If you're looking for a new vegetable to grow or eat....

Look no further. Introducing the Kalette or as we know it, the flower sprout.

We have been growing this winter crop for a couple of years now and are really pleased with the results.  According to the newspaper they are quite the latest fad amongst the celebrities and food fanatics boasting high levels of nutrients and vitamins. One reason perhaps why we should not grow them but... they really do taste great.

This new vegetable was developed in the UK as a cross between brussel sprouts and kale, hence the name flower sprouts, now changed to kalette presumably to steer away from the sprout element that sometimes suffers from bad press in the UK.

These small kalettes grow well during winter and grow much the same as sprouts and in very similar conditions. They have a sweet, nutty taste and for us, they are best eaten after being steamed until just tender. Apparently they can also be boiled, roasted, eaten raw or stir-fried.

If you grow vegetables look out for the seeds to sow in early spring. The only problems we have had with them are: an attack of white fly early on but this was soon resolved using a spray of soapy water and alcohol; and needing strong supports as they do tend to get blown about in the wind. Definitely worth a try.


Ocean Mist

Recent press

The forces of nature

Situated on a coastal plain we have the sea to the north and mountains to the south. We are vulnerable to weather fronts that come in from the Atlantic and Bay of Biscay or from the Picos de Europa mountain range. Following several warm and sunny days, today we are experiencing severe winds battering us from every direction with each new sequence of gusts growing stronger and increasingly forceful. I have been out and moved the most vulnerable of flower pots, watered smaller pots to give them weight and moved garden furniture to prevent damage occurring where possible.

The uncollected fallen leaves are scurrying around the garden and some now litter the pond. The remaining leaves on the hazel have finally succumbed to nature and the high branches of the dying cherry tree are creaking and occasionally breaking under the strain of gale-force winds.

The cats are sleeping and manage to switch off from distractions. They seem to instinctively know that their day of lazing in the sun, hunting and patrolling their territory is not going to happen; choosing to retreat to the safety of the spare bedroom and comfort. The roar of the Bufones (blow holes) and the waves crashing against the rocks doesn't seem to trouble them as they lay together, snug and safe.

Rain is on its way and as the skies lighten and darken rainbows appear and disappear. We rarely see snow at this level (49m above sea level) but in the distance, when the clouds clear, we can see the distant peaks of El Sueve dusted with snow.

The fire is lit and the log baskets are full. I think I'll take a leaf out of the cat's book and retreat from the world and enjoy a lazy day.

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Thinning and pruning

We don't have a massive piece of land, about 1500 sq m in total but what we have is certainly enough to keep us busy throughout the year and especially in winter. When we bought La Pasera we asked the builder to leave in situ, the existing orchard trees and any trees and shrubs that were on our borders. One of the first tasks we accomplished was bringing plants from our garden in Yorkshire to Asturias, some of which were successful and others not. After creating various planting beds, rockeries and borders, adding our UK stock and planting more plants, trees and bushes over the years, we have learnt a valuable lesson: living in a temperate climate makes things grow, spread and multiply with such vigour. This week we have been cutting back, pruning, thinning and disposing of many plants and shrubs that had become just too big or cumbersome for their allocated space.

The two dying apple trees - leafless

Sadly, two of the old apple trees have also come to the end of their life after hardly any leaf and no fruit last year. The woodpeckers have been visiting daily and stripping the bark and feasting on the grubs that have taken up residence in these dying trees. Fungus has claimed their bases and it will be sad but necessary to chop them down and replace them with young apple trees that will provide us with lots of fruit.

I have been trying to prune lots of our bushes that over the time have been cut back and have subsequently grown in not-so-pleasing shapes. It'll take a couple of seasons but with time they will grow into better shaped and more pleasing to the eye specimens. We need to tackle the north border of our land that has hazel, blackthorn, hawthorn and pyracanthus, all of which grow with great gusto and apart from the useful coppiced hazel, are difficult to handle and dispose of due to very sharp thorns. We will probably burn this in the garden as it is almost impossible to process into useful firewood. In Spain, it is recommended that you apply for a license to burn even the smallest amount of garden rubbish. If you burn without one, if your fire spreads you can be held liable for costs and fines so a (free) license is advisable... I'm really not sure as to why a free license and registering protects you but if nothing else it raises the issue of the dangers of fires in rural and wooded areas. You can only use the license between October and May which makes sense due to the cooler and wetter weather.

We will process the wood for kindling and firewood which will take up to a year to dry sufficiently. The plants, weeds and leafy off-cuts will be composted and provided us with much needed nutrients to add back into the beds in a few months time. Working in the garden is therapeutic on many levels and helps us fine-tune our ideas. It is now nine years since we bought La Pasera and looking back at old photographs certainly reminds us of how much has been achieved over the years.

2006

The Three Kings on the Epiphany

This morning, all over Spain, children will be wakening to find presents left over-night near their shoe. Last night, the three Kings, Melchior, Casper and Balthazar arrived on their camels and left gifts for the children on this night as they had done over two millenium ago for the baby born in Bethlehem called Jesus.

In towns and cities all over Spain early yesterday evening people lined the streets and squares to witness the arrival of the Kings and their ever growing entourage. These are a few pictures from the grand parade in Gijon where thousands of children, parents, grandparents, friends and visitors lined the 5.5km route. The weather was great (11 degrees), no rain and a clear full moon, perfect. The atmosphere was electric as the children waited in anticipation for the arrival of Melchoir, Casper and Balthazar. The police came on their motorbikes, horns blared, whistles and screams of delight permeated the night air and the many marching bands started to play. The children (and adults) weren't disappointed.

Melchior

Casper

Balthazar

  

A cliff-top walk from La Isla to Lastres in Asturias

On New Year's day we decided to go for a coastal walk about 20 minutes drive from us: La Isla to Lastres. This path is well sign-posted and apart from a small amount of road walking at either end, it takes you along a vertigo inducing cliff-top path with spectacular views; just the thing to work off the excesses of Christmas and New Year. We started this linear walk on La Isla beach.

La Isla

It was a very cold start to the day with a wide-spread frost which is very unusual for where we are, we rarely get frost at all. The sky was blue and cloudless and as the sun rose, it warmed the air quickly rendering our two layers of fleece, shirt and gloves somewhat excessive.

Lastres in the distance

With a picnic of tortilla, walnut bread, celery, dried figs, fruit and drinks we were well set up to spend the day exploring, taking in the views and enjoying the warmth of the winter sun. We were surprised at the amount of flowers in bloom and how little evidence of Christmas there was in the villages along the way.

The eroding cliffs, mud slides and 50 meter vertical drop into turquoise blue seas and jagged rocks, is not something I or my newly acquired vertigo relish but never-the-less it was enjoyable and as long as I didn't get too far near the edge I was OK...ish. We spent a few minutes watching a diver navigate the rocks, probably fishing for goose-foot barnacles (percebes), a delicacy here in Asturias.

Searching for Goose-foot barnacle?

As you approach the far end of this linear walk you head slightly inland through the village of Guerres before heading down to La Griega beach (famous for dinosaur footprints) and on to Lastres. We passed more cattle and horses than people along the way and enjoyed our home-made picnic before heading back to La Isla to spend a few minutes on the beach as the sun began to set.