Home Page
   Articles
       links
About Us    
Traders        
Recipes            
Latest Articles
... the sky is baby blue, and the just-unfurling leaves ...
Page Previous  1, 2, 3 ... 340, 341, 342 ... 423, 424, 425  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> Grow Your Own
Author 
 Message
Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2501
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 18 1:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

What about broom corn, a type of sorgham?

https://wpt.org/Wisconsin-Gardener/Segments/making-broom-broom-corn

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 18 2:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

That was interesting, Jam Lady. I was not able to have the sound on as there are too many people in the library today-quiet rules! I am not sure how much sorgham is grown in the UK. I will have a go at being allowed the sound when there are less people here, probably Saturday.
I had never heard of the Broom broom before dpack, but I guess anything is possible. I will have a talk with my friend at the weekend after next and see if they have any broom growing in their patch. They are flower gardeners, I prefer veg and grass.

I have a load of logs to sell MR to a friend who says how good they are, well he would,he was desperate for logs, I supplied he came back for more so I must have been too cheap! 7ft x 4ft x 1ft high trailer for £60 delivered-3 miles away. We too have had a lot of leaves falling, to the point I had to sweep up at work this morning. I was thinking of doing leaf mould out of it but guess my 'mates' wouldn't let me, by sabotage; boss wouldn't be too happy either!

At least you had the good sense to stop when you were tired MR.

I had my neighbours horse and cats to look after, (feed), yesterday as they were away. I was surprised that the horse came for his food as she says he often doesn't!. The cats however, were all over me. They are not so fussy as long as they get the grub; the horse on the other hand doesn't always come when bidden, especially to a relative stranger, so I was honoured.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45385
Location: yes
PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 18 5:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

if you prune/ harvest em they grow lots of suitable stems.
iirc they grew to a usable length in a season and long enough for a serious yard brush in 2.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Fri Oct 26, 18 7:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Gregotyn, think your friend got a good rate for the logs. Should have been about £80 by my calculation, going on our rate, but firewood may be a bit less expensive where you are, and that is the rate for hardwood.

Perhaps the horse has taken to you; they do seem to behave differently around different people. When son was small, he was seen trotting along behind a horse that was known to be a kicker, but it didn't touch him, probably because he wasn't scared of it. Although neither he nor I are particularly horsey people, we also seem to be able to calm frightened horses; not the sort that are jumping all over the place, but the sort that are shaking and upset.

Yes, it was interesting Jam Lady. I am not sure we grow much of that in the UK, although I have seen some rather odd crops of late years, some of which I can't identify. I assume that the seed is used for food, either for animals or people.

Made up some log sacks yesterday as husband and son had cut me some more suitable logs. Husband wanted me to do them as some of the wood was outside of the store, so would get wet if it rained. Managed to make up log sacks and sort the wood outside so as long as there is no wind, most of it should stay dry now.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Fri Oct 26, 18 2:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I think you are right regarding the price of logs, MR, in the price differential between areas, I would have liked more for them. I am selling for an old friend whose farm was sold underneath him-I think I told you that some time ago-so we got a few loads out before it all went upside down for him. The only thing is there are a lot of folks in the logging trade up here and relatively fewer people buying them, with a lot of named forests, but mostly growing softwoods. I am looking for someone to trim 2 oaks and a beech for me, the bottom branches are very thick and also very long. And now they are in the way of getting hay made being too low for the tractors and the trailers to get underneath them. I also have a largish tree down and will be logging that asap.

I have a new windscreen being fitted on Tuesday-£220-which I thought would have been higher, fitted in the company car park, if the gaffer will allow it!

I sort of know the horse, but I have never fed him before. He is an old faithful, suffers most things doesn't get upset about much except other horses-like me he is a loner. I plan to get on his back sometime- maybe. I did a lot of riding when i was in my late 20's-to the point of riding across Wael from the Long Mynd in Shropshire to the coast at Dolgelly. 5 days and 4 nights and a sore backside to show for it, and all I had was 10 lessons-5 hours before hand and landed on a horse I had never ridden before, who didn't like me or diggers and yellow lorries-we survived..ish. I walked a long way as I was very saddle sore. But all good fun and experience!

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 18 7:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I know one of our coppice group members reckons there is a price differential for charcoal across our county-his end being the cheaper one, so I can understand your area being a lot cheaper for firewood than ours.
I managed to find a home for some of my quinces yesterday, but the general reaction was 'what's a quince' with very few takers as they were a bit wary of them. I now have to pick or pick up the others and convert as many as possible to jelly, wine and brandy. I might do a few poached quinces and put them in the freezer and hope we remember to eat them.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 18 9:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Here is great potential for you, MR. to put Hampshire Quince Wine on the map-I will start the design of the label immediately after I finish this posting-for obvious reasons you won't be advertising this until you can hit the market! On a more serious note can quinces be made into a juice concentrate to be made into a "quince squash"? I have never tried or seen quince, (knowingly), so don't know what I am talking about, just throwing an idea for seasonal juice. Quince brandy sounds a good idea too.

