Marcus Wareing’s Tales from a Kitchen Garden 2023 Episode 2 – Last year, in an unforeseen turn of events, Marcus was met with the mysterious disappearance of his bee colonies. Both troubled and intrigued, Marcus collaborates with Anatoliy, his dedicated gardener, agreeing that seeking external advice is paramount. Heeding this, Marcus embarks on a journey to the esteemed Newt, where he encounters Paula, an expert in the world of beekeeping.
Their conversations overflow with insights and lore about the tiny pollinators. Paula’s vast knowledge leaves Marcus feeling not only enlightened but also re-energized. With newfound determination, he retraces his path back to the farm. On his return, Marcus, infused with enthusiasm, plunges into the task of planting an array of pollinating flowers. These blossoms would not only beautify his land but also beckon bees with their nectar-rich allure. Simultaneously, Anatoliy dives into his own set of tasks, meticulously harvesting a bountiful yield of succulent, home-grown gooseberries. These berries would soon be transformed by Marcus into delectable pickled treats.
But Marcus’s concerns don’t end there. His cherished Mangalitsa pigs require attention too. Envisioning a more nourishing environment for them, he contemplates relocating the pigs to a new patch within the woods. This area, rich in natural shelter and verdant undergrowth, would offer them ample space for foraging and exploration. To assist in this challenging endeavor, Flavian, an experienced pig farmer, joins Marcus. Together, they assess the new terrain, make necessary preparations, and gently guide the pigs through the dense woods to their new haven.
With the day’s hard work behind him and the pigs comfortably nestled in their new surroundings, Marcus retreats to the heart of his kitchen garden. Here, he crafts a sumptuous vegetarian feast, a celebration of nature’s bounty and the day’s achievements.
Marcus Wareing’s Tales from a Kitchen Garden 2023 Episode 2
After a mysterious disappearance of his bee colony last season, Marcus Wareing is more determined than ever to try his hand at beekeeping again. But this time, he wants to do it right. That’s why Marcus decides to seek out expert advice before starting a new hive. His quest leads him to the acclaimed gardens of The Newt in Somerset, home of master beekeeper Paula Carnell.
Arriving at The Newt, Marcus is awestruck by the sweeping gardens and orchards. He locates the bee yards, filled with the gentle buzzing of productive hives tended by Paula. “We’re so pleased you came to learn from us,” Paula says, handing Marcus a protective bee suit. “Our bees produce the most wonderful honey.”
Over the next few hours, Paula teaches Marcus invaluable lessons on establishing hives, managing colonies, and harvesting honey. Marcus gains hands-on experience inspecting brood frames and spotting the queen. “You really have to understand their nature to keep bees,” Paula advises. Marcus leaves with newfound confidence, inspired to create a flourishing apiary back home.
Upon returning to the farm, Marcus meets up with gardener Anatoliy to share the buzz about all he learned. Anatoliy has been busy harvesting gooseberries. The bushes are weighed down with the ripe, ruby fruits. “We’ll have gooseberry jam and chutney for months!” Anatoliy declares. Marcus decides to pickle some of the tangy gooseberries too.
While pickling the bumper crop, Marcus and Anatoliy begin planting an array of bee-friendly flowers like lavender, sunflowers and wildflowers to nourish his future pollinator colonies. Anatoliy promises to care for the plants while Marcus travels to fetch his new bees.
Learning Beekeeping from an Expert
At The Newt, Marcus gets a crash course in beekeeping from Paula Carnell, the resident expert. Paula’s passion for apiculture began in childhood, when she was fascinated by the hive in her backyard. Now, she manages over 20 colonies and teaches proper beekeeping.
“To keep bees healthy, you have to think like a bee,” advises Paula. She stresses paying close attention to hive activity and looking for signs of disease or parasites. Paula demonstrates using a smoker to calm bees when inspecting honeycomb frames. Marcus gets hands-on experience spotting larvae, drones, workers and the ever-elusive queen.
Paula also emphasizes sustainable practices. She avoids pesticides, lets hives swarm naturally, and leaves ample honey reserves. “We only harvest surplus honey so as not to tax the bees,” she explains. Marcus leaves Paula’s workshop motivated to become a more thoughtful, attentive beekeeper.
Harvesting a Glut of Gooseberries
When Marcus returns to the farm, Anatoliy meets him bursting with excitement. The gooseberry bushes are overloaded with ripe, ruby fruits. The cool spring and frequent rain created perfect growing conditions for a bumper crop.
They hurry to harvest the delicate berries, filling up basket after basket. The branches bend low under the weight of so much abundant fruit. Anatoliy precariously balances on a ladder to reach the highest bunches.
