The Miller's Apprentice

[spandit]

Spent today at Michelham Priory where they had an ancient crafts fair. Had a go at making some cordage, played on a pole lathe & ate some medieval food (refried beans!)

I then met up with a friend who is the head miller at their water mill and spent the rest of the afternoon learning how to mill flour. We made just under 25kg of stone ground flour & I learnt a huge amount about the mechanics & history of the mill. To cap it all, I was allowed to dig up a load of ramsoms which will be planted in my garden shortly!

A great day

 

[John Fenna]

Sounds like a good day

 

[spandit]

Sounds like a good day

It was, John. My daughter (4) got to hold a little owl, we saw some longbow archery & held some swords. We took some flour home to bake with as well.

Just been out and planted some of the ramsons - I'm hoping they'll take. Soil is plenty damp enough, bordering on waterlogged in places but I've put them in varied locations. Loads more to put in too so expecting a bumper crop next Spring! Funnily enough, as we drove home, one of the little Sussex lanes was covered in them for miles. None in the lanes near us, though (yet )

 

[spandit]

Planted the ramsons, some in sunny spots

and some in shadier places:

I've also put some on the ditch banks, others in pretty waterlogged soil & others in dry, sandy soil

 

[spandit]

8th of March today and look what is coming up:

A couple of the places I'd planted in them are showing leaves coming through (and the smell is unmistakeable) - odd to think they've been hiding underground for months!

Nice to see spring on the way too. One of the willows I planted last year and cut back earlier this year:

A wild pear I planted earlier this year:

And a field maple that was planted early last year:

It certainly is glorious out there today! Shame I have to go to work really...

 

[sandbender]

No pics of the mill.

Sounds like a grand day out.

 

[spandit]

No pics of the mill.

Sounds like a grand day out.

It was, I've updated an old thread, though...

 

[Toddy]

Really pleased they took well
Ransoms are a seasonal taste explosion

When you have loads in your gardens, try lifting some of the bulbs…..they're like dainty shallots, and sliced and fried up very quickly in butter they make a great base for a sauce or gravy, or just a seasoned oil to fry things like corn or potato cakes in.
The little flowers are edible too, and they'll pickle in a rice wine or cider vinegar to flavour it. The leaves (mind and only take one per stalk unless you're taking it all) are lovely sliced up fine and through a salad or stir fry.

Lovely day here too when the Sun's out You'll be pleased to see the trees thriving too

M

 

[spandit]

I'm thrilled they've taken at all. Looking forward to hunting for the others I planted as can't exactly remember where but I assume they'll spread now if they don't get overtaken by other plants (bracken & bramble mostly)

Just so excited to see my new trees beginning to come to life again & my "old" ones coming into leaf for the second time (here).

In the coming weeks I'm looking forward to the willow shooting up & hoping the cherries might blossom too

 

[British Red]

The ramsoms should take just fine, ours did. They take a few years to spread though

 

[spandit]

Replying to an old thread as have seen no signs of them coming up again this year, which is a shame. Saw masses of pignut on the way to work the other day (after a diversion) but didn't get to stop and it's right by a road so not the best place to forage from. Haven't seen any coming up on my land, despite seeding them some time ago. Time will tell, spring is still underway...