We planted a cherry orchard soon after we arrived at Rigaud and created a walled vegetable garden, which we’ve added to ever since. We learn by trial and error and this winter (2011/12) we’ve doubled the size of the potager, which now totals over forty raised beds.

Herbs are a main feature but we also grow most of the salad crops that the kitchen uses, lettuce, cucumber, radish, beetroots and spring onions, plus all of the Mediterranean veg such as tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and courgettes in many varieties. New potatoes were a big hit last year and the artichoke bed is well established. We’re putting in asparagus but won’t harvest it properly until 2015.

The berries were amazing in 2011 so we’re piling compost on the raspberry canes over the winter months and hoping for bowls filled with red fruit at the breakfast table. We also have plans for a tunnel of climbing beans and nasturtiums running the length of the garden, flanked by Kiwi at either end.

It will all be just fabulous so long as we can keep those pesky chickens in their new and improved home and away from our crops!