Editorial May 2nd 2008

Written by Jonnyboy

Spring may not be in full swing yet, and winter is doing is damndest to hang on as long as possible, but there are definitely signs that things are warming up. Our aged cockerel is launching himself at the hens with renewed vigour, if not (thank goodness for the incubator and a generous offer in our barter thread) success, whilst the local woodpigeons seem to be making a hell of a racket in the elder and ivy trees around our garden, the tarts.

If you’ve got yourself a vegetable patch or allotment then you need to get cracking on preparing your soil and getting some planting done. And now that there are light evenings and brief spells of dryness, the odd forage might be on the cards as well. Even if you haven’t much space there are still opportunities to ‘grow your own’ and get a taste of the good life.

Our more productive members have turned their thoughts to spring cleaning, and if you get as far as getting your freezer cleared out of old peas, tip tops and errant fish fingers, then two drawers is all you need for half a lamb from our friends at handmademeat, if you’ve got a chest freezer then they’d be more than happy to fill it with porky or beefy delights and empty your wallet for good measure. Despite its name, ‘Quail by Mail’ our newest free advertiser doesn’t peddle poultry, but has a lovely range of ladieswear designed and manufactured in rural Devon. The nightwear in particular caught my eye, ahem.

In recent news the ethics of biofuels as a tool to combat global warming is the latest example of green hype not fitting with the painful truth, something that people have mentioned here before. Expect this one to have lots of, er, mileage.

Whilst on in our forum we’ve all been shocked by the news that we’re a lot dimmer than we thought, but on a brighter note we’re in the early stages of planning our local shopping week 2008.

So, whilst April gave us sunshine, gales and uncooperative goats, there should be plenty to keep you occupied and interested during May. Enjoy.