<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Dorset Country Life]]></title><description><![CDATA[A blog for Growing, Cooking, Homelife and Wellness all set in the beautiful County of Dorset.]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:41:34 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[A Tomato Worth Talking About]]></title><description><![CDATA[There is always something rather hopeful about this time of year in Dorset. The garden begins to wake properly, seed packets appear on kitchen tables beside cups of coffee, and every year I seem to convince myself that this will be the year I grow the perfect tomato. This spring, however, I may have got a little carried away. Tucked amongst the usual dependable favourites was a packet of rather unusual tomato seeds called Ananas Noir — a name that sounds more suited to an old French wine than...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/a-tomato-worth-talking-about</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a1829a534554029974ef6a5</guid><category><![CDATA[Grow]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2026 17:01:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_f5668e03356f4c1aae413cc1eb7681a1~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_259,h_194,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sleep, Movement, And Healthy Living: Small Changes That Make A Difference After 60]]></title><description><![CDATA[This is a collabrative post Life after 60 can still be full of movement, travel, hobbies, social plans, and new routines that keep each week enjoyable. Plenty of adults want to stay active for as long as possible, yet energy levels, sleep quality, and physical comfort often change with age. Small lifestyle adjustments can make daily routines feel easier and help support long-term wellbeing. Good sleep plays a large part in how the body recovers, moves, and functions each day. Poor rest can...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/sleep-movement-and-healthy-living-small-changes-that-make-a-difference-after-60</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2293d8f64e529b409c5bd0</guid><category><![CDATA[Wellness]]></category><category><![CDATA[Home Life]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:25:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_65b176edb7df40a3a28670aea81977a9~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Edible Flowers You Can Grow in Your Garden — And Delicious Ways to Use Them]]></title><description><![CDATA[Calendula There is something wonderfully old-fashioned and joyful about growing edible flowers. Once common in cottage gardens and country kitchens, edible blooms are now making a welcome return — adding colour, fragrance and delicate flavour to everything from salads and cakes to teas and summer drinks. Better still, many edible flowers are incredibly easy to grow. Whether you have a sprawling garden, a greenhouse, raised beds or simply a few pots on a patio, you can grow flowers that are as...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/edible-flowers-you-can-grow-in-your-garden-and-delicious-ways-to-use-them</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a1839d634554029974f1ad6</guid><category><![CDATA[Grow]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cook]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:00:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_4539507028bb487e8271c7c947ee9549~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Experience the Charm of Exploring Dorset's Countryside]]></title><description><![CDATA[There’s something truly magical about waking up to the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant call of birds. It’s a kind of peace that city life rarely offers. Over the years, I’ve found myself drawn more and more to the slower rhythms of rural living, and nowhere captures this better than the beautiful county of Dorset. Nestled in the southwest of England, Dorset’s countryside is a treasure trove of rolling hills, quaint villages, and endless opportunities to reconnect with nature. If...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/experience-the-charm-of-exploring-dorset-s-countryside</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a01f0ff2fe6e98eed4206c6</guid><category><![CDATA[Dorset]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 17:30:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_aeaaa98e3c6e4f21971fe82b483a704d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Small Ways To Save Money]]></title><description><![CDATA[When times feel uncertain, there is a quiet instinct that sends many of us back to the old ways. The gentle, sensible habits that our parents and grandparents practised without fanfare. The sort of thrifty living that never felt like deprivation — simply common sense wrapped in comfort. Here in the countryside, saving money has never been about doing without. It’s about making the most of what you have, finding pleasure in simple things, and discovering that a slower pace often costs far...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/saving-money-in-small-ways</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a04b7634c277d8732ae77f3</guid><category><![CDATA[Home Life]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 17:00:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_e86f3dbf3eef454980cabc67c8a6a357~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Fennel: A Comforting Delight]]></title><description><![CDATA[There is something deeply comforting about knowing the slow cooker is working away in the kitchen while the day unfolds at its own unhurried pace. On busy weekdays or relaxed weekends alike, it feels like a quiet promise that supper will be ready, rich with flavour and warmth, without any last-minute fuss. This slow cooker pulled pork has become one of those reliable, crowd-pleasing dishes that fits perfectly into family life. It is wonderfully simple, gloriously forgiving, and the sort of...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/slow-cooker-pulled-pork-with-fennel</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a01ea99e0af128698ef82a4</guid><category><![CDATA[Cook]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 17:00:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_05f45de8a30245b698be8863af6154e0~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Best Bank Holiday Events In Dorset]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Whitsun May Bank Holiday always feels like the true opening of the Dorset summer. Hedgerows are thick with cow parsley, the sea begins to sparkle with promise, and the lanes fill with the cheerful hum of visitors rediscovering the simple joy of being outdoors. If you’re lucky enough to spend the long weekend here, Dorset offers that perfect blend of coast, countryside, and village life that begs you to slow down and savour every moment. Here are some wonderfully Dorset ways to spend the...