tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355661152024-03-13T03:18:29.171+00:00The Dobby's Pumpkin Patch - An Allotment and Beekeeping Blog!Sue and Lee's Vegetable Allotment pages, detailing all that we've been doing on our allotments, from clearing the 8' tall weeds that they were covered in when we started with our first plot in October 2006, through to where we are today, with 2 neighbouring full sized productive organic vegetable growing plots, 2 apiaries and 6 Beehives!!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-11348450335843596562012-06-02T11:16:00.003+01:002012-06-02T11:16:23.092+01:00New Furbaby - Welcome Poppy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Please say hello to Poppy, our new Puppy! A black (with white toes n chest) Great Dane or Great Lanradane, who came to us last Sunday. Take a look at <a href="http://dobbysdogs.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Dobbys Dog's</a> for more info on her :) <br />
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http://dobbysdogs.blogspot.co.uk/Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-7171713259829455802012-04-30T18:23:00.000+01:002012-05-08T15:53:15.416+01:00RIP Bella<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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RIP Bella, our furbaby who passed over the Rainbow Bridge today after a short illness. Bella was a rescued Great Dane / Alsatian cross who came to us aged about 12 months in 2006 from Manchester Dog's Home.<br />
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A more loving friend it would be impossible to find, loyal, full of fun and love, always ready for a cuddle and always ready to defend us from anything, including the postie!<br />
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She tool ill last week, mot being able to keep anything down, after a visit to the vet on Friday we were hopeful of her recovering, but she didnt get any better this weekend, so she went happily into the vets today for exploratory surgery to see if there was a blockage in her tummy (which is what we thought it was), only for the vet to find 2 large tumours on her spleen, which were inoperable, there was nothing to be done and she would have deteriorated quickly and been in pain, so she stayed asleep.<br />
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She will always be remembered with love, and is now free of pain and hurt to play with her soul sisters, Willow and Lady, whom we will all be reunited with in the Summerlands.<br />
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<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/%20http://dobbysdogs.blogspot.co.uk/"> http://dobbysdogs.blogspot.co.uk</a>/ - A new Blog where we can post piccies of our Dogs, past present and future!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-4114631682020709732012-04-16T21:24:00.000+01:002012-04-16T21:29:43.838+01:00A messy allotment - Video<br />
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A video wander around our 2 allotments, allowing you to see the layout, explaining a bit about how it all came together and showing where the apiaries and pond are and highlighting todays work.<br />
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Hope you enjoy!<br />
<br />Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com121 Moss View Rd, Partington M31, UK53.416847522519042 -2.418386936187744153.415664522519045 -2.420854436187744 53.418030522519039 -2.4159194361877443tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-84871290385522323762012-04-15T21:28:00.001+01:002012-04-16T10:05:41.881+01:00First video - the seedlings at home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just a quick video from my new phone, showing the seedlings covering every south facing windowsill in the house! Hope you enjoy it :)Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-14564491124834664412012-04-15T17:52:00.001+01:002012-04-15T17:52:24.351+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">Just back from the AGM, </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">at
Moss View Allotments, we are having our Plant Sale on Sunday the 20th
May 2012, so it you need any fruit /veg or flower plants / seedlings, or
fancy a delish cake, or even want to try (or buy) some of our honey, please pop
along between 11am and 3pm</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Ive been mad at work recently, very short staffed (1 vacancy and 1 off sick has meant a total of 63 hrs this week, but 3 days off now, so some serious plt time methinks :), but at least I am getting the hang of it and making inroads into the performance problems! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">The plot is still behind plan, but we have a few weeks now to get it prepared, so weather permitting we should be able to get it sorted out, lots of seedlings at home, so we;ve no choice but to get it sorted asap! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Had a new phone with a video camera on it, so going to try and record some video of the plot to share with you all, fingers crossed I can work it all out!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><br /></span></span></div>Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-19049493213280290482012-02-18T11:44:00.001+00:002012-02-18T11:44:40.882+00:00Nope, I've not disappeared...........Greetings one and all, as the title suggests, we are still around, the pumpkin patch is still viable, however after the year from hell, its taken some time for me to be able to start to move forwards!<br />
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The past year I've.............<br />
been under enormous pressure at work,<br />
been put in a difficult position by the actions of others,<br />
had to work 2 back to back 80 hour weeks,<br />
made some mistakes and faced them, <br />
and ultimately lost my job of 23 years in November 2011, having been put in an untenable position I resigned rather than be pushed any further, I was near exhaustion, pretty much burned out and came away with major feelings of anger, sorrow, regret, low self esteem and more besides!<br />
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Because of the stress and problems our attention to the plot hasnt been what we would like, we still harvested about £500 organic fruit n veg last year, but the plot got away from us a bit, we kept up with the bees, and still have 8 hives between the 4 of us.<br />
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Since November I have applied for 500+ jobs, had 40+ first stage interviews, 10+ 2nd stage interviews, been shortlisted 20 times, been offered 3 jobs that weren't doable financially, yet ultimately not been successful in finding a new job, until this week, when I got offered my first financially doable job!<br />
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Rest assurred, as things return to normal so will the allotments and the more regular posting!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-10304255554103186952011-05-17T19:36:00.000+01:002011-05-17T19:36:38.820+01:00Catching Up Part 1 - April 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/227818_1880884593455_1581525003_1850054_71981_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/227818_1880884593455_1581525003_1850054_71981_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>So, for the first time this year I find myself playing catchup with the blog, for which you have my apologies!<br />
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With so much still to do (even after a week off early in May), and the reasonable weather we've been having (apart from the last 2 weeks of torrential rain), we've been spending a lot of time at the plot, not only working, but also a lot of beekeeping (we had early splits from 5 of the hives - pre May! - and Hive 1 went queenless) and a bit of fun with a Plant Sale and BBQ, more about that in the next catchup post!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/224278_1880891793635_1581525003_1850075_7135198_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/224278_1880891793635_1581525003_1850075_7135198_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>As you can see, April brought lovely unseasonally hot and sunny weather, along with the daffodils on the plots!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/230058_1880893473677_1581525003_1850080_7669899_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/230058_1880893473677_1581525003_1850080_7669899_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The onions and garlic (overwintering) have been doing wel, although now need a darn good weeding (as you will see), the peas and bored beans are doing well, and its looking really good for a bumper strawberry harvest, along with another bumper rhubarb harvest too!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/228583_1880885273472_1581525003_1850057_303772_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/228583_1880885273472_1581525003_1850057_303772_n.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>Tadpoles are growing nicely in the pond on Plot 2...............<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/225228_1880885513478_1581525003_1850059_2998418_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/225228_1880885513478_1581525003_1850059_2998418_n.jpg" width="426" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">.......... And there has been lots of blossom on the apple and pear trees! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222198_1880886113493_1581525003_1850062_1440464_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222198_1880886113493_1581525003_1850062_1440464_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Last years brassic beds have now been cleared and planted up with..............<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/228333_1880883753434_1581525003_1850051_1118662_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/228333_1880883753434_1581525003_1850051_1118662_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>.............. this years spuds, which are now thru and growing well!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/228188_1880886433501_1581525003_1850064_1676028_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/228188_1880886433501_1581525003_1850064_1676028_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>And lastly for this post, the strawberry beds are looking very healthy, lots of vigorous growth and huge amounts of flowers! Mmm, strawberries, cant wait!!<br />
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Hope your early spring has been good and that your plots are growing well!<br />
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More to follow shortly!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-26453459537954098982011-03-01T10:07:00.000+00:002011-03-01T10:07:59.073+00:00Late February 2011 - Piccies, Beekeeping and the Twig Kettle in use!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/185701_1734492013732_1581525003_1647060_1318538_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/185701_1734492013732_1581525003_1647060_1318538_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We managed to get to the plot on Thursday last week, to continue with rebarking up the paths and doing some clearing up, but with the weather so lovely (14C and glorious springlike sunshine), we noticed the Bees were really busy, so after taking a few piccies of how the plots are coming along we decided (along with Pat and Colin) to remove the mouseguards and allow the girls a bit easier access to the outside world!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/189797_1734491853728_1581525003_1647059_1676196_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/189797_1734491853728_1581525003_1647059_1676196_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> As you can see, the newly relaid bark paths on plot 2 look great, really tidy the plot up a lot, shame that we've temporarily run out of them at the moment, so we cant get plot 1 done until some more chippings are delivered by the council (hopefully for this weekend)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/189641_1734487493619_1581525003_1647037_4147710_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/189641_1734487493619_1581525003_1647037_4147710_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The overwintering garlic and onions are coming up nicely (we were late planting them this year, normally they are in in October, but this year it was late December before the first 3 batches of onions and the garlic were put in!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/185937_1734486373591_1581525003_1647029_332333_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/185937_1734486373591_1581525003_1647029_332333_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> As you can see, the bees were very busy, this piccy was of one of the quieter hives, some of the entrances looked as though there was a swarm in progress with the amount of bees trying to come and go through the mouseguards! The flying bees were not only fetching water (to mix with the honey), but also bringing home pollen, possibly crocus, willow or maybe even maple!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/184221_1734487093609_1581525003_1647034_547555_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/184221_1734487093609_1581525003_1647034_547555_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> After donning our beesuits we removed the mouseguards (they stop any mice from raiding the hive in the winter when the bees are huddled together) which allows the girls a lot easier access!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/188525_1734486853603_1581525003_1647032_3214883_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/188525_1734486853603_1581525003_1647032_3214883_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Once we'd removed the mouseguards we did a quick inspection to check that the hives all had enough stores left, on opening them we were amazed by just how many bees were in each hive, really busy and full of bees, and plenty of stores left too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/189457_1734486933605_1581525003_1647033_7999069_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/189457_1734486933605_1581525003_1647033_7999069_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Closer up, plenty of bees in there!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/189721_1734487933630_1581525003_1647039_2159091_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/189721_1734487933630_1581525003_1647039_2159091_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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We also got the chance to play with our new kettle, I placed the base on top of an upturned hanging basket (to raise it from the floor, make it a bit more stable (less likely to be knocked over), easier for us to 'feed' and to increase the wind flow), which worked really well, although it is now permanently attached, as the plastic covering on the hanging basket melted and welded the base to the upturned basket! Ooops!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/190357_1734485853578_1581525003_1647028_5689102_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/190357_1734485853578_1581525003_1647028_5689102_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>I have to say we were both impressed with its performance, once the fire was going it only took about 6 minutes to boil 1 1/2 litres of water, quite comparable with a gas camping stove, and a lot more fun to play with (as well as being a lot 'greener'!<br />
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Our chilli, pepper, aubergine and first tomato seedlings are now in the unheated greenhouse in the back yard, fortunately the greenhouse is located against the south facing garage wall (concrete), which acts as a heat sink, soaking up the sunshine thru the day, then radiating the warmth back into the greenhouse at night, without this passive solar heating (which was acchieved inadvertantly) we may well have lost a few of the seedlings in last nights frost!<br />
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Today we are going to be sowing more seedlings, brassicas, herbs, toms and anything else that we can at this time of year, ready for transplanting to the plot once the weather has warmed up a bit more!<br />
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Hope your preparations for the coming growing year are going well!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-1071200588047299912011-02-17T18:28:00.001+00:002011-02-17T18:34:31.595+00:00Twig Kettle - a new 'eco' toy for the plot!We suffered a break in at the plot last month, our shed was opened and our kettle, camping stove, and all the stainless steel gardening tools taken, about £150 worth in total, annoying and inconvenient, especially at this time of year when camping gear isnt readily available (or cheap, as it normally only goes on offer at the end of the camping season!)<br />
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We've managed to replace most of the tools, with a few things having been bought on special offer from the net, but the one thing we've struggled with is a new stove / kettle. We found a camping stove like the one we had stolen on offer for £15, but no-one has the gas in stock at the moment (or if they do, then its expensive), so after coming across this twig powered kettle, we bit the bullet and ordered one today!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/ekmps/shops/bduimportsltd/images/1.5ltr-whistling-explorer-ghillie-kettle-complete-kit-%5B2%5D-380-p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/ekmps/shops/bduimportsltd/images/1.5ltr-whistling-explorer-ghillie-kettle-complete-kit-%5B2%5D-380-p.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>So, this is the new toy for the plot, a 'twig' kettle, boils 1.5litres using a small quantity of twigs in a fairly short time, the design is ingenious!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/ekmps/shops/bduimportsltd/images/1.5ltr-whistling-explorer-ghillie-kettle-complete-kit-%5B5%5D-380-p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/ekmps/shops/bduimportsltd/images/1.5ltr-whistling-explorer-ghillie-kettle-complete-kit-%5B5%5D-380-p.jpg" width="176" /></a></div><br />
The base holds a small fire, a bit of paper or straw to start the fire, then a few twigs, the 'kettle' is then placed on top, and more fuel fed thru the central chimney into the base, the water is held in a jacket around the outside, meaning a large volume of water in contact with the heat source, making a fast boil!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/ekmps/shops/bduimportsltd/images/1.5ltr-whistling-explorer-ghillie-kettle-complete-kit-380-p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/ekmps/shops/bduimportsltd/images/1.5ltr-whistling-explorer-ghillie-kettle-complete-kit-380-p.jpg" width="137" /></a></div>In addition a small pan, a small wok and frying pan are also available, so whilst brewing up, a bacon butty or some homemade soup could also be cooked at the same time!<br />
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<a href="http://www.theselfsufficiencyshop.co.uk/74-15-litre-twig-kettle.html">http://www.theselfsufficiencyshop.co.uk/74-15-litre-twig-kettle.html</a><br />
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Ok, its not cheap to purchase in the first place, but being powered by nothing more than a few twigs means no further runnning costs, so comparing with even a basic gas stove (£20 or so, plus gas for the year at £10 or so plus a camping kettle £10) it soon becomes aparent that actually its not that expensive, and with no further running costs it will actually save money in the future, aswell as being very ecologically friendly by not needing any gas (and the inherant waste packaging that is needed for the gas) and running on what is basically a waste product!<br />
