Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Good information and links . easy to use website . |
| Disadvantages: |
None . |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
http://www.channel4.com/nextstep/fork_to_fork/
Fork to fork is a section of the channel four web site dedicated to provide backup information to the television show of the same name, which was on a while ago. It is an essential place to go if you are thinking of, interested in, or have a vegetable patch/allotment.
It has features on popular vegetables giving details on raising them from seed to caring for them and then harvesting them. It also has details on pests and diseases to watch out for.
As well as advice and guidance on growing vegetables, the site also offers recipes for sauces, e.g. using tomatoes and herb's, and meals, for example using bay leafs in roasts.
The series followed Monty Don and his wife over a year in their vegetable
garden. It was also all done completely organically.
The home page is an introduction giving information on the series. At the left hand side of the screen is a column with various links to the other pages.
This includes a getting started page which gives information on why organic gardening has been used and has useful links to making your own compost and controlling pests.
Next there is a link to Monty's garden, describing his vegetable garden, herb garden and orchard.
Then the making compost page, giving details on the advantages to having a big compost heap and whether to buy a compost bin or make one. They also recommend a wormery for a small garden. As well as this, they have details on what is best to make your compost out of, i.e. the raw material.
Next, the controlling pests page gives details on barriers, predators, traps, companion planting, and organic sprays.
The page containing Monty's philosophy gives his opinions on organic gardening, good food and lifestyle.
The recipes page contains recipes from parsnip puree to a herb omelette.
The resources page gives web links and addresses to other sources of food growing information, such as the soil association.
The programmes link is the most important, as it gives you access to the programmes for each week. There are six weeks to choose from.
For each week, you will find detailed information on each vegetable such as varieties to choose from, growing from seed, and potential pests or diseases. Near the bottom of the page there is a relevant organic tip and details of their suppliers. They also provide advice on techniques such as double digging.
On the whole, I found this site an interesting read on producing organic food, and the links to suppliers and other sources of information are excellent.
