Computer Crash

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!

 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!

Dark Sweet Pickle (Branston type Pickle)

Ingredients

• 9 ounces carrots
• 1 medium swede (rutabaga)
• 4 cloves garlic
• 4½ ounces dates
• 1 medium cauliflower
• 2 onions
• 2 apples
• 2 unpeeled zucchini
• 15 sweet gherkins
• ½ lb dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 fluid ounces lemon juice
• 12 fluid ounces malt vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons mustard seeds
• 2 teaspoons ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 3 dashes browning sauce, for colouring

Directions

1. Cube the carrots and swede, and finely chop the garlic, dates, cauliflower, onions, apples, zucchini and gherkins.
2. Combine all the ingredients except the colouring in a large saucepan and bring to the boil; reduce the heat to a simmer.
3. Simmer until the swede is cooked through but still firm (about 11⁄2 to 2 hours).
4. Then add the liquid colouring until the colour is dark brown.
5. Spoon into warm sterilized jars and seal.
6. Leave for at least 3 weeks to let the flavours mature. 

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!

Balance Sheet Update - 18th September 2010

Total Veg Plot Costs 2010

Rent + Subs for 2 full plots £100
Seeds £20
Seed Spuds £20
Onion Sets £6
Growbags £15
Chicken Manure Pellets £8
Plastic 'wannabe' Polytunnel £61
Bamboo Canes £8
Flower Plants £28
Scaffolding Boards £100
Watering Cans £8
Soft Fruits £16
Clematis £10
Arbour materials £ 40
Cold Frames (2) £30 (1/2 price at Argos)
Redcurrant £7.50
Birdhouse £7
Birdfeeders (for arbour) £10

Total Costs £ 504

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!

Total Veg Plot Harvests 2010

Rhubarb £ 35
Fartichokes £ 4
Volunteer Spuds £15
First Early Spuds £15
Second Early spuds £30
Early Main Spuds £
Late Main Spuds £
Lettuce £14
Radish £15
Garlic £85
Strawberries £65
Summer Raspberries £35
Autumn Raspberries £
Blackberries £35
Peas £40
Broad Beans £70
Courgettes £140
French Beans £105
Red Onions £20
White Onions £50
Cabbages £20
Peppers £25
Chillies £25
Tomatoes £180
Turnip £20
Runner Beans £80
Broccolli £50
Apples £12
Plums £5
Sweetcorn £25
Chard / Spinach £2
Aubergines £5
Cucumbers £10
Blueberries £5
Caulieflower £2
Grapes £
Sprouts £

Jerusalem Artichokes £
Summer Squashes £6
Total Veg Plot Harvests £ 1249

So, a total nett profit of £ 745 so far this year, with a large amount of harvests still to come!

More updates and piccies (hopefully) to follow, hope your harvests are coming in well!