tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42447647884261664092024-03-21T14:09:25.294-07:00Up The Garden PathOur journey through ignorance to self-sufficiency.Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-35383442385886427342013-06-21T13:44:00.001-07:002013-06-21T13:44:22.207-07:00Top Bar Hive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca5883401901daeaed2970b-pi" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><font size="4"><img src="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca5883401901daeaed2970b-500wi" id="blogsy-1371847460142.421" class="alignleft" alt="" width="348" height="261"></font></a></div>
<p><font size="4"> Three years ago Max made a top bar hive. We wanted to compare the two different ways of beekeeping. We left the TBH outside in an enticing position and waited...and waited. Absolutely nothing! We had swarms from our hives but we wanted these back. For the TBH we were hoping for a wild swarm or a swarm from a callout. But for two years we had no calls for swarms and the TBH found its way to the back of the wood barn where it waited some more.</font></p>
<p><font size="4">Then on Monday we were driving home when I suddenly saw a swarm sitting in a tree trunk just a few miles from home. Max returned half an hour later with the only equipment we currently have available - a small step and a sheet - and bought them home. Meanwhile I had managed to extract the TBH from under a pile of wood. </font></p>
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<p><font size="4">It took a while. These bees were obviously looking for a different des res but luck and the weather were on our side. It started to rain and didn't stop for 24 hours. It's not often I welcome 24 hours of rain, especially during the tennis season, but this time I was delighted. The bees realise that a TBH that was waterproof was the best offer they were getting and filed in. We checked yesterday and they are slowly building comb. We are devising a feeding system for them as the weather is still not great.</font></p>
<p><font size="4">I will try and keep you up to date on this hive. I love the idea if a more natural way of beekeeping although I have no plans to get rid of my trusty Dadant hives.</font></p>
<p><font size="4"> </font></p>
<p> </p>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-47913682328997369072013-06-21T13:37:00.001-07:002013-06-21T13:37:37.143-07:00The garden in late June<p><font size="4"> </font></p>
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<p><font size="4"> A wet June but it hasn't all been bad. The pears are amazing; for once I thinned then and it seems to have paid dividends as the fruit is developing nicely and we should have a good crop.</font></p>
<p><font size="4">The artichokes always look beautiful and add structure.</font></p>
<p><font size="4">Stargazer lilies and decorative poppies outside the kitchen door add colour and the courgettes are delicious - we've just eaten some!</font></p>
<p> </p>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-89959732236760792802013-06-21T13:07:00.001-07:002013-06-21T13:07:37.077-07:00Lily Beetle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca588340192ab6ce012970d-pi" target="_blank" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca588340192ab6ce012970d-150wi" id="blogsy-1371845254321.801" class="alignleft" alt="" width="150" height="150"></a></div>
<p><font size="4"> There is only one good thing about the lily beetle : you can see them easily. Once the lilies start coming through I check on them several times a day. Almost without fail I find one or more of these beasts. They are very nifty at dropping off the leaf at the first sign of danger (ie me) but I have developed some equally nifty techniques at catching them.</font></p>
<p><font size="4">I usually have a small container of some sort so that I can just knock them in. They fall on their back and I can then pick them out and kill them between two stones.</font></p>
<p><font size="4">If I don't have a container I try to arrange things in such a way that they fall into my hand. Then again the trick with the stones.</font></p>
<p><font size="4">Be warned, these beasties can fly away. However, if they are on their back you usually have the upper hand.</font></p>
<p><font size="4">Why are they so horrible? They lay their eggs on the underside of the lily leaf and the larvae hatch in what appears to be poo. The larvae then eat voraciously, weakening the plant to such an extent that the flowers are severely stunted.</font></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca5883401901dae6788970b-pi" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><font size="4"><img src="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca5883401901dae6788970b-500wi" id="blogsy-1371845254332.0984" class="aligncenter" width="378" height="283" alt=""></font></a></div>
<p><font size="4"> I am always open to suggestions of a positive nature. If anyone wants to give me just one good reason not to squash these red pests, I will listen carefully.</font></p>
<p> </p>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-10620929535630818542013-06-21T11:24:00.001-07:002013-06-21T11:24:27.638-07:00Yippee, courgettes<p><font size="4"> </font></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca58834019103a3b474970c-pi" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><font size="4"><img src="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca58834019103a3b474970c-500wi" id="blogsy-1371839068904.0415" class="aligncenter" width="436" height="325" alt=""></font></a></div>
<p><font size="4"> Not many and not huge, but delicious. If the weather picks up maybe we'll get some more.</font></p>
