Live webchat with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - Thursday 15th September 1.30 - 2.30 pm

[RachelMumsnet]

To celebrate the publication of his new book Cottage Veg Every Day and accompanying Channel 4 Series which starts on Thursday 20 October 20. Hugh is joining us this Thursday (15 September) between 1.30pm and 2.30pm for a live webchat. As well as being an award-winning cookery writer and broadcaster and founder of River Cottage, Hugh is also involved in a number of campaigns including Hugh's Fish Fight, Chicken Out and Landshare.

Join us on Thursday to quiz him about his campaigning, cooking veggies and tap into his knowledge of rearing livestock, growing produce and, of course, cooking and baking. If you're unable join us on Thursday, send your advance questions to this thread.

All mumsnetters who send in questions to Hugh will be entered into a draw to win one of five copies of River Cottage Veg Every Day. We'll announce the winners post webchat.

Best vegetables to grow as a beginnier, what to grow in a polytunnel and fruit.

Have been lucky enough to go to River Cottage on a course, what pigs would you reeommend as a first timer?

Hello Hugh!

I'm really enjoying the Veg book, we've been selective omnivores for a while!

I run my garden on a permaculture with chickens plan, my question is what do you think of permaculture systems and how do you think it compares for sustainability with other organic agricuture?

Why did you cut your hair!?

Honeydragon. I had it roasted with rosemary and garlic. HAve to take free food where you get it!

Will my chickens be OK living in a stable?

Dear Hugh,
do you plan in advance what you are eating each day - or do you just decide and make whatever you feel like eating when you get hungry?

Hi Hugh ,

Can you tell me what I cam with celeriac other tham put it in mash ?

Thanks

Theresa. Big fan

He's cut his hair? Brilliant! Now DP might be inspired to cut his too!

Hello Hugh, we are moving to North Newton Somerset in a couple of weeks and the current owners tell us they have sandy soil than drains quickly, can you suggest what veg we could 'over winter', and what to plant next spring, any tips on cider making for beginners as want to make use of the apples! Many thanks, Helen and Rod.

Some french schools, from personal experience, aren't above deep frying vegetables to get children to eat them, since, 1, the children eat the vegetables, and 2, they're french, do you think our schools should take the same approach?

Hi Hugh,
I was raised by veggies, so for us the 'high quality meat once in a while' thing is second nature.

I have a theory that frozen veg are actually very sustainable and environmentally friendly as:

-we'd run the freezer anyway
-no waste with food going off uncooked
-produced intensively therefore less carbon per calorie
-vitamins nicely preserved too

any thoughts?

@aristocat

are you really a veggie?

Rumours of my being a veggie have spread far and wide so it's time to front up. It's true. Its true that i haven 't eaten meat or fish for over three months now instead I've been immersing myself int he wonderful world of veg and I've been loving it. A few more weeks and I'll be back on the flesh but I think this experience will have changed the way I cook forever.

Fair enough Spider

@bagelmonkey

Hi Hugh. I'd like to know if there's anything 2 incompetent adults and a baby could grow to eat in an apartment with a small balcony. We have a lot of light, but it would need to be very low maintenance and safe. I was hoping for something a bit more adventurous than cress if possible. Any cooking tips would be great too. Thanks.

Yes definitely. I think everybody who wants to grow food should be able to do it. If you haven't got a garden or can't find an allotment you can grow herbs and salad in a window box, tomatoes or courgettes in a big pot in a sunny corner of a room, grow climbing peas and beans up your fire escape. You might not be able to grow enough to make you self-sufficient, but even a little home-grown veg is good for the soul.

What size polytunnel is best?

Erm, would you be kind enough to answer the questions further up the thread?

WandersOffToSortOutHer2YearOldCubTiggaxx

@ladymalham

Hello Hugh How can I learn to love cabbage? It keeps popping up in my veg box and then sits there for ages. Is there a simple way of cooking it to make it inspiring and tasty for myself and my 3 year old?

You need to cook your cabbage as soon as possible after your veg box arrives, so it's lovely and sweet and fresh. Try steaming it for just a few minutes then frying some chopped garlic and a teaspoon of caraway seeds in a little butter and a dash of olive oil, then toss the cabbage in this delicious butter. Cabbage will never be the same again.

Hi Hugh,
We are currently trying to rear Indian Game x Dorking birds to try out your best roast chicken theory! Thanks for all the tips. Just wondered if you fed them anything other than crumb/grower/finisher feed through their rearing, to help get a great flavour? They are free ranging round our garden with our flock of layers, and we are really excited to try them in a few months time!
Love your shows, you have reall inspired us,
Vanessa

@fivegomadindorset

Will my chickens be OK living in a stable?

They'll be fine living in a stable for a while buy they'll want to get out and get some sun on their backs as often as possible. Also try and make sure they've got some nesting boxes or at least some nice cosy piles of straw to lay their eggs in.

Do we need to be reposting our questions here?

@HorseHairKnickers

Didn't agree with the chicken thing though... Not that I think chickens living in crowded conditions is good ~ I don't, but it's really a matter of cost and budget for a lot of people and even more so in this financial nightmare that most of us find ourselves in.

So, my question is this; If you buy a free range chicken and a caged (not free range) chicken, how is it possible to get more meat from the free range than the caged if they are the same weight?

I don't have a big weekly budget for food (about £30 - £35), so if I want to actually feed my children meat, it's often chicken, but never free range, so I'd be very interested in your answer please.
Thanks Hugh

A free range chicken will be leaner but better in flavour- you'll get more taste even if you don't get more meat- I wouldn't dream of roasting a chicken without making a stock afterwards, which gives you a lovely soup or risotto to which you can add leftover chicken meat as well as plenty of good veg.

Hi Hugh ! We have a fairly big garden and have been growing veg and now have chickens ! But not succesful growing lettuces due tto bugs and pigeons is there an organic/natural spray we can get to stop the bugs ?? i want to be abel to spray and eat veg without havign to wait so many weeks before we can ! Also any ideas for a main meal using potatoes as got tonnes this year ! we have lots of herbs and somethign a bit spec be great ! If you ever Essex way pop to Rayleigh ( even put you to work !!!)
Lissa

@HowlingBitch

Why did you cut your hair!?

I'm sorry if the shorter locks have distressed you, but generally they seem to be going down well. My wife likes my new short hair and that's the most important thing. The fact is, I've been thinking about getting a haircut for several years, it was just a question of grabbing a moment between filming projects to avoid any unfortunate continuity problems.

Hi Hugh

How exciting! I was wondering if there were any pointers you could give to a non-profit organisation local to me as to how to make their co-operative food shopping scheme really successful. They don't just buy loads of food from a wholefood wholesalers, but include produce from all sorts of different local producers as well. It's called Stroudco Foodhub?

They've asked me to give them a hand with their social media stuff, but it would be great to hear your opinion from your experiences of ethical food production and sale.

Thanks

@Wickedwaterwitch

Hi Hugh, I like your books, thanks especially for the meat book. And I agree with you about chicken.

Which chefs / food writers / cooks inspire/d you?

I started cooking from cook books at a young age, mainly cakes, puddings, biscuits and sweets, and I cooked my way through the greedy section of Katie Stewart's Times cookery book, until the pages were all stuck together with chocolate, custard and meringue. As I got more serious about teaching myself to cook, I moved onto Constance Spry and Elizabeth David. I still think they are three of the best cookery writers to get anyone started. But the biggest inspiration has always been my mum; she got me cooking and I loved making the puddings for her 1970s dinner parties. Profiteroles, black forest gateau, meringues, pavlova etc. etc.