the daydream fund challenge thread

choille

Hi Lotus Eater - Had to go look at it's plastic label as could not remember what it's called - Witham's Industry - would never have guessed that one in a million years. I would recommend it to any one - It's been so prolific these past couple of years & very tasty jam from it. The only thing is it seems to take me ages to get a good set wit the jam but I maybe aren't using too ripe a berry. I should probably leave them to get really black & then there would probably be more pectin in them?
They are so abundadnt bushes that I have about 4 mini bushes that I got from the main bushes self layering with the weight of the fruit. I have two in a raised bed & have moved the four self layered bushes to another part of the garden where I moved blackcurrant bushes that aren't doing too well - so I'll see next year if they do owt or not.
My blackcurrants are looking a bit yellowy which is odd as I have been shovelling on woodash, hen penn & dung - don't know if they don't like this slope where I put them or not a good year for them....
But the black gooseberries are very good.

Lotus-eater

Is it Whinhams Industry?

It looks like they are dark red?

choille

That's it - it gets darker red until almost black when it's fully ripe. I don't know what the other one is called as the label is gone but sure it began with a 'P'. Very similar in flavour & colour but slightly earlier in fruiting.

Davesnave

choille wrote: »

That's it - it gets darker red until almost black when it's fully ripe. I don't know what the other one is called as the label is gone but sure it began with a 'P'. Very similar in flavour & colour but slightly earlier in fruiting.

Sorry to butt in, but would that be 'Pax?'

http://www.blackmoor.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=463

I have that one. Mine didn't do too well this year.

Lotus-eater

I've got a couple of Pax bushes too. They are just finishing ripening now. First year I've got anything off them. They've done quite well, as long as the birds leave them alone......... I was planning on harvesting all of my jostaberries earlier this week, had a look on Monday, a decent crop and they all looked just about ripe, planning to harvest them on Wednesday..... all 3 bushes completely empty, someone must have had a good party.

choille

Hi Dave - Yes it could be that but it does definately have spines.

I seem to have problems getting a quick set when making jam but I think I'm using slightly under ripe fruit. They go darker if left when picked. Next time I'm going to pick when they've turned red & leave them for a few days to get darker & see if that makes a difference.

Really tasty, sharp jam though & loads of it off the two productive bushes. Last year I made chutney as well & it was good too.

JayneC

Hey al,l how's it going?

Sorry I've not been about much. Never seem to get a minute these days!!

Well have now got 2 chicks!! (after deliberating for about 2 years!!) They're not laying yet as they're still young, they're Buff Orpington/bantam crosses and settling in nicely. I was letting them free range around the yard (having fenced off my veg patch) but there was chicken poop everywher and DGS couldn't go out, so have fenced them in a run. They could probably escape as there's no roof but they haven't (yet!). The cat isn't too impressed but she's leaving them alone (just sulking, lol).

Have also been offered a patch of land - well more of a hillside really!! It's really overgrown so going to take a lot of work to get it under control but should be good once it's sorted. I'm just doing a bit at a time and taking it easy otherwise it would be totally overwhelming. Will try to get pics at some point. I'm aiming for a 'Forest garden' effect, will be mostly fruit on the hilside but theres' a small flat field at the top (of around a 100ft climb!) that would make a good veg plot. Theres' another lady and her son (who also keeps chicks and lives a couple of streets down from me) working on the top field and I have a friend and willing DD and DS who will help me. The guy who owns it reckons it would be around a third of acre if flat so fair bit of land. He just can't manage it and is not really keen on gardening (likes the idea but not the work!) Theres' tons of brambles so will be plenty of jam making going on in the next few weeks!! I'm quite excited (as well as a bit overwhelmed) just hope I can keep it under control.

Good to hear how everyone is getting on, sorry about your losses tho Dave and CTC.

Will try to keep up with thread more often.

Jaynex

Davesnave

That's great news, Jayne, on both gardening and chicken fronts! The flatter land would be your best bet for veg and I would just do a small piece of that first, till you see what you are up against. Starting with a field can mean a reservoir of weed seeds in the soil, which need to germinate and be removed. Huh! Don't I know it! You may also need to up the fertility, depending on the type of field it is, underlying soil etc. but your local friends will probably know what's best. Sounds exciting, anyway. :j

We managed to let our 5 older hens out to free-range part of the orchard this week. They're loving it. We're also getting them a shed, rather than a chicken house, as I've found someone locally who'll build it in a couple of weeks for half the price of the fancy purpose-made coops.

Will post some more piccies soon. Like the rest of you, I'm a bit busy just now....

rhiwfield

Well done Jayne, looks like you've got your work cut out!

We're busy in a different way. We had a big chat on the way forward and with both of us out of work, we've decided to work from home making knitted, crochet and other craft items to sell to supplement savings and pensions. It plays to DW's skills but not so sure about me! Maybe if I sell the veg we can call it crafts and carrots

So today DW gets to teach me how to use a sewing machine :eek:. But hers is a 20yo Singer while this is a new computerised Brother. Should be fun...I hope!

JayneC

THanks Dave and rhiwfield,

Have now got a proper fenced in chicken run. Mum and Dad came to visit and helped make an enclosure. It's full sized so I can stand up in it an have the compost bin in there too as chicks love scratching about in it for bugs and worms. We made it mostly from old bits of wood, so cost around £25!!! That was for a couple of long posts, hinges and chicken wire! How resourceful are we? Lol.

rhiwfield I would to have a business like that, not sure it would really pay the bills tho, maybe I should just start out small scale and see how it goes... I work in the public sector so may be needing to look for another job soon anyway....
I think I'm fairly safe in the short term but you never really know do you?

Well on that happy note I'm off to lock the chicks in their house for the night

Back soon x