I am hoping my friend is at home today so that I can get booked in for a pre-MoT with him and he will book it with the testing station. Talking of vehicles I am going to change mine for a pickup I am looking for a long back and 2 main seats with a small child area behind the seats for tools and so on, with mine sold any time-someone is chasing it-I need to have look about. Apparently a new one comes in around £20k+, which surprised me as I thought they were much more. A local company sells theirs off at silly money at 2 years old, might be worth a look at them too-in the planning stage at present.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Sun Oct 28, 18 8:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It may be possible to make quince juice, but I am afraid I don't know how Gregotyn. I always cook up the quinces before using them for wine as the first year I didn't and produced excellent quince wine vinegar. They are very hard, so cooking does tend to release the juice although I suppose crushing and pressing like they do apples might release it.

We have a pickup like that and it is useful to carry things round in that mustn't get wet, as well as tools and waterproofs.

Got some wine yeast and a couple more airlocks for the demi-johns yesterday. It is getting harder and harder to get that sort of thing, so I may have to resort to buying online. I don't like doing it, as it doesn't do the shops any good, but if that is the only way.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Mon Oct 29, 18 7:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Had the first session with the quinces yesterday. Cut up, simmered and squashed 6lbs for a gallon of wine. Sadly I cut my finger on the first cut, and it kept leaking, so now have finger decorated with a plaster. Managed the rest without mishap though.

Picked up and picked some more which are destined for jelly, and will then see how much more I have. Want to make some quince brandy, and then will convert some to poached quinces and the rest to wine I think.

Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2501
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Mon Oct 29, 18 3:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Had a major issue with my FTP server yesterday evening. Did not feel like messing with it last night. Spent close to an hour with hosting company tech support this morning. Have now uploaded two most recent entries on my web site. Here you go Mistress Rose.

Natural Dyeing with Plants

gz



Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8579
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
PostPosted: Mon Oct 29, 18 7:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I've just had a thought re quince juice...it could be possible but might need pectolaze adding, as it sets very well...you could end up
with jelly in a bottle!

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45385
Location: yes
PostPosted: Mon Oct 29, 18 8:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

i like the pokeberry shades, not one i have seen before

as demonstrated mordants make a difference, how you prep the fibres can affect the take, dye vat chemistry is a bit like cake making ie a small variation in amounts or quality of ingredients, conditions or procedures can have a huge effect on the end result.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Tue Oct 30, 18 7:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Interesting article Jam Lady, thank you. Reading about pokeberries I am glad they are not generally found in the UK. It is difficult to tell the colour from the pictures, but if it comes out a purplish colour, we get a similar initial colour from elderberries and blackberries. We mainly get reds from madder and roots of the gallium family such as bedstraws.

The change in colour with the different mordants is interesting too. I have never bothered to use copper or iron, but have used a brass pot to do dyeing in, and that does release a small amount of copper. I usually use alum as mordant as it is the easiest to use and still relatively easy to get hold of. Too much iron mordant can make wool brittle, so it has to be used with care. As you found, with black walnut if produces a fairly good black.

Gz, I have never really thought about making quince juice as I am not keen on juices. They are so hard that I would need a very heavy duty apple crusher to break them up too, so I content myself with cooking them to make them more manageable.

I haven't started the quince jelly yet as I am not too well at the moment, but hopefully will be feeling better in a day or two.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Tue Oct 30, 18 2:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I am sorry to hear you are not too well, MR, and hope you get better soon, but don't rush it. I've been in a similar boat in the past and got going too soon-cost me another burst in bed.

I have no news to report since I was last here, nothing has happened of any note. I went on a visit to a car dealers, looking for a truck but there was nothing that caught my eye. If, as my neighbour said these trucks come new at around £20k plus vat then I think he is mistaken as most of those I saw were around that, but all second hand, so I will have to part with more than I want to pay, to get one that is even newish, and hopefully reliable. I will start the big hunt next week, or maybe tomorrow. A trip to Newtown about 10 miles away where there are some dealerships all in a line, is imminent. The objective is a long back, 2 seats and a rear lockable canopy plus the mobility needs engine etc.!

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Wed Oct 31, 18 7:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Feeling a bit better now thank you Gregotyn. The antibiotics seem to be doing their job well.

Filled some more log sacks yesterday while husband and son did some firewood. One of the tractors has developed a fault in the alternator; the second time the alternator has played up. Something is rattling, so hope it can easily be fixed.

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> Grow Your Own All times are GMT
Page Previous  1, 2, 3 ... 340, 341, 342 ... 423, 424, 425  Next
Page 341 of 425
View Latest Posts View Latest Posts

 

Archive
Powered by php-BB © 2001, 2005 php-BB Group
Style by marsjupiter.com, released under GNU (GNU/GPL) license.
Copyright © 2004 marsjupiter.com