Today I received my first veg box from Mark Cox (@GardenerCox) who grows all his produce at The Barley Wood Walled Garden in Wrington, Somerset.

His new scheme started today and he'll be dropping off pre-ordered boxes at the brilliant Hart's Bakery (on Hampton Lane, just off Cotham Hill) early every Wednesday morning. Laura Hart has agreed to be a collection point and I think anybody going to pick up their box would be wise to pick up some of her amazing pastries or a loaf of her bread. Her wholemeal sesame sourdough is a thing of wonder and lasts brilliantly too. Veg and bread. Two birds, one stone and all that...

It's going to be a weekly box for £10. As with all veg boxes, you have to take a certain leap of faith. You agree to pay before you've had a good feel, smell or taste. You also risk being sent something you don't like or can't make use of easily. However, I couldn't have been more pleased with the box I was sent.

For £10 I received;
About a kilo of purple potatoes
3 red onions
1 large garlic bulb
A big handful of runner beans
6 perfectly ripe small tomatoes
A bag of sugar snap peas
7 plums
7 greengages
A small, proper knobbly cucumber (looks like a snozzcumber!)
2 green and 1 yellow courgette
A red pepper
A small green cabbage (pointed - not sure of variety?)
A large 'mohican' lettuce

Loads of my favourite things and also something that I was really hoping I'd see - some varieties I can't find easily at the greengrocers. The purple potatoes, unusual lettuce and yellow courgette all fall into this category.

I buy pretty much all my veg from our local greengrocers on Gloucester Road but look forward to visits to farmer's markets (notably Bath and Stroud) for their extensive range of unusual veg. Purple carrots, candy stripe beets, heritage tomatoes and rainbow chard are all examples of things I have not been able to find easily away from the markets. If my new veg box contains these things as the year goes on, I'll be delighted.

To keep the costs down they're going to recycle bean box/mushroom trays and have asked that if we can return them the following week, they'll be able to 'keep this the most affordable veg box available'.

I'm going to sit and plan out the rest of the week now, utilising all this great stuff and trying to make sure I don't waste anything. Wish me luck.

Harts Bakery http://www.hartsbakery.co.uk/
Ethicurean at The Walled Garden http://theethicurean.wordpress.com/
The Barley Wood Walled Garden http://www.walledgarden.co.uk/garden1.html