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National Garden Scheme Gifts

Friday, November 16th, 2018

National Garden SchemeGARDEN-LOVERS GIFT GUIDE: Quintessentially British Christmas gifts for garden-lovers from the National Garden Scheme

 

Treat your garden-loving friends or family members to horticulture-inspired gifts and Christmas cards from the National Garden Scheme – and all proceeds will help support nursing and health charities such as Marie Curie, Hospice UK and Carers Trust.

Visit www.ngs.org.uk/shop to order.

  • The Garden Visitors Handbook 2019

Inspire a year of garden visiting with the Garden Visitor’s Handbook 2019 – the essential guide to over 3,500 gardens opening for the National Garden Scheme next year. With detailed descriptions of every garden, stunning photos, and handy maps and calendars, all of the information you could possibly need to visit a beautiful garden is right at your fingertips!

Pre-order the handbook as a Christmas gift and you’ll receive a printable gift voucher to give to your loved one, letting them know they’ll receive the Garden Visitor’s Handbook 2019 hot off the press in February 2019.

£13.99

  • Christmas cards

Send festive cheer to your friends and family with the National Garden Scheme’s range of three Christmas cards, all featuring beautiful National Garden Scheme gardens in winter.

Pack of 10 cards £4.25

  • Apron, tea towel, notebook, tote bag

Whether you’d like to inject some colour into someone’s kitchen with the National Garden Scheme apron and tea towel, add to their stationery collection with a beautifully illustrated notebook or help them transport plants home from a garden visit with a canvas tote bag – your loved one will be sure to treasure one of the National Garden Scheme’s quintessentially British gifts.

Prices range from £6 – £14

Please note, last order date to receive items in time for Christmas is Monday 17th December at midday.

Desk allotment! Sprout seeds with Biosnacky from A.Vogel

Wednesday, August 31st, 2016

Sprout up’ with BioSnacky, the mini-greenhouse for your desk or windowsill

This is a lovely kit to grow fresh  sprouts at home. There’s a huge variety you can use to sprout and they are really delicious!

This seed sprouter is really lovely to use. It’s very simple in design, three layers of plastic sprouting space which have special filter devices that just let the water go through from the top layer to the middle layer and down to the bottom layer and into the tray at the bottom.

Adding seeds is very simple, rinsing with a small sieve makes sure they’re clean and then pop them into one of the trays.
It’s important not to put too many in one tray so they are not too overcrowded. This allows air to circulate.

The sprouts can be eaten at different stages, from just sprouted, to longer or when they’re starting to green up.

They are delicious served in a variety of ways from sprinkled on top of a salad, added to a sandwich, or sprinkled on the top of a meal. They can be added to stir fries too – the Chinese bean sprouts you enjoy are grown from mung bean seeds. They’re delicious raw and fresh too.

If you’re looking for a way to eat more fresh veegtables then sprouting seeds can be an easy way. No spades, no bags of compost, no plant pots and the only fork you need is the one you eat them with.

A very nice seed sprouting kit that you will get years of happy use from. It’s joyful seeing how quickly seeds sprout; it’ll intrigue  the kids watching them grow in the kitchen!

The plastic trays are easy to wash out. Hygiene is important to ensure the seeds grow cleanly. The transparent layers will be fun to watch as you pour the water in at the top and watch it flow through to the bottom tray.

 I recommend this sprouter as it’s easy to use and works really well!

If you don’t have a garden or access to an allotment, growing your own nutritious vegetables might seem like an impossible task, but with BioSnacky from A.Vogel you can now sprout seeds in your own home, no garden needed.

 

Sprouts are very young plants, one stage up from a seed, and appear days after being germinated. They are an incredible source of minerals, vitamins and complete proteins and, due to being a small plant carrying all the building blocks for a much bigger vegetable, they contain these natural vitamins in extremely high concentrations – sprouts really punch above their weight!