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It sould be delivered sometime in the next week, so once we've given it a go, we'll report back on whether it is as good in use as it appears in design! <br />
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Lee especially is looking forwards to playing with it, he's got a flint and steel that he recons will be ideal for lighting the base, making it even more eco friendly and fun, plus it gives him an excuse to play with fire on the plot all year round! LOL!<br />
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I managed to get to the plot for a short while today, to plant the last 50 onion sets, and to get a few piccies of the newly cleared and rebarked paths on plot 2, hopefully I shall get them processed and put up here tomorrow! The chillies, peppers, aubergines and first of the toms we planted last month are all doing really well, almost every windowsill is filled with 1" to 3" tall seedlings at the moment, cant wait till the temperature rises a bit and we can get them planted!<br />
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Hope your preparation for the coming growing year is going well!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-80802296300885999942011-01-27T18:41:00.000+00:002011-01-27T18:41:21.100+00:00Cold day at the plot, but productive!Forgot to take my camera to the plot today, so cant share how good its looking after todays hard work, but I can tell you what we've been up to!<br />
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We got to the plot for about 1130am, it was cold (3C max and dropped to 1.5C later on), windy (tho it dropped in speed as the temp dropped) and started out being cloudy (tho it lifted as the temp dropped to reveal low late sunshine). It was one of those days where it was too cold to undertake anything that kept you static, you needed to be moving and generating some bidyheat to stay warm, cold but productive weather!<br />
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Lee started off by having a bonfire, burning the grapevine prunings and the raspberry and fartichoke cane trimmings, whilst I started to fetch barrows of bark chippings to relay the paths on plot 2! <br />
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We broke for lunch at 2pm, having Pat's homemade carrot and corriander soup and some sausage rolls, then pressed on with the bonfire and barking up!<br />
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Lee finished the bonfire at 4pm, so we broke for a cuppa tea, then started to relay the wheelbarrows to bring the bark chippings from the far end of the plot, after 25 barrows full we finished at 5pm, with the temp dropping quickly, after redoing almost all the paths on Plot 2!<br />
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A productive (if cold day), PLot 2 is now looking much better than it was when my hols started 9 days ago, hopefully in the next week or so (back at work tomorrow) we'll be able to get the paths cleared and barked up on Plot 1, then it will just be a case of clearing and mucking the beds ready for planting once the weather improves a bit!<br />
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Hope your winter clearing and preparations are going well!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-29259014809776362782011-01-26T18:44:00.002+00:002011-01-26T19:30:13.218+00:00Random 'Energy Descent / Post Peak Oil' Living thoughts and plot progress!Well, with only tomorrow left of our hols, we've made some progress on the plots, but with the wet, cold and windy weather of the past week, we've not quite done as much as we'd like, however, plenty of research / reading / reskilling has been taking place as I contemplate the possible realities of life after Peak Oil and living in a world which is sufferring Energy Descent!<br />
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(For those who arent yet aware of the possibile problems that could be facing us all in the next few years, take a look at some of the links in the Low Imact Living section (on the right of the screen), or take a look at these links for a bit of basic info.......<br />
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<a href="http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/">http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/ </a> Doom and Gloom Viewpoint?<br />
<a href="http://www.postpeakliving.com/peak-oil-primer">http://www.postpeakliving.com/peak-oil-primer</a> Post peak living primer.<br />
<a href="http://www.postpeakliving.com/guide-to-post-peak-living">http://www.postpeakliving.com/guide-to-post-peak-living</a> Post peak living info.<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil Peak Oil info</a> - Wikipedia<br />
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So, what does it all mean? Basically we've reached (or will soon reach) the point where the amount of Oil we can produce has peaked, although there is still lots of oil in the ground it is going to become more difficult and expensive to extract it (as most of the easy to extract reserves have already been used), yet demand for oil is still rising. This will result in prices getting higher and higher, and a shortfall of the production of oil in relation to its demand, which will push prices even higher.<br />
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Our industrialised society relies exclusively on oil to work, we need the fertilizers (which are produced from oil) to grow our food, we need the petrol and diesel to travel to our places of work and for the supermarkets to distribute the food throughout the Uk (typically most Uk Supermarkets have food reserves for only a day or two's supply, if they cant resupply, then they will have empty shelves!), if prices rise for oil, so will everything else, until it reaches a point that we cant afford it and cant travel any longer, we cant afford the prices of basic foods and society is then in danger of falling apart (there have already been food riots in many countries)<br />
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You may think that emerging technologies will come online in a manner to reduce our dependance on oil and allow life to continue as it has for the past 40 years or so, but in order to be effective, they need to be coming online NOW, new power stations can take 5 to 20 years to come online (and although they would provide electricity, they wouldnt provide enough in order for us all to have an economically affordable personal transport system) and there are other factors that may prevent them ever becoming the solution to the problem of a world with less / overly expensive oil! (There are problems with the availability of the minerals that are required in order to produce viable electric cars, there isnt enough to allow us to relace all the petrol and diesel cars in the world with electric versions, and how quickly would we be able to produce them anyway?)<br />
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There are things we can do, ranging from going totally 'off grid' for all your energy / water / fuel supplies (which needs approx 3 to 5 acres of land per family / commmunity unit) through to less drastic measures such as those advocated by the Transition Town movements. (<a href="http://transitionculture.org/">http://transitionculture.org/</a> ), (<a href="http://www.transitionnetwork.org/">http://www.transitionnetwork.org/</a> ), who are looking locally at reskilling, building an infrastructure that looks at food and fuel supplies in a world where 10 miles is about as far as you could travel in a day and various other aspects of living in an Energy Descent world.<br />
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This is a subject that interests me, not only in relation to how society would fare (would it survive or collapse?), but also in relation to what skills we would need to live in a world where we had to produce the majority of our food, goods, services and fuel locally! Assuming you are able to find a way to provide your home with fresh water (rainwater harvesting and filtration system perhaps?), heating and cooking fuel (woodburning stove with back burenr to rpovide hot water and central heating) and grow enough food to feed yourselves with, then there are a myriad of other things that you need to consider!<br />
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Even if you just take a few minutes to look around your kitchen, how many of the things that we use daily could you provide for yourself? Salt? Sugar? Vinegar? Cooking Oil? Tea? Coffee? Milk?<br />
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We may know where many of these things come from (such as Salt from mines or from evaporating sea water), but would you be able to source them locally, or even make something that you could trade with others for? <br />
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What about those things you need to preserve your crops to allow you to eat them in the winter and spring? Do you know how to make vinegar, how to smoke food, can your surplus crops, how to salt meat (or even where to get the salt from?)<br />
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What about something as simple as yeast (for making bread and fermenting excess crops into alcohol - Peak Oil may mean energy descent, but it doesnt mean we need to do without everything thats fun, lol), would you know how to capture wild yeast and cultivate it to bake your own bread?<br />
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What about vegetable oil? We're too far north here for olive trees, and a lot of the things we cook need oil, where would you get it from? How about rendering down pig fat for making your own Lard? Or extracting useful vegetable oil from seeds? What about clothing?<br />
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Anyhows, if Ive got you thinking, then thats what this post is about, if we start finding out as much as we can now, then when the energy descent begins we should be able to do more for ourselves and pass that knowledge on to others who dont know as much!<br />
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A lot of this thinking was prompted by a visit to the Trafford Eco House blog site, a normal family home thats looking at doing what they can to reduce their reliance on oil and fossil fuels, some great ideas (such as their aquaponics system, raising fish in a polytunnel, fish waste feeds bacteria who convert it into plant foods, who then filter the water for the fish, definitely worth a look!)<br />
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<a href="http://traffordecohouse.wordpress.com/">http://traffordecohouse.wordpress.com/</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jV9CCxdkOng?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Another site worth a look, is this one, 3 acres of wasteland in America produces 450000kilos of food and 10000 fish a year, perhaps a way for local communities to feed themselves?<br />
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Anyhows, we got to the plot today, planted out the thinnings of Lavender from the seedlings we planted in pots (next to the polytunnel last year) around the edges of the plum tree bed, I pruned the grapevine and we started to bring some fresh bark chips up to the plot to relay the paths, hopefully we should (weather permitting) be able to get the rest of the paths barked up tomorrow!<br />
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Thanks for reading!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-7472750615205402652011-01-23T17:56:00.000+00:002011-01-23T17:56:49.691+00:00Onion sets are in!Weather was a bit warmer today, it reached 6C by lunchtime, so we got down to the plot after lunch for a few hours!<br />
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Lee cut back all the rasps in the 'fedge' (edible or food producing hedge) whilst I cleared the bed at the front of plot 2 for the onion sets, all 200 (3 varieties) of onion sets are now planted, some behind the garlic, some in the bed immediately to its left, and the rest in 4 rows in the bed behind, which still leaves us a bed and a half for the onions that are growing from seed (of which there are 3 trays in the back bedroom windowsill!)<br />
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After that we had some crocus bulbs to plant (in the grass at the front of both plots) and 2 Thyme plants and 3 Geranium plants we were given by Janet (she was having a clear out and splitting some of her perennials that had got too large), so they went in on plot 1 under the fruit trees, hopefully they should do okay there, look good and also give us a bit of groundcover (and reduce the weeds!)<br />
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Finished up just as it started to get dark (5pm ish, lovely that the nights are staying lighter for longer!)<br />
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Tomorrow and Tuesday Lee has to work in the evening, so Im not sure whether we'll manage to get to the plot much, but we're off on Wednesday and Thursday, so weather permitting we should be able to get down to the plot and do some more, I really want to prune the grapevine, we've a lot of stuff that needs burning, the paths need clearing and rebarking, then of course there's plenty of beds that need clearing!<br />
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Hope your plot preparation is going well!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-60659026892343765042011-01-21T17:49:00.001+00:002011-01-21T18:05:15.853+00:00First crops of the year planted at the plot and Bottling the Port!Today dawned frosty and bright, not a cloud in the sky, so once we'd allowed the sun a chance to melt the frost (and bring the temperature up a bit) we headed straight for the plot, taling the broad bean seedlings and the garlic and onions along to see if we could get them planted!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs788.ash1/167856_1676190316226_1581525003_1547045_1167431_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs788.ash1/167856_1676190316226_1581525003_1547045_1167431_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>As you can see from this piccy of plot 2, the frost never truly left us, anywhere in shadow still had frost for the whole of the day, but undeterred by the cold temperatures (and both wrapped up warmly) we set to clear some room, plan out the beanery (going into the beds behinnd the pond), plant the broad beans, clear the garlic and onion set beds and try and get them planted!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs274.snc6/180229_1676189796213_1581525003_1547043_4016425_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs274.snc6/180229_1676189796213_1581525003_1547043_4016425_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>One job we also had to do was to get the 'dual plum' tree we picked up from Parkers Garden Center last October! This was due to go into the front bed (on the left), the one with all the Lavender in it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs246.snc6/179423_1676190076220_1581525003_1547044_3301393_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs246.snc6/179423_1676190076220_1581525003_1547044_3301393_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Plot 2 needs a really good clearing, the sweetcorn / squash bed from last year will become this years 'beanery', with plans for 5 or 6 tall cane support tunnels, a cage for the french beans (to protect them from the wabbits) and plenty of space for peas and broad beans!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs900.ash1/180877_1676190516231_1581525003_1547046_5041259_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs900.ash1/180877_1676190516231_1581525003_1547046_5041259_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The first of the garlic / onion beds at the front of plot 2, now cleared and planted with 120 saved garlic cloves!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs896.ash1/180485_1676191196248_1581525003_1547050_3683310_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs896.ash1/180485_1676191196248_1581525003_1547050_3683310_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The back end of this bed will have onion sets in it by tomorrow night, as will the bed to the right!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs788.ash1/167882_1676190956242_1581525003_1547049_404247_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs788.ash1/167882_1676190956242_1581525003_1547049_404247_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The French Bean 'cage', in its new position!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs279.snc6/180777_1676191516256_1581525003_1547051_2797150_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs279.snc6/180777_1676191516256_1581525003_1547051_2797150_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The cloche protecting the first 30 broad bean seedlings, they are AquaDulce, so are frost hardy, but as they were only sowed about 10 days ago we thought it best to protect them with the cloche!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs068.snc6/167878_1676190876240_1581525003_1547048_6086991_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs068.snc6/167878_1676190876240_1581525003_1547048_6086991_n.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>Lee next to the newly planted dual plum tree. hopefully this will take and we should have a couple of varieties of plum to feast on in a year or two!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs785.ash1/167579_1676189476205_1581525003_1547042_2506888_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs785.ash1/167579_1676189476205_1581525003_1547042_2506888_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>We also noticed the rhubarb is starting to come up, cant wait till we can harvest the first stalks, rhubarb crumble and custard, yum!<br />
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<a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs782.ash1/167291_1676184596083_1581525003_1547029_7809913_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs782.ash1/167291_1676184596083_1581525003_1547029_7809913_n.jpg" width="265" /></a><br />
I couldnt resist taking this piccy last night, we had 2 batches of Summer Fruits Wine to bottle, 2 gallons in total, and as I was cooking tea (hence the chopped mushrooms on the chopping board) Lee decided he would syphon it into the bottles, I caught him using his mouth to stop the port from flowing whilst he changed bottles (or so he tells me), and had to run n get my camera, cos it just struck me as funny!<br />
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<a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs800.ash1/169077_1676187116146_1581525003_1547039_7913064_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs800.ash1/169077_1676187116146_1581525003_1547039_7913064_n.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
He did manage to get some of the port into the bottles! Lol!<br />
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Actually, it was a batch of mixed summer fruits wine, made with 1lb Elderberries, 3lb Rasps, 2lb strawbs and 1lb of blackberries, it came out at about 20% abv, very moorish, quite sweet, but full of flavour, very like a decent port, so its been labelled as Foragers Port, we're taking a bottle round to Pat and Colins tonight, so we'll let you know what it was like tomorrow!<br />
