Hello, I’m Steve, a.k.a. the Circus Gardener, a self taught cook and an organic grower of fruit and vegetables.
This blog aims to fulfill two purposes.
Firstly, I want to show that vegetarian food can be delicious, exciting and nutritious.
Secondly, and equally importantly, I want this blog to be about the politics of food.
There is so much that is out of balance in the way we produce, distribute, regulate, package, buy, sell and discard the food we consume. I am passionate about the quality of the food that we eat and I deplore the limited variety and standardisation of shape, texture and taste presented to us through commercialised food mass production and marketing, and the destruction of natural resources that producing such food often entails.
“Circus Gardener” was originally an insult directed at me many years ago by a neighbouring allotment keeper, who took an irrational dislike to my organic gardening techniques. The term was intended to imply that I didn’t know what I was doing. It may have been true at first, but I soon found that the more you grow your own food the more you learn – after all, seeds are pre-programmed to turn into plants and our role as gardeners is simply to help them along the way.
Anyway, I decided that the term “Circus Gardener” was far too good be left as a mere term of abuse so I happily embraced it as my nom de plume.
I do hope you enjoy reading this blog, that it will provide occasional food for thought and that you will be tempted to try out some of the recipes.
Dear Steve,
Today I caught up with Sara Rawstron with whom I worked more than decade ago and she told me about the Circus Gardener’s Kitchen. It would be brilliant of you to come and give a little talk to our Malvern Hills Green Party branch about your passion for organic allotment growing and your recipes etc. Your story (with its side helping of food politics) sounds so exciting and different. We are a small group – though we are well represented on our councils (I am a county councillor and district councillor in Malvern; we have three green district councillors, three green town councillors and myself on the county council!).
We meet every first Thursday of the month in the Great Malvern Hotel (in the centre of Malvern) at 8.00pm – next two meetings are April 3rd and May 1st (neither of which I can do as I am teaching away both days). But what about June 5th? If you are willing – might that work for you?
Very best wishes
John W Raine
Dear John
Thanks very much for making contact. I would be delighted to accept your invitation to come and give a talk to the Malvern Hills Green Party on 5 June.
Best wishes
Steve
Love your outlook. Very similar to mine. I’m learning so much each year we have the allotment and testing myself on cooking directly from it too. Lovely blog. Thank you for sharing your thoughts
Thank you for your lovely feedback. I’ve just had a look at your blog and I’m most impressed. There’s some gorgeous photos on there.
Steve
How bizarre that your neighbour was so discouraging, gardeners are meant to be a friendly and nurturing bunch! Great that you’re plot is doing so well, we’ll be following your blog with interest 🙂
Thanks for your comments. Most of the plot holders on my site are in fact lovely. For some reason this particular individual has a deep disdain for the organic approach, but I’m grateful to him at least for inspiring the name for this site!
Steve
You and Vinny have lots in common. There is even a picture of Vinny juggling somewhere among his many blog posts. You might also like his posts about the night circus, especially if you also like to read 🙂 – https://cookupastory.wordpress.com/2014/04/22/the-night-circus-black-and-white-torte-with-raspberries-at-centre-ring/
PS – I would ADORE trying some of your more exotic fruits and veggies. Have you tried growing Garcinia cambogia? If so you might magically become a millionaire!
Hi, Vinny, and thanks for your comments. I enjoyed the Night Circus post. I think the fruit you mention is the one that is supposed to help with weight loss? I suspect it needs a far warmer climate than Worcester, in the heart of England, can deliver!
Steve
What is the size of a plot and how long a tenure do you get?
Plots are usually rectangular and around 250 square metres in area. It is often possible to lease half a plot (this is how I started, before taking on the full plot). The lease is renewed annually and the cost varies, depending on the charges levied by the Council which owns the land.
Steve
Good to know how the name came about. Has old grumpy from the next plot ever calmed down towards you?
I suppose so – he more or less ignores me these days, which I choose to interpret as a grudging acceptance that I probably do know what I’m doing!
Stumbled upon this blog from Oh My Veggies and boy am I glad did. Your comments (esp your side of politics) are so well written and thought provoking. And the accompanying photographs are so clean and crisp — they really make the food “pop”. Thank you for taking the time to share and inspire!
Thank you so much for your lovely comments, I’m so glad you have stumbled across this blog too! 🙂
I stumbled on your Kale, Quinoa and Nut Roast en Croute recipe, probably through Oh My Veggies. Have just mixed the filling and am letting it cool. What a wonderful mixture. My husband and I could just eat it as is, if we weren’t looking so forward to having it with a crust around it. Can’t wait to see what else you’ve been cooking up. Another Canadian.
Hi Lynne, and thank you for taking the time to post such lovely comments. I do hope you enjoy the finished dish!
Steve
Hi there, came across your blog whilst pottering around on the veganuary page with some delight I must say. I took on an allotment this year, also well covered in weeds so enjoyed your take on the name etc. I m also determined not to use weed killers. In an attempt to learn more about gardening and wildlife I started to volunteer for the RSPB as I admired their site for all the ideas about the birds and the bugs. Here’s the bit I finally wanted to get to, in my reply. They also introduced me to a wildlife gardening forum and in one newsletter, it talked about the researched link between a particular weed killer and cancer ‘leading the world health organisation cancer agency to conclude they are ‘probably carcinogenic’ to humans.’ There was other info to. Just incase you are interested. You may, of course, already know this.
