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Spring is creeping in, and with it, the start of another exciting growing season. March is a month of new beginnings—seed trays filling up, beds being prepared, and the first real sense that warmer days are on the way. In this week's podcast, Richard covers: The Seed of the Month – Tomatoes What can be done on the allotment in March Chef Scott's recipe: Roast Pork Chops with Rhubarb A review of A Jam Maker's Garden Let's get stuck in. Seed of the Month: Tomatoes Few crops are as rewarding as homegrown tomatoes. This month, Richard is sowing a mix of different varieties to suit a range of growing conditions. One of the first tomatoes sown this year was ‘Minibel' , a dwarf variety ideal for pots and small spaces. One plant has even been growing in Richard's hydroponic system and is thriving. For those looking for reliability outdoors, ‘Crimson Crush' is a top choice. This variety is blight-resistant, making it a great option for UK growers who often battle unpredictable summers. Other Great Tomato Varieties to Consider ‘Sungold' – A cherry tomato with an incredibly sweet flavour. ‘Gardener's Delight' – A classic and reliable variety, perfect for greenhouse or outdoor growing. ‘Marmande' – A large beefsteak variety with a rich flavour, great for slicing. ‘San Marzano' – The famous Italian plum tomato, perfect for sauces. ‘Alicante' – A traditional British tomato, known for its excellent taste. ‘Tigerella' – A striking striped variety with a good balance of sweetness and acidity. How to Sow and Grow Tomatoes When to Sow: January to April (indoors), April-May (outdoors, under protection). Where to Grow: Greenhouse, windowsill, or outdoor containers once the risk of frost has passed. Top Tip: Water consistently—irregular watering can lead to split fruit or blossom end rot. For a full breakdown of tomato growing, including support methods, common problems, and harvesting tips, listen to this week's episode. Support the Podcast If you enjoy the podcast and want to help keep it going, please take a moment to rate and review it on your favourite podcast platform. It really helps. And if you'd like to become a member of the supporters' club, you'll get exclusive content, behind-the-scenes updates, and even some seed giveaways. March on the Allotment March is one of the busiest months on the allotment—the soil is waking up, and so should we. This week, Richard recorded from the plot, getting his hands dirty while discussing the key jobs for the month. March Allotment Tasks Prepare the soil – A light forking over, a good compost top-up, and a check for overwintering weeds. Sow early crops – Broad beans, peas, spinach, beetroot, radish, and early carrots. Plant out onions, shallots, and garlic – A great low-maintenance crop for beginners. Potatoes – Time to get first earlies in the ground. Spring is also a key time for pruning fruit trees and bushes. If you've got raspberries, make sure last year's canes are cut back (if they're autumn-fruiting) or tied in (for summer-fruiting varieties). It's a big month, but there's nothing better than getting stuck in after winter's quiet months. Recipe of the Week: Roast Pork Chops with Rhubarb This week, Chef Scott brings a seasonal favourite—roast pork chops with rhubarb. If you've never paired rhubarb with savoury dishes, this is a great way to try it. Its sharpness cuts through the richness of the pork, creating a beautifully balanced dish. For those growing rhubarb, now is the time for the first harvest. Any flower stalks should be removed to keep the plant productive. Book Review: A Jam Maker's Garden For those who love preserving the harvest, Holly Farrell's A Jam Maker's Garden is an essential read. It's not just a book of recipes—it guides growers through cultivating and harvesting the best fruit for jam-making, ensuring top flavours and yields.
