When Kay Sexton becomes the proud holder of an allotment, she hopes it will be her first foray towards selfsufficiency for her family. Instead, she finds herself in a strange and hostile world of arcane rules and regulations, and hosepipe standoffs. She finds her mud-caked Wellingtoned feet and successfully navigates her way through allotment-keeping: battling Biblical-scale pest invasions; learning the dark arts of the competitive vegetable grower; and practising ninja-like disappearing acts to avoid yet another free cucumber from a neighbouring gardener. Witty, well-observed and with mouth-watering recipes, this book is for anyone who dreams of a slice of the good life.
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'...She soon learned after becoming the proud holder of an allotment that's it's not all giant marrows and juicy tomatoes.' --Geurnsey Press and Star, 19th March 2011
'Amusing story of Kay's escapades.' --Country Smallholding Magazine, March 2011
'A very enjoyable edition to the growing canon of allotment literature. For Kay Sexton it's all in the quirk.' --Sublime, April 2011
'Guide to the good life.' --The Field, March 2011
'Well timed and a joy to read.'
--Kitchen Garden, April 2011
'Must read.' --Yours Magazine, 22nd February 2011
'Just got an allotment? Then put your feet up with Kay Sexton's quirky tales of allotment life.' --Gloucester Citizen, 29th January 2011
'witty take on her first foray towards self-sufficiency.' --Gloucestershire Echo, 20th January 2011
`This is truly a lovely book, and it makes you smile from cover to cover.' --Regency Magazine, May 2011
`...brilliant book... Tempting recipes and valuable tips... and colourful characters that ramble through the pages of the book.' --The Cottage Smallholder Blog, July 2011 'This is a truly lovely book, and it makes you smile from cover to cover.' --Regency Magazine, August 2011 --Reviews for Minding my Peas and Cucumbers
'Amusing story of Kay's escapades.' --Country Smallholding Magazine, March 2011
'A very enjoyable edition to the growing canon of allotment literature. For Kay Sexton it's all in the quirk.' --Sublime, April 2011
'Guide to the good life.' --The Field, March 2011
'Well timed and a joy to read.'
--Kitchen Garden, April 2011
'Must read.' --Yours Magazine, 22nd February 2011
'Just got an allotment? Then put your feet up with Kay Sexton's quirky tales of allotment life.' --Gloucester Citizen, 29th January 2011
'witty take on her first foray towards self-sufficiency.' --Gloucestershire Echo, 20th January 2011
`This is truly a lovely book, and it makes you smile from cover to cover.' --Regency Magazine, May 2011
`...brilliant book... Tempting recipes and valuable tips... and colourful characters that ramble through the pages of the book.' --The Cottage Smallholder Blog, July 2011 'This is a truly lovely book, and it makes you smile from cover to cover.' --Regency Magazine, August 2011 --Reviews for Minding my Peas and Cucumbers
About the Author
Kay Sexton has been a finalist for several writing awards including the "Sunday Times" Short Story Award 2010.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This manages to be the most entertaining, informative and indeed touching book against (I'd have thought) all the odds. Allotment codgers meet Jean de Florette with added planting tips and recipes, all woven through with the threads of secret lives just glimpsed, plus some homely wisdom.
Lots of things resonate, whether you're a veg-grower (actual or would-be), a cook, a lover of tales. To combine all these strands in a coherent narrative is a tall order. But this is such a good read. At one level I've learned some genuinely new and useful facts about germination and pests, the rhythm of the seasons, herb and spice combinations, you name it.... At another I was hooked by the verging-on-skulduggery and goings-on of what we can only call the Plot.
And did I mention that it's also very funny? It's certainly like no other book I've read!
Lots of things resonate, whether you're a veg-grower (actual or would-be), a cook, a lover of tales. To combine all these strands in a coherent narrative is a tall order. But this is such a good read. At one level I've learned some genuinely new and useful facts about germination and pests, the rhythm of the seasons, herb and spice combinations, you name it.... At another I was hooked by the verging-on-skulduggery and goings-on of what we can only call the Plot.
And did I mention that it's also very funny? It's certainly like no other book I've read!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
At last a book about Allotment life from a woman's point of view! I have read a lot of books about "my first year on the plot", "my life at the allotment" etc - most of them good (not all) but they all seem to be by men. And (forgive me for being sexist) but I do think men have a different attitude to gardening and their plot. I could really relate to Kay's experiences in terms of having to prove herself to the "old guard" of men in flat caps! I also share her interest in allotment life (the human as well as plant kind). You don't just get to know Kay, but her neighbours too. Kay manages to intertwine a really engaging narrative with useful information which not only tells you WHAT to do but HOW to do it and WHY (so many books forget the why and if I don't understand I don't remember). Oh and there are some mouth watering recipes too! Its a bit like having a more experienced gardener to gossip with but also who hands over a few hints and tips between the stories - much more interesting than a pure reference book.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Wiltshire Bookworm
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
If you have an allotment: Read this book
If you want an allotment or are thinking about it: You need this book
If you don't have an allotment: Read this book anyway
Why? I hear you ask...
