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We are a group of micro farmers who welcome anyone who keeps animals or grows vegetables and fruit, or loves cooking! Who would like to come along to our meetings or events and share their experiences with others. You don't need to have lots of animals to be a "smallholder." Many people who grow vegetables, have some bees or maybe a couple of backyard chickens come along and enjoy the meetings and events as well.
Monday, 10 December 2012
Ascott Newsletter - December 2012
We are so excited that Christmas is just over 3 weeks away! If you are still looking for unusual gift ideas or some additional stocking fillers for budding smallholders, then we have lots of perfect presents to choose from.
Friday, 7 December 2012
Lowimpact.org Game/Wild Meats
This really is a great website with lots of very interesting facts sheets.
We eat a lot of game in our house, it is available at a good price and free range!
Take a look at www.lowimpact.org
Thursday, 6 December 2012
Curing Recipe - Ideal for a Christmas Ham
Danni’s Curing Recipe
Ingredients:
Pork Loin
Weschenfelder Curing Salt (Normally used at a ratio of 5%)
100g of Muscovado Sugar
1 tsp Mace
1 tsp Nutmeg
3 tbsp Honey
3 tbsp Black Treacle
Plastic Container with lid
Method
•Weigh the loin and work out the amount of salt that is
needed.
•Add the sugar, mace and nutmeg to the salt and mix
together.
•Place the loin skin side down in the container and rub the
curing mix into it.
•Drizzle the honey and black treacle over the loin and
place the lid on the container.
•Keep in the fridge and turn the meat everyday.
•A piece this size should cure in 7-10 days.
•Remove from the container and wash with cold water
then it is ready to be cooked. Enjoy!
Kindly Supplied By EESG Member Danni Adger
•Weigh the loin and work out the amount of salt that is
needed.
•Add the sugar, mace and nutmeg to the salt and mix
together.
•Place the loin skin side down in the container and rub
the curing mix into it.
•Drizzle the honey and black treacle over the loin and
place the lid on the container.
•Keep in the fridge and turn the meat everyday.
•A piece this size should cure in 7-10 days.
•Remove from the container and wash with cold water
then it is ready to be cooked. Enjoy!
Kindly Supplied By EESG Member Danni Adger
Nigel's Top 10 tips for a Green, Sustainable and Eco Friendly Christmas
Have a Merry Green Christmas
Nigel's Top 10 tips for a Green, Sustainable and Eco Friendly Christmas
Read more in my free guide: How to Have a Good Christmas. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.
Don't forget to turn off your fairy lights
Ever since I found out that 15% of household electricity is wasted by leaving TVs, Hi-fi's and other appliances on standby – costing each of us an average of £37 per year – I make sure I turn things off when I’m not using them. In general lighting accounts for 15% of household electricity, and 100-string Christmas tree lights left on for 10 hours a day over the 12 days of Christmas produce enough carbon dioxide to inflate 60 balloons - so make sure you get energy saving light bulbs for your house, and at Xmas, try these solar powered rope lights or these outdoor solar powered christmas fairy lights for some winter sparkle without adding to your carbon footprint.
Christmas cards
An estimated 1.7 billion Christmas cards are sent each year in Britain, the equivalent of 200,000 trees, and around 1 million Christmas cards are thrown away every year. I try to send recycled Christmas cards (like these designer ones), but you could make your own, or send texts or e-cards instead. After the big day, make sure your Christmas cards don't go to waste – take them to a Woodland Trust recycling point. I like to buy recycled Christmas cards from charities and donate up to 20% to less fortunate people at the same time.
Recycled wrapping paper
There's no point recycling rubbish if you don't buy recycled products! It's estimated that 83 square kilometres of wrapping paper end up in our rubbish bins each year, that's enough to wrap up Guernsey, so I also make sure that I use recycled wrapping paper, and try to wrap presents with ribbon or string instead of sticky tape. Try our designer recycled wrapping paper, by Lisa Jones.
Candles
Paraffin candles are made from petroleum residues so neither do your health or the environment any good. Soy, beeswax or natural vegetable-based candles are better because they biodegrade, are smoke-free, and so more eco friendly.
You can buy some: here
Deck the halls with real holly
Instead of spending money on artificial Christmas decorations that won't biodegrade, let nature decorate your home. House decorations can be made from organic, recycled and scrap materials. Try popcorn, dough, cinnamon sticks, bows, gingerbread, holly, seasonal berries, ivy and evergreen branches – once you have finished with them, you can put them in the composter. You can also get Christmas decorations made from recycled CDs and computer parts from us!
Christmas trees
If you've been wondering which is better, the simple answer is that real trees are the more eco friendly choice. Although artificial trees last for many years they are made from metal and derivatives of PVC, which requires large amounts of energy to make, and also creates by-products such as lead which can be harmful to both the environment and human health. The average life of an artificial tree is just 6 years and given that they are not naturally biodegradable they will potentially pollute a landfill site for many years to come. Most artificial trees sold in the UK are now made in Taiwan and China and so have additional energy costs associated with transport. Real trees are carbon neutral, absorbing as much carbon dioxide as they grow as they will emit when burnt or left to decompose. They are also a wildlife habitat and a naturally renewable resource, and generally feel much nicer in your home. They can be planted in your garden after Christmas, and even used again next year. In 2006, six million Christmas trees took pride of place in British homes and offices. Of these only 10% were recycled and fewer than 5% planted to be re-used next year, so...
