Officially we are in drought, although here in Lincolnshire the day the hosepipe ban was declared it started to rain. Still, as gardeners we have to rethink the way we manage our gardens to remain productive. The Grow Your Own series is the perfect opportunity to ask our expert, Gail Summerfield, about choosing and growing plants that suit drought conditions. I hope there is something to take your fancy in the May line up listed below. Rain or shine, there's no better place to be than learning a new skill at Home Farm House this spring.

Victoria

WEAVING WILLOW PLANT STRUCTURES
The extremely talented Alison Walling from Lincolnshire Willow has been working with dried willow for years and recently created a willow man for an award-winning garden at Hampton Court Flower Show. She'll guide you through the techniques needed to create your own structure using different types of willow in a variety of colours.

NATURE'S LARDER: foraging workshop
Walk with us and discover the delights of sustainably foraging for food and how to identify what is safe to eat and what is not. We'll open your eyes to a feast of goodies from the hedgerow – including plants you might have dismissed as weeds! Learn to cook, prepare and preserve these plants. We'll also cover safety guidelines and protected plants.

GROW YOUR OWN – THE KITCHEN GARDEN
In the second of a series of five workshops Gail will lead you through the design of your vegetable garden, how to create fabulous, healthy plants, protection and nourishment, planting out, maintenance, succession sowing and early harvesting.

WEAVE A WILLOW FRAME BASKET
Frame basketry is an ancient form of basket making and is a country craft found in Celtic regions. It lends itself to simple, organic shapes and the use of wild and hedgerow material. A simple technique to master, you will make a small, round, egg or berry basket using colourful, organically grown local willow.

CHEESE MAKING: soft cheeses, butter and yoghurt
Making your own soft cheeses, butter and yoghurt will bring an added dimension to the flavours of your cooking. And, of course, you'll feel amazing when you master these surprisingly easy techniques in our hands-on demonstration.

CHOCOLATE MAKING
Fiona Sciolti, Lincolnshire's award-winning artisan chocolatier, produces a range of exquisite, handcrafted chocolates – and so can you if you join her at this hands-on workshop. Fiona will share with you her tips, techniques and hard-earned secrets that will set you on your way to making your own delicious chocolates.

VISIT TO RENISHAW HALL - DERBYSHIRE
I are delighted to offer this guided visit to Renishaw Hall, the former home of the literary and artistic Sitwell siblings. English eccentrics Osbert, Edith and Sacheverall Sitwell were renowned for their creative output between the two World Wars. Renishaw is only open by private appointment, so join art historian Rose Horspool for this special tour of the house and gardens.

FISH: choosing, storing, preparing and cooking
You'll never hesitate to cook fish again after Matt unravels the secrets of cooking it to perfection time after time. Often overlooked owing to the perceived complexities associated with its preparation, fresh fish is one of the healthiest and most fulfilling ingredients you can cook with. Learn about classifications, cuts and attributes of a variety of fish and leave full of confidence, ready to make friends with your fishmonger.

INTRODUCTION TO WINE MAKING
Joanna Mitchell utilises the abundance of produce growing locally in the garden and hedgerows to inspire her winemaking. Wine can be made from almost anything from dandelions to whatever is in season. In this introduction, Joanna will lead your through the process from selection to bottling.

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