really old style living?

Hugo_Rignold

Reevsey wrote: »

Madartha - sorry for the delayed response, pesky work got in the way! I get my seeds from Wilkinsons, thier own brand seeds have a fantastic germination rate and if you are wiling to pay a little more they have lots of F1 hybrid seeds too (new disease and pest resistant varieties). I find a lot of the on-line and catalogue suppliers much more expensive and they also have fewer seeds/packet.:)

At the opposite end of the spectrum, we get most of our seeds from The Real Seed co:

http://www.realseeds.co.uk/

All of their seeds are open pollinated, so no F1 hybrids in sight, which means you can harvest seeds from the plants and they will grow true the next year. You cannot do this with F1 seeds - they are like mules - a hybrid that is unable to reproduce.
Realseeds actively encourage you to do this and provide information and advise on seed harvesting/saving. This means that if you are careful with harvest and storage you can buy each variety once and never have to buy seeds again. We have had great success doing this. Some of our veg is on fifth year from one packet. They also have a huge variety of rare and heirloom varieties.

maryb

Hugo

you mentioned that the canning lids last for years. Do you mean the metal discs with the rubber bit round the edge? I know the official advice is not to reuse those but it always seemed to me that if you opened them very carefully they should be capable of sealing again if you reused them. They are not that cheap to buy.

I have a variety of jars which I buy in France but the lids are not especially cheap. Lakeland have started doing Kilner jars again but the French lids don't fit. I think I read somewhere that American size lids fit the Kilner jars.

Do you find that the jars with a screw band are better than the ones with glass lids and a separate rubber seal?

sorry for all the questions but it's very helpful to find someoen with real hands on experience.

I treated myself when we were on holiday in France and were browsing in a lovley old fashioned cookshop to a steam juice extractor. It's a bit like a steamer but with three layers. You put the fruit in the top basket and boiling water in the bottom. The steam rises to the top through a funnel which goes through the middle layer and makes the juice run from the fruit. Then the juice drips into the middle layer and there is a plastic tube with a tap on it leading from that so you can fill jars and bottles. It says you can fill bottles with apple juice directly as it is already pasteurised. but I use it to extract juice for making jellies, especially redcurrant jelly. Homemade redcurrant jelly is the BEST!!

ChocClare

maryb wrote: »

I treated myself when we were on holiday in France and were browsing in a lovley old fashioned cookshop to a steam juice extractor. It's a bit like a steamer but with three layers. You put the fruit in the top basket and boiling water in the bottom. The steam rises to the top through a funnel which goes through the middle layer and makes the juice run from the fruit. Then the juice drips into the middle layer and there is a plastic tube with a tap on it leading from that so you can fill jars and bottles. It says you can fill bottles with apple juice directly as it is already pasteurised. but I use it to extract juice for making jellies, especially redcurrant jelly. Homemade redcurrant jelly is the BEST!!

Mary, that sounds lovely: what is it called/what make etc? I have a pile of euros losing value in the airing cupboard so I could get one of DH's relatives to bring me one over next time they come if they're not too deadly in price.

ginnyknit

Someone on here recommended https://www.gardenby mail.co.uk for good and cheap seeds.

Think I am going to have to spend some time when DGS goes home and read this thread properley .....

.....meanwhile wheres that nailfile????:rotfl:

redlady_1

CC - you are a bad girlie indeed!!! :D

Must resist...have too much work to do :rotfl:

maryb

ChocClare will have to go down to the cellar and root around

I may be a little while!

But I won't forget

mardatha

I got seeds from Realseeds last year but there's no point because I cant be bothered with the faff of trying to collect new seeds etc. Is easier for me just to buy them.

maryb

this is it

http://www.justpreserving.co.uk/steam-juice-extractor-p-20003402.html The brand I got was Beka and it is actually a German make. It was actually in Germany that I first saw them being used when I was an aupair rather a long time ago

As I say I got mine in France and even though the £ was stronger then it didn't cost anything like £95 at today's exchange rate IYSWIM!!

witchwoopiggy

Hugo_Rignold wrote: »

At the opposite end of the spectrum, we get most of our seeds from The Real Seed co:

http://www.realseeds.co.uk/

thank you so much for this i have spent alovely afternoon planing and being amazed by these seads :T:T

carriebradshaw

mardatha wrote: »

I feel like Ma Walton.

ooh the the waltons is back on tv do you watch it mardatha? I've loved watching it again. I would love their house on the mountain with all that lovely land,chickens and all.