Denise
Hi Denise.
Thank you very much for taking the time to leave your comments.
I think you are referring to glysophate, which is the key component of Roundup, the weedkiller manufactured by the US chemicals giant Monsanto. In March this year the World Health Organisation found that it is “probably carcinogenic”. Despite this, I am amazed to see it still on sale in garden centres.
Good luck with your allotment, and I hope you keep to your plan not to use weedkiller. It’s a long and unending battle keeping weeds under control by hand, but it’s far safer for us and other wildlife and, to be honest, it’s a battle I have quite grown to like over the years! 🙂
Best wishes
Steve
Very inspiring Steve and hats off to your perseverance:)
Thank you! 🙂
Hi Steve
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your wonderful plot and for all the goodies you have left behind.
I have inherited your old plot and have heard all about your organic approach and food blog with a political spin from some of the other plot holders.
I am inspired by your approach and would love to follow your blog.
May I ask where you purchased your heritage varieties and organic seeds please?
Kind regards
Lennie
Hi Lennie
How lovely of you to get in touch. I’m so happy that “my” plot has gone to a good home! Thank you also for following this blog.
Although I no longer have an allotment plot I haven’t given up growing organic vegetables and fruit, but I now do so at the wonderful Old North Stables project, which is located on the edge of the racecourse. You’d be welcome to drop in there at any time (I am there most Saturdays, but it is open most days of the week. Visitors are always welcome and we like to show them what we are doing there).
In terms of heritage seed varieties, I am afraid you cannot purchase them: it is illegal to buy or sell them! I’ve written one or two rants on the blog about the pro-big business seed legislation that has created such a bizarre situation.
The heritage seed varieties that I have collected over the years have therefore been obtained through good old-fashioned seed swapping with other organic growers. (The Old North Stables has an annual seed swap each May, which again you would be welcome to check out). I have also obtained quite a few varieties via the Heritage Seed Library which is maintained by Garden Organic. You can find more details via the Garden Organic website – see my “links” page. And of course, I’d be happy to let you have any spare heritage seeds that I may still have. If you’d be interested either contact me via the “contact” button at the top of this blog or follow me on twitter and DM me with your contact details.
Best wishes
Steve
Thanks Steve
I didn’t realise it would be so difficult to keep heritage varieties going, I shall have a look at your links and will most definitely call in at the old northwick stables site.
Once again thank you and happy growing.
Lennie
Love, love, love your style, CircusGardener! Organic is totally the way to go for yield and ‘crop protection.’ I don’t bother with the borders except to keep the turf grass from infiltrating (easy to do). I am religious about organic matter and steal leaves, grass clippings, cardboard, and the like to re-purpose into MY garden. The earthworms and grubs thank me for it by tilling and aerating and enriching the soil for my plants — completely free of charge. No work. No watering. No chemicals. What’s not to like, huh?
Glad to have found you. I look forward to checking out your articles. So far, I’ve enjoyed how you tie recipes into the history of food. Cheers! ~ Shannon
Hi Shannon. Thank you so much for your lovely comments. I’m delighted we’ve made contact across the ether, and I look forward to following your lovely blog too. Steve x
I hope you don’t mind, Steve, that I’m posting a ‘blog share’ just now. I am including your recent post photo, for which I am STILL salivating! ~ Shannon
Not at all, thank you Shannon x
Found you when you “liked” my comment on LeggyPeggy’s post. LOVE your blog.
Based on your metaphor I’m a Street Cart. Have a teeny plot in our courtyard where the rabbits, grasshoppers, (and maybe a rat . . . or two) come to dine. So far have harvested some kind of “blight” on cauliflower, 2 avocados, 3 bell peppers and a bunch of weeds. But I do keep planting because the rabbits, grasshoppers and a rat or two love the cuisine.
Glad you clicked “like”!
Hi Judith. I’m glad I clicked “like” too! Thanks for commenting and for following my blog. I am now following yours with interest. Steve 🙂
Hi,
You story inspires me very much. Organic gardening isn’t instant! It takes a lot of patients and hard work. I am working on a personal project to grow native vegetables to where I live for my kitchen and having experience similar criticism. But now many of my plants are healthy and very productive!
Hi Praew. Thank you for your lovely comments. I’m so pleased that you have also persevered in doing things your way despite criticism and that you are now beginning to reap the rewards of your labours! Steve 🙂
Hi Steve. Very interesting blog you have here – I agree that all of us deserve clean, healthy food that is grown organically. Lovely pictures and recipes as well 🙂
Thank you Nithya (and Sathya). I am enjoying your lovely and interesting blog too! 🙂
Hello Steve … you speak my heart. I’m delighted to have found you – I don’t follow everyone who follows me and I seldom make a snap decision to follow but I can’t resist your philosophy and I know I am going to benefit from this blog in numbers of ways. Let the fun commence 😀
Thank you Osyth x
I look forward to learning from the “Circus Gardener”…amazing blog!
Thank you Robbie, I’m grateful for your kind comments 🙂
What a fabulous blog. I hadn’t read the bit about how you came up with the name until today. Way to turn a pejorative term into something that will flourish. The best to you.
-Amanda
Thank you Amanda, very kind of you. Steve 🙂