Healthy, fresh and delicious, sprouts can be grown in any season in a short period of time; simply choose which seeds you’d like to sprout from A.Vogel’s range and get growing…sprouted-seeds

o   Alfalfa – Organically grown alfalfa seeds that complement light meals such as salads.

o   Broccoli – Organically grown, fresh-tasting broccoli seeds.

o   Mild Aromatic Mix – Light and delicate lentil, mung bean and white radish seeds.

o   Gourmet Mix – A mixture of quinoa, radish and lentil seeds.

o   Fitness Mix – Antioxidant white radish, mung bean and wheat seeds.

o   Red Clover – Red clover sprouts look like alfalfa sprouts and have a mild sweet flavour.

o   Mung Bean – Organically grown mung bean seeds that have a mild, nutty taste.

o   Little Radish – Strong and spicy tasting seeds.

o   Wellness Mix – Mung bean, red clover, lentil and white radish seeds.

o   Menopause Pack – Which includes Alfalfa, Broccoli, Gourmet Mix and Red Clover seeds.

o   Superfood Pack – Which includes Broccoli, Detox Mix, Fitness Mix and Red Clover seeds

The range of sprouting seeds can be grown with A.Vogel’s BioSnacky germinators. They’re not expensive, you will see your seeds sprouting right in front of your eyes and with two sizes to choose from you could keep one on your desk for quick lunches and a larger one at home to add to evening meals. The sprouts can be harvested fresh from the germinator before they lose their nutritional benefits and, depending on the variety, the sprouts will be ready-to-eatwithin one week. For the healthiest sprouts, sow seeds thinly and water twice a day.

 

The BioSnacky system has two types of seed sprouters – both are easy to use, simple to clean and dishwasher safe:

o   Small Germinator (RRP £4.99 at avogel.co.uk) – The small glass germinator is ideal for the single person or small family.

o   Large Germinator (RRP £17.99 at avogel.co.uk) – If you’re looking to grow more than one batch of seeds, the large seed sprouter is perfect for you! With the 3 tier sprouter, you will be able to ‘sow’ your sprouts at staggered intervals – starting every 2 or 3 days. As one tray of sprouts is ready for harvesting, the others will contain seeds just starting to germinate.

With summer right around the corner, sprouts are the perfect addition to a salad, smoothie or soup. Why not make our refreshingly light Cucumber & Feta Cheese Salad using someBioSnacky alfalfa sprouts? Ideal for summer, the alfalfa sprouts give this Greek inspired salad an extra boost of goodness and flavour. Or if you’re hosting a dinner party this summer, our delicious Sweet Potato Canapés with a sprinkle of BioSnacky broccoli sprouts will definitely impress your guests.

A.Vogel, pioneers in natural health, have been producing quality products since 1902 and are now stocked at www.yourhealthfoodstore.co.uk and www.avogel.co.uk. For more information about BioSnacky or any of their other products visit www.avogel.co.uk or followA.Vogel_Health on Instagram.

And what do you do with the seeds after you’ve grown them? You can add them to any salad or serve as a side, use them in stirfries or enjoy them in these yummy recipes.
They can be snacked on as a healthy nutrition packed snack.

BioSnacky Recipes

Sweet Potato Canapes – http://www.avogel.co.uk/food/recipes/sweet-potato-canapes/

Sweet Potato Canapés

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes
  • Peanuts, salted if preferred
  • Olive oil
  • ½ red onion, finely chopped
  • Freshly chopped parsley
  • Handful of bioSnacky®Broccoli sprouts

For the peanut dip

  • 2 tbsp crunchy peanut butter
  • 3 tsp soya or natural yoghurt
  • ½ tsp grated ginger
  • 1 tsp sweet soy sauce
  • 1-2 tbsp maple syrup
  • ½ tsp lemon juice
  • Chilli powder

1. Heat the oven to 180°C. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into approx. 1cm pieces. Finely chop the peanuts and parsley. Wash the sprouts and leave to drain.

2. Put the potato pieces into a pan and sprinkle with a little olive oil (alternatively, use a pastry brush and coat all sides with the oil). Lay the pieces on a baking sheet lined with greaseproof paper and bake them for about 15 minutes until they are tender.

