21st Century Smallholder - From window boxes to allotments: how to go back to the land without leaving home, by Paul Waddington. Published by Eden Project Books. Fed up with the weekly trek to the supermarket? This book (at the discount price of £8.57 from Amazon) is packed with down-to-earth, well-presented advice and information for townies attempting even the slightest degree of self-sufficiency. The author has tried it all at his south London home. As well as a guide to fruit and vegetable growing, there are suggested designs to make the most of your available outdoor space, a guide to the comparative hassle and cost of keeping livestock (Waddington has an obvious bent for bee keeping), and ways to make a Victorian house eco-friendly. Stylishly presented on eco-friendly paper. A must for anyone who wants to cut down on the amount of hard-earned cash they give to supermarket chains.

Posted by Ros

If you're going to invite our feathered friends to nest in the garden, then ditch that plastic bird box now and buy a gorgeous Birdball . It's round, just the way birds like to build their nests and offers year round nesting and protection from the elements. Plus it looks great too. For £29.95 plus p & p you can invite small garden birds to come and hang out in your garden.

Posted by Carole

The Modern Garden Company really are just that. Their products ooze design, sculpture and clean lines. It's the frst time they've launched an online Summer catologue, so take a peek at these vibrant lacquered aluminium chairs, from £109 - £229.

Or treat yourself to this stunning bench designed by Robin Day. It's made of polypropylene and steel, is available in green or white and costs £577. This bench is way too beautiful to leave outdoors.

Posted by Carole

Russell Pinch has a great eye for detail, beauty and the creation of pieces which will be collectors items in the future. This twig bench and cube made from copiced hazel can be found at the elegant and simple Pinch design website. It was originally designed for Neals Yard remedies head office in Dorset. Now you and I can have this organic bench for £1050 or cube for £550. Never have twigs looked so good.

Posted by Carole

Hurry, hurry. new designers starts at the Business Design Centre in Islington on Thursday 29 June. Visiting this showcase for Britain's design graduates gives you the chance to say 'I saw it first'.
29 June – 2 July is jewellery, ceramics, glass, textiles and fashion.
6 – 9 July is product design, furniture and interiors.
Tickets £9 in advance, £11 at the door.

From this Thursday 22nd you can get up to 40% off at the The White Company, which although aimed at people with no mucky children and live by the sea, have some very neat and well, very white, goods. These cube planters are finished in a textured rustic finish, have a removable plug and are £20 for the small (20 x 20) or £35 for the big (30 x 30).

When you've finished all that digging and planting, treat your hands to a heady rub of thyme and sunflower oil essences with this hand cream. Then relax and pour yourself a drink.

Posted by Carole

These cherry blossom thermos flasks will make you the envy of all other festival or camper goers this Summer. It costs £10.95 and holds 1.2 litres of hot steamy coffee or a chilled strawberry daiquiri cocktail. Why do chrome when you can get completely flowered up at Graham & Green ? A truly delicious site, which screams 'Buy me' a bit too loudly.

Poated by Carole

I last saw this giant bubble blower on an episode of the Teletubbies and it looked great fun. It costs £18, comes with a booklet, 250 ml of bubbles mix and is apparently idiot proof. Cox & Cox have lots more fun and creative children's toys, as well as some dainty and beautifully detailed products, which would add a feminine touch to your home. Lots of inspiring gift ideas, silver engraved hearts, candle lanterns, butterfly garlands - all very dreamy.

Posted by Carole

Natural Collection have just been voted 'Retailer of the Year by the readers of The Observer in their Ethical Awards, and what a good choice they've turned out to be. Husband-and wife-team Julian & Jo Spencer have applied an ethical and ecological approach to everyday household and outdoor goods we need and purchase on a daily basis. The gardening section is stuffed with feeders, planters, solar lights, potions that don't kill the cat next door, some neat butts and composting bins.. you get the idea. I've chosen this natural hemp string which costs £4.95 - £12.95 as a small but practical place to begin turning my garden greener. It's part of their vast hemp range, t-shirts, weighing scales, bicycle? It's a one - stop ethical shop, time for me to chuck out the last remaining chemicals lurking in the potting shed.

Posted by Carole

The ice cream season is definitely here, so why not purchase these 4 cool and vivid ice cream servers for £10 at Debenhams . They've got some great acid coloured kids furniture if you want to complete the look.

Posted by Carole

It's too hot to cook and judging by the kids at nursery today - too hot to eat. So think nibbles and order these 4 attractive teardrop dishes for £7.99 from Next . While online, take a peek a their outdoor lighting section and very stylish planters. Can't bear the fact that they stamp their logo on so many of their products but these look tasteful and logo free.

Posted by Carole

Are you faced with a lawn which is dying before your eyes and wondering what you can do? Then log onto the love the garden site. It's quite blatantly dedicated to promoting 5 well know garden brands, but in the midst of this has some great advice and tips. And if this wonderful (but boy is it hot) sunshine continues, then our plants are going to need some serious resuscitation without the use of water or a miracle. What I want to know is has anyone tried to siphon the water out of their bath into a water butt below? Let me know.

