Winter is definitely here and the first frosts are freezing up the poly tunnels. Here at Vallum, we’re preparing for dark days, working on our menus for private Sunday lunches and gatherings in our cosy Tipi, and a special Tipi ...

Vicky Moffitt of Vallum Farm on Hadrian’s Wall, shares the trials and tribulations of the Kitchen Garden which supplies produce to the farm’s tea room, restaurant tipi, wedding and events venue. Vallum, Military Road, Newcastle, NE18 0LL, tel 01434 672 ...

Oh my goodness…this weather! I’m sure the cherries aren’t usually so early, yet we have them dropping from the tree. The challenge is always to get them before the birds and wasps so we can preserve them in delicious jams ...

After a beautiful February when I dusted the moths off my denim (almost) mini-skirt, today, at the back end of May, it’s so cold I can barely think straight. Mark, who is taking over our Kitchen Garden, has planted rhubarb ...

Whisper it – spring is here (maybe). The birds are chirping away like there’s no tomorrow and our customers have a happy spring in their steps. But as my parents always say – ‘ne’er cast a clout till May be ...

As I write this on a mild January day, I’m beginning to wonder where winter is this year. Maybe it will beat me to the publication of this column, but it’s been so mild up to now, we don’t really ...

What a summer we had! The heatwave meant the crops were in remarkably early, allowing the farmers a more sociable summer than usual. Meanwhile, we enjoyed a really good boost to the season, so we were spoilt for courgettes, lettuce, ...

The kitchen garden is in its element at the moment with beans, kale, chard, beetroot, carrots, lettuce, courgettes, cucumber, tomatoes, herbs and more. Ivan has done an amazing job keeping on top of the considerable watering and weeding – thank ...

The birds are doing their best to eat the sprouting kaibroc before us so we are having to take drastic measures in the shape of the return of Harry the hawk. He is handsome, tame and is actually a kite ...

This month, we are mostly obsessing about our beautiful new Sussex hens, courtesy of James Baty at North Acomb Farm, where we first saw them when they were mere chicks. The first sun of the year has also brought about ...