Hunting & Gathering

The hills and gullies around are an abundant source of wild animals, fruit trees and other things suitable for eating.

Eel for protein

Eel for protein

When I discovered there was a rather seizable eel living in one of the pools down in the creek I could think of no better use than chook protein.
After several failed attempts to trap this slimy beast I resorted to the old fashioned spear and soon had him chopped up into chunks for the chickens. Yum!December 26, 2010  Eel  Chook Food  Protein  Hunting 
olmec
Melting Beeswax

Melting Beeswax

I hate to see anything go to waste so with the fire going to heat the bath I remembered the deserted beehive with the exposed comb.

Crushed up and sitting in an iron pot near the fire it slowly melts down. Once I have skimmed off the impurities perhaps I can make a candle...November 11, 2011  bees  wax  fire 
olmec
Hares

Hares

These large rabbit like creatures are fast moving and hard to spot with their natural camouflage. Ideal for food as they are a pest, eating young trees.
The cat always enjoys a bit to fresh hare and, if I'm feeling particularly adventurous, I try cooking a bit too.
November 01, 2008
About Hares
Baking apples with waste heat

Baking apples with waste heat

Details  With the recent installation of the chimney oven we have been looking for things to bake and roast. The last of the granny smith apples chopped, drizzled with honey, a scattering of frozen blackberries and a splash of water. Fantastic.Date  July 20, 2017Harvest time  JulyTags    apple  july  winter  baking 
Related info
Blackberries

Blackberries

Wild blackberries are a bit of a curse round here, growing rampantly wherever they can. However at this time of year they redeem themselves somewhat by offering up sweet berries.
In addition to the thorny wild plants, we have a thornless variety in the garden that produces larger, more accessible berries.
February 16, 2010  Blackberries  weed  fruit 
olmec
More...