Red birds symbolize passion, courage, war, health, well-being, culture, and tradition. There are many red birds with many different symbols, yet they all have one thing in common: their bold and passionate nature. This absolutely symbolizes our new Redbird associate coach and former captain, Patrick Delisle-Houde. As you listen to the podcast, you will remark that each one of these adjectives above are in his story and the way he tells it. Patrick Delisle-Houde has been appointed as full-time associate coach with the McGill University men's hockey program. A native of Quebec City who turned 30 on Aug. 15, Delisle-Houde (BSc Kinesiology '15, MSc '17), returns to his alma mater after four years with the Montreal Canadiens, where he served as the NHL team's strength and conditioning coordinator. Currently working on his doctorate thesis at McGill, he has published several essays dealing with training methods, strength and conditioning and physiology to name a few. "The ultimate team player, Pat has a relentless work ethic and commits himself to improving his craft on a daily basis," said Urquhart, who first mentored him while serving as assistant coach at McGill. "He brings passion, strong leadership skills and an understanding of how sports science contributes to team success." Both bench bosses have earned undergrad and master's degrees from McGill which provides the program with arguably one of the most educated coaching tandems in Canadian university hockey history. "PDH", as he is known, missed only four games over his five seasons at McGill, from 2012 to 2017, where he served his final two years as team captain. The 6-foot-1, 194-pound forward tallied 171 points, including 68 goals, in 204 games overall, to go along with 318 penalty minutes. He ranks second in the team record book for most career contests played, seven shy of the standard set by Evan Vossen. In 2012-13, PDH merited OUA all-rookie team honours and he culminated that freshman campaign with the Guy Lafleur Trophy, presented to the Quebec university player who best combines hockey excellence with academic success and citizenship. In each of his five seasons, he earned Academic All-Canadian status as well as making the Principal's Student-athlete Honour Roll. Prior to enrolling at McGill, PDH skated four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, suiting up with both Rimouski (2008-2011) and Moncton (2011-12), where he posted a combined 70-113-183 record in 286 regular season games. Source: https://mcgillathletics.ca/news/2021/8/11/mens-ice-hockey-pdh-leaves-habs-to-become-full-time-associate-hockey-coach-at-mcgill.aspx
The Nobodies experience a bit of deja vu as the day starts with the KE cordon preventing them from hanging out in their favorite spot, a Crimson Crush drug dealer continuing to pressure into sell drugs for them and a slightly awkward shadowrunner offering nuyen for some low risk work.
Hello and welcome back to the Fourth Estate Militia Actual Play. Bloody, broken, but not quite beaten. The Red Wires finish the melee with the Crimson Crush and learn something about Red Hot that, had they known in the beginning, would have changed everything from day one. Everything will be different after this meeting and the flashing red and blue lights in the distance certainly have nothing to do with it. It’s time to begin Episode 85, “It’s called the double tap"
Hello and welcome back to the Fourth Estate Militia Actual Play. Oh man. Who would have thought that getting into a life-or-death brawl with the Crimson Crush could be so dangerous! Dangerous, and weird. I mean, Juliet almost gets hit with an axe and all she got was... a date with a Troll? Leave it to her to get a commcode while the rest of the gang is getting beat. It’s time to begin Episode 84, “A tactical retreat if you will”
Hello and welcome back to the Fourth Estate Militia Actual Play. When last we met the Red Wires were engaged in a fight for their lives with the Crimson Crush after Heatwave attempted to execute their number one homey, Red Hot. We continue that grand melee this week and it isn’t looking too good for our beloved gangers from the Barrens. Kennel almost soaks a punch that could kill an airplane, Horatio puts his dancing skills to good use while showing that he is, indeed, a leg man, and Juliet gets… frisky? Yeah, that and then a whole lot of terrified. I guess a pair of Materializing spirits can have unexpected side effects. It’s time to begin Episode 83, “Stop hitting yourself”
Hello and welcome back to the Fourth Estate Militia Actual Play. A brief recap before Horatio, Improv, Kennel, Juliet, and Red Hot face off against the Crimson Crush. It’s time to begin Episode 81, “Feels good, man”
