Hunting & Gathering
The hills and gullies around are an abundant source of wild animals, fruit trees and other things suitable for eating.
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, 2017
Harvest
Clavulina rugosa - edible fungi
Details After several attempts to inoculate and produce edible mushrooms I decided I might be better off educating myself on the local edible varieties that grow themselves. On several occasions we have found and eaten large field mushrooms but these are less common as the land rapidly returns to forest.
One species that I felt comfortable identifying due to lack of poisonous lookalikes is Clavulina rugosa, commonly known as the wrinkled coral fungus. Knowing that it occurs in symbiosis with conifer roots I went looking and was surprised to find some growing less than 100m from the house. Now that I know what I'm looking for I have found them in other locations.
One species that I felt comfortable identifying due to lack of poisonous lookalikes is Clavulina rugosa, commonly known as the wrinkled coral fungus. Knowing that it occurs in symbiosis with conifer roots I went looking and was surprised to find some growing less than 100m from the house. Now that I know what I'm looking for I have found them in other locations.
Date August 05, 2021
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!
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
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...
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
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.
In addition to the thorny wild plants, we have a thornless variety in the garden that produces larger, more accessible berries.
February 16, 2010