Wednesday, 20 October 2010

Still sorting the harvest

Hi sorry I have not posted on here as much but I have been busy turning the harvest into things .
This weekend I was steam juicing the apples that I collected from off the plot I have not been down the local lanes as yet but one of the Wood turners (Trev)  said I could harvest his if I wanted I will have to see if I have the bottles and space.
The freezer is full so I was making fruit leathers with the pulp I have been looking at buying some bottles or using beer bottles to see if they work to keep the apple juice in..

The shooting season has Started and I was beating on Saturday near Boston on Wack and Jays shoot.
I brought a Brace of pheasants home I must say that only 27 lots of game were shot and a lot of them were pigeons and a few hares.

I am off on one on Saturday but I will take both dogs I just hope blue behaves his self.
I have this Friday off so back to normal  I have been in the office most of the week  but out first thing tomorrow at Frithville near Boston then in the office paper work who needs it.

I have picked all the pears off the trees on the plot and in my garden they will be next for the steam juicer and dryer.

The pears don't keep too long and soon go soft I like them hard .
Still finding the odd mushroom on my walks but have hardly dried any this year so I will have to keep my eye on the market and super markets for offers.

The garage needs more shelving so I can spread into there with my bottles and Jars.

Sunday, 10 October 2010

A trip to Fulstow brewery at Louth

The lincolnshire smallholders and self sufficiency Club had a visit to Fulstow Brewery at Louth today, Barbara said it was not her cup of tea so I went on my own and had a half of IPA before the tour the beer was very good .

As I was driving It was tea for the rest of the afternoon.

The brewery is run by a very nice husband and wife team and is small scale but makes some nice beer I brought some bottles home with me.

There is a small pub on site that the owners are making out of part of the building .

The beer is sent out in 9 gallon casks or you can order 4.5gallon casks for party's at home.

I am having Friday and Monday off this weekend it makes a break and at the moment I need a break from work as last Monday we were told we had a meeting from 8.00am, so as not to be late I left early when we were all there the company had decided to test everyone for drugs and alcohol now this is OK but I have worked for this company for 6 months and now I have lost all trust and have no loyalty to this company.
Now as a professional person to treat me like that I find that disgusting.

And on Saturday I received a letter tell me I had passed all tests and thanking me.

They will when I hand in my notice as I have not been happy with the way they treat the staff.

My colleague was told on Friday that no one fail any tests.

Any way rant over so much for the simple life.

I have had a booking for next year at the WI in the next village so who knows, So look out Mr Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall .

I have decided to call it a night as I hear a bottle of Fulstows Village Life. calling.

Friday, 8 October 2010

Mushrooms and fungi in October

This is a selection of fungi that I have found along the river bank while out with the dogs.



This is yellow through all of the Fungi I have no Idea what sort it is/

There were 4 of these large brown ones down the Ponds these were found in around 6 silver birch trees they are called LECCINUM SCABRUM (brown Birch Bolete ) I think and as the books say it is edible but the colour would put me off.
Some were badly eat on by Slugs but this one is not to bad.







This photo below is a good example of Fungi.


I gave a talk at the local WI the other night GUERRILLA HARVESTING or Hedgerow foraging
It went down well and I have had enquires about next year.
The homemade wine went down well and the chili dipping sauce.
I have been dehydrating Pears to day with all 9 trays full.
and picking the last of the crops off the trees on the plot over the road.