Hello and welcome back to the Fourth Estate Militia Actual Play. The time has come to face the leaders of the Crimson Crush. Horatio and Kennel take center stage and try to keep Red Hot alive. It’s time to begin Episode 80, “Nah, you try and survive”
Hello and welcome back to the Fourth Estate Militia Actual Play. They’ve made it back to the Treehouse. The heist at the Hollywood chip factory was a success and the spoils of war are being divided. Despite the combat being done Horatio and Kennel have one final fight before a call is made. To Heatwave, and the Crimson Crush. They certainly won’t walk into another ambush, right? Right? It’s time to begin Episode 79, “Make the Barrens Great Again”
Hello and welcome back to the Fourth Estate Militia Actual Play. Horatio pulls a fast one and slips a commlink into Red Hot’s pocket. Is Red Hot acting alone, a betrayer to the Crimson Crush, or are there strings leading from the Ork to some nefarious Marionette wearing Knight Errant colors? Perhaps we should go for a drive deep into Spiders’ territory to find out. It’s time to begin Episode 53, “Nothing brings people together like a block party”
Hello and welcome back to the Fourth Estate Militia Actual Play. Well, well. Look who has come crawling back to the Treehouse. Heatwave, lieutenant of the Crimson Crush and all around chrome combat monster. It seems that she has yet another offer for the Team. Well, more precisely, it seems she has an offer for Horatio and somehow Kennel is a part of it. Will these knuckleheads ever catch a break? It’s time to begin Episode 50, "He hasn't said anything but I'm pretty sure this is like a life dream of his"
Hello and welcome back to the Fourth Estate Militia Actual Play. Full Heisenberg ahead! The Red Wires officially have their drug facility up and running with Improv cooking only the best red meth because and we all know that that blue stuff is just drek, Horatio has an uncomfortable conversation with Red Hot about their status with the Crimson Crush, and Discord crashed halfway through our session leaving us unfulfilled and eagerly awaiting next week. It’s time to begin Episode 29, “You know, that Primo grade, Minty Fresh“
Hello and welcome back to the Fourth Estate Militia Actual Play. We left off last episode with the Team acquiring a new crash pad and planning some upgrades. In today’s episode, Improv displays her unmatched ability to search the Matrix, Juliet provides some sage advice about the benefits of a Fixer, and Horatio tells the rest of the Team about a small job RedHot needs done. Certainly when the Crimson Crush ask you to provide an escort, you know, just in case, absolutely nothing will go poorly. It’s time to begin Episode 4, “Orichalcum-plated Machine Pistols”
Hello and welcome back to the Fourth Estate Militia Actual Play. Now that we’ve made it into the Granite Top bar we get to talk to RedHot, Horatio’s childhood friend and full-patch member of the Crimson Crush. In exchange for some information about the attack on the gangs meeting in Sophocles the Team is granted safe haven in the form of RedHot’s personal crash pad. Every Team needs a fortress in the Barrens. There is a fair amount of book keeping and side chatter on the last third of the episode. I've always enjoyed hearing what happens behind the scenes and I hope every one of you do, too. Without further delay: It’s time to begin Episode Three, “We called it the Treehouse"
From all of us here at the Fourt Estate Militia we are happy to announce the launch of a new Actual Play. My good friend PickledPops has taken the helm as GM and recruited quite the team of miscreants and designed a campaign beginning at the lowest of starting points: the Redmond Barrens. AztechnologyPR is playing Improv, a human scavver trying to become a Decker and she doesn't care how many bombs she needs to use to make that happen. MisterWorthington is playing Horatio, a young Ork banger with a golden AK trying to earn his way into the Crimson Crush. TrainedAttackRabbit brings Juliet to the table, a mean fireplug of a Dwarf that is, perhaps, a little too eager to lay down Suppressing fire. And then there is me, Saarlak, playing Kennel, a Troll from a broken home that wants nothing more than to establish his dog training business and avoid trouble with the Law. Honest. All five of us have played together for quite a long time now so we'll try to keep the inside jokes to a minimum. Fair warning we will be using some House Rules to speed up play so if a ruling seems to go against the book it is probably intentional. Probably. We hope you enjoy so without further ado, welcome to the Fourth Estate Militia Actual Play.
Shelley and I finally get a chance to play the 3rd nominee for the 2016 Spiel des Jahres, then try out a Michael Schacht card game with cool mechanisms but bad graphic design. Imhotep by Phil Walker-Harding from Kosmos and Crimson Crush by Michael Schacht from White Goblin