<p> </p>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-52421000691847291902013-06-21T00:01:00.001-07:002013-06-21T00:01:52.013-07:00Strawberry Coulis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca5883401901da95054970b-pi" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca5883401901da95054970b-500wi" id="blogsy-1371798112871.6396" class="aligncenter" width="390" height="390" alt=""></a></div>
<p> This year we have had another bumper strawberry crop. 2.5kilos every two days for between two and three weeks. We eat most of them of course, but just occasionally even we find our limit. </p>
<p>My solution to the extra is to make and freeze strawberry coulis. It takes approximately 10 minutes from start to freezer. I store them in foil ramekins and use them throughout the year as an accompaniment to yoghurt, ice cream, etc.</p>
<p>I am sure there are other recipes but this is the one I use.</p>
<address>500gms strawberries, hulled</address>
<address>100gms castor sugar</address>
<address>100mls water</address>
<address><br>
</address>
<address>Put the strawberries in a liquidiser.</address>
<address>Bring the sugar and the water to a gentle simmer for about five minutes, making sure the sugar is dissolved.</address>
<address>Pour the syrup over the strawberries and liquidise.</address>
<address>Pour into ramekins and freeze.</address>
<p> </p>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-53322825211578560472013-06-15T05:36:00.001-07:002013-06-15T05:36:42.092-07:00Strawberries<p><font size="4"> Never mind Ascot or Wimbledon, we have strawberries galore!</font></p>
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<p><font size="4"> My favourite way to eat them is of course straight off the plant. However, I also love strawberry sandwiches. It has to be on plain white bread - I use the traditional French baguette. Squiggle down the strawberry and eat. Somehow the flavor blends into the bread and explodes in the mouth. You don't believe me? Well, try it for yourself.</font></p>
<p><font size="4"> </font></p>
<p> </p>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-13843348895531331122013-06-03T01:59:00.001-07:002013-06-03T01:59:54.622-07:00The garden in June<div class="separator" style="text-align: center;clear: both; "><a href="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca58834019102e2e39a970c-pi" target="_blank" style=""><img src="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca58834019102e2e39a970c-500wi" id="blogsy-1370249978890.4924" class="alignnone" alt="" width="402" height="300"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="text-align: center;clear: both; "><a href="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca588340192aaab316f970d-pi" target="_blank" style=""><img src="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca588340192aaab316f970d-500wi" id="blogsy-1370249978827.1396" class="alignnone" alt="" width="400" height="298"></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="text-align: center;clear: both; "><a href="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca588340192aaab4bbc970d-pi" target="_blank" style=""><img src="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca588340192aaab4bbc970d-500wi" id="blogsy-1370249978912.7493" class="alignnone" alt="" width="400" height="298"></a></div>
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<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p> </p>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-42902547592102197882013-05-14T01:42:00.001-07:002013-05-14T01:42:04.373-07:00Spring honey harvest 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca588340191021ddea2970c-pi" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca588340191021ddea2970c-500wi" id="blogsy-1368520924568.959" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"> This is the spring harvest from the oil seed rape. Despite the top picture it is in fact all the same colour. Over time it will change its texture and harden. Taste? Delicious!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">One hive gave us a total of 13 kilos. Not one for the record books but given the weather, not too bad.</p>
<p> </p>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-82496365920640320062013-05-13T01:14:00.001-07:002013-05-13T01:14:07.487-07:00Beautiful spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca58834017eeb1b5b12970d-pi" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca58834017eeb1b5b12970d-500wi" id="blogsy-1368432846767.2522" class="aligncenter" width="450" height="336" alt=""></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="text-align: center;clear: both; "> The clematis outside the kitchen is always a sign of good weather. Spring is late but it has arrived.</div>
<p> </p>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-52218363512594423222013-05-10T05:45:00.001-07:002013-05-10T05:45:13.486-07:00The garden in May<p><font size="4"> Our gite is now open for business. These are the photos I took of the garden last week to help promote it.</font></p>
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<p><font size="4"> </font></p>
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<p><font size="4"> The greenhouse is being productive. After last year's tomato disaster I decided to keep two tomatoes growing under cover. The rest are in the veggie patch. The lettuces will be reay next week.</font></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><a href="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca5883401901c062116970b-pi" target="_blank" style=""><font size="4"><img src="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca5883401901c062116970b-500wi" id="blogsy-1368189912937.747" class="alignnone" alt="" width="450" height="450"></font></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><a href="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca5883401901c062c8c970b-pi" target="_blank" style=""><font size="4"><img src="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca5883401901c062c8c970b-500wi" id="blogsy-1368189912919.4805" class="alignnone" alt="" width="450" height="450"></font></a></div>