Tree Buying Tips
Buy from a small-scale sustainable grower and/or make sure the tree has Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accreditation, you can go to www.soilassociation.org/christmas for a list of producers.
And choose a tree with roots so it can be replanted. If replanting isn’t an option most local councils run Christmas tree recycling schemes. Contact yours or go to www.letsrecycle.com
Or this year, why not start growing your own?
Be battery wise
Families can get through a lot of batteries, particularly at Christmas. Batteries contain toxic chemicals, don't biodegrade and are difficult to recycle. Instead use rechargeable ones or try our new battery wizard, it'll charge even ordinary batteries, or you could try these AA size USB rechargeable batteries. By opening the cap and plugging into a USB connector, you can recharge them pretty much anywhere there's a USB socket. You'll never have to search for a charger again.
Buy an organic turkey
10 million turkeys are eaten every Christmas. If you can, try to make sure it has been reared in humane conditions. Organic turkeys taste better too. I try to buy my Christmas food locally, shopping at farmers markets or buying direct from the farmer is far cheaper than buying organic in the supermarket. Think of the benefits – the taste of chemical-free food, the reduction in food miles and CO2 emissions, and reduced dependence on oil. Buying locally produced food also boosts rural jobs.
Recycle your unwanted presents
Unfortunately everyone receives at least one unwanted gift at Christmas. I often recycle my unwanted presents to charities. Local hospitals and hospices are often very pleased to receive unwanted smellies to give to patients. Or you could try our regifting forum - and swap them for other people's unwanted gifts!
Give a charity or environmentally friendly gift
Sponsor an animal or give a membership to a charity or environmental organisation for Christmas. Or of course, you could buy an eco friendly gift from Nigel's Eco Store!
With a little planning anyone can give presents that are thoughtful, original and make a difference to the environment too, and...
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD my FREE E-BOOK: How to Have a Good Xmas.
© 2012 nigel's eco store terms and conditions weee regulations site map
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
Register for 2013 Great British Bake Off
Team EESG
The Great British Bake Off
are looking for entrants for the 2013 series.
We have some great bakers in the group!
It would be great to see someone from Team EESG on the show.
Download and Application Form
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
Date and Walnut Cake
Date & Walnut Cake
Kindly supplied by: Toni Mutton
Ingredients: to fill a 9” x 12” (23cm x 30cm) Swiss roll tin
8oz (225g) dried dates, chopped
|
½ teaspoon salt
|
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
|
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
|
8oz (225g) soft brown or demerara sugar
|
10oz (275g) plain flour
|
1 teaspoon baking powder
|
1 large egg, beaten
|
2oz (50g) walnuts, chopped
|
3oz (75g) butter
|
For the topping:
| |
7.5 tablespoons brown sugar (150g)
|
3 tablespoons butter (45g)
|
3 tablespoons single cream
|
chopped walnuts for topping the cake - optional
|
Method:
- Pour 250ml of boiling water over the dates and add the bicarbonate of soda. Let it stand for the time it takes to:
- Cream the butter with the sugar in a bowl, then beat in the egg and vanilla.
- Mix together the flour, baking powder and salt and add to the creamed mixture alternately with the date mixture. Stir in the chopped walnuts
- Grease and line the bottom of the swiss roll tin and pour in the mixture, making sure to spread it to the edges.
- Heat oven to 180º/350F/Gas mark 4. Bake cake for 35 minutes. The cake is done when firm to the touch and still springy. Testing with a skewer can be problematical, due to the gooeyness of the dates.
- To make the topping: Put the butter, brown sugar and cream into a small heavy saucepan and put on a low heat until the butter has melted.
- Bring to the boil, and boil gently for 3 minutes stirring all the time.
- Spread over warm baked cake. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts if using
- When cool cut cake into slices and store in an airtight tin.
As for the topping – use top of the milk if you don’t have cream. (Don’t substitute margarine for the butter – if you can’t do dairy, forget the topping.) Boil rapidly, don’t be scared of it.
Add the topping to the cake while still a little runny then, if you wish, you can add a sprinkling of chopped nuts to the top.
A little touch of vanilla essence does the topping no harm whatsoever.
Monday, 3 December 2012
East Essex Smallholders Quiz Night
REMEMBER REMEMBER THE 8TH DECEMBER
PLEASE COME AND JOIN US AT
THE EESG CHRISTMAS QUIZ
START THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVITES EARLY COME ALONG AND ENJOY A FUN NIGHT OUT
Woodham Walter Village Hall
The Street,Woodham Walter CM9 6RF
The Street,Woodham Walter CM9 6RF
7PM FOR 7.30PM START
PROFESSIONAL QUIZ MASTER – BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND TREVOR FROM QUEST4ENTERTAINMENT
TICKETS £5 PER PERSON – MAX 6 PER TEAM
RAFFLE IN AID OF RARE BREEDS SURVIVAL TRUST
BRING YOUR OWN DRINKS AND NIBBLES
Complimented
By joining together in a Festive “Bring and Share” true East Essex Smallholders Style!
TEA AND COFFEE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO BUY
Contact Helen to reserve your tickets then just pay on the night or for more info:
Or contact 07793363035
We are also looking for Raffle prizes so if you have any items you would like to donate please let Helen know.
Non Members Welcome!
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