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Hope your plot clearing is proceeding a pace, and your early seedlings are coming up in the propogators!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-67270229795777683342011-01-20T17:37:00.000+00:002011-01-20T17:37:35.706+00:00Homebrew Shop visit - new toys for Lee!So, with the weather frosty, cold, wet and foggy all day (max temp at +0.5C) we didnt make it to the plot again today, but instead did a couple of other things instead! Whilst I potted on the peppers, chillies, aubergines and tomatoes, then planted a few more pepper seeds in the heated propogators, Lee made a batch of Traditional Mead (flavoured with cloves and cinnamon), then we had a trip to the homebrew shop in Northwich, called Brew2Bottle!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.brew2bottle.co.uk/media/shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://www.brew2bottle.co.uk/media/shop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We'd heard about the shop from a friend who lives in Northwich, and decided to have a trip over to get a few bits n bobs, more bungs and bubble traps (air locks) to go into the 3 demijohns Lee picked up yesterday evening (courtesy of freecycle), plus a couple of things we'd seen on their website that would make our brewing tasks a bit easier! <a href="http://www.brew2bottle.co.uk/">http://www.brew2bottle.co.uk/</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.brew2bottle.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/i/file_58_57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.brew2bottle.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/i/file_58_57.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
The first thing we had wanted was a 2 lever corking machine, we'd inherited a cheapo one (the type you hit with a mallet to force the cork into the bottle), but found it not only difficult to use, but also doesnt force the cork all the way into the bottle, which doesnt look great! <a href="http://www.brew2bottle.co.uk/home-brew-equipment/bottling-equipment-htm/twin-lever-corker.html">http://www.brew2bottle.co.uk/home-brew-equipment/bottling-equipment-htm/twin-lever-corker.html</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.brew2bottle.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/i/file_62_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.brew2bottle.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/i/file_62_19.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><br />
The next thing we wanted was a bottle dryer, trying to wash, sterilize and dry up to 30 bottles at once is a right pain, especially as we cant fit more than 18 on the sink drainer, so the bottle drying tower (that supports the bottles neck down one above the other) that holds up to 80 bottles is something that will make bottling a lot easier! <a href="http://www.brew2bottle.co.uk/home-brew-equipment/bottling-equipment-htm/80-bottle-drainer.html">http://www.brew2bottle.co.uk/home-brew-equipment/bottling-equipment-htm/80-bottle-drainer.html</a><br />
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Lee also spotted a Cherry Brandy strong wine kit, basically a 22percent ABV wine kit with a cherry brandy flavour, they had a few flavours (the shop owner gave us a small glass of the peach schnapps flavour one, which tasted great), but we decided to try the cherry brandy one first, if we like it, then we may well get some more flavours and try them! In addition to the main purchases we got the extra airtraps and bungs we needed, plus some oak chips (for adding that oak aged taste for the wines and meads) and more corks! AAll in all a productive trip, if not a particularly cheap day (although I have to admit, Brew2Bottle's prices are very good, especially his bottles, thet are as cheap as any we've found online, and with the added advantage of no postage to pay!)!<br />
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So, we've now got another flavoured Mead (Melomel to give it the proper name) on the go, and undoubtedly will have a batch of the Prohibition 'Cherry Brandy' on the go tonight aswell! I hope the high alcohol spirit kits are as good as they look, as it would be a great way to brew our own spirits without going to the expense of buying a 'still' (which is unfortunately illegal to use for the distillation of alcohol within the uk! You can own one, and use it to make distilled water, or essential oils, but not for making your own spirits!)Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-92123310756132334052011-01-19T14:26:00.002+00:002011-01-19T15:00:07.847+00:009 days hols, plot plans, chillis are coming up, more homebrew news, and homemade bread! Well, today we start our last batch of hols for the financial year, Lee is off for 5 days and Im off for 9 days, time to relax, put our feet up and chill out..... not! Lol!<br />
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The actual plans for the week are to get on top of sorting the plots out, ready for the coming growing season, so we've got the greenhouses to empty, clean and some compost / manure to add to the greenhouse borders, the grapevine to prune, the raspberry canes to prune,the compost bins to turn over, onion sets and garlic to plant, beds to clear and muck, planting areas to sort out (I want to move the pea and bean supports into place so they will be ready for use in a few months time), the dual plum tree to plant, the early sown broad beans to plant out, the shed to clear and tidy, paths to weed and remulch with bark chippings, and finally have a big bonfire to take care of the prunnings (and give us a good source of potash for putting on the crops), all of which is going to be very much weather permitting! Sounds like a relaxing holiday huh? Lol!<br />
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Our planting plans are already in place, the widget below shows the new layout for the forthcoming growing year, use the right and left arows to switch between the plots!<br />
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<u><b>Planting Update </b></u><br />
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The chillies, tomatoes, aubergines and peppers are starting to come up, so today Im going to be potting on some of them from the heated propagators, we've got Chocolate Habanero's, Scotch Bonnet, Dorset Naga, Naga Jolokia, Cayenne, De Cayenne, Tokyo Hot, Mohawk, Jalapeno chillies all up, plus a fair number of toms, aubergines and peppers, so they all need to come out of the heated propogators and be planted on! Once they are out of the propogators I can plant a batch of the later chillies and peppers in a week or so!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbwrUNTkiI/AAAAAAAAB-I/sc0Crzy34Mc/s1600/689_8954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbwrUNTkiI/AAAAAAAAB-I/sc0Crzy34Mc/s400/689_8954.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>Dorset Naga, Scotch Bonnet and 2 Chocoltae Habaneros, the first of my fiery hot chillies!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbwvtLHcCI/AAAAAAAAB-M/Ch3tynSSbMY/s1600/689_8955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbwvtLHcCI/AAAAAAAAB-M/Ch3tynSSbMY/s400/689_8955.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>Peppers and chillies, ready to be pricked out from the heated propagator!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbw0vc9EKI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/ATQDJ2WCkWU/s1600/689_8956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbw0vc9EKI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/ATQDJ2WCkWU/s640/689_8956.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>3 trays of onions (on the windowsil) and the broad beans (next to the homebrew)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbw4kBLPLI/AAAAAAAAB-U/VQPxszyvNvY/s1600/689_8957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbw4kBLPLI/AAAAAAAAB-U/VQPxszyvNvY/s640/689_8957.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Aubergines and peppers, lots of them!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbw9PwBl-I/AAAAAAAAB-Y/T57W0Qwz1bs/s1600/689_8958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbw9PwBl-I/AAAAAAAAB-Y/T57W0Qwz1bs/s640/689_8958.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The Bored Beans, we'll be planting these unddr cover at the plto this week methinks!<br />
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<b><u>Homebrew Update</u></b><br />
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On another front, our homebrew experiments have been going well, with batches of Elderflower (2 batches), Bored Bean, Summer Fruits, Elderberry, Celtic Druids Mead, Gewurtztramminer (Grape from the plot) all finished and bottled (and a fair bit drunk or given away as Yule prezzies), with a batch of chardonnay (from kit), a batch of red berry and the large batch of 5 gallons of mead all still on the go, with another batch of Mead due to be started this week!<br />
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I have to say that most of the wines we've made have been very good, some of them I wouldnt have minded paying £5 to £10 a bottle for them (especially the first batch of Elderflower (lovely and crisp and light), the Elderberry (very fruity and dry) and the Bored Bean (slightly sparkling, very crisp and refreshing)). The wine we made from the grapes from the plot we are a little less pleased with atm, it is quite sharp, tho hopefully a good 6 months to let it age will make it much more pallateable, but only time will tell!<br />
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In total we've already bottled 48 bottles of wine and mead, with another 42 bottles worth still fermenting, definitely a good way to use up excess produce and provide a lot of extra value to the produce! Hopefully this year we will be able to make even more, I especially cant wait to try making some of the rhubarb rose wine that Dave (on the plot) makes!<br />
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<u><b>Beekeeping Update</b></u><br />
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We were fortunate enough to have a lovely dry and warm day last Thursday, so we took the opportunity to do the winter bee inspections (and varroa treatment with Oxyalic Acid) with Pat and Colin, the bees were busy, with plenty flying, and every hive had good levels of stores and a large amount of bees in them! Looks like (so far at least) all 6 of the hives are faring well, though only time will tell how well they come through the winter (but we are hopeful that they should all make it through!) On checking back a few days later, the Varroa mite drop was actually small, with between 50 and 120 mites per hive, which is a very light infestation, so it looks like the icing sugar treatment is helping to keep the Varroa levels low within the colonies, definitely a good thing!<br />
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<u><b>Breadmaking</b></u><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbmFQn6YnI/AAAAAAAAB90/svdhNw1RPI4/s1600/689_89513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbmFQn6YnI/AAAAAAAAB90/svdhNw1RPI4/s400/689_89513.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>In October last year (whilst we were on our autumn hols) we had a major problem with our old cooker, we'd already been struggling with an oven door that wouldnt properly seal, then the main oven totally died, leaving us unable to cook anything in it, after looking round we were fortunate to drop on this Leisure 90cm Range cooker (dual fuel), which we knew was not only perfectly proportioned to fit where our old (and cheap) 90cm range had been (a Beko one that was impossible to get spares for), but is also one that spares will be available for, so we took the plunge and treated ourselves to it. Since then not only have we been able to cook up some fab food, but I've also started to make all our own bread! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbmJN7E1AI/AAAAAAAAB94/FLsH5ylMfy8/s1600/689_89483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbmJN7E1AI/AAAAAAAAB94/FLsH5ylMfy8/s640/689_89483.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>This is todays batch of bread, just prior to being baked, 2 x lb tin loaves (cooked in the wonderful silicon loaf tins), a 1lb farmhouse loaf and 8 barm cakes. Lee found an online food retailer (www.bigbrandsforless.com) who does some amazing deals, so we've been buying their 3.5kg bread mixes, which is enough to make 7 loaves, for £1.23 each, making each loaf less than 20p each (even better when they did a 'buy one get one for free' offer)! Having seen the ridiculous prices that supermarket bread has now risen to, making a batch of 4 loaves and then freezing 3 of them (to keep fresh until we are ready to use them) has proved not only an exceptionally cheap way of getting our bread, but also has proven to us both just how much nicer homemade bread actually is!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbmMjoE_gI/AAAAAAAAB98/VDhpEJMKsHQ/s1600/689_89523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbmMjoE_gI/AAAAAAAAB98/VDhpEJMKsHQ/s640/689_89523.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The 1lb wholemeal farmhouse loaf and 2 breadcakes, the bread mixes that bigbrandsforless sell include white (which rises the best), granary and wholemeal, needless to say, we've got 6 months of bread mixes stored in the back bedroom! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbmPjAv-kI/AAAAAAAAB-A/rOf7e_ATMdA/s1600/689_89533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbmPjAv-kI/AAAAAAAAB-A/rOf7e_ATMdA/s640/689_89533.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The 2 x 1lb white loaves, before baking! The white bread mix seems to rise the best, and the flavour is great too! I tend to do the bread dough in 2lb batches, just pop the right amount of bread mix into the mixxer, and add the correct amount of warm water, let it mix for 7 mins or so, then turn out, knead it a bit, shape the loaves, pop iinto the baking tray and pop into the oven for 1/2 hour to rise! After that a quick bake and you get fantastic homemade bread! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbzmcmVoFI/AAAAAAAAB-c/kivPAbVGXOo/s1600/689_8959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbzmcmVoFI/AAAAAAAAB-c/kivPAbVGXOo/s640/689_8959.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> So, after 15 mins baking at 220C for the buns, and a further 15 mins baking at 200c for the loaves, this is what you get! Crusty, tasty, homemade breads, enough to last us for 4 days or so!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbzqVpL-kI/AAAAAAAAB-g/FGGiFBN8sfA/s1600/689_8961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TTbzqVpL-kI/AAAAAAAAB-g/FGGiFBN8sfA/s640/689_8961.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>All this for less than 20p a loaf? Compared with over £1 for plastic supermarket bread, crazy! Lol!<br />
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The homemade bread has been sooo tasty that it even inspired me to write a poem about it!<br />
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<b><u>Freshly Baked Bread - a poem (of sorts!)</u></b><br />
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There's nothing so fine as homemade bread,<br />
A daily staple to keep us all so well fed,<br />
Nothing more than flour, water and yeast,<br />
Yet once cooked it becomes a veritable feast!<br />
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Supermarket bread seems made of plastic,<br />
All so soft and white and so elastic,<br />
Once sold in bulk so very cheap,<br />
But now the prices could make you weep!<br />
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Now its cheaper to make your own,<br />
Nothing gives such a sense of home,<br />
As that delicious fresh bread smell,<br />
That from your childhood you recall so well!<br />
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Tis so simple and easy to make,<br />
Not as complex as a cake,<br />
Mix it all then knead the dough,<br />
It has to be done, like just so!<br />
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<br />
Then for a time you have to wait,<br />
Give it a while for yeast to create,<br />
As almost before your very eyes,<br />
Your loaf does now so proudly rise!<br />
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Now in the oven its time to bake,<br />
Dont let it burn for goodness sake,<br />
Wont take long and then its done,<br />
Barm cake, loaf, roll or bun!<br />
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Let it cool, just a bit,<br />
Then its time to cut into it,<br />
Real butter spread on fresh hot bread,<br />
For it there's truly a lot to be said!<br />
<br />
Suzanne Read<br />
11th December 2010 <br />
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Anyhows, thanks for reading, more updates and plot piccies to follow htis week as we (hopefully) get some sorting out done in the allotments! Hope your prep and clearing is going well, and that you will also be ready for another great growing year!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-58175171891649657632011-01-09T16:05:00.000+00:002011-01-09T16:05:40.982+00:00And so the growing year starts again!Happy New Year, Merry Yule / xmas n all that jazz, and now we've got the festive season done with, the time comes again to start planting for the coming growing season!<br />
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Today Ive been planting the early chillies, peppers, aubergines and tomatoes, plus some onion seeds, into the propogatirs which are now sitting on the bedroom windowsills, cant wait for the seeds to germinate, feels like the new growing year has started today! Lol!<br />
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<b>Chillies Planted</b><br />
2 dorset naga,<br />
3 hungarian black,<br />
2 choc habanero,<br />
2 scotch bonnet,<br />
4 orzoco,<br />
8 hot jalapeno,<br />
8 tokyo hot,<br />
8 decayenne,<br />
8 cayenne <br />
8 hot stuff<br />
8 Naga Jolokia<br />
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Total of 67 chilli seeds planted, with another batch of other varieties to be planted in late Feb!<br />
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<b>Peppers Planted</b><br />
14 worldbeater peppers<br />
8 Granny Smith peppers,<br />
8 Tasty Bell peppers <br />
8 Padron peppers <br />
8 Sweet Ingrid peppers,<br />
8 Corno Rosso peppers <br />
8 Jumbo peppers<br />
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Total 62 pepper seeds planted so far, with another batch of other varieties to be planted in late Feb!<br />
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<b>Aubergines planted</b><br />
6 Chinese Ancestors<br />
6 Black Beauty<br />
6 Black Enorma<br />
6 Moneymaker<br />
6 Viserba<br />
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A total of 30 aubergine seeds planted, lets hope they do better than last years (only 3 survived)<br />
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<b>Tomatoes Planted</b><br />
8 Balconi Red (hanging basket)<br />
8 Ildi<br />
8 Red Tumbling Toms (hanging basket)<br />
8 Gardeners Delight<br />
<br />
32 tomato seeds planted, 16 of which are for hanging baskets both at home and on the plot (should look good hanging from the new grapevine arbour!)<br />
<br />
Plus I've also sown 3 trays of onions from seed, Bedforedshire Champion, Ailsa Craig and Hytech, Im determined to do much better with onions from seed this year, its one of those things I really want to get to grips with, rather than relying on the onions from set (which usually run out about now!)<br />
<br />
So, the balance sheet for the coming year now starts again!<br />
<br />
<u><b>Costs</b></u><br />
£59.50 for seeds (Wyevales sale),<br />
£7 for onion sets (3 varieties, 200+ sets in total),<br />
£12 for dual plum tree,<br />
£10 for 3 x 70L bags of compost (for planting seeds in) <br />
So a total spend for 2011 of <b>£98.50</b> so far, with Seed spuds, rent and subs to pay for definite (approx £100), plus any other projects we wish to undertake on the plots, so hopefully this year will be a cheaper year on the allotments than the last few!<br />
<br />