<p><font size="4"> Celery to keep Max happy.</font></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><a href="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca5883401901c0636f2970b-pi" target="_blank" style=""><font size="4"><img src="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca5883401901c0636f2970b-500wi" id="blogsy-1368189912898.4255" class="alignnone" width="450" height="336" alt=""></font></a></div>
<p><font size="4"> Last year a friend told me that you can keep weeds down by mulching with (untreated) grass cuttings so this year we decided to try it. I have them around the toms and lettuces in the greenhouse and around everything in the veggie patch that doesn't have a plastic mulch. </font></p>
<p><font size="4">I DON'T like weeding!</font></p>
<p><font size="4"> </font></p>
<p> </p>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-81095838134078077632013-04-28T05:34:00.001-07:002013-04-28T05:34:43.153-07:00Ouch<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca58834017eeaa48fb0970d-pi" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca58834017eeaa48fb0970d-500wi" id="blogsy-1367152482798.8154" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="288" alt=""></a></div>
<p> This is what happens when you leave a rake the wrong way around and the stand on it. Hurts like mad but I put some arnica oil on it so I hope it goes down quickly.</p>
<p> </p>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-37741898732876792602013-04-14T07:13:00.001-07:002013-04-14T07:13:33.130-07:00Bees<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca58834017d42c87a49970c-pi" target="_blank" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://grandgennetay.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54faabca58834017d42c87a49970c-150wi" id="blogsy-1365948813198.7214" class="alignleft" width="128" height="96" alt=""></a></div>
<p>After the appalling weather this year we finally had the opportunity to open up the hives this afternoon.</p>
<p>We finished 2012 with three full size hives and two nucs. I have been concerned about all of them but with freezing weather turning to monsoon and back to freezing it has been impossible to do anything. </p>
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<p>So it wasn't without a certain amount of trepidation that we approached the first of the three big hives. This is the colony that we took from a tree last year where it was upsetting a farmer - he was being attacked every time he drove past in his tractor! To our delight it was full of brood and had a small amount of honey. We put on a super and moved on.</p>
<p>Elsewhere there was good news and bad news. The good was that each and every hive/nuc had brood and looked healthy. However, they all had a minimum amount of honey stored so we put the feeders on and will give them a syrup feed tomorrow morning. Will they survive? I hope so. The oil seed rape is just coming into flower around is so if the rain holds off a bit they will have plenty of food.</p>
<p>Fingers crossed!</p>
<p> </p>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-1831071065382750032013-03-28T05:24:00.001-07:002013-03-28T05:24:12.293-07:00A new year, a new resolution<p>Max ticked me off this morning because I haven't been blogging Up The Garden Path. He's quite right and I really will try to change this. To be honest I haven't been very active in the garden for a while but that too has to change. <br>
</p>
<p>March is often considered the beginning of the gardening year. We've been away, and anyway it's apparently been very cold, but now we are back and there are jobs to be done. A new chicken house, a new pig hut and the bees need checking.</p>
<p>The greenhouse needs cleaning out and if it ever warms up I an start sowing some vegetables.</p>
<p>You've read it here first. I'll be back in the garden - just as soon as it's warm enough for my fingers!</p>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-89194445536832502452011-08-09T07:33:00.000-07:002011-08-09T07:45:36.119-07:00Update on CucumbersI am dreadful at updating from previous posts and for this I apologise. Today I received a comment from Carrie asking me how the <a href="http://grandgennetaygarden.blogspot.com/2008/08/freezing-cucumbers.html">frozen cucumber</a> experiment went. I'm sorry to say that it wasn't the greatest of successes! We did, eventually, defrost the cucumbers and I think we could have used them for soup. However, I'm not mad on cucumber soup (tasteless) and I didn't have the necessary ingredients for gazpacho so we gave them to the pigs. The pigs were very happy.<div>