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/best-bank-holiday-events-in-dorset</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a04c5d648aeb3fcb2432a23</guid><category><![CDATA[Dorset]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 17:30:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_21fe28d4fa4c4b12b86cb9afc213141f~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mum's Victoria Sandwich]]></title><description><![CDATA[There is a particular magic in the kitchens of our mothers — a quiet alchemy made of routine, patience, and the sort of knowledge that never needed a cookbook. For me, that magic will always smell faintly of warm butter and sugar, and it will always be a Victoria sandwich. Mum’s Victoria sandwiches are second to none. She would hate me saying so, of course, but I have long maintained she could give Merry Berry a very serious run for her money. Her approach is simple, unfussy, and entirely...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/mum-s-victoria-sandwich</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f739fc384eb6d61abb2e9a</guid><category><![CDATA[Cook]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 16 May 2026 17:00:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_91883689ea3447f39b84d8d3dfde81d2~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[3 Recipes For The Rhubarb Harvest]]></title><description><![CDATA[There is a moment each spring when the garden quietly changes gear. The soil begins to warm, the light lingers a little longer in the evenings, and suddenly the rhubarb patch bursts into life as though it has been waiting patiently all winter for its grand entrance. Those first rosy stems feel wonderfully reassuring. They arrive before the soft fruits, before the tomatoes, before the kitchen garden truly gets going — a cheerful reminder that the growing season is properly underway again. And...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/rhubarb-rhubarb-and-more-rhubarb</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69de27d41847596b2f5001a5</guid><category><![CDATA[Cook]]></category><category><![CDATA[Grow]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 17:31:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_7f7c925036ff424f8498f08e562d5686~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Snail Trail to Seedling Success]]></title><description><![CDATA[There is something deeply satisfying about a new gardening experiment, especially when it promises thrift, tidiness, and a dash of ingenuity. This spring, with seed trays crowding the greenhouses and not a spare pot in sight, I found myself turning to the delightfully named “seed snail” method. It sounded whimsical, practical, and just a little bit eccentric — which, in my experience, is often the mark of a very good gardening idea indeed. The principle is beautifully simple. Instead of...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/the-snail-trail-to-seedling-success</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ea1eebbbc0f3ff7448c1b4</guid><category><![CDATA[Grow]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 17:00:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_fe2441535e0842e79b835cb1e4985eaa~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Simple Country Remedy: Daisy Water for Hay Fever &#38; Tired Eyes]]></title><description><![CDATA[There’s a quiet joy in wandering the garden early in the morning, basket in hand, before the day has quite decided what it wants to be. The birds chatter, the kettle hums in the kitchen, and the lawn is scattered with little white daisies nodding happily in the sunshine. Most people see them as lawn invaders. I see a free and gentle remedy gifted by nature. Today I want to share one of the simplest country traditions I know — daisy water for soothing hay fever and tired, puffy eyes. Why...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/a-simple-country-remedy-daisy-water-for-hay-fever-tired-eyes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ea681aa4755da14cbbbf56</guid><category><![CDATA[Wellness]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 17:00:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_07579079b2d6411a95122a691705c064~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Somerset Willow Adventure]]></title><description><![CDATA[There are some outings that feel less like errands and more like the gentle opening chapter of a season. My recent trip to the Somerset Levels in search of  the Somerset willow growers farm, to purchace some green willow turned out to be exactly that — a afternoon full of fresh air,warm sun, muddy tracks, and the kind of quiet enthusiasm that only gardeners truly understand. A Spring Journey to the Levels With the car boot cleared and a flask of coffee packed, we set off , heading west as the...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/somerset-willow-adventure</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f60df4edf5696920d4b0d3</guid><category><![CDATA[Grow]]></category><category><![CDATA[Home Life]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 15:50:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_cc9d4a0c1a6f41968829db6eb2fa73be~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Warm Chicken, Asparagus &#38; Bacon Salad with New Potatoes]]></title><description><![CDATA[This is the kind of salad that feels like a proper meal — warm, comforting and full of flavour. I make this often when I have leftover roast chicken in the fridge,and its asparagus season. It’s one of my favourite ways to turn simple ingredients into something that feels a bit special. Crispy bacon, tender asparagus, buttery new potatoes and crunchy little gem lettuce all get finished with a drizzle of homemade French dressing. It’s simple, hearty and perfect for spring and summer evenings....]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/warm-chicken-asparagus-bacon-salad-with-new-potatoes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ea5e7ea4befc7c9f3a0d3c</guid><category><![CDATA[Cook]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:00:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_89c74f0d491a4b4185e5c33387a52179~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Sunny Spring Walk to Old Harry Rocks – Dorset at Its Best]]></title><description><![CDATA[Some days feel like a gift from the season, and our recent family walk out to Old Harry Rocks was exactly that. One of those warm, bright spring days where the sky stretches endlessly blue, the air smells faintly of grass and salt, and the Dorset coastline looks almost impossibly beautiful. It felt like the whole county had taken a deep, happy breath. Setting Off from Studland We began our walk from Middle Beach National Trust car park, where the landscape stunning and walking is easy on a...