the daydream fund challenge thread

Davesnave

Lotus-eater wrote: »

I won't say it will never happen, but I can't see it. Farmers will probably get some help for fuel in the future, maybe some ID that relaxes the use of red diesel.

I'm not suggesting anything other than a basic allowance, at a lower rate of duty, for those who are really in the sticks.

I don't think we'd qualify here, though if you come at this place via the M5 link, it's 18 miles without a proper village.

sianster

Davesnave,

Appreciate the info, thanks. Looks like it's not going to happen now - first offer rejected outright (at asking price!) and am doubtful whether our full & final offer will be accepted. There are a lot of people with silly amounts of money round here who can afford to pay far more than we can .

Still, the dream lives on & hopefully something else will come up...

bonsibabe

Well hello again everyone. Only little old me again! We had an open day on the local nature reserve yesterday and it was good to see people turning up. One of our friends took us all on a foraging trip round the nature reserve and I actually managed to learn something! And made a new friend of a small holder from up Portmahomack way! He grows cherry trees and its part of the way he makes money by selling the young trees to garden centres. The cherries were delicious and he gave our two little ones and their pal from next door a large cup of cherries each! On the condition that they gave me the stones to plant. So fingers crossed we will have cherry trees next year! And so, inspired, we went off to the garden centre. Hubby bought a pepper plant, a chilli pepper plant (!) and a grape vine! Let's just see if the grapes actually survive! But its off again tomorrow as I'm going to attempt to grow my own garlic for next year. Going to give it a shot. If it works, in theory we will never have to actually buy garlic again! But himself will be busy as his mint has taken over the herb garden so needs taken out and planted in a pot. But I'm going to harvest the mint and attempt to make some mint jelly and some mint liquer. Watch this space.

Hope you are all well. Be back soon xxxx

stitching_witch

bonsibabe - what on earth were you doing up at 4am??? Was that a very late night or a very early morning?

As for me, I really can't be bothered with anything at the moment. All I want to do is sit and daydream about the "good life" I left in Wales and hanker to go back to (but probably not in Wales this time )

rhiwfield

stitching_witch wrote: »

bonsibabe - what on earth were you doing up at 4am??? Was that a very late night or a very early morning?

As for me, I really can't be bothered with anything at the moment. All I want to do is sit and daydream about the "good life" I left in Wales and hanker to go back to (but probably not in Wales this time )

Why its lovely in Wales atm

Been out cutting ash wands to make buttons and doing bits and bobs outside.

Had fun the other day when a mains fault sent high power surges shutting down the inverters and damaging bits of gear in the house. We'll probably get some new kit as a result but the disruption is pretty unwelcome.

Greengages and autumn raspberries starting to crop, just as the last of the summer raspberries finish. And the first sweetcorn tonight, be a nice change from runner beans though I've got to like toms and runner beans from the garden cooked together, then add chorizo for a few mins, then eat.....very nice too.

Davesnave

rhiwfield wrote: »

Why its lovely in Wales atm

Although it's lovely here too, and I'm happy with my lot, it was Wales that was my first choice. There were family-political reasons that made me give up on that particular dream..... but never say never!

I've had something growing here that I harvested today. I didn't plant it, and I've never eaten one before..... but I'm going to keep you guessing a bit longer till I can put up a picture.

It's impressive!:cool:

stitching_witch

rhiwfield wrote: »

Why its lovely in Wales atm

I love Wales - I lived on the edge of Snowdonia National Park for three years and, in many ways, wish I hadn't left. I would only go back if my grown up children and all their offspring wanted to come too. It is family keeping me in this area, especially my DD and DGD now that her partner has left.

Davesnave wrote: »

I've had something growing here that I harvested today. I didn't plant it, and I've never eaten one before..... but I'm going to keep you guessing a bit longer till I can put up a picture.

It's impressive!:cool:

Oooh, intriguing Dave.... Can you give us a clue?


PS - check me out with this multi-quote business :T

Winged_one

We were in PIL for the weekend, so I was foraging yesterday morning. I got 3lbs blackberries, 2lbs damsons (mostly both for jam, although I've frozen some blacks for pies) and I was too early for crab apples and sloes yet (in 4 weeks time, I should get those). It is glorious days like these that make me long for going back home to the country.

I will have to get up to the plot this week some evening, to see what is ready. I should get a few more raspberries, maybe a squash or 2, some french beans and hopefully some peas. But otherwise reasonably quiet period (I forgot to sow lettuce for successional growing so I am out of it again!).

And I managed to keep spending very low this week, so I have a few extra shekels to add to the pot in my drawer. I am considering taking a stall at a crafts fair coming up to Christmas, if I can get a few more things finished (mainly knitted facecloths, but hopefully some sewn things too).

Lotus-eater

Davesnave wrote: »

I've had something growing here that I harvested today. I didn't plant it, and I've never eaten one before..... but I'm going to keep you guessing a bit longer till I can put up a picture.

It's impressive!:cool:

I had some of that when I was in Amsterdam.

choille

Hi All - Bonisbabe that sounds brilliant with the cherry trees. What sort are they?

I planted a few Gians - Bird Cherry here as they do well. They were suckers from trees in my previous place & they have grown incredibly well over 8ft in a few years.

I do wish I had a better knowledge of mushrooms are as they are springing up everywhere here - but I would rather know what was what before cooking them & probably having to be helicoptered to hospital & having my stomache pumped. I jest.

I haven't had that great a year veg wise & my fruit has been a bit rubbish apart from the gooseberries. I await the crab apples which look fine & the plums.
My blackcurrant bushes are looking really poorly - mouldy & yellowy.

I have been busy plotting & have lodged an application to plant an indigenous woodland of 25 hectares on the hill. There has been some opposition from people who would object to anything & it has al got a tad personal & upsetting. So I await developments on that front.

Great to hear of the foraging. Blackberries do not seem to do much here - often not many ripen fully at all. Seems a shame - however I have loads of rowan berries on the croft. I did make wine with them one year & it tasted as I would imagine petrol tastes - never again, but I will make some rowan jelly this year as it is wonderful with meat.