Casa San Lorenzo: Growth Report end of May
Something to celebrate. Last week we planted our first crop in the garden. After months of planning and preparation, it was a proud moment.
The team have been sweating through sun, showers and snow to clear the topsoil.
Days of raking and digging, back-breaking work, to remove the dead grasses, then the painful removal of their roots. No machines, just hard labour. With the soil softened, the garden can be shaped.
The borders and beds were marked with twine to ensure they were all plumb. The pressure-treated wood has been stained to tone with the colour of the soil and hammered in place.
Erica (our Head Gardener) had booked a trailer to head down to the horses for our secret ingredient – manure. Unfortunately the drier was sick, so the team had to rally around.
Our heroes jumped into their cars and, armed with large bags, brought some up. This will be used in the bean, peas, herb and salad beds, but not for the root vegetables apparently – I’m learning something new every day.
This has been a hard stage as the elements and the ground conditions have dictated the pace work has been completed by, but our first deadline is now in the diary. We need our first crop ready for our first Casa San Lorenzo celebration supper.
I’m a member of the Slow Food Chef Alliance, a worldwide, not-for-profit organisation that promotes a better way to eat.
To coincide with Slow Food Week, we will be serving a five-course tasting menu showcasing our own produce, at the Scottish Café and Restaurant in Edinburgh on Wednesday 20 June.
We’re excited, but the clock is ticking – Erica has even been caught telling the seeds to grow.
The menu will include ingredients from ten of our favourite artisan producers, and our very own Casa San Lorenzo salads and vegetables. It will be a first chance for customers to share in this great adventure and it promises to be a very special celebration.
Follow my updates about the garden on Twitter at @casasanlorenzo
(Featured in Scotland on Sunday’s At Home section, May 27 2012.)
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