Forty years ago, in June 1969, we purchased at auction, a derelict 16th century farmhouse and an acre of neglected land, part orchard and part rubbish dump. Since then, we have added to the orchard, and have created a traditional vegetable garden, raised beds and a herb potager. And we keep hens (once we also raised ducks and geese, but that’s another story). We cannot claim to be in any way self-sufficient, but both of us, Raymond and I, love to cook and to feed family and friends, using our own produce whenever we can.

For some long while, we have been documenting our favourite recipes collected and enjoyed over a period of fifty years, ever since we were first married. We have three children, who helped to renovate our beloved home and garden, and nine grandchildren, aged between five and fifteen. Food and its production and creation is to us a key factor in keeping young and healthy.

The recipes that follow have been adapted and revised many times. ‘Plain and Simple: Grow it, Cook it, Eat it’ is our mantra, which does not mean that our food is boring, but it has to fit into our busy working lives; enjoyable to prepare whilst allowing us to relax over our meals.

herbs, vegetables and flowers mingle in our productive potager

Follow this ‘Farmhouse Recipe’ section to share our personal ‘Cotswold Cookbook’ - some recipes are particularly associated with gardening articles I have been commissioned to write. Above all, please experiment and enjoy. Life is a perpetual rush and ‘slow food’ helps us all to return to a gentler way of living.