Back in the kitchen, Anatoliy suggests making gooseberry jam. “My babushka’s recipe, with just the right amount of sugar to balance the tartness,” Anatoliy shares. Marcus agrees, imagining spreading the vivid magenta preserve on scones.
He also decides to pickle some of the harvest. In spices and vinegar, the gooseberries will become shelf-stable pickled treats. “We’ll savor summer’s bounty all winter long,” Marcus declares. The gooseberry glut ends up supplying the pantry with a rainbow of sweet and tart preserves.
Planting Flowers to Nourish Bees
While pickling gooseberries, Marcus and Anatoliy begin preparing for the new bee colonies. They spend an afternoon planting nectar-rich flowers designed to nourish and attract pollinators. Varieties like lavender, sunflowers, cosmos, and wildflower mixes.
“Bees will have an all-you-can-eat buffet here,” Anatoliy remarks, imagining the colorful, buzzing gardens in bloom. He digs in compost to create fertile growing conditions for the fledgling plants. Marcus lays out where the hives will sit, with plentiful flowering forage surrounding the apiary.
Over the coming weeks, Anatoliy promises to weed, water and care for the plants. “By the time you fetch the bees, this will be paradise,” he assures Marcus. It’s satisfying for both of them to cultivate something beautiful that will also give back to the farm’s pollinators. Marcus looks forward to the day he can watch bees flitting happily among the blossoms.
Moving Pigs to New Foraging Grounds
Marcus decides his Mangalitsa pigs need a habitat change. Their current portion of woodland lacks sufficient vegetation, shelter and wallow space. He wants to move them to a shadier grove with more room to roam and forage.
For help with the tricky endeavor, Marcus recruits his friend Flavian, an experienced pig farmer. Together, they venture into the dense woods to find the ideal new location. It needs to have mud pits for wallowing, leafy branches for nest building, and plenty of acorns, nuts and edible plants.
Having identified a suitable spot, Flavian and Marcus return to coax the pigs across the woods to their new home. With tasty treats and patience, they slowly guide the snorting hogs along the forest trail. Upon reaching the shady, oak-filled grove, the pigs happily settle in, snacking on acorns and rolling in the mud.
“They’ll thrive here,” Flavian assures Marcus. It’s satisfying to see the pigs contentedly exploring their new foraging grounds. Marcus makes plans to frequently check on the herd and supplement with garden scraps.
A Vegetarian Feast Straight from the Garden
After the hard work of moving pigs, Marcus winds down by cooking up a vegetarian feast highlighting the garden’s summer produce. He harvests plump purple eggplants, ripe rainbow carrots and an array of heirloom tomatoes.
Marcus grills the eggplants, oozing smoky richness, while sautéing carrots in cumin and honey. The tomatoes become a salad dressed in fruity olive oil. For dessert, Marcus assembles blackberry tarts with homemade lavender ice cream.
Sitting down to the meal in the kitchen garden, Marcus savors the fresh flavors and seasonal bounty. He reflects on the events of the day – expanding his knowledge, harnessing surplus harvests, nurturing bees, and keeping pigs content. Each experience deepened his connections to nature, community and this land that sustains them all.
Conclusion
In this chapter of Marcus Wareing’s kitchen garden adventures, important themes emerge around cultivating deeper bonds. Seeking expert guidance shows Marcus’ humility and desire to learn. Joining forces to move the pigs demonstrates the power of teamwork. And laying the groundwork for future pollinators displays intention and care for the ecosystem. Marcus finds meaning in both the tasks and connections forged through thoughtful stewardship of the land. His story provides inspiration for living more harmoniously within the natural world by building community.
Frequently Asked Questions – Marcus Wareing’s Tales from a Kitchen Garden 2023 Episode 2
What crucial beekeeping knowledge did Marcus gain at The Newt?
Marcus learned from Paula about hive inspections, managing colonies, disease prevention, harvesting honey sustainably, and understanding bee behavior.
What ingredients are used to make gooseberry jam?
Gooseberry jam is made by cooking ripe gooseberries with sugar and sometimes lemon juice, then sealing it in sterilized jars. The high-pectin berries create a spreadable jam.
What kind of flowers do bees prefer?
Bees are attracted to flowers like lavender, sunflowers, cosmos, wildflower mixes, and anything brightly colored and fragrant. Planting native, nectar-rich blooms nourishes pollinators.
Why did Marcus decide to move his pigs?
The pigs needed more space, shelter, wallow mud, vegetation, and forage. So Marcus relocated them to a more optimal section of woodland.
What summer vegetables did Marcus use in his garden feast?
Marcus cooked eggplants, rainbow carrots, heirloom tomatoes, and blackberries, all fresh-picked from his kitchen garden that day.
