About Us
How Crafted Quality Started
When I was a boy, I dug up a patch of lawn, about the size of a bed, at my parents house in Cambridgeshire. Back then, in the 1970s we had practical lessons in schools in rural areas, that included growing vegetables and looking after farm animals. This involved hands-on experiences of digging over the school vegetable plot, planiting seeds, weeding and milking the school cow. It was impossible to leave school in a rural area, without knowing where food came from and the basics of looking after plants and animals.
It was just a natural progression, for me to try out what I had learned, so I bought seeds from the village hardware store and planted them in my first vegetable patch in my parents back garden. The carrots, onions, and lettuces were appreciated by my family. We were very fortunate to have neighbours who kept chickens and ducks, so we could swap our veg for eggs, to our mutual benefit. I have fond memories of those Sunday lunches with the two families together, eating a meal that consisted mostly of veg and meat from our back gardens, and blackberries gathered from nearby hedgerows. There was something very satisfying about producing food that was fresh, tasty, healthy and that had resulted from the combination of nature and our own efforts.
This first back garden allotment was not motivated by thoughts of reducing food miles or reducing my carbon footprint. It was simply because I wanted to enjoy the taste of self grown food. There clearly was something rewarding about local, fresh and seasonal food, as I have continued to set up vegetable plots, plant fruit trees and more recently, to keep chickens. Over the last few years, I have enjoyed sharing experiences with others with an interest in self grown food, and other aspects of semi self sufficiency. This started with the 'Hen Parties for Beginners' which Rosie and I host, but recently this has extended to reclaiming an overgrown orchard, setting up compost heaps, growing a wider variety or fruit and expanding our range of chicken keeping activities.
It is my hope that through subscribing to revieve the free monthly CQ Newsletter, that you are encouraged to start growing your own food, living a bit more healthily and that you meet other peoplw who share your interests.
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Clive Coker
Described as an enthusiast of self made food and garden hens, Clive has made keeping a few hens in your garden the stylish solution for those who dream of freshly laid eggs and a friendly flock pecking about their back yard. With a background in education in London and owner of one of the most visited suburban gardens, Clive has been keeping hens for the past three years. He is writing a book on the subject, gives courses, and has appeared on TV and newspapers. .
Rosie CokerRosie is a teacher, keen cook and chicken keeper. Along with Clive, she enjoys hosting Hen Parties for Beginners, and sharing the pleasures of chicken keeping in a back garden setting.
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