The Edible Garden - BBC2 @ 20.00pm

[Creemteez]

T'was as I feared. Far too much about the presenter and her "hippy chick" lifestyle. Very little practical info (apart from the willow weaving - and the store-bought dried peas). The "slipping 8mm cine film" thing made me feel seasick and is anyone REALLY going to try a Peatini?
Do they hope that this will encourage people to have a go at growing veg in their own gardens? I think they've missed an opportunity.

[TonyF]

Arty farty, all the faux old film and funny camera angles. And she's obviously one of those people with a real interest in the 50s but hey ho, that's nothing too weird I suppose.

Liked the dried pea thing, think I'll have a go at that, tho not much else of interest or new, very much aimed at the newbies I think - what she's advocating Joy Larkcom has been doing and writing about for years.

The star for me tho was Isabelle, is she the new Chalkie ma bob?

[pjh75]

What a load of old rubbish,not one useful thing in the whole program total waste of time.
I wont be rushing home to watch it next week

All the best,Ian

Guess it depends how much you have seen before and how much you already know... I haven't watched that many gardening programmes as in the past they have always been about flowers which I'm not that interested in, with a little bit of veg thrown in... plus I'm relatively new to growing veg anyway. I thought it was pleasant enough for half an hour of light entertainment.

[kirsty b]

I didn't find it that offensive at all. Its given me a few ideas about how to get away with having some edibles in the front garden and try to pretty it up a bit and I definitely want to give pea shoots a go.

Did think she wimped out a bit when the chookie flight feathers got done.

[smallblueplanet]

I know what you mean, I've caught a bit of the Sophie Dahl thing, only coz it's on after GYOD, and it's like Nigella but worse.

OMG! I saw one of the Sophie Dahl progs and it was cr@p! I saw Alys on BBC morning show talking about the new show and she sounded inept and like she didn't know what was what...

...can't say your views have made me sad I'm watching the football!

[piskieinboots]

.... I thought it was pleasant enough for half an hour of light entertainment.

Fair point, but it didn't show much in the actually 'how to' stakes to new growers.

[Bramble_killer]

Fair point, but it didn't show much in the actually 'how to' stakes to new growers.

That's the trouble isn't it?

Been trying to tell people how to plant things and telling simple things like when it's too cold to sow something or how deep to plant something. Would have appreciated being told last year that pea plants can go really close together (mine were spaced too far apart and gave a poor crop after the slugs found them) but nothing useful like that.

Not even how tall broad beans grow or how productive runner beans are or that you can dry the beans in the french beans.

She could have done a beginner bit like how deep to sow beans and how pea roots don't like to be disturbed. ARGHHHHHHH

It wasn't a gardening show, it was a stupid lifestyle show. home made falafels and peatini?

[Scunny Zeb]

Im a saddo when it comes to gardening progs..I'll watch anything
As I was watching it on the PC, I also saved it as an MPEG

[Creemteez]

Fair point, but it didn't show much in the actually 'how to' stakes to new growers.

Precisely, Pisk! All very well having her rummage about in the undergrowth in a flowery frock and wellies, but apart from a blink and you'd miss it shot of her planting her broad beans into modules and the throw-away comment about cramming in the seeds for pea-shoots because your NOT growing them for peas, there was no practical advise for new veg-growers.

[northepaul]

About the only useful thing was germinating dried peas. Oh and the fact that she made some weird organic structure from coppiced willow.

It's like Sophie Dahl does gardening, bit of fluff easy on the eye but nothing useful. Can't believe how she winced when he snipped the flight feathers.

OOOOH.. spooky

Thats EXACTLY what I was going to write (well more or less but the same sentiments!)
I am glad I am not the only one who thought that!

What really annoyed me was the switching between films and illustration to try and look arty!
Like you Bramble, the only useful thing I learned was about germinating dried peas!

[Glutton4...]

Camera angles, and all the 'old film' bits were a waste of time, and had nothing to do with gardening. She only appears to have two Chooks, should be three, and their fence was more rickety than a rickety thing. I loved the Dog!

[binley100]

About the only useful thing was germinating dried peas. Oh and the fact that she made some weird organic structure from coppiced willow.

It's like Sophie Dahl does gardening, bit of fluff easy on the eye but nothing useful. Can't believe how she winced when he snipped the flight feathers.

just watched Alys...

I didnt like the 'arty' camera angles and effects.

Having said that, I'll still watch the other episodes because its gardening.

Camera angles, and all the 'old film' bits were a waste of time, and had nothing to do with gardening. She only appears to have two Chooks, should be three, and their fence was more rickety than a rickety thing. I loved the Dog!

Agree agree agree...nuff said

[valmarg]

I must admit, I feel the same. She does a lot of the 'posh tottie smooching with the camera' bit, doesn't she?

If you cut out the close-ups of her and her dog, there wouldn't be much gardening programme left.

Shan't be giving it a second chance.

valmarg

[teakdesk]

There's a few odd comments in this thread!! Makes me think of people who go to Indian Restaurants and order Omelette and chips!!


The BBC describe this programme as "...Alys doesn't want to turn her garden into an allotment, so she's growing her fruit and vegetables among her flowers.

Alys will focus on different foods and show how anyone can grow, cook and eat from their own garden..."

and they quite clearly categorise it as:
* Lifestyle & Leisure,
* Food & Drink,
* Homes & Gardens


It seems people who want a gardening programme should watch Gardener's World, which the BBC describe as a gardening programme, and not watch a food and drink programme and expect it to be something it wasn't designed to be.

/RANT OVER

[binley100]

I'm quite happy to watch the GROW cook and eat. After all it's a bit like Jamie did (with more focus on the cooking). It's the arty farty b@llux that's a waste of time .