Title: Comment: <p>I gathered the first of the seasons brambles today, what a treat, there was not enough to do anything major with but we all had one ,by they were lovely.</p><p>So a harvest is very nearly insite for probably the best hedgerow fruit I know.</p><p>I have got everything out for the big chutney cook up marrow is first, followed by some chow chow and then anything I can get my hands on.</p> Submit > < Back

Title: Comment: <p>Yep its  here the school holidays and it has rained and rained for sooo.... long it is me that has water on the brain!.</p><p>But there was a glimmer of golden stuff shining through the clouds, so out they went ,and with in seconds of freedom there was mud everywhere, but guess what I dont care...... </p><p>The back field was cut of its barley and  bailed , the best thing of living on the very outskirts of a village is having fields as your kids play ground.</p><p>I have been hedge spotting and upto now found, apples ,brambles ,walnuts, </p><p>crabbapples, all the elderberrys are turning, and some cobb nuts.</p><p>The stocking up of the pantry is comming on, really sad but I was looking at mincemeat recipies for christmas and some different christmas cake recipies.</p><p>We have lost 2 chickens ,one to old age and the other we think went eggbound and it burst insde her and so we decided to give her a gentle send off as we found her bairly consious.</p><p>Thats it for now..</p><p> </p> Submit > < Back

Title: Comment: <p>I have just put my order for autumn potatoes, onions and garlic. The chard is doing well and is the kale, the corgettes are doing that thing growing into marrows over night, so marrow chutney and jam are next on the agenda.</p><p>We have just cleaned the hen house for the uptenth time of red mite and dusted the chooks, the rabbit and cats got done to, not that they have red mite but the usuall little visitors for this time of year.</p><p>My last little angel!!!! gose to school this september so I have set up a craft club reuseing and recycling garments and the like,   </p><p>The aim  for the rest of the year is to put more fruit trees in and bushes ,to make more use of the plot that we have got and to get into those niggly corners of the shed and green house that we keep putting off , and to keep on preserving as well.</p><p> </p> Submit > < Back

Title: Comment: <p>They are in and frozen, the next lot will be sewn this weekend, next to go into the freezer is braud beans ,rhubarb,currants, corrgettes in different guises, dwarf beans, g gogs, and lots of homemade bakes.</p><p>When it comes to home made bakes I love my freezer, as I live so far away from any shops its great, you have to be self sufficient as much as possable, not just in food but every day things making and mending clothes, keeping house ,keeping your family wholesome and healthy. </p><p>Do you know what ,I do count my blessings every day, and if you  just take some time out you really can see the beauty in life and all of her wholeness. Happy harvesting  and here is to filling your pantrys with  good produce and satistifaction to see you through the seasons to come.</p><p>DONT YA JUST LOVE IT.....</p> Submit > < Back

Comment: Blackcurrants have some sort of catapillar infestation is there any organic way of getting rid and not to use chemicals ,its areal shame its been the best crop Ive had so far!!! Submit > < Back

Title: Comment: <p>Its starting to get  buissy with the whole world of preserving mint jelly this weekend, followed by air drying orrigano, sage, thyme,sewing some more parsley flat leaved type not grown before! my chives have not come back from splitting this year, so I think that will mean some more sewn.</p><p>All my winter crops are showing prommis this year, looking to make a small wind turbine to pump water so I can grow watercress since I do not have any running water near by .</p><p>I have started to make some new winter quilts as the old ones are getting shabby.</p><p>I have got my list for different flavoured vodkas this winter, they include spiced, cranberry sloe,chilly (which is more like a shot).The elders seem to be very nearly there for thier flowers, so elderflower cordial and champers will be next,then after that elderberry jam and jelly.</p><p> </p> Submit > < Back

Title: Comment: thankyou Hermit for your enlightend and worldly comment!!!! Submit > < Back

Title: Comment: Can anybody out there tell me if there is anything more satifing than, rearing your own birds (chooks) and bringing them on to put in the oven, surrounded by all your home grown fruit and veg and then topped off with a freshly baked sponge and custard?????? Because if there is you need looking at!!. Charity begins at home and if that means we feed and tend our flocks at home first well so be it. I am ranting a bit because one of my children went to a friends house for tea and ended up at mc donalds, which to my eye is unherd of and they thought that was enough of a healthy dinner. Wake up people nourishment begins at home. Submit > < Back

Title: Comment: <p>Lots has been going on I just wish that the weather would make its mind up but we will over come.</p><p>In our local council paper found somebody throwing away a load of honey jars so not to miss a free bee!!!!( sorry) I went and collected them, taking some of my flowers that I had grown to say thankyou.</p><p>All my chooks are laying at the moment so Ive managed to fill the freezer with lots of goodies everybody loves homemade cakes and buns. </p> Submit > < Back

Title: Comment: <p>Now that the crops are in I find it is time to gather all the equipment for preserving.</p><p>This last few years I have baught big bowls for my jelly making these have liquid mesurements on the side so that I do not waist any of the liquid by pouring it into another container. If you look around the hardwear shops and places like wilkos ect.. you will come across them.</p><p>My dear husband has put up a stainless steel bar in the pantry so that I can start air drying foods this year I will let you know how it gose.</p> Submit > < Back