Allotment Heaven

Good on you for finally 'coming out'. Me t...

2012-04-09T23:29:35.734+01:00

Good on you for finally 'coming out'. Me too... and it's liberating to finally feel free to be me... regardless...Out and proud :-)

Another update, post Winter. I left the polytunnel...

2012-03-20T06:45:38.975Z

Another update, post Winter. I left the polytunnel up over Winter. Appears the plastic is deteriorating either becuase of sun damage or friction from the wind. Either way, the result is the plastic is coming away as tiny squares, mainly around the edges. Don't think it'll cause a problem for the coming season, but not sure how much of the plastic cover will be left this time next year!

Excellent post on composting - I'm in no doubt...

2012-02-07T12:24:32.311Z

Excellent post on composting - I'm in no doubt now that I've been doing it all wrong! Seriously though, good tip about tea (didn't know that before), otherwise pretty much doing as you do. I used to get my neighbour's rabbit straw but she then got a cat as well so I thought best to leave the litter bag alone!
I've just found your blog - very entertaining!

Another great article - really enjoying your blog!...

2012-01-30T17:03:08.128Z

Another great article - really enjoying your blog! I've thought about getting a couple of chickens in the past and this was really useful as a guide to the work/commitment involved. Thanks.

Good post, thanks. And some would say potatoes are...

2012-01-29T17:19:33.565Z

Good post, thanks. And some would say potatoes are boring!

Hi, I think your rat proof chicken feeder is a goo...

2012-01-13T10:12:01.221Z

Hi, I think your rat proof chicken feeder is a good idea. Better than the one that gets chickens to stand on in order for it to open up. Will not work if you have big rats and bantams at the same time! I have submitted your page to stumbleupon so more people will find it. Cheers, Steffi

Hi John A lovely blog which reduced me to tears. ...

2011-12-01T19:57:15.751Z

Hi John

A lovely blog which reduced me to tears.

Anne X

Here is a ready made rat proof feeder if you aren&...

2011-11-16T03:46:41.548Z

Here is a ready made rat proof feeder if you aren't the handy type

http://thecarpentershop.net/mediumplywoodchickenfeeder.html

I don't drink but this sounds so tempting I mi...

2011-10-27T10:55:41.251+01:00

I don't drink but this sounds so tempting I might give it a try next year. It's such a beautiful colour in the jars.

Quick update on how the polytunnel is surviving. S...

2011-10-26T20:56:26.122+01:00

Quick update on how the polytunnel is surviving. SIgns of wear at just about every point where there's any friction between cover and frame caused from the wind. The webbing which strengthens the plastic is holding but the plastic is wearing away at friction points.

I'll repair the damaged parts with strong tape before Spring, but a bit worrying when Winter is yet to come and therefore more severe winds!

Hi Ger, thanks for the comment. This is a sweet wi...

2011-10-11T18:15:37.423+01:00

Hi Ger, thanks for the comment. This is a sweet wine, but as Chris indicates above, if you drink within a year all you'll taste is the sweetness. Leave for a couple of years, even better three, and that sweetness mellows and other tastes come through.

I made some apple wine last year was disgusting fa...

2011-10-11T16:12:14.769+01:00

I made some apple wine last year was disgusting far too swwet and did not taste at all nice! To my eternal regret I threw most out to use bottles for kit wine. Recently tried some and is is great so please learn from my mistakes!!!!

Hi Lisa, Robb... we don't have such problems i...

2011-10-08T09:28:12.365+01:00

Hi Lisa, Robb... we don't have such problems in our locale other than there's very little surface water about. I'm hoping I'll get some newts populating the pond some time in the next year. Regards, John

Thanks for the comments Bridget & Kathy. I'...

2011-10-07T16:53:50.156+01:00

Thanks for the comments Bridget & Kathy. I've been storing the photos (other than those for August!) for some time... in fact I took four each fortnight, each from a different angle. Aiming to keep up the snaps and update the post periodically with more images and notes on the wildlife.

Thanks, John

That's delightful! Here in Northern Californi...

2011-10-07T00:58:11.153+01:00

That's delightful!

Here in Northern California they take a dim view of still water, because mosquitoes are a vector fo West Nile Virus. The local government will deliver mosquito fish (whatever that is) to your door. I understand that the local raccoons find these fish quite tasty.

Very interesting. I like the way you documented wh...

2011-10-05T22:17:51.530+01:00

Very interesting. I like the way you documented what you did over time with pictures. This post obviously took a long time to complete.

Brill sequence of photos! It is fab after less tha...

2011-10-04T20:24:25.898+01:00

Brill sequence of photos! It is fab after less than a year, well done you.

Hi... I'm just about to try 6kg of sugar on my...

2011-09-30T21:06:15.414+01:00

Hi... I'm just about to try 6kg of sugar on my first batch of 2011 apple wine. If you're able to hold off drinking for two, or even better three years as Chris suggests, this should give you a wine with fine depth and strength. Good luck!

I have made apple wine before and it really didn&#...

2011-09-30T19:14:10.117+01:00

I have made apple wine before and it really didn't turn out successful. To say the least, it exploded and got ditched! So, I thought I'd try it again and this recipe as it sounds really nice.

I have made Elderberry Wine before and it turned out really sweet. So, I noticed on your ingredients you say to adjust the sugar amount to make it dryer. If I want to make a dryer wine (I am happy to wait for a period of time before drinking it), how much would you suggest to deduct?

Thanks

Glad you like it Kathy. I do it via a blog since i...

2011-09-23T20:21:02.174+01:00

Glad you like it Kathy. I do it via a blog since it's much more accessible... I've got lots of old diaries from years past but hardly ever read them. My family in Scotland can also see what I'm up to. And sometimes including links is really important for background.

This is a great idea. I think I will try to rememb...

2011-09-23T12:31:06.263+01:00

This is a great idea. I think I will try to remember one moment from each day that is special, maybe in a journal. Thank you for the inspiration.

That's really useful Chris... thanks. Never ma...

2011-09-22T21:00:41.890+01:00

That's really useful Chris... thanks. Never managed to keep my hands off a bottle for 3 years, but your table is enough to encourage me to try.

I've crushed the apples in the past and agree you do get more bangs for your bucks, but involves a lot more effort & time.

Rather than leech the flavour out of the apples in...

2011-09-22T13:05:22.716+01:00

Rather than leech the flavour out of the apples into tap water, I prefer to crush the apples and press out the juice for a richer more complex flavour. http://www.howtomakecider.com has some tips on pulping and pressing apples whether for cider or apple wine.

John is so right about waiting a few years before drinking. 3 years seems optimum form my experience.

Here is my quality table

1 year - 20%
2 years - 70%
3 years - 100%
4 years - 90%
5 years - 80%

all the best

Chris

Hi Pete... Depends how long you can resist drinkin...

2011-09-08T06:19:45.905+01:00

Hi Pete... Depends how long you can resist drinking the wine. If you drink it within the year 8kg of sugar will give you a pretty sweet wine, so if you'd prefer it a little dryer reduce the sugar.

If you're able to store the wine for more than a year you'll find the sweetness is toned down and the wine has much more depth. I'd been saving one bottle from 2009 to compete in our St Ives Flower & Produce Show. Having just drunk it I've resolved to keep as much of my 2010 batch as I can til next year, it's just sooooooooo much improved!

Best of luck, John

oststinHi, Just a quick question how sweet does th...

2011-09-07T17:46:48.452+01:00

oststinHi,
Just a quick question how sweet does the 8Kg of sugar make the wine?

looking forward to making this @ the weekend :)
thanks
Pete