Cooking on a Bootstrap author, Jack Monroe, has transformed her neglected garden shed into a genius DIY kitchen during lockdown.
The cook and food writer shared impressive before-and-after pictures of her new TV studio with fans on Instagram and Twitter, explaining that it was one of the most 'radical acts of self-care' she has ever done.
Jack cleverly completed the DIY transformation on a shoestring budget in just 48 hours, using unwanted items found around her home and garden, explaining that she had spent less than £60, mostly on paint and glue.
Most recently, Jack has been filming for BBC's Daily Kitchen Live, but her new venture will see her cook for sheer joy — and teach viewers how to use up kitchen cupboard essentials.
The DIY kitchen studio will be used to film her new lockdown show, Jack Monroe's Camp Kitchen. 'There will be videos: I'm doing a series I've provisionally titled Jack Monroe's Camp Kitchen, but I'm not putting myself under any pressure to deliver it by a set date or whatever,' explained Jack. 'I'm just gently learning to like myself again.'
Speaking about the new shedio, Jack said 'cooking in a converted rotten shed is quite possibly the happiest and most relaxed I've been in a long time', adding: 'I can't recall being this genuinely comfortable and happy for a very long time. Going to be hanging out in here a lot, getting to know what makes me happy when I'm all by myself alone with nothing to prove.'
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Though there's still some work to be done, as Jack mentioned on Twitter: 'Deffo need to paint the exterior of the #jackmonroescampkitchen ... Just can't decide what colour.'
Jack's not the only one who has been turning to DIY during lockdown. Stacey Solomon has been busy transforming old household objects into practical garden accessories. The Loose Women panellist impressed her followers with budget-friendly ways to upcycle items, including a plant herb stand and watering can light.
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7 fast-growing vegetables you can harvest in no time
Cress
One of the fastest-growing vegetables you can grow is cress. To grow your own, sprinkle cress seeds over the surface of a pot or sow in the ground quite close together (for example in a tight-knit row). Place on a kitchen windowsill or outside for the best results.
Sowing to harvest: 5-7 days
Lettuce
Lettuce takes around 21 days to grow, so you'll have a fresh green bunch of leaves in no time at all. Chris Bonnett from Gardening Express explains: 'For the quickest results, sow the seeds very thinly spaced around 15-25cm apart. Cover the seeds over gently and pat the surface of the soil down. Water along the rows then keep the soil moist and weed-free as the seedlings grow.'
Sowing to harvest: 21 days
Radishes
Looking to grow your own radishes? These will take around three to four weeks and can be grown either in small pots on your kitchen windowsill or in your garden. When placing the seeds in soil, make sure you sow them very thinly, spacing them about 2.5cm apart.
Sowing to harvest: 25 days
READ MORE: 7 vegetables you can easily regrow indoors using kitchen scraps
Spinach
To grow your own spinach at home, sow into rows about 30cm apart and set the seeds 2.5cm apart.
Top tip: ensure you grow spinach in light shade during the heat of summer to avoid the leaves turning bitter.
Sowing to harvest: 30 days
Carrots
One of the UK's favourite vegetables, growing your own carrots will save you plenty of money in the long-run. While these generally take slightly longer to grow than others, you can still expect sweet, crunchy crops in just six weeks.
Chris says: 'Sow into pots of potting soil, spreading the seed thinly over the surface, then cover with a thin sieved layer of compost'.
Sowing to harvest: 50 days
Dwarf green beans
Kids will love slipping on their gardening gloves and helping to plant tasty green beans. During the summer months, beans can be sown directly into the ground or into pots of potting soil (which is great if you have a balcony). Poke the seeds into the soil so they are 25-40cm apart. Water well and enjoy!
Sowing to harvest: 60 days
READ MORE: Gardening for beginners: 10 easy tasks to get started
Peas
Peas are a dinnertime staple and take almost no gardening experience to plant at home. They are a cool seasonal crop that flourish best in temperatures of around 13–18C. To grow your own, sow peas in two parallel lines in soil. Make sure your space them around 10cm apart. Then, cover with soil and water well.
Chris suggests: 'Remember to provide supports for your pea plants to cling to, and cover trenches with chicken wire or netting after sowing, as birds love to steal pea seed.'
Sowing to harvest: 60-70 days
BUY PEA SEEDS
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