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/a-sunny-spring-walk-to-old-harry-rocks-dorset-at-its-best</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ea741da4755da14cbbd741</guid><category><![CDATA[Dorset]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 17:00:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_02978b22d51b43049a348a8c0e05276b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Companion Planting Asparagus And Strawberries]]></title><description><![CDATA[The asparagus bed and I have reached that familiar stage of a long-term relationship: five years in, still hopeful, slightly exasperated, and convinced that this  season might finally be the breakthrough. When I first planted the bed, I imagined armfuls of spears each spring. The reality has been… more modest. It’s improving, certainly, but not quite the abundance I had pictured when those crowns first went in. Gardening has a wonderful way of gently adjusting expectations while keeping...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/companion-planting-asparagus-and-strawberries</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69de1f4bc87c857db1f5cfec</guid><category><![CDATA[Grow]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:30:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_e2a0b902303e4651923c0e2eb08951b9~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Growing And Cooking Asparagus]]></title><description><![CDATA[There’s a particular morning each spring when you step outside and realise the countryside has quietly changed overnight. The air feels softer, the hedgerows have that faint green haze, and the garden suddenly looks as though it has shrugged off winter. Around here, that moment means one thing: asparagus season has arrived. For a few fleeting weeks, farm gates sprout handwritten signs promising Fresh Asparagus Today. Supper plans change. Market baskets fill with green bundles tied in twine....]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/growing-and-cooking-asparagus</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69e611cd0c8d230c9e94f8d6</guid><category><![CDATA[Grow]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cook]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:00:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_7c968c3e3a134e19b8d6ee3c7733cd04~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Companion Planting Carrots and Garlic]]></title><description><![CDATA[There’s something about this time of year that really gets the motivation going again down at the allotment. After the slower winter months, it feels good to finally get things moving, and this week I’ve made a proper start on one of my beds. I’ve decided to experiment a bit by planting a mixed bed of carrots and garlic together. The idea behind it is simple but (hopefully) effective — using companion planting to help keep pests at bay. In this case, the strong smell of the garlic is meant to...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/companion-planting-carrots-and-garlic</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c115260160b7de3153c9ad</guid><category><![CDATA[Grow]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 16:59:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_6724d10c54304bf58545617a8a6016e9~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Carrots - wonder vegetable of the future]]></title><description><![CDATA[This is a guest post kindly send to me from one of our readers David. Carrots are root vegetables, first grown in Afghanistan around 900 AD, and a hundred years later in the Middle East and North Africa, both domestically and wild.They were found in Europe six hundred years later.This vegetable is best known as orange coloured, but early carrots were purple, yellow or white just like the “new breed “of carrots on sale today in supermarkets. Plus ca change! The orange carrots we know, are a...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/carrots-wonder-vegetable-of-the-future</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c42c29d2e55f64fe0814a6</guid><category><![CDATA[Grow]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:00:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_f281cc657d854fa28c5f3fa17b4173b8~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sowing Mangetout and Sugar Snap Peas]]></title><description><![CDATA[This year, I’ve decided to switch things up a little with my pea growing. Instead of the usual varieties, I’m focusing on mangetout, along with another favourite returning for a second year — the purple magnolia sugar snap peas, grown again from my own saved seed. There’s something especially satisfying about sowing seeds you’ve saved yourself. It feels like the allotment coming full circle, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this year’s plants perform. To give everything the best possible...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/sowing-mangetout-and-sugar-snap-peas</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c117c8727acee2c06ea954</guid><category><![CDATA[Grow]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 17:00:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_42c8e5ddf99b4634befbe1f479571ff6~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The joy of having a Rescue Dog]]></title><description><![CDATA[In March 2011, a small, nervous dog came into our lives and quietly became one of the most important members of our family. Her name is Tally. When we first met her, she was around two years old and a rescue dog who clearly hadn’t had the easiest start in life. She was timid, unsure of people, and easily frightened. You could see it in the way she moved cautiously, always watching and waiting before deciding whether things were safe. We didn’t know much about her past, but it was obvious that...]]></description><link>https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/tally-the-rescue-dog</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b40a91f587723d97f90176</guid><category><![CDATA[Home Life]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:00:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae035b_107e4accd9114d7c993c40806f7c6a23~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_960,h_720,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>dorsetcountrylife</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>