Sustainable beekeeping, chickens, and cake
This is a recipe I have adapted from River Cottage Fruit, where I have halved the quantity and substituted dried apricots for the sultanas. I thought apricots would work well with the marmalade, whisky and the apples...and I was right! I made a huge amount of marmalade this year, but I adore it both on … Continue reading Apple & Marmalade Cake
Oh dear - these are back in the news. Sadly the focus of the argument is producing the same reactive inflammatory discussion between 'farmers' and 'conservationists' even though both actually want the same: a healthy productive environment where all of us - and by "us" I mean all living things - can live, work, and … Continue reading Neonicotinoids and Honey Bees
Parsnip & ginger cake As many of you will know, I am a huge fan of baking and just because my courses are now on Zoom, I still want to have an opportunity to make cakes. So, here is the recipe for the cake I will have on Saturday for my first online Introduction to … Continue reading Cake Recipe for Zoom Beekeeping
Having had my test run of the Zoom Introduction to Sustainable Beekeeping, I have decided to go ahead and put my Gardening for Bees & Wildlife online too. We are in national lockdown here in the UK until 31st March now (and likely beyond), but gardening and getting outside is encouraged, and it's the perfect … Continue reading Zoom Gardening for Bees and Wildlife
My courses have always been quite interactive and convivial, and many people buy them as gifts for themselves or loved ones as I make sure the experience is more than just learning about keeping bees; a far cry from the draughty village hall, lukewarm tea you can stand a spoon in, and digestive biscuits. I've … Continue reading Zoom Beekeeping Course
We have had a lot of rain, stormy weather, and low temperatures here in the south east over the past couple of weeks so apart from strapping down the hives against Storm Bella, I've not been over to the apiary. It was cold and damp today, but I wanted to have a look at the … Continue reading Midwinter Apiary Visit
The chickens are still shut in securely under avian flu restrictions, but it gets dark at about 4pm and I sometimes don't get round to closing the popholes to the coops but it does mean the hens can let themselves down in to the run when they wake up. Yesterday morning, as I was drinking … Continue reading Goodbye, Ginger Jason
In January last year, I attended a conference on landscape use and sustainability at Sussex University, and I took away a strong, galvanising feeling of implementing necessary change. Then - bam - the pandemic hit which actually obliged me to pursue the avenues I had pledged to consider. I thought about putting my Introduction to … Continue reading Ways to be Wayward this Christmas
On Monday 14th December, our domestic poultry have to be confined to barracks and restricted from accessing areas also used by wild birds. As stated in my previous posts, this is to prevent the spread of avian flu which is currently circulating in Europe and has the potential to be a serious health issue for … Continue reading Bird Flu III
So, the restrictions for poultry have increased to full containment from the 14th December. This is problematic for me as I rely on ranging as the birds' outdoor area and many of my coops - although they have runs attached - are not big or secure enough to house the occupants full time. Hens do … Continue reading Bird Flu II