Search found 667 matches

by Trev62
22 Nov 2023, 21:34
Forum: Frugality and Self-Reliance
Topic: Manure bricks for heat
Replies: 5
Views: 10874

Manure bricks for heat

Horse manure bricks for heat, yes it sounds crazy but...... I have been looking into this subject (not literally!) and people make and use these (not just using horse manure. It would seem, goat and rabbit manure are also options). Has anyone ever tried making them or even using them? Coming into wi...
by Trev62
22 Nov 2023, 21:10
Forum: Books, TV and the Media
Topic: Mennonite Community Cookbook
Replies: 2
Views: 2982

Re: Mennonite Community Cookbook

We also follow some of the Amish recipes and ways of food preservation though as they are an "off shoot" of the Mennonites much of what they do now or have done in the past are very similar. I enjoy reading about the historical (and the evolving modern) side of both communities as well. The good, th...
by Trev62
22 Nov 2023, 21:02
Forum: Handicrafts and other Hobbies
Topic: The Bumbling Keeper of Bees
Replies: 29
Views: 46156

Re: The Bumbling Keeper of Bees

The thing I have discovered is that bees will always do their own thing no matter what you do. If they want to disappear they will, if they want to kill their queen they will, they are fussy collectors of nectar/pollen (we were surrounded by fields of sunflowers this year and they would not go to th...
by Trev62
04 Nov 2023, 20:28
Forum: Books, TV and the Media
Topic: Mennonite Community Cookbook
Replies: 2
Views: 2982

Mennonite Community Cookbook

We have just brought a copy of this book which has been updated to reflect today's standard measures and directions/instructions. It is a collection recipes taken from old Mennonite cookbooks. All the recipes are simple and easy to follow covering virtually everything. Tried a couple of their bread ...
by Trev62
04 Nov 2023, 20:09
Forum: Frugality and Self-Reliance
Topic: Goats
Replies: 29
Views: 23349

Re: Goats

Well, our Saanen has improved and is less off a bully when we walk them all to allow them to forage but inside we have taken to feeding her in a separate pen as she is just too much for the other goats to handle. The rest of the time she is mild and gentle now happily coming to us to have her head a...
by Trev62
04 Nov 2023, 19:41
Forum: Handicrafts and other Hobbies
Topic: The Bumbling Keeper of Bees
Replies: 29
Views: 46156

Re: The Bumbling Keeper of Bees

How are your hives going Trev? We have collected a fair amount of honey again this year but have doubts the hives will survive our winter. There was an onslaught of wasps attacking all the hives, resulting in a drastic reduction in bee numbers. A large wasp nest was found on the electricity pylon i...
by Trev62
19 Oct 2023, 19:27
Forum: Grow your Own Diaries
Topic: How does your garden grow?
Replies: 336
Views: 5345959

Re: How does your garden grow?

An expected snap frost last night seems to have finished the few things we had left growing. We will gather in the remaining peppers and tomatoes tomorrow along with the last of the beetroot. Luckily we moved all the butternuts inside for winter storage or we could have lost a few of them. The Jerus...
by Trev62
19 Oct 2023, 19:17
Forum: Just for Pets
Topic: Lucas
Replies: 147
Views: 204736

Re: Lucas

Recently Lucas has once again decided being indoors is better than outdoors now that the weather is cold and wet but he really does find the strangest places to bed down. Sounds a right character! Our remaining four barn cats have now taken up residence inside the house from early evening until 4'i...
by Trev62
07 Oct 2023, 21:03
Forum: Grow your Own Diaries
Topic: How does your garden grow?
Replies: 336
Views: 5345959

Re: How does your garden grow?

After digging and laying another set of footings in the animal pens we spent a few hours trying to get some form of control in the field. Harvested bucket loads of carrots, tomatoes and peppers, over 50 butternut squashes, the last courgettes, several kilos of raspberries (some now on the cheesecake...
by Trev62
07 Oct 2023, 20:35
Forum: Grow your Own Diaries
Topic: How does your garden grow?
Replies: 336
Views: 5345959

Re: How does your garden grow?

we've always kind of muddled along with growing things but this year we're really trying to get more organised and methodical and try and plan more ...not sure how that will go but I've got a Calendar to try and keep on track and plans and lists and.... and... Good luck, we try the same every year ...
by Trev62
07 Oct 2023, 20:31
Forum: Frugality and Self-Reliance
Topic: Goats
Replies: 29
Views: 23349

Re: Goats

Saanen's are a big goat but very gentle ...I hope she's settled in nicely :-D She is a softy now she has settled in and is filling out nicely, no longer just skin and bones as the saying goes. The only issue is that she is extremely greedy to the point of being possessive over food whether in the p...
by Trev62
05 Sep 2023, 20:05
Forum: Grow your Own Diaries
Topic: How does your garden grow?
Replies: 336
Views: 5345959

Re: How does your garden grow?

When I opened it a field mouse looked at me then leapt out. Then 2 or 3 more. quite a jump. That made me smile, I like the field mouse (as long as it is not in the house or cellar) our cats deliver live ones to us that our Karakachan often steals and plays with, which is amusing to watch as she nev...
by Trev62
05 Sep 2023, 19:59
Forum: Grow your Own Diaries
Topic: How does your garden grow?
Replies: 336
Views: 5345959

Re: How does your garden grow?

If there isn't a bird problem, maybe the weather? A lot of pollen are affected by high temperatures (as well as low temperature) so may be a pollinating thing when they were in flower. I think it is the weather, daytime temperatures for the last couple of months have been averaging around the mid 9...
by Trev62
28 Aug 2023, 19:56
Forum: Grow your Own Diaries
Topic: How does your garden grow?
Replies: 336
Views: 5345959

Re: How does your garden grow?

Spreckly wrote: 28 Aug 2023, 15:51 I am envious of all your fruit picking.
I would not be too envious, I checked our blackberries today, five plants, two years old and ......... only one blackberry. A very nice one but I felt the plant were mocking me as I stood looking at it!
by Trev62
23 Aug 2023, 20:55
Forum: Frugality and Self-Reliance
Topic: Goats
Replies: 29
Views: 23349

Re: Goats

Collected our fourth goat today, a rescued three year old Saanen, lovely friendly goat but had been neglected. A quick learn today on cutting back her hooves on her back legs that had been allowed to curl over, a good brush down and clean up, now she is making friends with our other three even thoug...