We are on holidays in about 10 days time, so hopefully we will be able o get to the plot and get the winter clearing up done ready for the crops to go in when the weather properly improves!<br />
<br />
Hope your planting plans are sorted, your first sowings are in the propogators and your growing year is off to a good start!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-3105657353376393242010-10-25T18:29:00.000+01:002010-10-25T18:29:53.288+01:00Late October Harvest, homebrew, balance sheet and a poem!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWwZPv6TuI/AAAAAAAAB2A/TmvBFs78rh0/s1600/DPP_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWwZPv6TuI/AAAAAAAAB2A/TmvBFs78rh0/s640/DPP_0001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Once again Im playing catchup with the blog, for which you have my apologies, as the weather cools, the nights draw in and I find myself wanting to curl up and stay in where its warm, it becomes something of a chore to drag yourself out into the cold to harvest, take piccies and then write it all up for the blog, however, as Im now on holiday for 2 weeks we should get a chance to clear the plot, take the remaining harvests and get ready for next years growing season!<br />
<br />
We had our fourth frost of the season last night, a severe frost thats killed off a lot of the more delicate plants, and neccesitated us doing a harvest of any remaining crops today, but the good point about frosty weather is that it usually means we get a bright and clear day, with no wind, even if it is cold! As you can see, the courgettes have died off in the frost, the beans are dying, and a lot of the weeds are also dying back!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWwiAJ55jI/AAAAAAAAB2E/4VBqOT6ut3Y/s1600/DPP_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWwiAJ55jI/AAAAAAAAB2E/4VBqOT6ut3Y/s640/DPP_0002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Plot 2 looks fairly empty, yet there's still 2 1/2 beds of spuds, a bed of fartichokes and plenty of broccolli still to take!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWwlaCv8-I/AAAAAAAAB2I/TLmK5d9pBi0/s1600/DPP_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWwlaCv8-I/AAAAAAAAB2I/TLmK5d9pBi0/s640/DPP_0003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Despite the frost this rose has decided to bloom today, a beautiful sign of life trying to overcome the problems of the season!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWwuCSA1fI/AAAAAAAAB2M/u4dd4ALfl-c/s1600/DPP_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWwuCSA1fI/AAAAAAAAB2M/u4dd4ALfl-c/s640/DPP_0004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> The sprout bed is doing really well, should have plenty to see us through the next few months!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWw2HoKq6I/AAAAAAAAB2Q/W9bCU0Q32gg/s1600/DPP_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWw2HoKq6I/AAAAAAAAB2Q/W9bCU0Q32gg/s640/DPP_0005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> And the cabbage beds are still producing, this is the largest of the red cabbages, going to take this for making pickled red cabbage later in the week!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWw6ma7NKI/AAAAAAAAB2U/QJkuEZA2qOA/s1600/DPP_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWw6ma7NKI/AAAAAAAAB2U/QJkuEZA2qOA/s640/DPP_0006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> This one came home with us today! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWw_b33p7I/AAAAAAAAB2Y/TLWw9m87ZrQ/s1600/DPP_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWw_b33p7I/AAAAAAAAB2Y/TLWw9m87ZrQ/s640/DPP_0007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> The borlotti beans have done well, and are almost dry, so they will be harvested this week and stored for winter use!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWxIE7igGI/AAAAAAAAB2c/PD66PFXDBy8/s1600/DPP_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWxIE7igGI/AAAAAAAAB2c/PD66PFXDBy8/s640/DPP_0008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> The last of the toms from the allotment greenhouses! About 20lb of ripe and about the same of unripe green toms, not bad for the end of October!<br />
<br />
We also harvested turnips, swede, broccolli, caulie, chillies, peppers, raspberries and a few other bits n bobs today! Not too bad at all for the time of year, yet we've still got a fair bit still growing or almost ready for harvesting, as is shown in the updated balance sheet lower in the post!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWxL9lVnMI/AAAAAAAAB2g/RKtY61Ihpc0/s1600/DPP_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWxL9lVnMI/AAAAAAAAB2g/RKtY61Ihpc0/s640/DPP_0012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Another thing thats been going really well this year is our first forays back into the world of homebrewed wine! As you can see here, we've still got 5 demijohns of wine on the go, 1 of Elderflower, 1 of Elderberry, 2 of summer fruits and 1 made from the pressed juice from the grapes on the plot! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWxO_Wc0TI/AAAAAAAAB2k/hy-OGm4p1p0/s1600/DPP_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWxO_Wc0TI/AAAAAAAAB2k/hy-OGm4p1p0/s400/DPP_0013.JPG" width="266" /></a></div> We've also got a big batch of Mead on the go, with 5 gallons fermenting away in this barrel, and we are planning on making another 2 small batches of flavoured mead, 1 of Druids Celtic Mead and 1 of Metheglin, rosehip flavoured mead, which we are hoping to get started in the next few days!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWxS2ojcvI/AAAAAAAAB2o/Nq-WQQt0bnw/s1600/DPP_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWxS2ojcvI/AAAAAAAAB2o/Nq-WQQt0bnw/s640/DPP_0009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The first batch of elderflower was bottled and labelled about 3 weeks ago now, and the batch of broad bean wine was bottled and labelled last week! As you can see, they've both cleareed really well, and the labels I made in OpenOffice and stuck on with a glue stick really finish them off well!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWxWNzU_EI/AAAAAAAAB2s/sWj6u5dz4Es/s1600/DPP_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWxWNzU_EI/AAAAAAAAB2s/sWj6u5dz4Es/s640/DPP_0010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> We tried the first bottle of Elderflower last night, round at Pat and Colins (whilst extracting some honey), have to say we all thought it very good, crisp, clear, nicely dry and very pallateable, something non of us would have begrudged paying up to £10 a bottle for! Very happy with the results!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWxY88Ah5I/AAAAAAAAB2w/xZId3qU67i4/s1600/DPP_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWxY88Ah5I/AAAAAAAAB2w/xZId3qU67i4/s640/DPP_0014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Just a quick close up of the labels for the 2 types of wine we've so far bottled! I've got some work to do for the labels for the other 4 types of wine, hopefully I will be able to make them as nice as these have turned out!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWxb-cwNPI/AAAAAAAAB20/9JNHNlWdCmk/s1600/DPP_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TMWxb-cwNPI/AAAAAAAAB20/9JNHNlWdCmk/s640/DPP_0011.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>We've yet to try the Bored Bean wine, it needs a few weeks to mature before we try it, but I am tempted to take some to the Allotment Bonfire Night BBQ and see how it goes down!<br />
<br />
So, onto the balance sheet!<br />
<br />
<b>Balance Sheet Update - 7th October 2010</b><br />
<br />
<b>Total Veg Plot Costs 2010</b><br />
<br />
Rent + Subs for 2 full plots £100<br />
Seeds £20<br />
Seed Spuds £20<br />
Onion Sets £6<br />
Growbags £15<br />
Chicken Manure Pellets £8<br />
Plastic 'wannabe' Polytunnel £61<br />
Bamboo Canes £8<br />
Flower Plants £28<br />
Scaffolding Boards £100<br />
Watering Cans £8<br />
Soft Fruits £16<br />
Clematis £10<br />
Arbour materials £ 40<br />
Cold Frames (2) £30 (1/2 price at Argos)<br />
Redcurrant £7.50<br />
Birdhouse £7<br />
Birdfeeders (for arbour) £10<br />
<br />
<b>Total Costs £ 504</b><br />
<br />
Next years costs have already started, £59.50 for seeds (Wyevales sale), £7 for onion sets (3 varieties, 200+ sets in total), £12 for dual plum tree, so a total spend for 2011 of £88.50 so far, with only rent and subs + seed spuds to come (should be a total of £120 ish to add), so unless we decide to undertake any large projects on the plot, next year should be a relatively inexpensive one!<br />
<b><br />
Total Veg Plot Harvests 2010</b><br />
<br />
Rhubarb £ 35<br />
Fartichokes £ 4<br />
Volunteer Spuds £ 15<br />
First Early Spuds £ 15<br />
Second Early spuds £ 30<br />
Early Main Spuds £ 20<br />
Late Main Spuds £<br />
Lettuce £ 14<br />
Radish £ 15<br />
Garlic £ 85<br />
Strawberries £ 65<br />
Summer Raspberries £ 35<br />
Autumn Raspberries £ 25<br />
Blackberries £ 35<br />
Peas £ 40<br />
Broad Beans £ 70<br />
Courgettes £ 150<br />
French Beans £ 110<br />
Red Onions £ 20<br />
White Onions £ 50<br />
Cabbages £ 30<br />
Peppers £ 45<br />
Chillies £ 50<br />
Tomatoes £ 230<br />
Turnip £ 30<br />
Swede £ 10<br />
Runner Beans £ 100<br />
Broccolli £ 65<br />
Apples £ 20<br />
Plums £ 5<br />
Sweetcorn £ 150<br />
Chard / Spinach £ 2<br />
Aubergines £ 5<br />
Cucumbers £ 11<br />
Blueberries £ 5<br />
Caulieflower £ 20<br />
Grapes £ 35<br />
Sprouts £ 5<br />
Jerusalem Artichokes £<br />
Summer Squashes £ 20<br />
Pumpkins £ 20 <br />
Beetroot £ 5<br />
Leeks £ 5<br />
<br />
<b>Total Veg Plot Harvests £ 1705</b><br />
<br />
So, a total nett profit of <b>£ 1191</b> so far this year, with a large amount of harvests still to come! We've still got 2 1/2 beds of spuds to bring home, lots more swede and turnips, 27 sprout plants, a bed of leeks, a large bed of fartichokes, borlotti beans are almost ready to harvest, more cabbages, more broccolli, more rasps, lots of chard and spinach and a few more bits n pieces besides! The rest of the crops should bring the total harvests up to at least £1850, and possibly quite a bit more!!<br />
<br />
<br />
Hope your harvests are safetly in, your plots are cleared and you've had as good a growing year as we have!<br />
<br />
Oh, I got an email the other day, from the Government Petition website! I set up a Petition (http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/LowImpactLiving/) a year ago past, asking whether we could have a new class of land for planning purposes, to allow those of us who wish to live an ecologically sound self sufficient lifestyle to do so, although more than 300 folks signed the petition, it wasnt enough to guarantee a response, but once arrived this week out of the blue! You can read the response to the petition at the link below!<br />
<br />
http://www.hmg.gov.uk/epetition-responses/petition-view.aspx?epref=LowImpactLiving<br />
<br />
Nice to get a reply, but a shame that they cant allow those of us who want to live 'the Good Life' to do so!<br />
<br />
Finally, I just wanted to share a poem I wrote the other day, I was listening to the Druidpodcast and got some inspiration, so penned this poem in about half an hour, I took my feelings about the fact that although you can buy agricultural land quite easily, it is almost impossible to do so and get permission to live on the land, and with the threats of peak oil, energy descent and climate change I decided to use them as the basis for a clarion call to arms for those of us who wish to live 'with' the land! What do you think?<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><u><b>Making a Stand?</b></u></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Walking the path that calls to my soul,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Recalled again to play my Role,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Living a life rooted in the Old Ways,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Learning once more for all of my days!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Finding my way along the crooked path,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Sorting wisdom from chiff and chaff,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Living a life rooted in the Land,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Yet yearning for more, to make a stand!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The Land calls me forth to live a greener life,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Sustainable and self sufficient, with all its strife,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Earthen Sheltered I wish a home for me,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Yet without money its not to be!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Short-sighted rules of those who planned,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Keep us chained to a life that’s killing the Land!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Profitable decisions rule the day,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Yet in the long run its All who will pay!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Greenhouse Emissions out of control,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Melting Icecaps at the Pole!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The black gold is running out,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Civilisation is now at it's last shout!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Legacy of past riches squandered away,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">For the price of a life lived at play!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Culture of Greed is how most now live,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">For tomorrow not one thought most now give!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Yet there is still another way....</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Living in harmony, day by day!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Reclaiming our connection with the Land,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Is it now time to make our Stand?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Land is owned by so very few,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">But with it, most know not what to do!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Called forth, a new Vision we need to see!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">One that’s fair and allows all to Be!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Communities once more come to the fore,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Building together, living within the Lore!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Regaining the connections that once were Ours,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Reclaiming again those once lost Powers!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Land enough to grow and farm,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Living a life with minimal harm!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Reclaiming the skills of times long gone past,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Building a future that’s bound to last!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Managing the Land through permaculture,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Safeguarding the Land for all our Future!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Sustainable building from local resources,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Allowing Nature to run her courses!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Technology yet still has its place,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">But it needs a human face!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Not the God of corporate greed,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">But as a tool, us to feed!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Learn well the lessons of the past,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Build things that are made to last and last!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Choose to work on a human scale,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Pass on the word with Your Tale!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">If we choose to make a Stand,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">We still can save the Land!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Its up to you to choose you're Fate!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Act Now, before its too late!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Suzanne Read</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Samhain 2010</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Well, more updates to follow over the next 2 weeks, thanks for reading! </div>Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-48775953119699784242010-10-11T22:25:00.000+01:002010-10-11T22:25:14.469+01:00Making use of the harvests!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TLN4KEdMn-I/AAAAAAAAB14/i6yN1dIXu0Q/s1600/meadbaselabeljpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Well, time does seem to be flying this year, although the weather has been fantastic hereabouts for the past few days, there's still a definite feel of the onset of autumn, the trees are taking on a gorgeous hue, there's a distinct nip in the air as soon as the sun dips and the nights are definitely getting colder!<br />
<br />