<br /></div><div>I'm sorry not to be more positive. I've noticed that a lot of people have come to my blog via a search of "how to freeze cucumbers". In future I will make even more gazpacho soup - which freezes/defreezes beautifully - and leave it at that.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>This year we have once again had a good crop of cucumbers but with a mixed quality of fruit. I imagine that this is something to do with the drought during the spring - although we did water the veggie patch and the cucumbers are under plastic. We've got plenty for the time being but some have not developed in the centre at all. Happy pigs again.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>If anyone has a good freezing cucumber recipe please let me know!</div>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-40305234483454405642011-07-29T02:30:00.000-07:002011-07-29T02:39:14.402-07:00Noisette at work<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Noisette has been a boon. Normally at this time of year Max performs dangerous acrobatics with a strimmer on the side of the moat. Noisette has changed this totally and as a result my heart beats at a much more regular pace.<div><br /><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3GWPXLZDKNLSUruXcX-jNFFf89wKHNkvQCkUtINfwQ7igRE82WfK2NkSTD0dAf9uBv78haUgj7lrllT2jALDwzljkf8qqpvXQus2SqIVjQktEcfGrWLuVFz6dqpCLpQlgWGqZ71lqBE/s320/DSCN3478.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634705834362363858" /></div><div><br /></div><div>We move her approximately every two or three days and this gives her a chance to cut everything within reach (boy, are we careful where we put her!) Now that the field at the back of the house has been cut we can put her at the top of the bank. Being a mountain goat she thinks nothing of the steepness of the bank and just makes her way down eating everything on the way. The brambles at the bottom are next I hope. The photos a bit dark so you can't seem them but they are thick and grow at the rate of knots!</div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, she's earning her keep.</div></div>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-78364538904993945052011-06-30T05:24:00.001-07:002011-06-30T05:57:22.087-07:00Local lamb<div style="text-align: left;">We buy very little meat from the supermarket nowadays. We have our own pork, our own chickens (if the fox doesn't get there first) and each year we buy a lamb from our neighbour and have it butchered locally.</div><div><br />Martial raises his lamb on organic principles although as he's basically a small holder he doesn't bother with official tags; he just gets on with it. His herd of sheep have won prizes in the past at local agricultural fairs and he is rightly proud of them. </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSXAoXHfboa8oLa3vNDqBJFpBJMlitQJPbSgXKeZVydhwYCsUNeTYP7jOI4rw" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 187px; height: 139px;" border="0" alt="" /></div><div><br />This year's lack of water has a trickle down effect (curious phrase under the circumstances as nothing is trickling at all around here). First of all one of Martial's wells has dried up and he is having to water his sheep and poultry from the town water which is expensive. Because his second well is almost dry he has cut right back on his vegetable growing - he doesn't want to have to spend money on watering those as well and will instead tuck into some of the surplus that he has conserved from previous years. The price of feed has rocketed sky high - when you can find it that is. He told us that most of the local farmers will get so little for their cereal products that they are cutting their losses by turning it into winter feed for the cattle. There is almost no straw since the wheat is so low and of course hay is scarce as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>Although the cost of raising his sheep has more than doubled he has kept the price down to last year's level because if he doesn't sell them he'll have to carry on feeding them. This year we have bought two.</div><div><br /></div><div>Martial is a small holder and very relieved he's not raising meat on a large scale farm. He came round last night to help us tag Noisette (the goat) and told us that at the end of the year he expects a number of farms to be out of business. The future does not look great.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, if you can, buy your meat locally from a farmer. I realise this will come under the heading of luxury for many people so why not get together with some friends and share a 10kg pack? It will taste better and you will be helping your community's farmers.</div>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-2219874265056745232011-06-10T00:18:00.000-07:002011-06-10T00:45:44.202-07:00The Fox<div style="text-align: left;">Living in the countryside has many sides to it, both good and bad. Personally I find the clean air and lack of town noise outways most of the bad. We grow a great deal of our own food, both fruit/vegetable and meat. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Max hunts with the local chasse and our freezer is supplemented with a few pheasant, rabbit, haunch of sanglier (wild boar) and chevreuil (deer), if we are lucky a hare. Only a certain number of pheasant, deer and hare are allowed to be shot each year and the hunt is issued with a "bracelet" for each animal in their quota. If you shoot an extra one, even by mistake (ie if you have one bracelet and two people each shoot a hare at the same time), there is a fine. (Yes, it is controlled.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In return for his hunting invitations Max joins the local chasse for the occasional battu which are held throughout the year to keep down the foxes. Make no mistake about it, there are a lot of foxes, they are a nuisance and they do a great deal of harm. The battu are usually, but not always, requested by the farmers and the dates and areas concerned are posted at the Mairie. </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6lcGBtJntHzNF_tm9Sn_lq6mFZhLCURLFfiidtRe7Ss17crT04E-8Ht8JpwHw4TpK60zU9YUwwd7kplNh43bNHofVa0s6Gx24xf2uoV2W22WN5NgMvRNu0hmJ_r9Z80PUccDEgN_BmM/s320/DSCN3446.