This year I am building a greenhouse – all hand made from reclaimed wood. So not a piece of aluminium in sight. Not that I have anything against aluminium greenhouses; they are the backbone of many a garden and if they produce food I can only say well done. We don’t have a big garden but the house is almost 350 years old (Charles the second of England was not long on the throne when it was built) and we felt a timber frame would be more in keeping with the style.

It does look the part I think, but I  built it to be practical. We have been growing vegetables, mostly salad, in containers dotted around the garden, the previous owners having made flower beds on the available plots. This has been fine and we have developed a taste for extra fresh salad. Unfortunately, it is only available for a limited time during the best of the Cumbrian weather, and that is none to dependable. The greenhouse is going to extend our season and give us the opportunity to grow more exotic crops (if you count tomatoes exotic).

If I was writing a guide to easy vegetable gardeners for beginners it would just say get out and get started, though. The greenhouses can come later, get a pot and plant some lettuce seeds.

If I were to write a book it would be a broader guide to life and include chapters on recycling, low power use and heating. We have been using wood stoves for four years and the amount of work verses the amount of pleasure (in the form of heat) these deliver would be an interesting chapter. They are a beautiful addition to our home but such hard work. Two winters ago we went through 23 tonnes of wood. Yes tonnes! all gathered and cut by us. Last year, the coldest on record in Cumbria, meant we went through all January and February’s by the middle of December and had to resort to buying in coal. This year we are looking to fit central heating.