We're still harvesting good amounts from the plots, but also having to take time to process it for storage and later use! Lee spent today processing about half of the sweetcorn, cutting the kernels from the cobs to produce our own sweetcrn kernels for the freezer, half the cobs produced about 10lb of sweetcorn kernels, quite a bit to use through the winter! Methinks next year we'll look into how to use dried kernels in order to maximise our storage!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TLN-3JTe3TI/AAAAAAAAB18/vPNSdE_zqKg/s1600/elderflowerwine2010jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TLN-3JTe3TI/AAAAAAAAB18/vPNSdE_zqKg/s320/elderflowerwine2010jpg.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>The 15lb of grapes I harvested last week have been crushed and about a gallon of juice extracted, which is now fermenting nicely, proper homemade wine from grapes! This will make the 7th batch of wine that we've made this year, the first batch of Elderflower (the one from a kit) is now bottled and should be ready to drink by Samhain! The 2nd batch of Elderflower is still bubbling away nicely, as are the Elderberry and 2 batches of summer fruits, but the broad bean wine seems to be nearing the end of its fermentation, so hopefully we'll be racking this off in the next few weeks to clear a bit more, then bottling it for future consumption! One of the things Im finding almost as interesting as making the wine is also making labels for the bottles, a bit of pottering around in OpenOffice with a few free graphics has yielded both the Elderflower labels and the Mead labels below, which I think look great! Let me know what you think about them (yes I know, I dont need fancy labels, its only homebrew wine for our concumption, but as we've 42 bottles of wine and 30 bottles of mead on the go, I thought it best to properly label them, and once the design is done, its seconds of work to print a batch off and stick them to the bottles with a glue stick, much better than writing our the same label 6 or 30 times! Lol!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TLN4KEdMn-I/AAAAAAAAB14/i6yN1dIXu0Q/s1600/meadbaselabeljpg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TLN4KEdMn-I/AAAAAAAAB14/i6yN1dIXu0Q/s400/meadbaselabeljpg.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The honey we've saved from the wax cappings (a byproduct of the extraction process) has now been processed into 5 gallons of mead, which is bubbling away nicely in a fermenting bucket, and the wax has been melted down and the first 2 candles produced!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all its been a good year on the plots, we've still plenty of things left to harvest, plenty of crops still to process, and a lot of clearing and mucking of beds to prepare for next year, but it does feel as though its definitely all been worthwhile!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hope your growing season has been enjoyable, your crops bountiful and your harvests are still safetly coming in! More to follow soon, thanks for reading!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-49526353797413403672010-10-07T23:31:00.000+01:002010-10-07T23:31:57.651+01:00Puter fixed, time for an update!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK46PMzUNsI/AAAAAAAAB0k/0veWqtpxIR4/s1600/DPP_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK46PMzUNsI/AAAAAAAAB0k/0veWqtpxIR4/s640/DPP_0001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Apologies for the lack of recent updates, poor weather, trying to fix this antique computer after the major crash and the sheer volume of harvesting that we've had to do (plus processing the harvests to make the best use of them) has meant a lack of time for posting to the blog! As you can no doubt see, the recent wet weather has proven to be a boon for the weeds, turn your back for a minute and they seem to take over! ertainly doesnt look like a plot that won Very Highly Commended awards now does it! Lol!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK461_VHrJI/AAAAAAAAB0o/nVgyFibebZU/s1600/DPP_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK461_VHrJI/AAAAAAAAB0o/nVgyFibebZU/s640/DPP_0002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> As the nights start to draw in, the weather turns colder, the leaves begin to turn from the green of growth to the glorious autumnal colours of decay and the morning dawn cool and misty we find ourselves once more in the middle of a bumper harvest, our plot time is spent gathering in the crops, clearing the beds and reflecting on whats gone well and what our plans are for next year!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK47P8tCruI/AAAAAAAAB0s/CnzxZ4Lrp_M/s1600/DPP_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK47P8tCruI/AAAAAAAAB0s/CnzxZ4Lrp_M/s640/DPP_0003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Some of our crops have been spectacular, the grapevine that we spent a large amount of time building an arbour for has repaid us with a bumper harvest, I took 15lb of grapes from it today, and there's still more to come! A couple of demijohns of wine will be made with these shortly!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK47q1KkrhI/AAAAAAAAB0w/lTyswAvMDWg/s1600/DPP_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK47q1KkrhI/AAAAAAAAB0w/lTyswAvMDWg/s640/DPP_0004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The green caulies have also done really well, nice compact heads of caulieflower, some of which has been used in branston, some will be used in piccallili, but the rest has been enjoyed already! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK48NeRfkqI/AAAAAAAAB00/zozDGoTaiG8/s1600/DPP_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK48NeRfkqI/AAAAAAAAB00/zozDGoTaiG8/s640/DPP_0005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> The beans and brassicas have also been exceptional this year, fantastic harvests of tasty veg!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK48jAHb8_I/AAAAAAAAB04/PKHb1OOXMXU/s1600/DPP_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK48jAHb8_I/AAAAAAAAB04/PKHb1OOXMXU/s400/DPP_0006.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>The first few sprouts were harvested (and eaten) today, with plenty more coming on, with 26 plants we should be eating sprouts right through until January or February! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK489Rju9PI/AAAAAAAAB08/NYgGtrt6WKo/s1600/DPP_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK489Rju9PI/AAAAAAAAB08/NYgGtrt6WKo/s640/DPP_0007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> The first of the borlotti beans are drying nicely, ready for harvest, with lots more still to come!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK49aMU6uvI/AAAAAAAAB1A/sXrQqSEjUd0/s1600/DPP_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK49aMU6uvI/AAAAAAAAB1A/sXrQqSEjUd0/s640/DPP_0008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Our pumpkin harvest hasnt been all that good this year though, no idea why, but we normally take 30+ pumpkins, and this year we've only got about 20! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK4922sGp2I/AAAAAAAAB1E/qP2Z72YWsnw/s1600/DPP_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK4922sGp2I/AAAAAAAAB1E/qP2Z72YWsnw/s640/DPP_0009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The broccolli has been fab, as have the caulies! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK4-PxgOr6I/AAAAAAAAB1I/bTjB2XocPJA/s1600/DPP_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK4-PxgOr6I/AAAAAAAAB1I/bTjB2XocPJA/s640/DPP_0010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>15lb of grapes, ready to make some more wine! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK4-nzuh8JI/AAAAAAAAB1M/crDRDYiVW4I/s1600/DPP_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK4-nzuh8JI/AAAAAAAAB1M/crDRDYiVW4I/s640/DPP_0011.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Yet more courgettes, another 14 harvested today, with more still growing on! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK4_ESt1-fI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/AJh8WMD3lMk/s1600/DPP_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK4_ESt1-fI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/AJh8WMD3lMk/s640/DPP_0012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The butternut squashes have been better this year than ever before, as have the carnival squashes, lots to see us through the next few months! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK4_dfqYUxI/AAAAAAAAB1U/1_Peo1eoZKI/s1600/DPP_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK4_dfqYUxI/AAAAAAAAB1U/1_Peo1eoZKI/s400/DPP_0013.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>And the sweetcorn! This is the first of the 2 trugs we harvested today! In total 150+ cobs of delicious, large sweet perfection! Our only concern, is how we're going to process and store it all! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK4_5edVDgI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/jdcMP6OQVI0/s1600/DPP_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK4_5edVDgI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/jdcMP6OQVI0/s400/DPP_0014.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>The greenhouses are also still producing, we're over 250lb of toms for the year now, its becoming something of a chore to process them all, I've lots of passatta, puree, ketchup, sweet chilli sauce and pasta sauce made already! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK5AWDtRmlI/AAAAAAAAB1c/oyFqb4Zi22k/s1600/DPP_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK5AWDtRmlI/AAAAAAAAB1c/oyFqb4Zi22k/s400/DPP_0015.JPG" width="266" /></a></div> The second trug of sweetcorn!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK5A6v7kvLI/AAAAAAAAB1g/0If-on7gNVo/s1600/DPP_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK5A6v7kvLI/AAAAAAAAB1g/0If-on7gNVo/s640/DPP_0016.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> So, one days worth of harvest, approx £320 worth of organic, fresh, tasty fruit and veg!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK5BbHJ9GsI/AAAAAAAAB1k/2_hqgNieGoo/s1600/DPP_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK5BbHJ9GsI/AAAAAAAAB1k/2_hqgNieGoo/s640/DPP_0017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>As I said earlier, there's still plenty of crops growing, lots of broccolli, caulie, cabbage and sprouts, plenty of turnip and swede, more runner and borlotti beans, more courgettes, more grapes, more spuds, lots more raspberries, more toms, the fartichokes, leeks, borlotti beans, chillies and peppers, plenty more to take over the next few weeks! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK5B7naQD-I/AAAAAAAAB1o/Wkm4C8Dgj_k/s1600/DPP_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK5B7naQD-I/AAAAAAAAB1o/Wkm4C8Dgj_k/s640/DPP_0018.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> As you can see, the rasps are heavy with delicious fruit, but producing sooo much we're having trouble harvesting it all! A lot is going over inbetween the times we are able to get to the plot!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK5CT6Bu0PI/AAAAAAAAB1s/9jGHnJcSdqU/s1600/DPP_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK5CT6Bu0PI/AAAAAAAAB1s/9jGHnJcSdqU/s640/DPP_0019.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The chillies in the now defunct hothouse are coming up next week, Ill be bringing them home to try and overwinter some of them in the hopes of getting a head start on next years cropping! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK5CvUjxaXI/AAAAAAAAB1w/uOZwQ94FwfE/s1600/DPP_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TK5CvUjxaXI/AAAAAAAAB1w/uOZwQ94FwfE/s400/DPP_0020.JPG" width="266" /></a></div> And as I said, the borlottis still have tons of beans left on them, once the pods start to dry we'll take these and pod them for storage and winter useage as dried beans! Lovely in a chilli or warming winter stew!<br />
<br />
The bees have also been busy, we've had a reasonable honey harvest, about 30lb per hive so far, with more still to remove, but as we've a couple of hives that have become very large we are considering leaving a double super of honey on them, which will potentially reduce our harvest of honey for the year! At least we've got enough for our own use and some to sell to begin to recoup our initial outlay, perhaps next year, or definitely the year after we will recoup our start up costs abd it will then become a self sustaining hobby!<br />
<br />
So, onto the balance sheet!<br />
<br />
<b>Balance Sheet Update - 7th October 2010</b><br />
<br />
<b>Total Veg Plot Costs 2010</b><br />
<br />
Rent + Subs for 2 full plots £100<br />
Seeds £20<br />
Seed Spuds £20<br />
Onion Sets £6<br />
Growbags £15<br />
Chicken Manure Pellets £8<br />
Plastic 'wannabe' Polytunnel £61<br />
Bamboo Canes £8<br />
Flower Plants £28<br />
Scaffolding Boards £100<br />
Watering Cans £8<br />
Soft Fruits £16<br />
Clematis £10<br />
Arbour materials £ 40<br />
Cold Frames (2) £30 (1/2 price at Argos)<br />
Redcurrant £7.50<br />
Birdhouse £7<br />
Birdfeeders (for arbour) £10<br />
<br />
<b>Total Costs £ 504</b><br />
<br />
Next years costs have already started, £59.50 for seeds (Wyevales sale), £7 for onion sets (3 varieties, 200+ sets in total), £12 for dual plum tree, so a total spend for 2011 of £88.50 so far, with only rent and subs + seed spuds to come (should be a total of £120 ish to add), so unless we decide to undertake any large projects on the plot, next year should be a relatively inexpensive one!<br />
<b><br />
Total Veg Plot Harvests 2010</b><br />
<br />
Rhubarb £ 35<br />
Fartichokes £ 4<br />
Volunteer Spuds £ 15<br />
First Early Spuds £ 15<br />
Second Early spuds £ 30<br />
Early Main Spuds £<br />
Late Main Spuds £<br />
Lettuce £ 14<br />
Radish £ 15<br />
Garlic £ 85<br />
Strawberries £ 65<br />
Summer Raspberries £ 35<br />
Autumn Raspberries £ 15<br />
Blackberries £ 35<br />
Peas £ 40<br />
Broad Beans £ 70<br />
Courgettes £ 150<br />
French Beans £ 110<br />
Red Onions £ 20<br />
White Onions £ 50<br />
Cabbages £ 25<br />
Peppers £ 40<br />
Chillies £ 35<br />
Tomatoes £ 210<br />
Turnip £ 25<br />
Swede £ 5<br />
Runner Beans £ 100<br />
Broccolli £ 60<br />
Apples £ 12<br />
Plums £ 5<br />
Sweetcorn £ 150<br />
Chard / Spinach £ 2<br />
Aubergines £ 5<br />
Cucumbers £ 11<br />
Blueberries £ 5<br />
Caulieflower £ 6<br />
Grapes £ 35<br />
Sprouts £ 1<br />
Jerusalem Artichokes £<br />
Summer Squashes £ 20<br />
Pumpkins £ 20 <br />
Beetroot £ 5<br />
Leeks £ 1<br />
<br />
<b>Total Veg Plot Harvests £ 1585</b><br />
<br />
So, a total nett profit of <b>£ 1071</b> so far this year, with a large amount of harvests still to come!<br />
<br />
Hope your plots are as productive, your harvests are bumper ones and that you are able to gather them in safetly before the weather turns!<br />
<br />
More to follow soon, thanks for reading!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-58348427624141899362010-09-18T20:53:00.001+01:002010-09-18T21:04:05.001+01:00Computer Crash<span class="mw-headline"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Had a major computer crash (whilst trying to update windows) on Thursday, so Im in the process of trying to reinstall evrything aswell as harvest and process the veg and do the bee inspections / harvest honey and jar it up, so please bear with me if the blog updates arent to their usual level! Im unable to download the piccies from the camera atm, but hopefully should have it all back to normal tomorrow!</span></span></span><br />
<h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: -2px; position: relative; top: -3px;"><span class="mw-headline" style="font-size: small;"> I've been using some of the produce to make some of this wonderful sweet pickle, I made a batch last year, very branston like and absolutely gorgeous, this year Im making about 5 times as much!</span></h2><h2 style="margin-bottom: -2px; position: relative; top: -3px;"><span class="mw-headline">Dark Sweet Pickle (Branston type Pickle) </span></h2><h2 style="margin-bottom: -2px; position: relative; top: -3px;"><span class="mw-headline">Ingredients </span></h2><ul><li>9 ounces carrots </li>
<li>1 medium swede (rutabaga) </li>
<li>4 cloves garlic </li>
<li>4½ ounces dates </li>
<li>1 medium cauliflower </li>
<li>2 onions </li>
<li>2 apples </li>
<li>2 unpeeled zucchini </li>
<li>15 sweet gherkins </li>
<li>½ lb dark brown sugar </li>
<li>1 teaspoon salt </li>
<li>2 fluid ounces lemon juice </li>
<li>12 fluid ounces malt vinegar </li>
<li>1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce </li>
<li>2 teaspoons mustard seeds </li>
<li>2 teaspoons ground allspice </li>
<li>1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) </li>
<li>3 dashes browning sauce, for colouring </li>
</ul><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=35566115&postID=5834842762414189936" id="Directions" name="Directions" rel="nofollow"></a><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline">Directions </span> <br />
<ol><li>Cube the carrots and swede, and finely chop the garlic, dates, cauliflower, onions, apples, zucchini and gherkins. </li>
<li>Combine all the ingredients except the colouring in a large saucepan and bring to the boil; reduce the heat to a simmer. </li>
<li>Simmer until the swede is cooked through but still firm (about 11⁄2 to 2 hours). </li>
<li>Then add the liquid colouring until the colour is dark brown. </li>
<li>Spoon into warm sterilized jars and seal. </li>
<li>Leave for at least 3 weeks to let the flavours mature. </li>
</ol>Ok, I made it to the plot to harvest today, in the pouring rain, got a load of stuff, 20lb of toms, 15lb of spuds, 4 sweetcorn, 4 summer squashes, 5lb of runner beans, 2lb of french beans, 4 peppers, 12 chillies, 18 courgettes, a load of broccolli, 2 small caulies, 8 turnips, 2 swedes, a full car full!<br />
<br />
<b>Balance Sheet Update - 18th September 2010</b><br />
<br />
<b>Total Veg Plot Costs 2010</b><br />
<br />
Rent + Subs for 2 full plots £100<br />
Seeds £20<br />
Seed Spuds £20<br />
Onion Sets £6<br />
Growbags £15<br />
Chicken Manure Pellets £8<br />
Plastic 'wannabe' Polytunnel £61<br />
Bamboo Canes £8<br />
Flower Plants £28<br />
Scaffolding Boards £100<br />
Watering Cans £8<br />
Soft Fruits £16<br />
Clematis £10<br />
Arbour materials £ 40<br />
Cold Frames (2) £30 (1/2 price at Argos)<br />
Redcurrant £7.50<br />
Birdhouse £7<br />
Birdfeeders (for arbour) £10<br />
<br />
<b>Total Costs £ 504</b><br />
<br />
Next years costs have already started, £59.50 for seeds (Wyevales sale), £7 for onion sets (3 varieties, 200+ sets in total), £12 for dual plum tree, so a total spend for 2011 of £88.50 so far, with only rent and subs + seed spuds to come (should be a total of £120 ish to add), so unless we decide to undertake any large projects on the plot, next year should be a relatively inexpensive one!<br />
<b><br />
Total Veg Plot Harvests 2010</b><br />
<br />
Rhubarb £ 35<br />
Fartichokes £ 4<br />
Volunteer Spuds £15<br />
First Early Spuds £15<br />
Second Early spuds £30<br />
Early Main Spuds £<br />
Late Main Spuds £<br />
Lettuce £14<br />
Radish £15<br />
Garlic £85<br />
Strawberries £65<br />
Summer Raspberries £35<br />
Autumn Raspberries £ <br />
Blackberries £35<br />
Peas £40<br />
Broad Beans £70<br />
Courgettes £140<br />
French Beans £105<br />
Red Onions £20<br />
White Onions £50<br />
Cabbages £20<br />
Peppers £25<br />
Chillies £25<br />
Tomatoes £180<br />
Turnip £20<br />
Runner Beans £80<br />
Broccolli £50<br />
Apples £12<br />
Plums £5<br />
Sweetcorn £25<br />
Chard / Spinach £2<br />
Aubergines £5<br />
Cucumbers £10<br />
Blueberries £5<br />
Caulieflower £2<br />
Grapes £<br />
Sprouts £ <br />
<br />
Jerusalem Artichokes £<br />
Summer Squashes £6<br />
<b>Total Veg Plot Harvests £ 1249</b><br />
<br />
So, a total nett profit of <b>£ 745</b> so far this year, with a large amount of harvests still to come!<br />
<br />
More updates and piccies (hopefully) to follow, hope your harvests are coming in well! <br />
<ol></ol>Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-68851001574735690222010-09-14T23:41:00.003+01:002010-09-18T13:19:44.866+01:00Catch up and Tomatoes, tomatoes everywhere + Balance Sheet Update!!As the harvests start to come in I find myself pushed for time, and unfortunately, its the Blog that suffers! Please accept my apologies for the lack of updates, but with harvesting the bountiful crops, processing them to store and using the autumn fruits to make homebrew wine, the last week or so has been exceptionally busy!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TI_qDTtt4KI/AAAAAAAAB0I/NoTK7T00W7E/s400/CRW_8674.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="266" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Elderflower (from dried), just before the yeast is added to start fermentation!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TI_qDTtt4KI/AAAAAAAAB0I/NoTK7T00W7E/s1600/CRW_8674.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>We've now got 4 batches of homebrew wine on the go, the first kit batch of Elderflower is going well, the second gallon of Elderflower (from dried flowers) is now in a demijohn and bubbling away furiously! We've also got a gallon of Elderberry wine on the go, I picked the berries from down on the side of the ship canal on Saturday, and it got racked into a demijohn today, where it too is bubbling furiously, and finally we've got a 2 gallon batch of summer fruits on the go, this was to use the extra lb of Elderberries, so I added blackberries and raspberries to make it up to a sufficient quantity of fruit, plus the extra Elderberry from the first batch that wouldnt fit into the demijohn went into the bucket! The Elderflower wines should be drinkable in only a few weeks (for the kit wine and a few months for the second batch from dried elderflower), but the 2 batches of berry wine that we've got going will probably take a lot longer, at least 6 months or so! We're also planning a 5 gallon batch of Mead, using some of the granulated honey from the honey harvest! I'll update you on that once we get it started (definitely a long term project, its not normally consumed until at least 12 months old!)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TI_rCQ755eI/AAAAAAAAB0g/1MgsLXFV9JU/s1600/CRW_8685.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TI_rCQ755eI/AAAAAAAAB0g/1MgsLXFV9JU/s640/CRW_8685.JPG" width="640" /></a>The local birds on the plot have now found the feeders we put up on the grapevine arbour, its quiet amazing to watch them at work! The foliage each side of the feeders is a dual plum tree we got last week from Parkers, its been 'tied' to the upright until the crops that are in the bed its heading for are removed!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TI_qZfU_tYI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/9w3dYgHMebo/s1600/CRW_8696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TI_qZfU_tYI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/9w3dYgHMebo/s640/CRW_8696.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>As you can see, once again the war against the weeds has been lost, but as the crops are (in the main) ready for harvesting, at this time of year its not too much of a problem! There are some winter crops that we are endeavouring to keep weed free, and any weeds that are going to seed are assiduously removed!<br />