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616488667543027986" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>This is the sight that greeted us when we went out to feed the chickens this morning. I make no apology for the photos although I have tried to keep them "long" shots. Believe me, close up they are not nice.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Our chickens are shut in at night. The fox dug his way into the pen and forced the door of the hut open. Several were left in the pen but we found two on the lawn outside; in addition, as we can't find them, he must have taken one adult and one baby back with him (or eaten it here I suppose).</div></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aceaT0DD7mujkHMwKvavOO3K3lNKEHyycl-OnIIfZ6rxF1m-_GfQlekIPLz9xIBSZdRb5-P0yazl-cMwc1pRY6lgxBS8wFUfrWK-ftfihp-NOZJjWB2AoNBkW8D9K1StyyZ1UwdC6fQ/s320/DSCN3445.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616488658391709506" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>Obviously I can't be sure, but we were told that this was probably done by a young fox. An older fox takes a bird back to the den. A young fox is learning the joy of killing and "plays" with his new skill until all the fun is lying on the ground around him.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAH2aIyvdS1aJl6ttGqJD3cO58g8fh0idL4_q4aB8lWjgkIpn0pjwSsSJISu-Sc5kFDrD5iiX9sPHQ4DAy2yIa-6-qHOYXMBjwGEz3wD98hSwpQ5Qk5lSDMbTXpTktXhclbwI32ZhAPbE/s320/DSCN3449.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616488674531107618" /><br /></div><div>Even the three chicks were taken.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WUsgUTOqsVXoioVBANvFrVoVfPZ2l6xaxgasleVMK_AVg1wdQuR8QJBqUVBjioK5xCZOcCLd55KEda94q1OZFsUzcR0mm04m99pcSdBItpImFOCIP6w4AR1InfoA5Kynwgo4XXtC7nA/s320/Fox%2527s+breakfast.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616488696614355746" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>In all we lost five chickens and three chicks. We have informed the head of the local chasse who will come and see us later today. The next battu is not for a few weeks but I for one will welcome them.</div></div>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-41890295340106212472011-05-17T13:01:00.001-07:002011-05-17T13:17:34.045-07:00The fruits of our labours<div style="text-align: left;">It's that time of year. Everything is starting and from nothing at all we are suddenly bubbling over with things to bring into the kitchen. The asparagus, as always, started us off but we only cut the spears for six weeks so that the plants have a chance to regenerate for next year.</div><div><br />Then the early lettuce from the greenhouse which I planned to have ready for Easter - and amazingly it was!</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWq6-5bFOLlJ_dYfq5dcq31PGfWdbbr06a8SknGqyBp3X1DrszwISistLe3LzItXDUmj8kplBJBc9eErO7duvjjacjroM2QdiII70AFM2HqnhAY3OurZJgd7INVaU_Pdw3fv4lI2F_Coc/s320/DSCN3419.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607778109805672066" />Now it's the turn of the cherries. We always know when they are ready because "les voleurs" arrive in ever increasing numbers. We don't mind too much - although we used to! A lot of the trees seem to have grown from pips dropped by the birds and these don't taste great. The really deep red cherries are only on a couple of trees and we grab these when we can. I'm not a supporter of fiddling with nature but if scientists insist on modifying genes and what have you, then perhaps they could sort out the genes in the birds so that they take the high cherries and leave the low ones for us. Now that would be really useful.</div><div><br /></div><div>Although we eat most of what we pick, this year, if we pick enough, we'll put some in jars and sterilise them so that we can enjoy them later in the year.</div><div><br /></div><div>And of course it's strawberry time as well. We picked these this evening:</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7ykhotSTUGCLBb1gHyptbovBhOUJXd91uFarvofMl4ytkFVxbKckDrcjbmH6GK8KEKh0bnPVDbQ27-guDS6_Lv9JOdx_MCkEfZhKGTGhGz9qhSCKg8egRa-avOs_8mzzsmPvp_jTL8U/s320/DSCN3418.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607778114920933138" /></div><div><br /></div><div>There's nearly two kilos there and we've picking the same amount every two days for the past week. I don't make jam as we don't eat it in large enough quantities to make it worthwhile. However, even I can't eat this amount of strawberries - well, not really and not without really bad consequences! - so I've started making a strawberry coulis which I freeze in plastic cups.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've discovered the most amazing Delia Smith recipe for strawberry cheesecake ice cream however I prefer to make it plain and use the coulis to pour over afterwards. It really is delicious! If you want to try it you'll find it in the Summer Collection - it involves roasted digestive biscuits and hazelnuts...are you sure you can resist?!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?t=theengarmabr-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&asins=0563488700&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-61493223795334100282011-05-10T11:31:00.000-07:002011-05-10T12:51:44.133-07:00The swarm in the hive - part two<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2jFfkwaQ4z-kjNtQw7s7gkeJt3SjwV5yrfKEtwdo5joI0jKy2ZvUDVAytji2wm0eOq65pLtGxb7TGSz5Ru-gOAi5Jkj-oKM9aTrFxpb1C8p2diZWfv7sEBZx-P5P87KCG-pbkIjPzvE/s320/DSCN3410.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605158093986016530" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We got back to our neighbours to sort out the colonies in the abandoned hives this afternoon. There were two and both had built comb all over the place.