Red & BBs retirement home......
- Thread starter British Red
- Start date
Dare we ask how your August pans out?
I re-read this thread every few months and find it hugely inspirational. Our next home will, I hope, be similar to yours.
I re-read this thread every few months and find it hugely inspirational. Our next home will, I hope, be similar to yours.
I'll grab a bunch pf photos shortly Si - The squash are doing a good impression of Triffids, the peas are all harvested (and I'm setting the bush peas to drying in the pod as I will do a lot more of them next year).
Life progresses well. We need a LOT more veg beds though!
Life progresses well. We need a LOT more veg beds though!
Time for the next installment
We have harvested 70 chillies so far - with many more to come. A huge amount of peas are in and preserved. We are enjoying as many fresh potatoes as we want and the tomatoes are starting to ripen. I have just ordered a Passata machine (pulper / seiver) to help process the expected bumper crops - we keep cutting back the plants now as they are 8' tall and 2' around.
Here are a few "tasters" of what's going on
The pea harvest is in and half a ton of garden compost has been added to this bed and rotovated in
August Peas Harvested by British Red, on Flickr
The winter squash are even more "triffid like"
August Squash Bed by British Red, on Flickr
The fruit look good though
August Squash by British Red, on Flickr
The courgettes are finally coming through after a slow start
August Courgette by British Red, on Flickr
The rhubarb is going great guns
August Rhubarb by British Red, on Flickr
A particular joy are our Bullace trees (small wild plums) that grow in or thick hedges
August Bullace by British Red, on Flickr
We can fill this basket every day
August Bullace Harvest by British Red, on Flickr
Last years bullace vidka was well received - so 4 bottles are on the go as we speak!
We are even trying to make paths productive - this is BBs chamomile path
August Chamomile by British Red, on Flickr
The Dwarf beans are in - and delicious
August Beans by British Red, on Flickr
I have high hopes for the sweetcorn too
August Corn by British Red, on Flickr
Thinning the carrots produced a bumper crop of thumb size sweet baby carrots
August Carrots by British Red, on Flickr
Gave some to a neighbour - hoping for some of his salt marsh beef soon
Normans Cattle by British Red, on Flickr
Red
Shambling Shaman
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Red if you have enough bullaces you might try to make some bullace wine as well. What I've tasted here has been quite good, although a bit louder than traditional wines.
Time for another monthly update
Well the tomatoes are coming in thick and fast now!
Tomatoes by British Red, on Flickr
Some are getting made into passata
Passata Machine by British Red, on Flickr
Others are getting de-seeded
De-Seeded Toms by British Red, on Flickr
and turned into Dried tomatoes in olive oil (like sun dried)
Dried Tomatoes by British Red, on Flickr
The corn is coming on nicely and is well into ear
Leeks and corn by British Red, on Flickr
and the "Trail of tears beans are ripening nicely for storing dry
Trail of Tears Beans TRipening by British Red, on Flickr
Trail of Tears Beans by British Red, on Flickr
Flexible wee things these - you can eat them as green beans or let them ripen for sry storage - heavy croppers too!
My dried heritage bushe peas seem to be doing well - about ready to be threshed I think
Peas Drying by British Red, on Flickr
The winter squash are coming on nicely too - but I'm fighting powdery mildew on them
Squash by British Red, on Flickr
...and finally the nice man with the heavy horses fropped me off the magic ingredient to improve the soil in the next set of beds
Manure for beds by British Red, on Flickr
Red
Well the tomatoes are coming in thick and fast now!
Tomatoes by British Red, on Flickr
Some are getting made into passata
Passata Machine by British Red, on Flickr
Others are getting de-seeded
De-Seeded Toms by British Red, on Flickr
and turned into Dried tomatoes in olive oil (like sun dried)
Dried Tomatoes by British Red, on Flickr
The corn is coming on nicely and is well into ear
Leeks and corn by British Red, on Flickr
and the "Trail of tears beans are ripening nicely for storing dry
Trail of Tears Beans TRipening by British Red, on Flickr
Trail of Tears Beans by British Red, on Flickr
Flexible wee things these - you can eat them as green beans or let them ripen for sry storage - heavy croppers too!
My dried heritage bushe peas seem to be doing well - about ready to be threshed I think
Peas Drying by British Red, on Flickr
The winter squash are coming on nicely too - but I'm fighting powdery mildew on them
Squash by British Red, on Flickr
...and finally the nice man with the heavy horses fropped me off the magic ingredient to improve the soil in the next set of beds
Manure for beds by British Red, on Flickr
Red
looking good Red
the dried toms are they as simple as deseed put in dehydrator then putting in jar with olive oil?
the dried toms are they as simple as deseed put in dehydrator then putting in jar with olive oil?
I don't think it's been a good year for cucurbits in Britain, too dry in the south and too wet up here.
Saw this thread when it first appeared and just read it through from start to finish,compulsive reading,you have done a superb job Red,congratulations.
You have carved what I consider to be a slice of heaven. It looks superb and my wife now wants something very similar!!
Yourself and the good lady would be welcome guests if you find yourself i the area Rich.
Thanks for the kind words all. Its not easy though - I'm currently doing some consultancy work as is BB to pay off the renovation costs and to pay for the next part. We are re-roofing an outbuilding this winter, more beds to go in etc.
We are starting to hanker after a wind turbine too......