<br />
The courgettes are still producing in quantity, and the greenhouse and polytunnel tomatoes are the best I've ever seen! Peppers and chillies are fab, the brassicas once again are good, and please, dont mention the beans!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TI_qnm54jpI/AAAAAAAAB0U/_kzwaXLozZQ/s1600/CRW_8697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TI_qnm54jpI/AAAAAAAAB0U/_kzwaXLozZQ/s640/CRW_8697.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Our tallest sunflower seems to have now decided to flower, at about 11' tall! The sweetcorn and squashes below it are really good, and we've still got 2 1/2 beds of spuds to dig up yet, so plenty of potential to see us through the winter!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TI_qug87nFI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/EZKQBi2dEoM/s1600/CRW_8700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TI_qug87nFI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/EZKQBi2dEoM/s640/CRW_8700.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The first of the pumpkins and squashes are just about ripe, though we'll leave them a few weeks yet before harvesting.........<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TI_q5LSqGkI/AAAAAAAAB0c/JoHDtkfYSWg/s1600/CRW_8699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TI_q5LSqGkI/AAAAAAAAB0c/JoHDtkfYSWg/s400/CRW_8699.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>...... and those beans I asked you not to mention? Runners are running away, the borlottis are bulking up nicely, and the french and broad beans just keep on coming! If nothing else, we'll have plenty of beans to see us through the winter!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TI_qMwXJ5dI/AAAAAAAAB0M/jD39olkwpM0/s1600/CRW_8695.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TI_qMwXJ5dI/AAAAAAAAB0M/jD39olkwpM0/s400/CRW_8695.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
And as I said, the greenhouse and polytunnel toms are the best Ive ever seen whilst we've been growing! This was just 1 days harvest, and we've probably got about the same again to come every 3 or 4 days for the next few weeks! 70lb of ripe beefsteak and standard tomatoes was the harvest I took off the plot here!<br />
<br />
<b>Tomato Recipies!</b><br />
<br />
So, with harvesting 70lb of ripe tomatoes from the plot a few days ago (and with many more still to come), we've been able to get lots of pasta sauces made (tomatoes, cabbge and courgette with some herbs and garlic, reduced and then bagged for the freezer), but we are fast running out of room in all 3 of our freezers, so I've been processing our harvests into sauces that can be kept in the cupboard (once they have been sterilized in a boiling water batch for 30 mins).<br />
<br />
After being asked for a few of them on the Grapevine (GYO forum), I thought I'd share them with you here, in the hopes they may allow you to make use of the tomato glut!<br />
<br />
<b>Tomato Ketchup</b><br />
<br />
Roasted at least 4lb of toms in hot oven for 30 mins (brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and black pepper)<br />
<br />
Let them cool, meanwhile lightly fry 2 large onions and a whole bulb of garlic in a large pan (until translucent)<br />
<br />
Remove the toms from the juice and add whole to onion pan. Heat to boiling.<br />
<br />
Add 200ml vinegar, 450grams sugar, allspice (teaspoon), coriander (1/2 tsp), basil (1/4 teaspoon), cayenne pepper (teaspoon), a dash of worcestershire sauce, a dash of balsamic vinegar, more black pepper and salt to tast and boil for 30 mins. <br />
<br />
Once cooked to a consistency you like, put into a food blender and blitz it all todether!<br />
<br />
Prep your jars, put ketchup into jars and place in water bath to sterilize for 30 mins before sealing!<br />
<b>Tomato Soup</b><br />
<br />
<b>Sweet Chilli Sauce </b><br />
<br />
Sweet Chilli Sauce (borrowed from <a href="http://galloping-gourmets.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Galloping Gourmets</a>)<br />
<br />
1 kg of peeled chopped de-seeded tomatoes - brilliant if you have a glut, as we have!<br />
A head of garlic - from the garden of course<br />
8 large red chillies - ours were 'hot cayenne'<br />
About two table spoons of grated fresh ginger<br />
4 Tbs of Nam Pla (Thai fish sauce - available in most supermarkets)<br />
600g sugar<br />
200ml or vinegar (I used red wine vinegar for this but apparently any works)<br />
<br />
First put your tomatoes in a blender (after peeling, deseeding and rough chopping)<br />
<br />
Then take a sharp knife and peel your ginger. It should be juicy and moist not hard and woody.<br />
<br />
Grate or finely chop the ginger<br />
<br />
Take the garlic and peel all the cloves. Put the garlic and ginger in the blender<br />
<br />
Chop up the chillies, seeds and all, leaving the stalks - make sure you wear gloves for this!<br />
<br />
Add all this to the tomatoes and blitz to a puree in a processor -<br />
Add the 4 tablespoons of fish sauce<br />
<br />
Then add all this mixture into a big pan<br />
<br />
Then add 600g of sugar and 200ml red wine vinegar<br />
<br />
Stir well and bring to a boil<br />
<br />
Lower to a simmer. A small froth or scum will form - skim this off and discard<br />
<br />
Maintain the simmer stirring occasionally for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes put 6 half pint jars in the oven to warm for another 15 minutes - keep stirring and skimming the sauce<br />
<br />
When the sauce has thickened and reduced, pour into the jars; seal and label.<br />
This sauce is hotter than the commercial stuff so adjust to your taste. Leave for a month to mature - be ready for Christmas in plenty of time and will keep for at least six months.<br />
I hope you found the recipes of interest, and perhaps of use to deal with (what I hope is for all) the tomato glut!<br />
<br />
Anyhows, onto the latest balance sheet update!<br />
<br />
<b>Balance Sheet Update - 14th September 2010</b><br />
<br />
<b>Total Veg Plot Costs 2010</b><br />
<br />
Rent + Subs for 2 full plots £100<br />
Seeds £20<br />
Seed Spuds £20<br />
Onion Sets £6<br />
Growbags £15<br />
Chicken Manure Pellets £8<br />
Plastic 'wannabe' Polytunnel £61<br />
Bamboo Canes £8<br />
Flower Plants £28<br />
Scaffolding Boards £100<br />
Watering Cans £8<br />
Soft Fruits £16<br />
Clematis £10<br />
Arbour materials £ 40<br />
Cold Frames (2) £30 (1/2 price at Argos)<br />
Redcurrant £7.50<br />
Birdhouse £7<br />
Birdfeeders (for arbour) £10<br />
<br />
<b>Total Costs £ 504</b><br />
<br />
Next years costs have already started, £59.50 for seeds (Wyevales sale), £7 for onion sets (3 varieties, 200+ sets in total), £12 for dual plum tree, so a total spend for 2011 of £88.50 so far, with only rent and subs + seed spuds to come (should be a total of £120 ish to add), so unless we decide to undertake any large projects on the plot, next year should be a relatively inexpensive one!<br />
<b><br />
Total Veg Plot Harvests 2010</b><br />
<br />
Rhubarb £ 35<br />
Fartichokes £ 4<br />
Volunteer Spuds £15<br />
First Early Spuds £15<br />
Second Early spuds £20<br />
Lettuce £14<br />
Radish £15<br />
Garlic £85<br />
Strawberries £65<br />
Raspberries £35<br />
Blackberries £35<br />
Peas £40<br />
Broad Beans £60<br />
Courgettes £120<br />
French Beans £100<br />
Red Onions £20<br />
White Onions £50<br />
Cabbages £20<br />
Peppers £21<br />
Chillies £14<br />
Tomatoes £125<br />
Turnip £13<br />
Runner Beans £70<br />
Broccolli £45<br />
Apples £12<br />
Plums £5<br />
Sweetcorn £20<br />
Chard / Spinach £2<br />
Aubergines £5<br />
Cucumbers £10<br />
<br />
<b>Total Veg Plot Harvests £ 1083</b><br />
<br />
So, a total nett profit of <b>£ 579</b> so far this year, with a large amount of harvests still to come!<br />
<br />
Hope your crops are proving bountiful, and your harvests are big ones! Thanks for reading, more updates at the weekend (hopefully)!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-77985344445294428022010-09-09T23:57:00.000+01:002010-09-09T23:57:49.894+01:00Hedgehogs, Gardeners Presentation Evening, Homebrew and lots of seeds!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlEuECMSKI/AAAAAAAABy4/MzrOIuO3SWg/s1600/CRW_8666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlEuECMSKI/AAAAAAAABy4/MzrOIuO3SWg/s640/CRW_8666.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Finally, a few days off and the weather has been good! Apologies for the recent dearth of posting to the blog, but as any who have an allotment or veg patch will agree, this time of year is about harvesting and then dealing with all the produce to ensure you maximise its usefulness! Rest assured, we've not been idle, far from it, the harvests are coming in aplenty, the bees are producing plenty of honey (that also has to be sorted out, extracted, filtered, settled and jarred)! On top of that we've also had the Trafford Gardeners Presentation Evening to prepare for (the site had to put in a tray of fruit and veg and set it up, which Pat, Sarah and I did yesterday), plus next years seeds to get (in the Wyevale 50p seed sale of course), onion sets to procure, homebrew wine to get started and of course work too!<br />
<br />
I'm actually on holiday this week (although had to spend Monday afternoon in a Training Coordinators Meeting wth the other cluster training coordinators from the area, and had a Managers Meeting to attend on Tuesday), so a chance to do a bit of shopping and get some stuff sorted!<br />
<br />
Monday morning before my afternnon meeting we decided that as the Wyevales 50p seed sale had just started that we needed to go and stock up on those seeds that we'd run out, in order that we kept our spending to a minimum and maximised our seed choices! A happy hour or two was spent sat in deckchairs going through the sale buckets........... although I didnt expect to spend quite so much! £59.50 later we left with 119 packets of seeds! Other shoppers were looking at our trolley in amazement, though I cant personally see why! If they had 2 allotments, and anted to maintain a good spread of varieties of each type of crop, then the more types of seed that you have, the more safeguarded you are against any particular crop having a failure!<br />
<br />
We recently decided )after sampling some of Dave's homebrew Rhubarb wine (at the plot BBQ) and having been to a talk at the Stockport BBKA about making your own mead), that perhaps it would be a good idea to start making our own homebrew again. We've both done it in the past, but hadnt done it for years, so after being given the inclination we decided that now was the time! So, after Wyevales we popped out to the Homebrew shop in Stockport, a few bits n bobs to procure to enable us to start making homebrew again, although we'd already got demijohns and had recently got hold of 3 x 5gallon brewing containers (from freecycle), we were lacking some of the bungs, corks, air locks and other sundries, so a quick trip down there sorted most of our needs! Along with everything we needed we also decided to start off with a homebrew Elderflower Wine kit, as for a first batch it would be good if we had at least a good chance of making something nice, so that was duly started yesterday!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlFA6WYhlI/AAAAAAAABzA/EdcqfJJux14/s1600/CRW_8672.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlFA6WYhlI/AAAAAAAABzA/EdcqfJJux14/s400/CRW_8672.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>Its bubbling away nicely now (and before you say anything, the kit wine does say to leave as it is for 3 days before you top it up to a full gallon, so I'll be topping it up as per instructions on Satrday)! We also bought some dried elderflowers, so we can get a batch of homemade (rather than kit) elderflower wine on the go too, then we can compare the 2 and see what we prefer! I'm also going to try and harvest some Elderberries over the next few days, so we can get a bacth of that on the go, and then once we've extracted the uncapped honey from the wax trimmings from the apiaries we should have enough honey for us to make 5 gallons of mead!<br />
<br />
This must make us sound like raging alcofrolics, which we definitely arent, but if we make something thats drinkable, then not only will it help us save money, but also will let us use any surplus crops and perhaps give us something that we can share with friends and family!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlO0wtwXOI/AAAAAAAABzw/EvUesEHWus0/s1600/CRW_8662.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlO0wtwXOI/AAAAAAAABzw/EvUesEHWus0/s640/CRW_8662.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>So, as yesterday (Wednesday) was the date for the Trafford Gardeners Presentation Evening, Pat, Sarah and I agreed to meet up at the plot at lunchtime to harvest some produce for the show bench and see whether we could hold up our honour amongst the other allotment sites of Trafford! We managed to put together 2 trays, 6 types of veg on each (as per the rules of the comp) in the stated quantities. It sounds easy, but when you're looking for 3, 6 or 8 of any specific type of veg that are as similar as possible and free from any blemishes, its a lot harder than it looks! The tray to the right of the piccy features 3 sweetcorn, 6 spuds, 8 runner beans, 3 onions and 6 toms from our plot (along with 6 french beans from Pat's plot) and the tray on the left features 3 of our turnips, then an assortment of other veg from various plots on Mos View! We kept it simple (as per the instructions / rules), but were amazed when we saw some of the trays from other sites!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlO6FpQ8XI/AAAAAAAABz0/FtLlxYkfe0w/s1600/CRW_8664.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlO6FpQ8XI/AAAAAAAABz0/FtLlxYkfe0w/s640/CRW_8664.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>As you can see, the standards of produce was amazing, and we knew fairly quickly that we weren't going to win (even tho our entry was exact to the rules and some of the others certainly didnt follow the rules exactly), but never mind, its the taking part that matters! The tray to the left with the 2 cauli and 1 squash was the first prize winner, and the tray to the right with the peppers and butternut squash was 2nd.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlPBaB_rVI/AAAAAAAABz4/MGJO_jar4EE/s1600/CRW_8665.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlPBaB_rVI/AAAAAAAABz4/MGJO_jar4EE/s640/CRW_8665.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Some of the other trays were also excellent!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlFU2l7ZjI/AAAAAAAABzI/mJxFyHwb6C0/s1600/CRW_8653.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlFU2l7ZjI/AAAAAAAABzI/mJxFyHwb6C0/s640/CRW_8653.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Whilst we were harvesting the produce for the show Pat noticed this yound hedgehog, sat sunning himself!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlFfDUCmCI/AAAAAAAABzM/ISe3VmnK0Lw/s1600/CRW_8654.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlFfDUCmCI/AAAAAAAABzM/ISe3VmnK0Lw/s640/CRW_8654.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>He had a small injury to his right ear, and was being bothered by the flies, so after checking he was ok, we decided to move him away from the flies by taking him to Pat and Colin's hedgehog house (they've had it for a few years and its not been used yet), but on showing him the entrance he decided he didnt like it, so took off at a fair click up the path towards our plot! A few minutes later I looked around for him, only to find..........<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlOvy6GN1I/AAAAAAAABzs/9DgG68vOB-A/s1600/CRW_8659.JPG"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlOvy6GN1I/AAAAAAAABzs/9DgG68vOB-A/s640/CRW_8659.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
.................. that he'd decided that our hedgehog house was far more to his liking! A few seconds after we took this piccy, he turned round and went inside! Lovely!<br />
<br />
So, after taking the hedgehog pictures and setting up the trays for the Gardeners Evening we went our separate ways to get ready for the night, and met up again at the Gardeners Evening!<br />
<br />
There were 7 of us from Moss View who managed to turn up, to the venue, Flixton Ex-Servicemans Association, where the coucil liason, Janet had done a fantastic job decorating the large function room! There were piccies of plots, plotholders and other related pictures all over, must have been over 900 pictures on display, all at least A4 size.... even the piccy of the rabbit I managed to take a few months ago was on display!<br />
<br />
After an intro from the Head of Services for Trafford MBC the local Mayor gave a speech, then the awards part began, with all those who had managed to earn a Very Highly Commended Certificate called up to receive a framed picture of their plot and a certificate from the mayor, where they had their picture taken for the local newspaper! There were about 24 VHC's for the plots (out of 1400 plots), of which only 3 went to allotmenteers who were running 2 plots, and these 3 got a big round of applause! Lee was the 3rd of them to be called up (as the plots are in his name), and as my name hadnt been called, I stayed firmly sat down! Lol!<br />
<br />
After that was a talk by a locla wildlife expert (about encouraging wildlife onto allotments), then a break for a buffet, followed by a Gardeners Question Time session and the raffle! Amazingly we won a prize in the raffle, of a Spear and Jackson Stainless Steel Ergonomic Spade (10 yr guarantee!) Overall we had a good night, it was great to see Lee receive such a big round of applause (I think he was the youngest person in the room to get a VHC, and certainly the only non retired person to get 2 VHC's, 1 for each plot!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlE6EdnnJI/AAAAAAAABy8/b-w4f6Rh4dw/s1600/CRW_8668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlE6EdnnJI/AAAAAAAABy8/b-w4f6Rh4dw/s400/CRW_8668.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>So, today being Lee's last day off we had a few bits n bobs to do before meeting Pat and Colin at the plot for lunch and to do the bee inspections! First off we went to Wilkinsons in Eccles to see if they had any tannin extract (the elderflower wine recipe in CJ Berry suggests using it) and to see if they had any (they didnt, but after talking with a friend, he suggested using a strong cup of cooled earl grey tea - without milk of course - as this contains plenty of tannin!), and also to see whether they had any onion sets yet! We left with a few more homebrew supplies and 2 types of onions sets, with 50 sets in each packet!<br />