If you have an allotment: you will be squirming and giggling with that uncomfortable sense of delight that Kay Sexton has a plot on your allotment, but you haven't met her yet. You may even recognise yourself in the character(s) she portrays. Failing that there's quite a few recipes in there you probably haven't tried yet which will come in handy for those future gluts.
If you want an allotment: Kay really tells it like it is, including all the hard bits. You will be going into the deal not only with your eyes wide open but also armed with lots of useful little nuggets of information all those shiny, authoritative looking Grow Your Own books have somehow forgotten to mention. Failing that, you will see how inventive allotment folk have to be to use up their annual harvest.
If you don't have an allotment: you will realise that allotment life encompasses the whole of the real world in miniature and you will enjoy the stories she recounts about the version of it up at her plot. Failing that, there's always the deliciously unusual recipes to try...
Kay has beaten me to it and written the book I've always wanted to tell. Mr Allotment Warden, Threadspider and Fred to name but three from my allotment site can all sleep easy in their beds from now on.
If you want an allotment or are thinking about it: You need this book
If you don't have an allotment: Read this book anyway
Why? I hear you ask...
If you have an allotment: you will be squirming and giggling with that uncomfortable sense of delight that Kay Sexton has a plot on your allotment, but you haven't met her yet. You may even recognise yourself in the character(s) she portrays. Failing that there's quite a few recipes in there you probably haven't tried yet which will come in handy for those future gluts.
If you want an allotment: Kay really tells it like it is, including all the hard bits. You will be going into the deal not only with your eyes wide open but also armed with lots of useful little nuggets of information all those shiny, authoritative looking Grow Your Own books have somehow forgotten to mention. Failing that, you will see how inventive allotment folk have to be to use up their annual harvest.
If you don't have an allotment: you will realise that allotment life encompasses the whole of the real world in miniature and you will enjoy the stories she recounts about the version of it up at her plot. Failing that, there's always the deliciously unusual recipes to try...
Kay has beaten me to it and written the book I've always wanted to tell. Mr Allotment Warden, Threadspider and Fred to name but three from my allotment site can all sleep easy in their beds from now on.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Minding my Peas and Cues
My mother of nearly 80 has an allotment which she loves so this book will be a great present for her.
Published 5 days ago by Mrs. V. Gifford
5.0 out of 5 stars
minding my peas and cucumbers
Arrived safely and well with in the allotted time. A super book that was very much apprecited and enjoyed by the recipient
Published 2 months ago by raenbow
4.0 out of 5 stars
Really enjoyable read - quirky
I bought this book for my sister-in-law - definitely into her allotmenting. She loved its comical slant on the do's, don'ts and who's who of home produce. Well worth a read!
Published 3 months ago by Dr. M. H. Lyne
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a Christmas present
I bought this for a friend as a Christmas present. I think this will be perfect for her and hope she enjoys
Published 5 months ago by Mary WHITTAKER
4.0 out of 5 stars
Practical but fun account of life as an allotment holder
I wasn't sure what to expect from Minding My Peas and Cucumbers, but I can honestly say that I found it to be an enjoyable read, for a number of reasons. Read more
Published 18 months ago by LunaLucy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Minding your Peas and Cucumbers
The front cover reads Quirky Tales of Allotment Life so I expected it to be a book you would give someone as an amusing, light-hearted present. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Ronnie/Hurtled to 60
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasurable reading even if you're an Allotment Phobic
The reason I picked up Minding my Peas & Cucumbers is that I'm a fan of Kay Sexton's short stories (published in various anthologies & magazines.). Read more
Published 23 months ago by Lou Ice
5.0 out of 5 stars
A tale of allotments, intrigue and finding one's niche
I knew nothing about allotments before I read this book and precious little about growing anything. It has not only given me some insight into the subject, but also a wonderful... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Louise
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply great!
I do not have an allotment. I now wish I had one -if they are all as much fun as this - a brilliant book!
Published on 21 May 2011 by Mrs. V. R. Gebbie
5.0 out of 5 stars
satisfied 2
This item was purchased as a pressie at he same time as the one titled satisfied
AS with the first we received order before expected and in pristine condition. Read more
AS with the first we received order before expected and in pristine condition. Read more
Published on 1 May 2011 by Mr. T. W. Little
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