Harris Hawk

The other day we were privileged to go for a walk with

George Duncalf of The Fenlands Bird of Prey Rescue

and his

Harris Hawk

We've posted pictures here if you'd like to see more.

We're all going on a - Mushroom Hunt - (and don't forget the plums)

Today I thought I'd show you some of the fungi found in the orchard

Superstitious apple pickers beware - you won't want to go into the fairy circle.

So delicate.

And finally a giant, the 50p piece gives you some indication of the size of this puff ball.

My husband likes to slice and fry these in butter.

Our plum season is rapidly drawing to a close, so, I've posted some of our favourite plum recipes in a Renaissance Newsletter if you'd like to take a look.

Indian Summer

As the days shorten and the nights begin to draw in

we're taking extra pleasure in the warmth of this September's sun.

The auriculars have surprised us with a few flowers but you can tell it's all coming to an end.

We must enjoy it while we can.

Slop Buckets, The Daily Mail, Kitchen Caddys, Whitehall and Wormeries

"A Slop Bucket in Every Home"was the headline that caught my eye at the newstands the other day.

Did you see it?

Looking through the article via the web I see The Daily Mail reports that
"In a trial at 94,000 homes in 19 council areas last year, a quarter of those taking part reported terrible smells and infestations of maggots, flies and rats. They said that in the summer the stench grows worse and the slop buckets attract even more vermin. "

The Telegraph asks us - Do you want a slop bucket in your kitchen?

Thinking about it, our household don't actually have any food waste to put in the bins what with chickens and ferrets and dogs and quail pretty much all of ours gets eaten by something. ( In fact I could probably use more for the compost heap).

But could this be the solution -

A wormery.

These pictures are taken from the Wiggly Wigglers site

and I must say it seems like a jolly good solution to the problem to me.

A little pricey for the average household perhaps, but, if government are considering forcing councils to issue us with yet another plastic bin maybe they should also be looking into wormeries.

What do you think?

Inspirational Recyclying - wine bottle vases

So elegant - try something similar with geberas or wild flowers or ...

(Image found via Thought for Food)

Bramley Apple Bicentenary

Those of you who have had a little look around our website Renaissance Shop and read the About us page will know that although we live in town we work in an orchard.

Not just any orchard but one that has ancient trees -

Bramley Apples that are almost 100 years old.

2009 is the bi-centenary of the Bramley Apple.

In 1809 a young girl named Mary Anne Brailsford planted some apple pips in her garden in Southwell, Nottinghamshire. Eventually the garden passed to Matthew Bramley and the Bramley Seedling was cultivated by local nurseryman Henry Merriweather. All the Bramley apple pies, apple sauces and Bramley apple juices you've ever eaten or drank have been descended from that pip planted by young Mary Anne and the orginal tree still stands.

We'll be picking Bramley apples for the next few weeks and if you're interested you can join us on a "virtual" apple pick, we're posting photographs from the orchard on our website over the next few days, you'll find them in theWhat we are doing section

A Jackdaw named Sparrow

Whilst updating our What we are doing section of the website with

photographs of insects taken in the orchard it occured to me that I haven't shown you

Sparrow

Sparrow is a Jackdaw rescued from the orchard, he was found

on the log pile with a broken wing. Unfortunately nothing could be done

for the break, it had already healed but something could be done for the Jackdaw.

He was starving and there was no way that he could survive in the wild so he came home with us.

For more information on rescued corvids visit Corvid Aid

Don't forget you can join us on a "virtual" apple pick, we're posting photographs from the orchard on our website over the next few days, you'll find them in theWhat we are doing section

Is this the prettiest apple?

Worcester Permain

Here take a closer look -

I think it's a really pretty apple

what do you think?



Don't forget you can join us on a "virtual" apple pick, we're posting photographs from the orchard on our website over the next few days, you'll find them in theWhat we are doing section

Still picking

Not only apples

but we also have a glut of sweetcorn

and beans.

If you'd like to join us on a "virtual" apple pick, we're posting photographs from the
orchard on our website over the next few days, you'll find them in the
What we are doing section

Apple Picking

So the harvest begins.

Family have returned home from far and wide with friends

in tow filling the house to bursting point. I find myself ferrying car loads of pickers

to the orchard, cooking mountains of food and running endless baths.

I love it all.

If you'd like to join us on a "virtual" apple pick, I'll be posting photographs from the

orchard on our website over the next few days, you'll find them in the

What we are doing section