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On the way back home we popped into Parkers Garden Center as they were advetising the new fruit trees had arrived, so after a good look around we ended up with another packet of 100 onion sets and a dual plum tree, 2 varieties of plum grafted onto a single root stock! This will be planted into the bed behind it on the picture, the one with the lavender in it, which is what will be growing beneath the plum tree!<br />
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With the purchase of the plum tree and all the seeds on Monday, we've actually begun spending for next years balance sheet, the plum was £13 and the seeds £59.50, so next years balance sheet is at £72.50 currently, with the allotment rent and subs (usually about £100 or so) and the seed spuds (£20 or so) plus compost (£20 or so) and a load of manure (£20) still to come, which should make our spend next year significantly less than this year at about £232 for next year compared with the £504 we've spent for this growing year!<br />
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This afternoon we completed the bee inspections, with another 4 supers of honey almost ready to be taken for harvest (shuld be ready for next week) then we did a quick harvest, took a few piccies and came home to start melting the wax trmmings from the hives (the cappings from extraction and the bracecomb from the hives that we've been saving) in order that we can use the honey from them to start our mead and the wax to make some candles for the Stockport BBKA honey show in 2 months time!<br />
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Ok, so onto a few piccies from around the plot!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlFqfCR2OI/AAAAAAAABzQ/RQ6LT3qrJwo/s1600/CRW_8657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlFqfCR2OI/AAAAAAAABzQ/RQ6LT3qrJwo/s640/CRW_8657.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think the Heath Robinson Hothouse has had its day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlOXG9fU7I/AAAAAAAABzk/Coass3DeMAA/s1600/CRW_8660.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlOXG9fU7I/AAAAAAAABzk/Coass3DeMAA/s640/CRW_8660.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The sprouts are coming on nicely!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlOitP_QsI/AAAAAAAABzo/698ClyJurD8/s1600/CRW_8661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlOitP_QsI/AAAAAAAABzo/698ClyJurD8/s640/CRW_8661.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
As are some of the cabbages!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlFGUSTAXI/AAAAAAAABzE/69phdEd2XSQ/s1600/CRW_8673.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIlFGUSTAXI/AAAAAAAABzE/69phdEd2XSQ/s640/CRW_8673.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>And finally, a piccy of some of the sweetcorn we had for tea, absolutely fantastic taste! We gave our Beekeeper friend Dave a cob last night (the third one we took for the Gardeners Evening Tray) and he rang us tonight just to say 'Wow' at the taste! Lol!<br />
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Ok, Im off for the next few days, still on holiday, so I should hopefully get to the plto and do a good harvest and get some more piccies, plus get some more past sauces made and frozen, some courgette soup made and frozen, some herbs dried for storage, some more wine started and hopefully some more pics and an updated balance sheet done before I return to work on monday (for a rest! Lol!)<br />
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Hope your harvests are coming in well and your balance sheets are more than healthy!<br />
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Thanks for reading!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-67563565141162393482010-09-02T23:22:00.000+01:002010-09-02T23:22:39.294+01:00The Grapevine Virtual Vegetable Show 2010 - our entries (so far), plus Balance Sheet!Well, once again its that time of year when the GYO Magazine's excellent forum, the '<a href="http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/">Grapevine</a>', runs its popular (for fun only - there's no prizes) Virtual Vegetable Show! Its a free to join forum, with a great bunch of enthusiastic and fun folks on it, and the veg show is a great bit of fun, a chance for us all to share our best piccies of our crops! The first year they ran the competition we did well, getting 2 second places, in categories! The next year we got 2 first places, 2 second places and a third! Last year we didnt enter (as with my bad back we were unable to spend as much time on the plot as we wanted), but we've both decided to enter as many categories as possible this year, even if we dont win at least its a bit of fun! We've got until the end of September to post our entries, so as I've been saving a few piccies for the show already, below is a selection of what we've entered, hope you enjoy!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIAZ3tsbIrI/AAAAAAAAByA/fUQsz3IeaKM/s1600/CRW_8241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIAZ3tsbIrI/AAAAAAAAByA/fUQsz3IeaKM/s400/CRW_8241.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>3 Garlic.......................<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIAaBYXeovI/AAAAAAAAByE/hPJTlz6_mVA/s1600/CRW_8238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIAaBYXeovI/AAAAAAAAByE/hPJTlz6_mVA/s640/CRW_8238.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>................ same 3 garlic!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIAaLhQz0bI/AAAAAAAAByI/RNcHG80v0RQ/s1600/CRW_8254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIAaLhQz0bI/AAAAAAAAByI/RNcHG80v0RQ/s640/CRW_8254.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>2 courgettes! Zuchinni<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIAaNbDlV0I/AAAAAAAAByM/-M06qrhTcYk/s1600/CRW_8640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIAaNbDlV0I/AAAAAAAAByM/-M06qrhTcYk/s640/CRW_8640.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>3 Tomatoes (cant tell you the variety, we had a bit of a labelling accident this year!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIAaOeXm8EI/AAAAAAAAByQ/p4w_Z7j2LgY/s1600/CRW_8643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIAaOeXm8EI/AAAAAAAAByQ/p4w_Z7j2LgY/s640/CRW_8643.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>3 Stutgarter Overwintered Onions from set.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIAaPrlbRhI/AAAAAAAAByU/TuiZl5B5K5U/s1600/CRW_8645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIAaPrlbRhI/AAAAAAAAByU/TuiZl5B5K5U/s640/CRW_8645.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>3 Climbing French Beans, Cobra<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIAaQl6ATWI/AAAAAAAAByY/KbrH6gJ4bic/s1600/CRW_8647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIAaQl6ATWI/AAAAAAAAByY/KbrH6gJ4bic/s640/CRW_8647.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>3 Potatoes, 2nd earlies!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIAaR7seSZI/AAAAAAAAByc/MZcCio6Rswk/s1600/CRW_8652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TIAaR7seSZI/AAAAAAAAByc/MZcCio6Rswk/s640/CRW_8652.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>3 Bramley Apples to enter the 3 fruit section!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TECf66xq3oI/AAAAAAAABaI/ZNNDiSias7U/s400/CRW_8136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TECf66xq3oI/AAAAAAAABaI/ZNNDiSias7U/s640/CRW_8136.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>For the Anything Else category.......... a jar of freshly extracted Organic Honey from our plot!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TEiS0nADdeI/AAAAAAAABhY/UNOSRW7ca3g/s400/CRW_8213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TEiS0nADdeI/AAAAAAAABhY/UNOSRW7ca3g/s400/CRW_8213.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>A cabbage for the 1 Brassica category...........a Golden Acre Primo! (The cabbage variety, and no, hes not a cabbage either!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TGg0JAPVAvI/AAAAAAAABs8/YWFGmRkMtFw/s640/CRW_8413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/TGg0JAPVAvI/AAAAAAAABs8/YWFGmRkMtFw/s640/CRW_8413.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Peppers / Chillies, open class entry!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/attachments/fruit-vegetable-showcase/16724d1283455485-virtual-show-2010-prettiest-rose-crw_7978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/attachments/fruit-vegetable-showcase/16724d1283455485-virtual-show-2010-prettiest-rose-crw_7978.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Pretiest Rose Entry<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/attachments/fruit-vegetable-showcase/16725d1283455745-virtual-show-2010-best-scarecrow-crw_8093sml.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/attachments/fruit-vegetable-showcase/16725d1283455745-virtual-show-2010-best-scarecrow-crw_8093sml.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Best Scarecrow entry..... Fester from Plot 2!<br />
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Its all a bit of fun really, but its nice to see others reactions online when they see what you've grown!<br />
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Anyhows, time has been at a premium here recently, especially as with large harvests coming in we've got to process them to ensure that we have the produce available for the winter, the new branch at work is great, we're hitting KPI and sales targets and the team seems to be a very good one, but still a bit of work to get it to a place that I will be happy with! <br />
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We had another 34 frames of honey from the bees yesterday afternoon, which we had to extract last night (to give them back the frames so they have plenty of room for bringing in more honey), so starting at 7pm we had 60lb of honey that we extracted last week to jar up first, then 34 frames to extract (approx 70 - 80lb of honey), so we finished them at 230am last night! In total that brings our total honey harvest to approx 160lb, although some of it has already granulated, so that will probably be used for baking and for making mead with!<br />
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I managed to get some piccies of the plot today, so Im hoping to get them up on the blog in the next few days, but we're struggling with processing our crops, and although I do enjoy keeping the blog up to date, processing our current bounty has to come first!<br />
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Anyhows, after a fair bit of recent harvesting, here's the latest Balance Sheet!<br />
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<b>Balance Sheet Update - 2nd September 2010</b><br />
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<b>Total Veg Plot Costs 2010</b><br />
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Rent + Subs for 2 full plots £100<br />
Seeds £20<br />
Seed Spuds £20<br />
Onion Sets £6<br />
Growbags £15<br />
Chicken Manure Pellets £8<br />
Plastic 'wannabe' Polytunnel £61<br />
Bamboo Canes £8<br />
Flower Plants £28<br />
Scaffolding Boards £100<br />
Watering Cans £8<br />
Soft Fruits £16<br />
Clematis £10<br />
Arbour materials £ 40<br />
Cold Frames (2) £30 (1/2 price at Argos)<br />
Redcurrant £7.50<br />
Birdhouse £7<br />
Birdfeeders (for arbour) £10<br />
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<b>Total Costs £ 504</b><br />
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Next years costs should be significantly less than this year, as we wont be building the arbour, buying the polytunnel or cold frames or scaffolding boards! Costs will go up next week tho, as we're off to Wyevales 50p seed sale to stock up ready for next years growing season!<br />
<b><br />
Total Veg Plot Harvests 2010</b><br />
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Rhubarb £ 35<br />
Fartichokes £ 4<br />
Volunteer Spuds £15<br />
First Early Spuds £15<br />
Second Early spuds £15<br />
Lettuce £14<br />
Radish £15<br />
Garlic £85<br />
Strawberries £65<br />
Raspberries £35<br />
Blackberries £25<br />
Peas £40<br />
Broad Beans £60<br />
Courgettes £100<br />
French Beans £80<br />
Red Onions £20<br />
White Onions £50<br />
Cabbages £17<br />
Peppers £14<br />
Chillies £9<br />
Tomatoes £55<br />
Turnip £13<br />
Runner Beans £50<br />
Broccolli £35<br />
Apples £12<br />
Plums £5<br />
Sweetcorn £10<br />
Chard / Spinach £2<br />
Aubergines £5<br />
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<b>Total Veg Plot Harvests £ 893</b><br />
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So, a total nett profit of <b>£ 399</b> so far this year, with a large amount of harvests still to come!<br />
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Hope your harvests are bountiful! Thanks for reading!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-12329356284969691182010-08-27T19:50:00.000+01:002010-08-27T19:50:35.905+01:00Piccies, new work branch, plot updates and Balance Sheet! Well, I must apologise for the lack of updates recently, starting in my new branch on Monday, attending a Managers Meeting on Wednesday and working my new (3 out of 4 weekends working) rota means I've been a tad bit busy to say the least! The new branch I'm working at is 25mins from home, along a route that is fairly traffic free, so Im saving a good hour a day on my commute, which is great! The branch itself is a smaller one than my last, with a slightly smaller team, but I have to say that it is exceptionally well designed, well laid out and looked after by the team and so far appears to have a fantastic team of highly committed staff! There's a few areas I've found that I need to look at, but nothing major, so the stress levels here will (I hope) be much reduced! I'm back in my old area now, working for an Area Manager I've known for 20 years, who was originally my store manager, and was instrumental in developing me to progress within my career, which is great, not only because I know and trust the guy, but also because I find his style of management one that gets the best out of me, he's supportive when needed, but challenges you to deliver and is always pleasant to deal with, so I'm looking forwards to seeing how the next few months develop at work!<br />
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Anyhows, my new rota means I dont get the same 2 days off every week, I get 1 weekend from every 4 off and a 2 day break on a Weds / Thurs every month, plus 2 days off a week for the other 2 weeks, so not as many days off with hubby as I'd like, but a small price to pay for a much reduced commute! This week Lee, Pat, Colin and Sarah did the bee inspections on Wednesday (whilst I was at a Managers Meeting), and were able to take 23 frames of capped honey from the hives, which we all extracted on Wednesday night! 2 of the batches (from hives 2 and 3) were lovely smooth light coloured honey, but the 3rd batch (from Hive 6) appeared to be very heavy, possibly 'rape seed' honey, and looks like it will granulate very quickly, so we are thinking of using this to make a few gallons of mead! In total it appears we extracted about 70lb of honey, 20lb of which is the rape seed honey, so the 50lb from hives 2 and 3 will be bottled on Wednesday next week! They also reported that they think there will be more frames ready to extract next week, so fingers crossed we may yet get a good honey harvest this year! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THftmZql0jI/AAAAAAAABwE/UxAIpDaHXN4/s1600/CRW_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THftmZql0jI/AAAAAAAABwE/UxAIpDaHXN4/s400/CRW_8486.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>I got up this morning to a lovely clear and bright day, although a bit chilly, its that time of year when the dew hangs heavy on the grass in a morning, the first autumn fruits are ripening in abundance and the feel is that summer is giving way to autumn, so after Lee had headed off to work I took Bella out for her morning walk, and brought along my camera to take a few piccies (inspired by a friend of ours whos been producing some excellent pictures, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/imagesbyjim/4929620819/">Jim</a>)<br />
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Walking Bella along the Manchester Ship Canal I spotted this marker buoy, which with the reflections looked as if it was floating in the air, as Im always one for a photo out of the ordinary I thought Id snap it, what do you think?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THftvktHTDI/AAAAAAAABwI/RxT4-h45ND8/s1600/CRW_8487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THftvktHTDI/AAAAAAAABwI/RxT4-h45ND8/s640/CRW_8487.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The industrial buildings the other side of the canal, in Irlam, were beautifully reflected in the still waters of the canal, so again I snapped it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THft4PEZFWI/AAAAAAAABwM/j_se6C6usSI/s1600/CRW_8488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THft4PEZFWI/AAAAAAAABwM/j_se6C6usSI/s400/CRW_8488.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>And finally another reflection, this time of the chimney!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THft9QSxQHI/AAAAAAAABwQ/sE-IQSFcVto/s1600/CRW_8491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THft9QSxQHI/AAAAAAAABwQ/sE-IQSFcVto/s640/CRW_8491.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The Rowab trees hereabouts seem absolutely dripping with ripe fruit now, its one of the things I associate with autumn, yet they are very early this year, usually large crops of Rowan berries means we're in for a long harsh winter!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfuB6unQHI/AAAAAAAABwU/tUiGtlKjsLk/s1600/CRW_8494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfuB6unQHI/AAAAAAAABwU/tUiGtlKjsLk/s640/CRW_8494.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The rosehips are also ripening, another sign of the encroaching autumn!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfuGT6B_BI/AAAAAAAABwY/fPcXTK1NUuE/s1600/CRW_8495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfuGT6B_BI/AAAAAAAABwY/fPcXTK1NUuE/s640/CRW_8495.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Dew on the Rosebay Willowherb (at least I think it is, its something the bees are visiting very regularly as it provides a high nectar flow)<br />
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I hope you find the piccies to your liking, photography is something I enjoy, but rarely get the chance to go out and take piccies, or to display them! A few months ago at the Stockport BBKA meeting we had a talk on photographing bees, with a practical session, at which we were allowed to take our cameras into their apiary and then the resulting digital images were critiqued by the guest speaker, a beekeeper who is also chairman of the Stockport Photography Club. I was glad to have my pictures approved, and delighted when he invited me ti join the Photography Club, but unfortunately working a rota means its not possible atm for me to do so! However, at the Honey Show in November there is a photography competition, so I will be entering that! I was fortunate the other day to be loaned the use of a 100mm macro lens for my cannon, so I had a quick play with it today, capturing a couple of images of our bees having a drink, I'm hoping that next Wednesday I'll be able to take it into the apiary to see if I can get some prizewinning photos for the show!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfvD298LAI/AAAAAAAABwc/8jbWj5ZaqAI/s1600/CRW_8502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfvD298LAI/AAAAAAAABwc/8jbWj5ZaqAI/s640/CRW_8502.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>This was the first of the 2 piccies Im happy with, it was a difficult picture to take because of the backlighting, but with the position of the sun at the time I was taking them, it was impossible to take it from another angle!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfvIQjDRxI/AAAAAAAABwg/6jb0w2S-f2w/s1600/CRW_8506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfvIQjDRxI/AAAAAAAABwg/6jb0w2S-f2w/s640/CRW_8506.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>This was the second piccy I am happy with, you can see the bees tongue taking a drink! These piccies look even better if you click on them to view at full size!<br />