Thanks for the kind words all
. Its not easy though - I'm currently doing some consultancy work as is BB to pay off the renovation costs and to pay for the next part. We are re-roofing an outbuilding this winter, more beds to go in etc.We are starting to hanker after a wind turbine too......
Time for an update...this winters project is re-roofing the trashed roofless barn
Roofless Barn 1 by British Red, on Flickr
Gate to Barn from Drive by British Red, on Flickr
Inside Roofless Barn by British Red, on Flickr
Inside Roofless Barn 2 by British Red, on Flickr
Gate to barn from courtyard by British Red, on Flickr
Courtyard showing roofless barn by British Red, on Flickr
Not going fancy - resin coated "wriggly tin" roof and some basic timber doors. We have plenty of very secure buildings. This more of a large "dry store". Not entirely sure what we will use it for yet....the worlds biggest log shed perhaps? Certainly big enoughfor a serious "man cave"
Red
Roofless Barn 1 by British Red, on Flickr
Gate to Barn from Drive by British Red, on Flickr
Inside Roofless Barn by British Red, on Flickr
Inside Roofless Barn 2 by British Red, on Flickr
Gate to barn from courtyard by British Red, on Flickr
Courtyard showing roofless barn by British Red, on Flickr
Not going fancy - resin coated "wriggly tin" roof and some basic timber doors. We have plenty of very secure buildings. This more of a large "dry store". Not entirely sure what we will use it for yet....the worlds biggest log shed perhaps?
Certainly big enoughfor a serious "man cave"Red
This is another entry in my list of "trying simple and old fashioned food preservation techniques". Its basically a variation of the "earth clamp" but one thats useful where there is restricted space.
Our carrots have done well this year - we have grown a few varieties to see what suits our soil best.
1) The carrot patch by British Red, on Flickr
Most have grown beautifully straight and true, but one or two have bifurcated - one seemed "happy to see us"
2) Happy carrot by British Red, on Flickr
Others seemed to love their neighbour and did not want to be separated!
3) Loving carrots by British Red, on Flickr
Most were great though - and very plentiful
4) Lots of carrots by British Red, on Flickr
For this technique I need a scrubbing brush and a five gallon bucket.
5) Brush and pail by British Red, on Flickr
A couple of inches of soft, dry sand go in the bottom of the bucket
6) Layer of sand by British Red, on Flickr
Any loose dirt is removed with a firm scrubbing brush and a layer of carrots (not touching) goes on the sand
7) Layers of carrots by British Red, on Flickr
More sand is poured on till the carrots are covered
8) More Sand by British Red, on Flickr
Then more and more layers of carrots
9) More Layers by British Red, on Flickr
10) And More by British Red, on Flickr
Eventually you will get close to the top of the bucket. Don't get too close.
11) Fill Bucket by British Red, on Flickr
Top off the top couple of inches with sand
12) Top Off by British Red, on Flickr
Slap on a lid and thats it. The sand, being dry, wont freeze and will insulated the carrots from frost. Stick the bucket in an outbuilding and, when you want some carrots, thrust a hand in and pull them out!
You can also use plastic dustbins, oil drums etc.
13) Plastic Dustbin by British Red, on Flickr
14) More Sand by British Red, on Flickr
They are hard to reach to the bottom of though and very, very, heavy when full
Red
Our carrots have done well this year - we have grown a few varieties to see what suits our soil best.
1) The carrot patch by British Red, on Flickr
Most have grown beautifully straight and true, but one or two have bifurcated - one seemed "happy to see us"
2) Happy carrot by British Red, on Flickr
Others seemed to love their neighbour and did not want to be separated!
3) Loving carrots by British Red, on Flickr
Most were great though - and very plentiful
4) Lots of carrots by British Red, on Flickr
For this technique I need a scrubbing brush and a five gallon bucket.
5) Brush and pail by British Red, on Flickr
A couple of inches of soft, dry sand go in the bottom of the bucket
6) Layer of sand by British Red, on Flickr
Any loose dirt is removed with a firm scrubbing brush and a layer of carrots (not touching) goes on the sand
7) Layers of carrots by British Red, on Flickr
More sand is poured on till the carrots are covered
8) More Sand by British Red, on Flickr
Then more and more layers of carrots
9) More Layers by British Red, on Flickr
10) And More by British Red, on Flickr
Eventually you will get close to the top of the bucket. Don't get too close.
11) Fill Bucket by British Red, on Flickr
Top off the top couple of inches with sand
12) Top Off by British Red, on Flickr
Slap on a lid and thats it. The sand, being dry, wont freeze and will insulated the carrots from frost. Stick the bucket in an outbuilding and, when you want some carrots, thrust a hand in and pull them out!
You can also use plastic dustbins, oil drums etc.
13) Plastic Dustbin by British Red, on Flickr
14) More Sand by British Red, on Flickr
They are hard to reach to the bottom of though and very, very, heavy when full
Red
They do tend to dry a little - but less than in paper sacks etc. They should be fine until next years crops go in in the spring
I can't see why it wouldn't work with spuds as they store fine in an earth clamp which is the same principle - should work okay for any root veg or tuber. I'm leaving my parsnips in the ground but might regret that if it freezes as hard as last year
I can't see why it wouldn't work with spuds as they store fine in an earth clamp which is the same principle - should work okay for any root veg or tuber. I'm leaving my parsnips in the ground but might regret that if it freezes as hard as last year
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