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The Latest Issue of Home Farmer is with us...
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Yes, the November issue has arrived and it's a bumper one, with a features on cheese making (Ruth’s Stilton type cheese playing against the clock to be ready for Christmas), seven centuries of pickles, from mediaeval times to the Victorian era (eat your heart out, Time Lord!), and ending with a feature by the Butterworth’s on sewing and darning as a means of giving an extra lease of life to everyday clothes – surely this should be taught in schools alongside cooking! We also have a brick oven building project together with all the usual suspects, including kitchen gardening features on trees and bushes and enjoying year-round salad harvests. Thanks too to all who took time to share their views on our design changes. I hope you all enjoy your November magazine – as for us, we are already preparing the December issue!
IF YOU CAN'T CLICK ON THE LINKS, GO TO THE TOP OF THIS LETTER AND CLICK TO VIEW THE WEB VERSION.
Subscribe from this month's magazine to SAVE £1 per issue and get a FREE BOOK. Click here to enjoy this great saving and claim your free book.
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Seren's Sticky Salted Caramel Apple Jam...
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Described by the creator of the recipe, new HF contributor Seren Evans-Charrington, as an 'instant gratification' jam, I have already seen one or two people go slightly woozy at the sheer indulgence of the ingredients - sort of like a toffee apple jam, and one which I dare you not to eat as a guilty pleasure straight from the spoon. To see the complete recipe click here.
Seren's book, The Pleasure of Preserving, is available to buy and costs just £12.99, but she has kindly offered us five copies for a newsletter competition. Simply answer the question: What fruit has Seren been preserving in gin? The answer to this question can be found at www.bubblingstove.co.uk or at https://www.facebook.com/bubbling.stove. You then simply need to email the answer to ruth@homefarmer.co.uk with the subject heading 'Sticky Salted Caramel Apple Jam Comp', together with your details and a phone number. Entries must be received by Monday 29th September at the very latest.
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Melton Mowbray Rare Breeds Sale...
Recently Ruth and I visited the rare breeds sale at Melton Mowbray auction mart just outside the centre of the town. There are similar sites around the country, some larger and some smaller, but they usually have a busy schedule. Such sales are certainly a useful venue for anyone interested in acquiring livestock, and with the disappearance of many smaller auction marts up and down the country, they would be very pleased with your support on event days. To find out more about these events click here.
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Yarndale - a Festival of Woolly Delights...
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The very day after the Scottish Smallholder and Grower Festival, HF publisher, Ruth, will be having an ‘away/play day' at Yarndale. Held each year in Skipton, the town centre is traditionally awash with yarn bombing, and a definite sight worth seeing. Commended for its friendliness and inspiration, the first Yarndale Festival in 2013 was a great hit with both exhibitors and visitors, attracting over 6,500 people. The 2014 event builds on this, but maintains the welcome, intimate, creative and friendly vibe. A coming together of the nation’s finest artisans and retailers, it is the perfect chance to chat with experts or to take part in one of the many workshops. It is a chance to meet like-minded ‘yarnaholics’ and to exchange ideas with them amid a weekend of fabulous colour, texture and creativity. The infamous crocheted bunting will be back in situ, alongside lots more fun and fabulous yarn bombing at the Auction Mart and the surrounding area, together with the popular Knit ’n’ Natter Lounge, providing an ideal place for a little social creativity and chat. This year’s event takes place on 27th and 28th September at Skipton Auction Mart. The event begins at 10am on both days, and ends at 5.30pm on Saturday and 4.30pm on Sunday. Click here for more information.
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Walking or Cycling to Work Does you Good...
In what might at first seem like going to great lengths to discover the blindingly obvious, researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the University of York have concluded that walking or cycling to work rather than driving improves well-being, and not just physically but psychologically too. Data from eighteen thousand UK commuters even suggests that doing the journey by public transport is preferable to commuting by car.
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Goose Survey 2014...
The Goose Survey 2014 is a joint initiative between the Goose Club, the RBST and Defra, and is designed to determine the health of ‘at risk’ breeds − the Brecon Buff, the Grey/Buff Back, the Pilgrim, the Shetland (pictured right, photo courtesy of Mary Isbister), the West of England, the Sebastopol, the Embden and the Toulouse. If you keep any of these breeds and would like to help by completing the survey, or simply wish to learn more click here.
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And for my next feat... ...a French Cheese...
We've been been seriously hit by the cheese making bug, and are following up our Stilton type cheese (still maturing well, by the way) with a Camembert operation. A very different technique is required from the Stilton-ish venture, but things seem to be progressing well. There are two small rounds now maturing in our cheese cave (or under the stairs, as HF readers will soon be aware), and the above is a photo of both about two days after the start of the process.
The following is courtesy of an ancient trivial pursuit game:
Q: Who said: How can anyone govern a nation that has two hundred and forty-six different kinds of cheese?
A: General De Gaulle.
And by the way, our own Home Farmer cheese making store is now up and running, with all the equipment and materials you need to turn your own kitchen into a dairy. To visit the store click here.
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Concerns over NHS...
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Purely on a non-party political note, the negotiations between Europe and the US over a prospective trade deal have thrown up further concerns, with the TUC and other organisations focusing on possible threats to our health service, but not from warring British politicians - this time the treat comes from major US corporations who under the agreement would be able to sue the UK government if they felt their ability to do business was hampered by our legislation. This should come as a red rag to a bull for anyone who complains about interference from Europe, but should concern us all. To find out more click here.
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The Sad Death of Rob Jeffery...
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Home Farmer contributor, NewLandOwner partner and all-round nice guy, Rob Jeffery, sadly passed away on 11th September. Rob had a great way with people, and even seeing him in the distance at a show when you were harassed would put a smile on your face. A third-generation farmer, he spent many years helping new entrants into agriculture and smallholding. The first time I ever really met him to speak to was at the Royal Show at Stoneleigh in about 2007 - the one with the terrible weather which was cancelled after just three days. One of my outside book stands had just blown over and I was picking up damaged stock from out of the mud - and in a pretty foul temper, to be truthful. Rob, who I'd only met previously as he talked to others, just happened to walk by at a time when a humorous aside by absolutely anyone else would have been very ill-judged. I can't even remember exactly what he did say that day, but I do remember I had a smile on my face when he left, and he often used to remind me of that day when we met up. Rob will be greatly missed.
Rob's partner, Rusty Ahearne, told us that the NewLandOwner site would remain online for a short space of time. It is a tribute to both Rob and his business partner Dave Morris, and is full of fascinating and useful information for anyone hoping or planning to move into smallholding or agriculture. To visit the site click here.
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