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The first one we opened turned out to be without any queen and no brood whatsoever. We had already tied most of the wax into frames (lots of honey in them too) so we put them into a nuc and closed them up.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The second hive was a different kettle of fish. The main box was sitting without a floor on a tyre - see above. We knew that there was a stack of wax built onto the roof and that another pile of wax was lying in the tyre. We opened it up carefully. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_6-dnfdl4fU9sDkpQfh0b6P1kqDaz9B6L3_5e1bd5MQzNQqd5zafp8WqtMQSv_S53SGcWTs8yDhcsj0Jwbz4eBaMjbuSaTCzKwKtnvfg2KsWnUFkL3tdCxHmn1TcCH_jByIsRMU1-Hw/s320/DSCN3412.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605158095686880754" /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">With our hearts in our mouths we carefully turned the lid upside down. So many bees and we still didn't know if the queen was in the lid or in the tyre - or not there at all perhaps. Very gradually we removed plaques with honey and put them to one side and concentrated on the plaques with brood - this is when we knew there was a queen present so long as we hadn't already killed her. This is all fresh comb and there was a reasonable amount of brood - about four plaques - so we reckoned the queen was probably up here somewhere and not down in the tyre. Tying wax - which is heavy when it has brood and honey in it - into frames is not easy. We did our best and I just hope we improve with experience. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The reward was great. Having put four frames of brood into a nuc I suddenly saw the queen still on the lid. We managed to catch her and having put her to one side we had a moment of reflexion on what to do. There were so many bees! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We finally decided to put the colony back into a big hive. We didn't have one with us so we had to make do with the various elements around us. Brood box, crown board and roof were no problem. The floor we found was rotten and fell apart so we made do with another roof. We then put the frames of brood into this box and surrounded it with frames of honey which I had bought up with me. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwmRlE_6oniU2a1nTGaU2t8BH81BasmSkp9Q9KHdlk9R7CUSzOXy4L7GB0_98fpG5d9GQ13_Yxz-HifSDTZu3kE1IV9SOoNqLN0GWApnXV01Cv6urSfH82148AOB3f4zXp9fLeXVjiAQ/s320/DSCN3413.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605158102552770130" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The discussion and finding the bits and pieces took approximately five minutes. During this time the bees had found the queen in the cage and were gathering around her. It's amazing how nature works so efficiently! In the picture above you can just about see the cage - look at the breeze block in the middle; the cage is under the pile of bees on top, at the front on the right. (OK, you have to know exactly where it is to see it!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbhFTGSQudXnbWjbTZPHLDBKAGGfjsbdMY6ZNdF6gP9iMs3g8XTGyGMuVqukf5vRaaMcId-E5jQsjQK7-ffCkxZnvy0lApjMgcrT8E-AYDUBjDbFdSTG5ajOEAZPNJUzgOqlQZwMaCW8/s320/DSCN3415.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605158104346479250" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We put this DIY'ed hive just behind the original placement and once the frames were organised we dropped the queen in over a frame of brood. The picture above was taken less than five minutes later. The bees have found her majesty and have started signalling to the other bees who are now marching out of the tyre and into the hive. This has to be the best part of hiving a swarm - or colony in this case.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My only regret with the whole exercise was not marking the queen. It doesn't matter. We know she's in there and next week we'll take another look to see how things are going. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In the meantime there is the orphaned colony to deal with. More thought is required but I suspect that we will go back tomorrow and unite the two. I would be happier if the colony with the queen had more bees to forage and bring in food. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9F-Rf_OMAiNJHwnqWBDE5NWcxI961hm0uYf7k4NP4WrkcyaR7M_4IiPkNFttD6d_aYorQT09Mrbqw4ypxTCJRT8keYJ-elF5jpAnPeFjyl7l2nfscpl5NoZSBduI6-uGc8NzHdeWd5_0/s320/DSCN3417.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605158109331560050" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This final picture is the rest of the comb that we couldn't save or fit into frames. Despite being able to support a huge weight of honey or brood - not to mention bees climbing all over it - comb is incredibly fragile once you start trying to manipulate it and breaks easily. The bees are all over it because there is so much honey in there. We will work out tomorrow how to save the honey. I rather suspect that we won't regret it!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our work was further rewarded when we drove back down through the wood and past our neighbour's house. He was waiting for us and he and his wife called us in for an apero. This is not to be underestimated. Firstly the glasses are HUGE. Secondly it was fizzy. Thirdly having finished more than I normally consume in a week my glass was refilled. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Forgive me if I leave you now - hic...hic!