How'd ya like THEM apples?

[A1an]

Originally Posted by jambo

Great. Ardmaddy do you'll be buddying up with Puffin ? Look forward to a beer. Keep in touch. B

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A pal of mine is the Ardmaddy Estate Manager

[jambo]

Originally Posted by A1an

A pal of mine is the Ardmaddy Estate Manager

Good connection. Yea Puffin has a van there. He comes round and back everyday so you can have company for the Cuan.

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[hank]

It seems early but we have been getting calls to come and get the apples before the bears wreck the trees.
22- 20L boxes of apples yesterday in the picture
and today another 30- 20L boxes
We start pressing after tomorrows picking

[willk]

Yer not wrong Hank - same this side of the pond - apples B early. Gonna pick my desserts next week and press before mid September. Enjoying the fizzy results from last autumn as I type...

Hats off to you with the bears! My main protagonists this year were Jays and Wasps - a deadly tag team, the Jays peck them and the Wasps hollow them out. Still - enough left for a few "wets" in the Spring.

[Bigmuz7]

Have the jays worked out how to avoid the Larsen yet ? I've got some magpies that are well wary of it

[willk]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

Have the jays worked out how to avoid the Larsen yet ? I've got some magpies that are well wary of it

I've not used the Larson on them - will try in the spring for the breeders. Meanwhile the flock (and it IS a flock) are finding it tricky to dodge the other package I have for them

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by willk

I've not used the Larson on them - will try in the spring for the breeders. Meanwhile the flock (and it IS a flock) are finding it tricky to dodge the other package I have for them

Not the 'old pizza' decoy, with a number six follow through ?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

Not the 'old pizza' decoy, with a number six follow through ?

As me dear old dad used to say "there's only one way t' get rid o' maggies.................blow their feckin 'eads off" I find a silenced .410 with 2" shells from the landing window does the trick

[willk]

I was discussing the early apples with my "go-to" guy and he reminded me how early and warm Spring was this year - good point! I was kinda busy in May with another project and my spray programme wasn't the best. Combined with predation it reduced those particular tree's yield by about 20% Go-to guy says I need to get some trace elements into the soil - should have added some to the cartridges...



Oh yeah, and there's a cracking crop of Magic Mushrooms appearing in the orchard floor too. Dunno what to do with them - apparently they don't "go" with alcohol so no use to me!!

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by willk

Oh yeah, and there's a cracking crop of Magic Mushrooms appearing in the orchard floor too.

Photo's please. Loads of mushrooms about at the mo, but they've all gone soggy & the slugs are having a field day due to the recent wet weather. We dried 15kg last year, but this year's not looking good.

[A1an]

I spotted a cracking patch of Chantrelle this morning, il go back this weekend and pick them, they were still a little small.

I've got a Cep at the back of the house here that must weight the best part of a kilo, never noticed it until it was too late. Slugs have made a mess of it.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by A1an

I've got a Cep at the back of the house here that must weight the best part of a kilo, never noticed it until it was too late. Slugs have made a mess of it.

Ceps! Ceps! Ceps! That's all you ever think about

Loads down here, but as you say, the slugs are getting to 'em first. We have a nice spot for Saffron Milk Caps as well, but they are maggot ridden as they emerge

[A1an]

The Ceps are good in a Risotto with the chantrelle thrown in for a chew on.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by A1an

The Ceps are good in a Risotto with the chantrelle thrown in for a chew on.

Oh yes! I also find that drying them intensifies the flavour, especially if they've gone a tad past it & mushy.


.....sh1t happens.......

[A1an]

I did some in my dehydrator last year but unfortunately they were mouldy in a month, I was mighty pissed off.

Il stick to drying them on the AGA

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by A1an

I did some in my dehydrator last year but unfortunately they were mouldy in a month, I was mighty pissed off.

Il stick to drying them on the AGA

I slice them & put them on wire trays under the log burner. Takes about 2 days to get them crispy.

[hank]

We had a large seine boat come into our harbour with Sockeye salmon for sale
I bought $50 worth I feel it was quite the good deal too bad the tote wasn't up to the task
My wife has them all canned up.

we are up to 60 imp. gallons of apple juice ---things are looking very good
lots more apples to pick
cheers
hank

[hank]

we are up to 100 gallons as of yesterday.
I strung electric fence wire all over the area to keep the bears moving
last night our dog was barking for all he is worth but the apples are still on the work table
I think the bear got the electric message -

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by hank

I strung electric fence wire all over the area to keep the bears moving
-

Certainly puts the mice in our loft into perspective

[Peter_C]

Originally Posted by hank

I think the bear got the electric message -

Now that is funny

My friends used to make fun of me when I always brought an electric fence camping as we couldn't put our 100lb coolers in a tree or anywhere the bears couldn't get to them. I figured since we could keep the bulls out of the alfalfa hay, why wouldn't it keep the bears away from our steaks? Never did have a bear get our food since we always strung an electric fence around the picnic table, and slide the coolers underneath.