3. Meanwhile, mix all the ingredients for the peanut dip together in a food blender until the mixture resembles a creamy sauce. Season to taste and use to coat the upper surface of the sweet potato pieces. Scatter over the onion slices and bake for a further 10 minutes until the onions are soft.

4. Leave them to cool slightly then top them with the chopped peanuts and parsley. Lastly, spread the BioSnacky® Broccoli sprouts over the top.

Cucumber and Feta Salad – http://www.avogel.co.uk/food/recipes/cucumber-feta-cheese-salad/

Cucumber & Feta Cheese Salad

  • 1 large cucumber, sliced
  • 1 head iceberg lettuce, washed, dried and torn into bite sized pieces
  • 1/2 cup of bioSnacky® Alfalfa sprouts
  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 cup chopped dill
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta

1. Add the cucumber, lettuce, BioSnacky® Alfalfa sprouts and garlic to a bowl.

2. In a separate bowl mix lemon, olive oil, salt and pepper.

3. Drizzle over the salad.

4. Garnish with dill and feta.

Growing gifts from buyagift

Thursday, November 28th, 2013

Use Code: xmas525
Description: Save £5 off any spend over £25 at Buyagift.com
Click here to visit Buyagift
Valid: 27th November 2013 – 24th December 2013 Inclusive


Grow Me Festive Sprouts
 £3.99
This kit contains all you need to help you cultivate your very own Brussel sprouts for your Christmas dinner this year. The satisfaction of presenting your home grown sprouts will surely make Christmas dinner that little bit more special. Location:

Grow Me Ho Ho Ho Carrots
 £3.99
This grow your own carrot kit is the perfect vegetable to cultivate for the festive season. This kit contains everything you need to get started and will provide you with much enjoyment watching them grow. Now all you need to decide is if you want them as part of Christmas dinner or for the nose of your carefully crafted Frosty the snowman! Location:

Grow Me Holly Berries
 £3.99
Grow your very own festive decorations, with this kit containing all you need to grow your own holly berries. Now all you have to think about is where you are going to decorate first! Location:

Grow Your Own Beer Hops
 £13.00
Growing your beer hops is simple – everything you need is inside this gift box including starter growing pots, compost discs, seeds and a booklet containing growing tips. A unique gift idea for beer fans! Location:

Grow Your Own Bonsai Trees
 £13.00
Growing your trees is simple – everything you need is inside this gift box including starter growing pots, compost discs, seeds and a booklet containing growing tips. A unique gift idea. Location:

Grow Your Own Carnivorous Plants
 £13.00
If you are brave enough then you will love the challenge of growing your very own carnivorous plant collection. Growing your plants is simple – everything you need is inside this gift box including starter growing pots, compost discs, seeds and a booklet containing growing tips. If you think growing the plants is fun then wait until feeding time! Location:

Grow Your Own Chilli Plants
 £13.00
Growing your chillies is simple – everything you need is inside this gift box including starter growing pots, compost discs, seeds and a booklet containing growing tips. A red hot gift idea. Location:

Grow Your Own Christmas Tree
 £12.99
With this fantastic Christmas gift set you can now grow your very own Christmas tree. Containing everything you need to get you started, this kit is bound to make Christmas just a little more special, with your own hand reared tree. Location:

Grow Your Own Fruit Selection
 £13.00
Growing your fruit is simple – everything you need is inside this gift box including starter growing pots, compost discs, seeds and a booklet containing growing tips. Location:

Grow Your Own Herb Garden
 £13.00
Growing your plants is simple – everything you need is inside this gift box including starter growing pots, compost discs, seeds and a booklet containing growing tips. Add great flavour to your meals and a wonderful aroma to your kitchen with this fun gift idea. Location:

