jardin Cache, hubby has been using the still weather (as in not much wind) to burn much of what we have cleared.  It is a hot sticky job and there is so much to burn and we only really have the rest of this month to do it.  No open fires between June and September by order of The Pompiers! Today he and a friend are tackling the bigger trees with a chainsaw, I hope they both come back in one piece. (Of course they did, with stories to tell!)

We wanted space and gardens we certainly have that, probably a little more than we need and can mange probably but each one is unique and special and fits a purpose, but its the jardin legume that has my attention right now and I hope one day I can return the emotion of potager envy to anyone who may glance at our veggie plot. In the meantime the first crop of cherries need to be picked before the birds get them all.

A bientôt.

Do we eat like the French?

YES, but no.

Obviously one of the things I was most looking forward to was the wonderful food in France. I had visions of the most perfect 'potager' with the children collecting seasonal veg (all in soft focus). Obviously it’s way too soon for that but have our eating habits changed?

St Paul doesn't have the greatest market, it’s there and it does its job. There are better ones in Perpignan (wrong side of the tracks) but good, 3 cantaloupe melons for €1.49, a third of the price of the supermarkets. Quillan also has a good Saturday market but that is up the mountain on the overhanging rock narrow road, really have to WANT to go there rather than just pop in.

So where does this leave me? At the supermarché, that’s where. Apparently our local Carrefour is 'très cher' but being used to London prices I am not shocked. However the grocery bills have been rather large but when examined it was all 'la fille's' required stationery that was adding up, which not having had a child in secondary school before; I am sure the price in UK would be similar.

If I have found anything eye watering and a bit of a deep breath needed it’s at the meat counter. Like most I prefer organic or at least not factory farmed but you do pay. Hubby went pale when the local butcher asked for €40 for 10 double joint chicken pieces. They were delicious. The good news is the seafood can be inexpensive and it’s lovely and fresh.

As mentioned before the kids eat in the canteen. I had to pick up 'le garcon' from there and I wanted to stay and eat the meal he couldn't. They have a choice of starters normally salady type of dishes, bread (natch, but only 3 pieces mind). They have to eat most or all of their main course and on the day I was there it was salmon in dill sauce, it looked really good. Then dessert can be anything from flan, fruit or ice-cream. So far my kids seem to love it and don't appear to come home staving and all that for €3 a day. The teachers are not on duty at lunch and they have a separate dining room with one way glass I have never had it confirmed that they have a glass of wine but I so hope they do.

So hubby and I (if he's) here, generally have breakfast together at 10ish fresh bread and/

or pastry, confiture, fruit, yoghurt and café. Lunch is well, bread again with a bit of salad, cold cuts and of course the fromage.

Dinner can be anything from beans on toast (yes Heinz) I am afraid we imported them but they are available here at a price; to homemade veal escallops’ with mushroom sauce, depending what day it is. So we eat well but smaller portions throughout the day rather than a huge meal in the evening.

So do we eat like the French? There is definitely a lot more bread on our table. We are eating seasonal fresh veggies and fruit because we have to. The fromage is ever present but that isn't all that different from before but the taste oh yes, the ripe sweet tomatoes, juicy flavourful peaches and plums added to the bounty of green and black figs from Gigi's garden all eaten al fresco, yes it does seem more French, but I suspect those Heinz baked beans and frozen petit pots will always have a place in my pantry/freezer.

 

As for the dreams of the potager, I have asked if there is an allotment free and I'm waiting to hear if there is one available. In the meantime I have planted loads of seeds mainly herbs and for some spring colour lots of bulbs, it’s a small start. Come the spring we will get ready for those home grown salads. In the meantime I have the markets and the wonderful bio veggies from @maspeyre and I've heard a rumour that IF I'm really lucky some ready to eat sanglier may appear! Très French, non?

 

Harvest continues to continue, the weather is playing up again and some of the red varieties are not yet at optimum ripeness. I will do a full report when the wine is settling and possibly some of it is blended. A bientôt.