Posted by Carole

Now that camping has become the cool holiday of choice (just see this Observer article if you don't believe us), we're pleased to say that the fabulous Cath Kidston tents that we blogged at the start of May (Millets just got groovy) are now on sale at 25% off at Millets.

We don't know how long this offer will be on for, so best to make the most of it whilst you can.

If floral's not your style, then we'd recommend if you crave the designer look for your canvas dreams then the available at outdoor shop may have something to tickle your fancy, including Fish print and Bamboo printed tents.

Finally, if you want to find somewhere to pitch your tent outside of your back garden, then we can recommend you buy a copy of Jonathan Knight's latest guide Cool Camping which hand picks the best places to pitch your tents for the night in England.

I'm sure that next week we'll be bringing you Stella McCartney sleeping bags...

Posted by Ross

Now the evenings are getting warmer, you'll need to set up a relaxing mood outdoors with some lighting. These metal Marakesh Lanterns will give a gentle fluttery glow and have been reduced by 37% to £6.95. They're typical of hundreds of bargains to be had at the Cotswold Company who are having a sale of up to 50% off some items.


We're also very happy to let you know that there's also a special offer for housebible readers during the period of the sale, which is 10% off all full price items. As this offer and the sale finishes on 12th July, it's time to treat yourself by visiting the Cotswold Company .

Posted by Carole

The sun has finally come out and you've noticed you need a bit of colour in your garden. Then Head for the Fulham Palace Garden Centre near Putney Bridge. Not only can you purchase a great selection of plants, from African Violets to 10 ft palms, but all the profits will go to the Fairbridge. charity, which helps disaffected inner city youths. While you're at it why not join the garden centre society for £20 per year and attend a series of garden events to inform you about what's new and happening in the plant world. Alternatively roll up with your empty planters or window boxes and they'll plant them up for you. Not bad for a days trip to a garden centre.

Posted by Carole

There is something terribly English and solid about Plantstuff . Based in Shepton Mallet, they stock a small and carefully selected range of outdoor goods, like these pocket secateurs for £29.50. Yes, you can get them for as little as £5.99, but like me will find that they have a very short and rusty life. If you want garden products that you'll end up leaving in your will, then look no further.

Posted by carole

These trays are just the thing for carrying out your antipasti when you're dining alfresco. They have four separate removable dishes. At the moment you can only view them on ILVA's Danish site, but they'll be available in their UK stores (in Thurrock and Manchester) when they open in late July for around £32.

Posted by Ros

Tchibo sounds like a Japanese car or drink to me, but don't let the name put you off. They're an international firm who launched here in 1991 with their cafe services to hotels and big businesses, after all they have been caffeine specialists for over 50 years. Now they make for serious browsing for all us home shoppers. This stripy tablecloth is typical of their products, it costs £5.99 and comes with matching table mats (£2.99 for 4) and serviettes.

Every wednesday they have a new theme and new host of bargains, you even get Sarah Beeney's face peering at you in the baby section. Normally I would avoid these type of sites, but at that price I'll be shopping.

Posted by Carole

Having a bar in your garden has got to be the next best thing to a swimming pool. And the best thing next to a swimming pool, for that matter. When the new Danish ILVA stores open this summer in Thurrock and Manchester, I'd like a couple of these Mambo bar stools with woven plastic seats to perch on sipping piña colada while the kids splash in the (paddling) pool. They'll cost around £90.

Posted by Ros

My kids would love to receive this busy bee as a gift. They'd have hours of fun buzzing around in all directions, your 2 and a half to 5 year old would also develop a lot of key motor skills. It cost £59.99 from mothercare who also have a good selection of slides, playhouses and trampolines to ensure fun for the kids this summer. If you buy £100 worth of Mothercare goods before June 9th, you'll get £10 off, just quote ref JRD at the counter. Now off you go and buy a bug and a sandpit.

Posted by Carole

Well if you're not sure if bbq's are your thing, then why not experiment with this cheeky little red barbecue reduced from £14.99 to £9.99 at Robert Dyas, a real bargain. Great range of well priced housey stuff on their site, which probably explains why they are opening 75 stores over the next 3 years. So maybe you can bag yourself a nifty bbq and job at the same time and celebrate with some sizzling sausages.

Posted by Carole

So this is what John plays with these days, what else but a gentle game of croquet befits his current (but not for long) country setting. Let's hope he feels he can still use his beautiful Jaques croquet set up North. This Jaques Holmwood model consists of 4 full-size mallets, is made of Ash and costs £150. Maybe Tony gave him the superior model which costs £499 as another favour? Not being so cash rich, I will be hunting down a cheaper version at John Lewis or picking up a bargain Jaques set on ebay. Either way we'll all be playing croquet the John way this Summer.

Posted by Carole