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Anyhows, onto todays harvest and some piccies from around the plot!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfvTQg1XaI/AAAAAAAABwk/vlxA_VVvGMc/s1600/CRW_8530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfvTQg1XaI/AAAAAAAABwk/vlxA_VVvGMc/s640/CRW_8530.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Just a bit to pack into the car for the journey home! 12 lb toms, 5lb spuds, the first 2 sweetcorn. 4 peppers, 4 chillies, 4 turnips, 2 swede, about 2lb broad beans, 3lb of french beans, chard, spinach, broccolli, 2 cabbages and a few courgettes!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfva82oDmI/AAAAAAAABwo/JHwr3DnuSgs/s1600/CRW_8531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfva82oDmI/AAAAAAAABwo/JHwr3DnuSgs/s640/CRW_8531.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Potato harvest from just 3 plants! I'm very happy with this, especially as this was from the second earlies, which got blight and succumbed!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfvi5kA5pI/AAAAAAAABws/EzWv8x6ValI/s1600/CRW_8533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfvi5kA5pI/AAAAAAAABws/EzWv8x6ValI/s640/CRW_8533.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>All to be processed for winter useage, apart from the sweetcorn, which we will be having tonight for tea!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfvpSvg7lI/AAAAAAAABww/d6zI-CgdPJo/s1600/CRW_8538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfvpSvg7lI/AAAAAAAABww/d6zI-CgdPJo/s400/CRW_8538.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>Broccolli and cabbages, 1 savoy and 1 golden acre primo!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfvvUg69DI/AAAAAAAABw0/GKW17QznxvE/s1600/CRW_8539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfvvUg69DI/AAAAAAAABw0/GKW17QznxvE/s640/CRW_8539.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>We're taking about this amount of toms every couple of days now, there's plenty on the plants, but they are very late ripening this year!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfv7ECGI6I/AAAAAAAABw4/-q71GzDfZlU/s1600/CRW_8535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfv7ECGI6I/AAAAAAAABw4/-q71GzDfZlU/s640/CRW_8535.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>So, onto the plots! The courgettes are still producing quite well, I took another 18 of them today, some the size of small dogs! I'm going to turn a lot of these into ratatouille (with the toms) and soup (with garlic and spuds), both of which will be frozen for use throughout the winter!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfwG4ynx2I/AAAAAAAABw8/6roEDgWpsWk/s1600/CRW_8542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfwG4ynx2I/AAAAAAAABw8/6roEDgWpsWk/s640/CRW_8542.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The mid sewn broadies are about finished now, the late sown are just starting to crop!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfxUmhjIaI/AAAAAAAABxg/sZ5mnZRdXPg/s1600/CRW_8557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfxUmhjIaI/AAAAAAAABxg/sZ5mnZRdXPg/s640/CRW_8557.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The late sown peas are now beginning to pod, for the first time ever we've managed to successional sow peas to maintain a good fresh supply, plus be able to freeze some for the winter!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfxbTO2pCI/AAAAAAAABxk/85hiSobFtQk/s1600/CRW_8558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfxbTO2pCI/AAAAAAAABxk/85hiSobFtQk/s640/CRW_8558.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The early sown dwarf french beans are still cropping like mad, and the climbing french beans are also now producing a good amount!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfxjMMZiCI/AAAAAAAABxo/fcJYIwiqiUk/s1600/CRW_8559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfxjMMZiCI/AAAAAAAABxo/fcJYIwiqiUk/s640/CRW_8559.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The late sown runner beans are now starting to crop, the borlottis are podding up nicely..........<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfxpGkwgcI/AAAAAAAABxs/k_Fk0PvcidM/s1600/CRW_8560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfxpGkwgcI/AAAAAAAABxs/k_Fk0PvcidM/s640/CRW_8560.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>.......... and the early sown runners are romping away, producing far too many beans! We gave away bags of beans, turnip, spuds, cabbage and other stuff to Yo and Bobn and Mark and Craig when they came to the BBQ at the weekend, but we've still got lots left to harvest!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfx2uz2gKI/AAAAAAAABxw/G2gmSDlb4R4/s1600/CRW_8561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfx2uz2gKI/AAAAAAAABxw/G2gmSDlb4R4/s640/CRW_8561.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The cabbage beds are still fairly full, we've been harvesting cabbages for our and friends use, but theres still more coming on behind, ad the main broccolli beds are still producing enough florets to do us about 6 portions of broccolli a week!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfyBySXW9I/AAAAAAAABx0/kPnRDIufz50/s1600/CRW_8563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfyBySXW9I/AAAAAAAABx0/kPnRDIufz50/s640/CRW_8563.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The sprouts arent looking too bad this year, even the purple ones are now producing tiny sprouts! Cant wait till they are at edible size, I love sprouts!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfyOOY8ufI/AAAAAAAABx4/J6Tl13HRJhc/s1600/CRW_8564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfyOOY8ufI/AAAAAAAABx4/J6Tl13HRJhc/s640/CRW_8564.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The chard and spinach is still doing well, we've been taking a bit for use in pasta dishes, but still plenty coming on for future use!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfyVYKBq7I/AAAAAAAABx8/VGD8scmjNVs/s1600/CRW_8565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfyVYKBq7I/AAAAAAAABx8/VGD8scmjNVs/s640/CRW_8565.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The hothouse is still standing, the aubergines are just about ripe, so Ill be harvesting them soon, theres lots of peppers and chillies coming on too, with several that will be ready to harvest next week!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfwbRs_9pI/AAAAAAAABxE/oL4unnnn5vY/s1600/CRW_8544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfwbRs_9pI/AAAAAAAABxE/oL4unnnn5vY/s640/CRW_8544.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The toms in the greenhouses had a collapsing fit when the support string broke, I tried to rehang them, but after breaking the first stem I let them alone, it looks untidy, but they are still producing fruit!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfwmc9oIVI/AAAAAAAABxI/Kx4JZsZCEV0/s1600/CRW_8545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfwmc9oIVI/AAAAAAAABxI/Kx4JZsZCEV0/s640/CRW_8545.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Plot 2 looks a lot more empty, yet in fact there's only 2 empty beds! The foliage from the spuds has now been cit back, we should be harvesting them next week! The beds the onions and garlic came from are currently empty, apart from 1 with the maincrop carrots in it, and the only real crops left are the greenhouse crops, the broccolli beds, the raspberry fedge, the fartichokes and the pumpkin / squash and sweetcorn beds!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfwQUJFWVI/AAAAAAAABxA/LsiuWbJFYLM/s1600/CRW_8543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfwQUJFWVI/AAAAAAAABxA/LsiuWbJFYLM/s640/CRW_8543.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Plot 2's greenhouse, still lots of toms, even if some of them are now growing in a heap!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfw9xecgeI/AAAAAAAABxU/UPbjqoy51zw/s1600/CRW_8555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfw9xecgeI/AAAAAAAABxU/UPbjqoy51zw/s640/CRW_8555.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The sweetcorn and squashes are really doing well! The first 2 sweetcorn were harvested today, they are jusy going in the pan now! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfwswgxG7I/AAAAAAAABxM/IZgZZ7Otl9I/s1600/CRW_8550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfwswgxG7I/AAAAAAAABxM/IZgZZ7Otl9I/s640/CRW_8550.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Lots more corn to come..............<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfwy7POM2I/AAAAAAAABxQ/Cl59RhcPeSE/s1600/CRW_8553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfwy7POM2I/AAAAAAAABxQ/Cl59RhcPeSE/s400/CRW_8553.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>... some of which is almosy ripe! Looks like it could be our best ever year for sweetcorn!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfxGcu8GzI/AAAAAAAABxY/_z1mqNsnEE8/s1600/CRW_8551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfxGcu8GzI/AAAAAAAABxY/_z1mqNsnEE8/s640/CRW_8551.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Pumpkins are also looking good...........<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfxOE1RuaI/AAAAAAAABxc/8ySaGjfkHnQ/s1600/CRW_8554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THfxOE1RuaI/AAAAAAAABxc/8ySaGjfkHnQ/s640/CRW_8554.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>.............. as are the butternut squashses! Sooon be ripe enough to harvest!<br />
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So, although the nights are drawing in, the weather is beginning to feel autumnal and the weeds are becoming a problem, there's still plenty of crops still to harvest over the next few weeks!<br />
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As I've not produced a balance sheet for a while I thought I'd include one in todays post! <br />
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<b>Balance Sheet Update - 27th August 2010</b><br />
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<b>Total Veg Plot Costs 2010</b><br />
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Rent + Subs for 2 full plots £100<br />
Seeds £20<br />
Seed Spuds £20<br />
Onion Sets £6<br />
Growbags £15<br />
Chicken Manure Pellets £8<br />
Plastic 'wannabe' Polytunnel £61<br />
Bamboo Canes £8<br />
Flower Plants £28<br />
Scaffolding Boards £100<br />
Watering Cans £8<br />
Soft Fruits £16<br />
Clematis £10<br />
Arbour materials £ 40<br />
Cold Frames (2) £30 (1/2 price at Argos)<br />
Redcurrant £7.50<br />
Birdhouse £7<br />
Birdfeeders (for arbour) £10<br />
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<b>Total Costs £ 504</b><br />
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Next years costs should be significantly less than this year, as we wont be building the arbour, buying the polytunnel or cold frames or scaffolding boards!<br />
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Total Veg Plot Harvests 2010</b><br />
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Rhubarb £ 35<br />
Fartichokes £ 4<br />
Volunteer Spuds £15<br />
First Early Spuds £15<br />
Second Early spuds £10<br />
Lettuce £14<br />
Radish £15<br />
Garlic £85<br />
Strawberries £65<br />
Raspberries £35<br />
Blackberries £10<br />
Peas £40<br />
Broad Beans £52<br />
Courgettes £85<br />
French Beans £65<br />
Red Onions £20<br />
White Onions £50<br />
Cabbages £15<br />
Peppers £9<br />
Chillies £4<br />
Tomatoes £35<br />
Turnip £13<br />
Runner Beans £36<br />
Broccolli £25<br />
Apples £12<br />
Plums £5<br />
Sweetcorn £2<br />
Chard / Spinach £2<br />
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<b>Total Veg Plot Harvests £ 766</b><br />
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So, a total nett profit of <b>£ 272</b> so far this year, with a large amount of harvests still to come! The toms are definitely late this year, we've still a large amount of fruit on the plants in the greenhouses and polytunnel, but its very slow to ripen, however, at least they have started to crop about 10lb or so twice a week now!<br />
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I'm working for the next 4 days, but then I;ve got Wednesday and Thursday off, so I'm hoping to be able to post a couple of full updates then, but if I get the chance to get to the plot over the weekend for half an hour I'll see if I can get a quick update in for you!<br />
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Hope your crops are harvesting well and your balance sheets are healthy! Thanks for reading!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35566115.post-13067351946767651902010-08-22T22:32:00.001+01:002010-08-22T22:57:10.983+01:0040th Birthday BBQ on the plot!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGJTM8lkJI/AAAAAAAABvY/U59h0JK2VSI/s1600/CRW_8473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGJTM8lkJI/AAAAAAAABvY/U59h0JK2VSI/s640/CRW_8473.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Today dawned bright and sunny, a glorious day for Lee's 40th Birthday and the plot summer BBQ! I'd arranged with Pat and Colin for them to decorate the shed with some 40th birthday paraphenalia that one of our best friends had brought over for me (thankyou Mark and Craig, it was really appreciated), so I had to get Lee clear of the area until at least 12ish, which I did by dragging him round B&Q (for some wood to make a couple of birdhouses and a bat box from, which they didnt have in the correct sizes!) and Tescos (for some BBQ stuff). We decided to drop the BBQ stuff at the allotment before coming home to fetch the BBQ and a few othr bits n bobs (cutlery, condiments and booze - non alcoholic for me as I was driving)!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGJhaO4b2I/AAAAAAAABvc/HOrVE8aTDx0/s1600/CRW_8474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGJhaO4b2I/AAAAAAAABvc/HOrVE8aTDx0/s640/CRW_8474.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> I'm sure Lee was half expecting something to be waiting for him, (as he got me with a decorated greenhuse on my 40th), but as we drove up to the plot (with several plotholders shouting happy birthday to him as we passed), I'm sure he wasnt prepared for the great work Pat and Colin had put in! (Many thanks you guys, a fab job!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGJvdN-xMI/AAAAAAAABvg/v76b6wSCNAA/s1600/CRW_8476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGJvdN-xMI/AAAAAAAABvg/v76b6wSCNAA/s640/CRW_8476.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> As you can see, he was very happy with the results, like me he doesnt think anyone is going to make a fuss, he doesnt like to be the center of attention, but he took it in his stride! We dropped off the stuff for the BBQ, then came home to fetch our BBQ and a few other bits, before returning to the plot for 2pmish!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGLXjV7TSI/AAAAAAAABvk/De0Bq9SIy6Q/s1600/CRW_8481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGLXjV7TSI/AAAAAAAABvk/De0Bq9SIy6Q/s640/CRW_8481.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> By 3pm a few folks had arrived and the tables from the cabin had been bought out and the 2 BBQ's lit! 2 dear friends of ours, Yo and Bob (and their gorgeous 17 month old daughter, Esther) arrived shortly after, preceeded by 3 of my team from the branch I had just left, who brought a great prezzie, a keyring with an enamel bee and a watering can, guess the plot keys are going to look cool on it!! We met Yo and Bob through the GYO Magazine's online forum, the Grapevine, where after conversing in cyberspace we met up and became firm friends! Yo and Bob invited us to their fabulous wedding, held at Yo's folks farm in Todmorden, and their wedding prezzie was a days digging at their allotment in Huddersfield (which we organised with about 7 other folks from the Grapevine)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGLfVT5rDI/AAAAAAAABvo/fLj3CU0qNuk/s1600/CRW_8477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGLfVT5rDI/AAAAAAAABvo/fLj3CU0qNuk/s640/CRW_8477.JPG" width="425" /></a></div> Esther was resplendant in her 'Queen Bee' outfit, (worn in honour of Lee being a beekeeper) and had driven here singing 'Old Lee Dobby had a farm, Ei, Ei, Oo!'<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGLnG3fl2I/AAAAAAAABvs/H6at57jqhDw/s1600/CRW_8478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGLnG3fl2I/AAAAAAAABvs/H6at57jqhDw/s640/CRW_8478.JPG" width="425" /></a></div> Esther took am instant liking to the Koppaberg cider, though thankfully it was one of the alcohol free versions that we were drinking! Lol!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGLv2VmstI/AAAAAAAABvw/Q2fktoJ_CQw/s1600/CRW_8480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGLv2VmstI/AAAAAAAABvw/Q2fktoJ_CQw/s640/CRW_8480.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> In total there were about 23 of us there, plotholders, and their families and friends, enjoying the August sunshine, good food, good company and some gorgeous wines (Dave brought some fab Rhubarb wine homebrew, and Pat brought some of her Elderflower Champagne, both were very well received!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGL4G1F1GI/AAAAAAAABv0/JjLO6afQB6Y/s1600/CRW_8479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGL4G1F1GI/AAAAAAAABv0/JjLO6afQB6Y/s640/CRW_8479.JPG" width="426" /></a></div> The Birthday boy enjoyed himself immensely, until after we'd satiated appetites on jacket spuds, sweetcorn, greek salad, burgers, sausages, chicken, chinese ribs, crisps, scones and cream, Pat then pulled out the pieste da resistance, 3 cakes, a chocolate sponge, a vannila cream sponge and a strawberry gateaux!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGMBQN44-I/AAAAAAAABv4/GqcBojiMOZ4/s1600/CRW_8482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGMBQN44-I/AAAAAAAABv4/GqcBojiMOZ4/s640/CRW_8482.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> 'Ta Da!!' Compl;ete with 40th sign and candles - tho not 40, we wouldnt want to cause too much global warming with the number of candles used!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGMFDCF4hI/AAAAAAAABv8/8NfHPVY3Hvc/s1600/CRW_8484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGMFDCF4hI/AAAAAAAABv8/8NfHPVY3Hvc/s640/CRW_8484.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> As you can see, 40th on the cakes!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGMON9WhEI/AAAAAAAABwA/8vqCHtU6-a4/s1600/CRW_8485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N0t_ol_Mkx8/THGMON9WhEI/AAAAAAAABwA/8vqCHtU6-a4/s640/CRW_8485.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Birthday Boy gets to blow them out, and make a speech! 'Erm, plot needs weeding...... anyone wanna give me a lift?'! Lol!<br />
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All in all a great day, Lee got some fab birthday gifts, a bottle of Jamesons, a pyrography kit (for making plant labels next year), socks, 2 belts, a very nice bottle of port, a fab extrabright led wind up torch, a fleece, a wall mounted thermometer and a large wall mounted clock (for the plot), a personalised pen, a tool box and the keyring with the enamel bee and watering can charms on it! I've also managed to bag him a load of homebrew gear off ebay, so we'll be picking that up on Wednesday, just in time to start some Elderberry wine off!<br />
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Hope you get the chance to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labours with fellow allotmenteers and friends on your plots, thanks for reading!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0