Grow Your Own Lavender
 £13.00
Let the aroma of fresh flowers fill your home as you grow your own fresh dwarf lavender. The kit includes everything you will need to grow flowering lavender plants, including starter growing pots, compost discs, seeds and a booklet of tips for growing. An ideal gift for green-fingered garden lovers! Location:

Grow Your Own Olives
 £13.00
This grow your own olive kit includes everything you need to grow your own olive plant. The kit contains starter growing pots, compost discs, seeds and a booklet of growing tips. With care and patience, you’ll be able to cultivate your very own olive tree and bring a taste of the Mediterranean to your home! Location:

Grow Your Own Roses
 £13.00
Embrace the challenge of growing your very own rose garden. Growing your own roses is easy – everything you need is inside this gift-box, including starter growing pots, compost discs, seeds and a booklet containing growing tips. You’ll really enjoy watching these seeds grow into beautiful roses! Location:

Grow Your Own Sunflowers
 £13.00
Growing your sunflowers is simple – everything you need is inside this gift box including starter growing pots, compost discs, seeds and a booklet containing growing tips. See if you can break a record and grow your own giant sunflower. Location:

Grow Your Own Tea and Coffee
 £13.00
Growing your plants is fun and also easy- everything you need is contained inside this gift box including starter growing pots, compost discs, seeds and a booklet containing growing tips. Sit back and enjoy your tea and coffee that you have home grown. Location:

Grow Your Own Vegetable Garden
 £13.00
Growing your very own vegetable patch is both easy and fun. Inside your gift box is everything you need to get going including starter growing pots, compost discs, lots of different vegetable seeds and even a booklet including growing tips. Enjoy the taste of your own special home-grown vegetables with this fun and unique gift idea. Location:

Grow Your Own Wild Flowers
 £13.00
Growing your flowers is simple – everything you need is inside this gift box including starter growing pots, compost discs, seeds and a booklet containing growing tips. Create your own English country garden at home. Location:

Olive gifts from Buyagift

Thursday, November 28th, 2013

Maybe for when you need to give an olive branch..
Use Code: xmas525
Description: Save £5 off any spend over £25 at Buyagift.com
Click here to visit Buyagift
Valid: 27th November 2013 – 24th December 2013 Inclusive


Extra Olive Enthusiast’s Kit
 £59.00
Send a beautiful potted olive tree with a jar of extra olives deliciously marinated in herb infused extra virgin olive oil, and a delicious bottle of organic olive oil. This all comes beautifully presented in a rustic wooden crate, lined with brown wax paper, hand tied with large rafia bows and complete with full care instructions and recipes for their olive harvest. This is the perfect gift for any budding grow your own enthusiast. Location:

The Mediterranean Collection
 £60.00
The Mediterranean Collection includes a young fig tree, an olive tree and a pomegranate plant all growing in terracotta pots. These plants will make a delightful addition to any conservatory or terrace and are a lovely gift for almost any occasion. All gifts are beautifully packaged; they are packed in rustic wooden crates, cocooned in wood-wool and hand-tied with raffia. Location:

Olive Enthusiast’s Kit
 £50.00
A young olive tree in a terracotta pot, ideal for a sunny window sill or conservatory, packed in a wooden crate with a bottle of delicious estate bottled extra virgin olive oil. Comes with care instructions and tips on how to achieve your own olive harvest. All of this comes beautifully hand packaged in a rustic wooden crate which is hand tied with large raffia bows and your gift message. Location:

Grow Your Own Olives
 £13.00
This grow your own olive kit includes everything you need to grow your own olive plant. The kit contains starter growing pots, compost discs, seeds and a booklet of growing tips. With care and patience, you’ll be able to cultivate your very own olive tree and bring a taste of the Mediterranean to your home! Location:

Vegetable Garden (small)
 £39.00
Organic food has been linked to increased wellbeing, with Jamie Oliver, Prince Charles and many other all advocating the home-grown route. Join the trend of home-growing with this package designed for a vegetable patch approx 10m². Or it can also be grown in containers or grow bags, which leaves you no excuse for missing out on the benefits of good quality home food. Location: Delivery to UK mainland

