Order these two Handbooks now for only £19.00 saving £10.98 on the RRP!
With a textured hard cover and an introduction by Hugh, these handbooks are set to be an indispensable household reference. All the handbooks will come signed!
Handbook No. 1 : Mushrooms
In this first of an exciting new series that focuses on specific aspects of rural living and eating, mushroom expert John Wright explains how to identify and collect (or avoid) the mushrooms and toadstools we are most likely to encounter in the UK with diagrams, detailed profiles and handy tips.
Starting with a brief introduction to mushroom biology and taxonomy, John explains the ins and outs of collecting, including relevant UK laws, conservation notes, practical tips and identification techniques, complete with diagrams and line drawings.
He also introduces the River Cottage Magic Seven Challenge, a great first test that will inspire everyone to put their wellies on. Then he describes and distinguishes more than sixty of the species we are most likely to come across during forays in Britain's forests and clearings: old friends the Chanterelle and Cep, as well as a whole colourful host of more unfamiliar names - edible species including the Velvet Shank, the Horn of Plenty, the Amethyst Deceiver, the Giant Puffball and the Chicken in the Woods, and poisonous types such as the Sickener, the Death Cap and the Destroying Angel.
The handbook is completed by more than thirty simple and delicious mushroom recipes from the River Cottage team. Small enough to fit in a waterproof pocket, with colour photographs throughout, a standout translucent jacket and an introduction by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, 'The River Cottage Mushroom Handbook' is a comprehensive and user-friendly guide destined to be an indispensable household reference.
Handbook No. 4 : Veg Patch
Drawing directly from his experience as an acclaimed climate-change gardener, and of setting up a kitchen garden from scratch for River Cottage, Mark explains the practical aspects of organic growing, introduces us to a whole world of vegetables we may not have previously considered, and does away with alienating gardening jargon once and for all. Mark begins with a catalogue of vegetables that will grow in this country, explaining for each their benefits, what varieties to go for, dos and don'ts, and popular culinary uses.
He then invites us to create a wish list of foods, and shows us his own list from his early gardening days. Next, he explains how to turn this wish list into a coherent kitchen garden plan appropriate for our space, whether it be a patch of acidic soil, a roof-top garden or an allotment, whether we put on our wellies in every free moment or are 'time-poor' gardeners. Then he puts all the theory into practice, showing us how to look after nutrients in the soil, how to resist pests and diseases, and how to make our garden sustainable and organic.
In clear, concise sections we learn about seed trays, supporting plants with climbing structures, mulching, composting, companion planting, irrigation and promoting pollination, and there are additional tables showing sowing and harvesting times, plant sizes, and alternative varieties of plants for different sites.
About thirty recipes and a directory of useful addresses finish the book, and the handbook is complemented by bright colour photography throughout. Practical and inspiring, with a textured hard cover and an introduction by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.
If you have River Cottage Membership, you are entitled to a further, automatic 10% discount on this combination. To find out more about River Cottage Membership click here.