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-7667169317257250992011-05-04T12:51:00.001-07:002011-05-04T12:58:33.181-07:00More Muscovy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIQy3Ci0aORC0SC0wWUmXnG9RBYrvj4nwKyXFHKNZm0RtiUfsQ3-7-QtW4MaRgJYmlG5quBMA9X_TlfOaZhAgmcsesqycd8uwOSEEnVUYx3QhK6PfD9ePw2owO6wkoaTEmVcT3_Ix-uU/s1600/Brian+and+Apostles.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 166px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIQy3Ci0aORC0SC0wWUmXnG9RBYrvj4nwKyXFHKNZm0RtiUfsQ3-7-QtW4MaRgJYmlG5quBMA9X_TlfOaZhAgmcsesqycd8uwOSEEnVUYx3QhK6PfD9ePw2owO6wkoaTEmVcT3_Ix-uU/s320/Brian+and+Apostles.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602951046734528898" /></a><br /><div>Mason came out today with her twelve babies. Since the one we hatched was named Brian (born on Easter weekend) the ducklings have been awarded the title of the 12 Apostles. It's all the fault of Monty Python mad children. </div><div><br />They are very sweet and fluffy. It's slightly alarming that she has chosen to sleep on the bank tonight. Hopefully if the fox comes (he last visited three weeks ago and took a chicken) she can just tumble them all down the hill and into the moat.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tomorrow, if the weather holds, I'll inspect the hives and try and sort out the two in our neighbour's garden.</div>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-49819025871093313822011-05-03T11:37:00.000-07:002011-05-03T11:43:11.731-07:00New Life Up the Garden Path<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Our Muscovy (Mrs Mason and her husband is Mr Fortnum) has been sitting for ages. Finally today we saw her babies. The larger one in the front is Brian - born one week ago in the incubator. Mrs Mason has taken him (her?) in without a murmur.<div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir73thOjGTE73a85FiXMohV9R02Qk2FK_QBn_crXUM-G9Z7jSAEp80xu6DsNHZM_f52EGA_USfzpPkI3zmGjfvEPmpQX5LrWAztOIpsYHcbwMHq8GwrdMIuHDJqWiKaSV057MnWiQ6594/s320/S7005388_resized.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602561691453118674" />The chicken came out yesterday with her four golden chicks. Gorgeous.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MJjucgmzd8vNkA1LDl4CxFYjW2EF1bdgvifQXYQK66wzfEUMRdAF1fVLNqqvk0cvIKpjLq9TeBOnTr9J1Wd6I6ROgp1sARRtAsWMevvQtaxeOcyz8y9I7cNZbA6wKxtFjiRoorC11fs/s320/S7005390_resized.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602561697236483282" /></div>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-80786193780769908492011-04-30T03:26:00.001-07:002011-04-30T03:49:10.321-07:00Wild Bees<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I finally went up with Max to look at the bees that have taken over some abandoned hives in a neighbour's garden. The hives themselves are fairly rotten although one of them might be usable for this season and another brood box in fairly good condition was lying next to them (fairly good is a relative term - it's fairly good next to the one that is crumbling!) But inside these abandoned hives the bees have been busy constructing comb wherever they can.<div><br /><div>The two colonies have clearly been there for a while and look strong and healthy. They are far enough away from our own hives that there is no risk of cross-contamination if there are any diseases lurking around. Each time we come back I soak the hive tools and the gloves in a bleach solution. </div><div><br /></div><div>All we have to do now is transfer the comb into frames and then into a hive in better condition. I think we have a fifty fifty chance of being successful - as usual it all depends on the queen being transferred and we are unlikely to know this for sure for some time.</div><div><br /></div><div>But there was a bonus today. Some of the comb was stuck to the roof of the hive and we took the opportunity to take some of this away with us. Honey in the comb was part of my childhood but you don't find it very often nowadays. It's harder for the bees to produce as they have to build the fresh comb as well as fill it with honey but I suspect too that people just don't like eating wax with their honey and there is very little demand. I usually put four small frames (which fit into one normal size super frame) into each hive after the OSR honey has been taken off and we keep it carefully for people we know appreciate it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>But today's comb honey doesn't come neatly packaged:</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHo2B-uFWd8ZMFhtu5uOKt1HgrEaV3n2KUQF743igNesJaXIxIfVxigxQ8KVA6E7Htf0fbZGbGK9avQnqBBNL1jL4TumUC1GXOXgx-Nhe1qUdnyhqFxgh_wU1Xbx2roxm_p4a88xf25A/s320/DSCN3390.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601325498196223266" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Just dripping in golden goodness.</div></div>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-61811391839196663872011-04-28T11:22:00.001-07:002011-04-28T11:40:25.469-07:00A busy day<div style="text-align: left;">Yesterday we took another 25 kilos of honey. This makes a total of 45 kilos of spring honey from four hives. For us, that is a good harvest and certainly the artifical swarms played a part. If the bees swarm, we lose about half the honey.</div><div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirtK7R81aXkt9u2LAsPiW9fLBHLfq41hfrDV8hb665xNUzh2hJ_OOzUJTar9rW_rgEX-Use-KxxlGWoagJxu874HOhrNRlz-Wtg6-RRWZwOXKEzaPNqDZz6G3t-T1gGY9RxSppq7l06Jg/s320/DSCN3386.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600704926929307154" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>So today I spent the morning bottling the liquid gold. It takes time and organisation. We don't have a handy little tap so the ladle is used - lots of drips. I start with a bowl of water and two (clean) sponges to mop up drips and also to wipe the jars clean. The photo shows a frame of honey, totally capped with wax, just before it went into the extractor. In case you are interested, one frame such as this holds approximately 2kilos of honey.