Gifts for gardeners from Buyagift – voucher offer

Thursday, November 28th, 2013

Use Code: xmas525
Description: Save £5 off any spend over £25 at Buyagift.com
Click here to visit Buyagift
Valid: 27th November 2013 – 24th December 2013 Inclusive


Personalised Trowel and Fork Set
 £15.00
This quality fork and trowel set can be made all the more special by personalising it with the recipient’s name. Armed with their unique tools for the job, whoever receives this gardening gift set is ready to tackle any job that needs doing in the backyard. With the ability to be hung up when not in use as well, this gardening set has both sentiment and practicality. Location:

A Tree for You
 £14.00
The quirky gift that really does last a lifetime. Give someone their very own seedling in a presentation tube which they can nurture themselves until it is a great strapping Scots Pine! Your seedling comes with all the necessary instructions, can eventually be planted in the garden, and within ten years should have reached a whopping height of around three metres. Location:

Rose Gardening Apron
 £12.99
This floral apron is perfect for those days spent gardening, in your own personal back garden haven. Therefore why not look the part with this practical yet attractive apron, with plenty of storage room to hold the required tools to make your garden look stunning. Location:

Sow and Grow Wild West Garden
 £10.00
A fun and educational gift for kids, this wild west sow and grow kit includes everything they’ll need to grow their own cacti, including seeds, starter pots, compost discs, plant markers and growing tips. Location:

Green Fingers Gift Set
 £9.99
This practical gardener’s gift is perfect for any garden lover helping them with how to grow seasonally. With all the components needed to efficiently grow all you would want in the garden, this makes a clever gift. Location:

Pizza Chef Sow and Grow
 £9.99
This novelty kit includes all they need to begin growing the key ingredients to a perfect pizza. With tomato, basil and oregano seeds all included, these can be nurtured to be a future supply for creating a delicious topping to any pizza. A fun way to learn about nature and see the results! Location:

Extra Hot Chilli Growing Kit
 £9.99
Not for the feint hearted, the Habanero chilli is an exceptionally hot little blighter, guaranteed to test even the bravest of chilli lovers! Rated 100,000–350,000 on the Scoville scale, this amazing chilli is some 50 times hotter than a jalapeño! Take on the challenge of growing your own spicy nemesis from seed to terrifying fruit with this complete chilli growing kit. Can your taste buds handle it? Location:

Gardening Lovers Biscuit Card
 £8.00
A yummy alternative to a regular greetings card, these super-chocolatey biscuits make a wonderful treat for a gardening lover. Hand-iced by an expert baker and packaged in a smart box complete with a message card featuring your chosen words, these garden-themed biscuits are the perfect pocket sized treat for scoffing in the shed with a hot cuppa! Location:

Grow Me Holly Berries
 £3.99
Grow your very own festive decorations, with this kit containing all you need to grow your own holly berries. Now all you have to think about is where you are going to decorate first! Location:

Grow Me Festive Sprouts
 £3.99
This kit contains all you need to help you cultivate your very own Brussel sprouts for your Christmas dinner this year. The satisfaction of presenting your home grown sprouts will surely make Christmas dinner that little bit more special. Location:

Grow Me Ho Ho Ho Carrots
 £3.99
This grow your own carrot kit is the perfect vegetable to cultivate for the festive season. This kit contains everything you need to get started and will provide you with much enjoyment watching them grow. Now all you need to decide is if you want them as part of Christmas dinner or for the nose of your carefully crafted Frosty the snowman! Location:

Hot Stuff Grow Me
 £3.99
This fiery gift will really turn up the heat! Containing all you need to grown your own chilli peppers, this makes an ideal gift for those that enjoy the spicier things in life! Location:

I Love You Grow Me
 £3.99
A gift to give that special someone in your life, this will certainly help your feelings grow. Containing everything you need to grow your own ‘cupid’ sweet peas, and suitable for any time you want to do something a little extra, this will definitely give you some brownie points! Location: