Michael Kelly

They knew it was the end. Weakened by four years of war, the reality had finally dawned on the Germans that their armies could never stop the combined might of the Allied forces, now bolstered by the fresh, enthusiastic Americans, who were now determined to be involved in the conflict that had engulfed the world. The US effort in 1918, in what became known as the Hundred Days Offensive, was focused on the Argonne Forest. It was there that 1,200,000...

For decades, aesthetics has been subjected to a variety of critiques, often concerning its treatment of beauty or the autonomy of art. Collectively, these complaints have generated an anti-aesthetic stance prevalent in the contemporary art world. Yet if we examine the motivations for these critiques, Michael Kelly argues, we find theorists and artists hungering for a new kind of aesthetics, one better calibrated to contemporary art and its moral and...

Unfortunately, most of the imported supermarket tomatoes we buy taste of absolutely nothing at all. It is not until you grow your own that you realise this! The homegrown tomato is a delectable treat, and while a little TLC is required to grow them, it’s worth the effort.

Who knew French Beans were so easy to grow? Michael Kelly says French Beans are one of the most straightforward vegetables to grow - both the climbing green, and dwarf purple varieties, do really well in the glasshouse, raised bed and container.

The tip of the iceberg.

In this first episode Michael and Karen focus on a household staple – the onion. Easy to grow and very low maintenance, both red and white varieties are sown in the raised bed with Karen holding back some of the sets for container growing.

Peas are almost never available in the shops fresh, always frozen. As soon as a pea is picked from the plant the sugars inside it start to turn to starch which means the flavour starts to deteriorate immediately.

Mick is feeling cool as a cucumber with his well-rehearsed veg trivia, new polytunnels and boy scout knowledge of cucumber growing. While there’s more to it than the veg grown in earlier episodes, Karen shows how this prolific plant can also be grown outdoors in Container Corner, alongside some miniature cucumelons.

All about chard. The nutritional powerhouse. How chard can it be?

Halfway through the series and it’s time to introduce the courgette or as Michael Kelly calls it, ‘The Vegetable of Mass Production’! Easy to grow in beds and containers so long as it is given plenty of milk (you read that right!), one plant can produce up to 40 courgettes. No wonder growers love to give them as presents at harvest time!