New Product Available – Bulb Planter

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bulb planter, bulb tool, gardening tools, grow your own, gyo, how to plant bulbs, OXO bulb planter, plant bulbs

The perfect tool for planting bulbs

The OXO Bulb Planter is  just the gadget you need when it comes to planting bulbs and has been designed for easy use.

Simply by pushing the planter into the soil and twisting, you can make a hole that is ideal for planting bulbs.

The quick release handle opens the body of the planter, releasing the plug of soil you have just removed – ready for placing on top of your newly planted bulb(s).

Available now for only £10.50 at The Recycle Works. An ideal present!

An Essential Guide to Recycling Today – New Book Available

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books on recycling, grow your own, gyo, recycle the essential guide, recycle works, recycling book

Recycle – The Essential Guide

Recycle - The Essential Guide

Recycle – The Essential Guide is the indispensable handbook to recycling today. With vibrant visuals and a clear, accessible layout, the book is an invaluable resource that tackles everything from the urgency of resource depletion on a global scale to what the individual reader can do to reduce waste in their own home.

Beginning with a witty, thought provoking introduction by renowned Observer  journalist, Lucy Siegle, Recycle includes detailed sections on recyclable materials and what the individual reader can do to facilitate the recycling process.

Case studies from all over the world pay tribute to exceptionally successful or innovative approaches to recycling and a consumer directory of eco designers proves that ethical living and trendiness don’t necessarily contradict each other. Recycle  also includes a comprehensive international directory, that points readers in the direction of organisations and charities that can help them to take further steps towards waste reduction.

With natural resources dwindling and oil prices rocketing, it’s time to wake up and smell the rubbish. It’s time to take responsibility for our waste. Recycle is the essential guide for all those who want to take that journey but aren’t sure where to start.

Praise for Recycle

“The new bible of the eco-classes.”
The Times

“The real treat within this guide is the completeness of its recycling advice.”
The Ecologist

“A beautifully designed ‘how to’ guide, which is also clear enough to appeal to a child. By the end of it you’ll know everything about the subject.”
Time Out

Raised Beds For Winter Vegetables

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garden plots, gardening, grow vegetables, grow your own, gyo, raised beds, recycle works, timber beds, winter vegetables, wooden garden beds

Raised Beds Available in Standard or Deep Versions

Last weekend I planted my winter vegetables. Quite exciting and really puts the truth into the GYO 5 a day for the whole year round. Raised Beds are brilliant as they work in the gardener’s favour every time.  Soil is usually stone free and always well drained and loose. The compost does not get compacted and access to the beds is straight forward and kind on the back. You are in control. It is worth remembering that winter vegetables tend to be root vegetables that may need a deep configuration of Raised Bed.

Our Vegetable Compost has been attracted many so many compliments.  One stop shopping is available right here! We have a constant succession of customers wanting to fill some very odd shaped spaces for growing their vegetables. As you know we are all in favour of making the most of every little bit of space you have. So try us. We like a challenge! Also do take a look at the Spare parts to make up your own conformations.

Love Your Environment!

Our Recipe for Fresh Tomato Soup

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cooking tomatoes, cooking with tomatoes, gardening, grow your own, how to make soup, how to make tomato soup, recipes, recycle works, recycleworks, soup, tomato soup, tomato soup recipe, tomatoes, vegetable soup, vegetarian recipe

I’m a huge fan of freshly made soups.  Like a lot of traditional cooking, soup making is so easy, but is often forgotten in these days of convenience.  …But as soon as you’ve tried your own you won’t ever want to open another tin. 

I like to make a huge pan of soup on a Sunday evening and then the family help themselves for a healthy lunch or after school snack.

With a glut of tomatoes just around the corner, this recipe produces a lovely creamy soup, full of flavour.  …But don’t forget the bay leaf as it really adds a little something to the mix.

Ingredients
Knob of butter
1 clove of garlic
1 bay leaf
1 onion
1 medium potato
1 lb fresh tomatoes
dash of tomato puree
1 pint vegetable stock
quantity of milk

What to do

1. Chop the onion and gently fry in the butter until clear
2. Add a clove of crushed garlic, mix and fry a little longer
3. Peel and chop the potato and add
4. Roughly chop the tomatoes and add
5. Add in the bay leaf and stock
6. Simmer gently for 20 minutes
7. Allow to cool
8. Remove the bay leaf
9. Blend until smooth
10. Add milk as desired to obtain preferred thickness
11. Reheat before serving

Serve with crusty bread or my children’s favourite – cheese on toast croutons!

…And it’s always worth remembering that food tastes 100 times better if you grow your own!  For all your Grow Your Own needs visit our website at www.recycleworks .co.uk.  There is everything from raised beds, to compost bins, tools and books.

How to Make Gooseberry Fool

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Gardening with children, gooseberry fool, gooseberry fool recipe, gooseberry recipe, grow your own, how to make gooseberry fool, picking soft fruit, recipes, recycle works, recycleworks, The Recycle Works

Gooseberries are at their seasonal best round about now and this recipe is totally delicious and very indulgent.  The perfect end to a dinner party or a little treat to enjoy on a warm day, it has to be one of the most yummy ways to eat gooseberries.

If you want to make a slightly healthier version some of the cream can be substituted with creme friache without loosing any of the creamy flavour. 

…And I have to confess that when running short of time I have cooked it with the gooseberry tails still on as the whole mixture is sieved at the end. 

Ingredients
500g gooseberries
100g sugar
half pint double cream
few drops of vanilla essence
dash of elderflower cordial to taste

Method

1. Top and tail the gooseberries and place in a saucepan
2. Add two or three tablespoons of sugar and heat through for a few minutes on a low heat
3. Allow the gooseberries to soften nicely, add the remaining sugar and then continue heating to allow for some of the water to evaporate
4. Take care to stir the mixture and avoid allowing it to burn onto the bottom of the pan
5. Remove from the heat and leave to cool
6. Sieve the mixture to remove skins, seeds etc
7. Stir in a dash of elderflower cordial and taste.  Add more if desired
8. In a separate bowl whip up the cream
9. Fold the gooseberries carefully into the cream
10. Place in the fridge to chill

….And to pick soft fruit in double-quick time have a look at our handy and very cleverly designed Berry Pickers.