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How do folks? Another "have I got this right?" post from me here. Today I picked up 4.2 kg (about 9¼ lbs) of what I think are crab apples. The fruit are a bit pear shaped and have quite a bitter aftertaste. Any verdicts? Crab apples or something else useful (or not)?

It's a given that Sloe Gin is one of God's finer gifts to mankind, but the question of what gin to use is on my mind. There's no way I'd use something as delicate as Bombay Saphire (lovely gin but too much tonic will kill that stuff, let alone a pile of sugar and sloes!)... I do know that...

Hi folks, though I've been on the lookout for the white flowers pre-leaf in springtime I've yet to find a blackthorn, until now maybe. I was out foraging for some wine ingredients yesterday (disappointingly masses of the berries had gone off on the trees so I'm a bit short on quantity now)...

I know this isn't exactly bushcraft related, but short of joining yet another forum it's the best place I have to ask. (I dunno where I'd start looking for such info either.) Do spiders tend to be picky about what they eat? On my allotment there are a few Brussels sprouts that my neighbour...

I've just been reading through a book on google books for info about how to attracting and accomodate wildlife to my allotment plot. Obviously predatory insects are very desirable, as are hedgehogs (which I believe eat slugs) and so on... ...one thing stood out though - apparently slow worms...

I recently got 5 demijohns (1 gallon ones) for free, bought a fermenting tub, hydrometer and other assorted tat for winemaking and am going to go and harvest a load of elderberries to start a wine. There are plenty still good on the trees around here so should have more than enough for a couple...

Hey folks. In the process of clearing a LOT of weeds off my newly acquired allotment (see the link in my signature) I've made a rather large pile of dandelions with some hefty roots attached. I know they can be used to make a sort of coffee, I believe after drying and roasting, but how...

How excited am I??? Just over a week ago I got the key to an allotment not toooo far from my house. I was on the waiting list for some really close to my house but the lists are HUGE. One a bit further away (a long walk or a quick drive) came up trumps though and I have slightly less than half...

Hi folks, Before I get started with this, I know tree surgery is best left to the experts, but that's simply not an option. Too expensive. Anyway, I've been asked to help someone fixing up a house. The trees in the front garden have grown FAR too big for the space. There's a couple of...

Reading Toddy's "too warm" thread made me remember my walk up the Old Man of Coniston the weekend before last. We (me and the girlfriend) parked just beyond the gate at Walna Scar Road and nipped up the Old Man on the tourist route. Wandered over to Levers Hawse and took the path down to...

Hi folks, back to the homesteading again. I just went out to water my strawberries and found the first runner (my first free plant! I'm happy about that) and also the first berry touching soil, so I laid down some cut plastic to keep the fruit from rotting before I eat it. While doing that...

Hi folks. Today I was given a roadkill pheasant (a cock) and I'm looking for advice on what to do with it. As far as I know it was picked off the road very soon after being hit, the blood was still runny and when I took it out of the carrier bag it'd been put in, it was still slightly warm...

How do folks? I'm posting this in Other Chatter as I wasn't sure if it'd fit in Lovely Grub, Flora and Fauna or elsewhere. Probably best here as it's not exactly what you'd call bushcraft. I've just planted out 6 strawberry plants (2 each of Early, Mid and Late - don't have the vartiety...

How do folks? It's late in the game but if you get the chance, contact your MEP by email or phone as early as possible today. I've only just heard about this so please forgive me if there are a few errors in here - but I believe I've got the general gist of it. For a quick overview of the...

Hi folks. I'm about to make some planters in which to grow some food on the paved areas in my garden. I was helping someone sort out their back yard and in the process gained 2 back steps made from timber much like you'd see on decking. I think they'd make some nice looking, low rise...

Hi folks. After seeing the NW Woodsman tarp a while ago and being reminded about it in recent threads, I've been wondering what would be involved in making a tarp of my own. I think something big enough to sleep 2 in relative comfort when set up like the NW Woodsman tarp in pyramid tent...

For about the third time today I'm watching the episode of Ray Mears, Bushcraft where he's in Sweden and has a knife blade made by Julius Pettersson. When he gets the knife he says: "I think there's a tradition which we both share, both in England and in Sweden, and that is, if somebody...

I've seen a 1" scotch eyed auger for £5 (including postage) - about 10" overall length with 8" working depth. Is that a good size for tapping birch or would wider be better? I can't imagine I'd find one much cheaper than that (I'm honestly not in a hurry to go around trawling car boot...

Right - this is not a survivalist thread - the title is just a bit of a laugh. I expect this could be a rather fun thread, but I'm not after just joking answers - these are things I really want to know. If the things I'm asking could be done post apocalypse, maybe some could be done now too...

I've been given permission to harvest the burrs from some fallen and standing-dead birch trees in a local park. Some of it will be carved up straight away, but as I won't get around to using some of it for a while, I'd like to know if there's a way to keep it green for longer than it would be...