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Then we had an afternoon building shelves - or at least Max and Ralph did. Last week I visited our neighbour who is selling her house. She has given me all her preserving jars which is a really generous if you check the prices. However, we need somewhere to store so many and we finally sorted out a shed and put in some DIY shelving.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqpcYKmIEo5LBTugWP7lei1shLwypr-jj6VqhYhumzrDWEXgSf7GMYVryzRZ7E86_CvRhYqFT8iYMx3ZMpQWlLnVbXCr8elD_K7y4XmP6Xgh_aVcmQqwxAqMW_bluONp4OXsrrI03BXo/s320/DSCN3387.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600704933606250066" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>In the past I have used these jars for chutneys and tomato ketchups, but I have never preserved fruit and vegetables. Since she also gave (yes, GAVE) us a steriliser and burner, this year will be one of new experiences and experiments.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rirLOVWILxzj9ICBKj6tHD-rDxjSQVMvvT5nN8xkZGQjN7Ujjh0f-OOiDDei_0cCzI6BXYp2mw8pmnJNAGu2jA4Nsvn44FdT2dBrwECkKiFFTRrZRBcrxxNCcpmbPQOA1S4c58eUfJo/s320/DSCN3389.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600704937085309426" /><div><br /></div><div>Max took the opportunity of emptying the shed to wash the empty bottles so that they would be ready for filling in two weeks. We buy red wine "en vrac" and then bottle it here. We have carefully kept bottles for this purpose. The wine is a good table wine and buying it this way is a lot cheaper. Please note - the picture shows a bottle collection of many months!</div><div><br /></div></div>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-68573377581233240252011-04-27T01:27:00.000-07:002011-04-27T02:09:13.769-07:00Spring harvest 2011<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumxhVXYKLmpA_obxTyMOCIk-dQa_frmmFAduJRuCpS-G6wul__8-MTgKwOzUksPp1EqTz04_sg9kpHdkoi7UVQf8GWS_a-bkA2hiLT_fvSoLNQXuzjhxjCeD6LFO6ikT-x2SwMQhSR24/s320/DSCN3385.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 311px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600185803339050978" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The same day that we inspected the artifical swarm we also decided to collect some of the spring harvest. The oil seed rape is very early this year and you are advised to harvest the honey as soon as the petals start to fall so that it doesn't crystallise in the frames - at which point you can't get it out. We only took the frames with the honey covered with wax so a second harvest will be needed this week.<div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCn_0W7fu2Uv-6NcrAmrJUDHZN_dpfCPq8b36OwBKrlv36cvVS0OA8K8oJNZ6dJX9mPzdncHv2Yaj0-dxOLi4hKvDMoPy66u29n76tNdzyO56xRmMJHWbhbQbDjA3xlS9zAjuG6MNv1I/s320/DSCN3379.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600185799577823250" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>It was a fun day. Some neighbours have young children and they came over to help us with the extracting. Everyone takes a turn spinning the honey out and watching it run from the extractor is a great reward.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAtBAtLHz0klmYsrVb38R6MEt6TOEXJ9RZD1E7_4dn9xRGfoL05NntXQyYqoGnNGvPbWODetdbMdhr6_idS4twy3j3zEwaO9Vu9Yaz-KZYdOB2ZfMyY6QxRBFSPKTrPQgVYx_kLjMxY8/s320/DSCN3378.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600187164031283762" /><div><br /></div><div> And of course they bought an empty pot with them! For once we managed to keep all the bees out of the kitchen while we were working which made it a more relaxed operation. We took a honey bet on how much there would be - the prize was honey of course - and the final score was 23 kilos.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244764788426166409.post-61307467046928830572011-04-27T01:12:00.000-07:002011-04-27T01:24:44.139-07:00Artificial Swarm part two<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoXm1Gx1ZtP7AS_6L_9kqzVGNTG_bRPiHUnHcVqsVDIGRo4yvrCjIZpVPKKpbulYGGEfH7qyHAxtXYm5Yicg6qB_ybn0jWQY0zy8qzdnudxLTY-D85AMxVUfdQbt9rv8T1GMIB32NyDI/s1600/DSCN2984.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoXm1Gx1ZtP7AS_6L_9kqzVGNTG_bRPiHUnHcVqsVDIGRo4yvrCjIZpVPKKpbulYGGEfH7qyHAxtXYm5Yicg6qB_ybn0jWQY0zy8qzdnudxLTY-D85AMxVUfdQbt9rv8T1GMIB32NyDI/s320/DSCN2984.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600175658012623010" /></a><br />Well, it worked! We went down to the hives earlier this week and had a quick look. Sure enough, there was a small patch of new brood in a very busy hive. We didn't look for the queen herself as it seemed pointless to upset the bees during the OSR season but we did take the opportunity to put on a super. <div><br /></div><div>The original hive is obviously less busy - less bees - but there was fresh brood so the queen is still laying. We have decided not to unite these two hives. I have two queens arriving shortly and we will replace the original queen and then work on building up both colonies for the summer harvest.</div><div><br /></div><div>We also did an artificial swarm with a second hive back at the house. It was packed with bees and brood but queen cells were there in force so we decided to deal with it in the same way. </div><div><br /></div><div>In case you are wondering, the blue mark on the bottom of the hive means that we found and marked the queen. Blue was last year's colour - this year, 2011, is white.</div>Up The Garden Pathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00584144954544189646noreply@blogger.com0