Selfsufficientish.com

There are a few differences that I can think of, off the top of my head. Cider is brewed like beer, a short fermentation then bottling, with or without the addition of sugar for a secondary fermentation. That gives an acohol content of 4-5%ish. It is made purely from apple juice (pressed apples), no...

I love a bargain. The weather has been so awful up here, this year, that we haven't grown anything outside, other than herbs. So we're growing lettuce in the hydroponics units, microgreens on a windowsill and sprouted seeds in the sprouters. Very nutritious, and we eat them regularly, but it's been ...

Am getting rid of the big, heavy ironing board for a period. I left my ironing board in Manchester, when we moved. Haven't needed one since. I've still got my iron, mainly for pressing/blocking knitted items. I never did iron my bedding so not a problem for me. I've now got visions of some elderly ...

Is it all finished now, Flo? I hope you're happy with the result.

I think elderberries would definitely grow in SE Dorset. I bet it's one of these things you've never noticed - now you'll see them everywhere. The bark of elders are very distinct so even when they're not in fruit you can earmark a few for later. A few years back I went with a neighbour to get her c...

elfcurry, you maybe need to do a little more research, I'm certainly no expert on this. However, to the best of my knowledge, any poison (and I'm guessing by that you mean laetrile, same as in apricots) is in the kernel, so unless you cracked the stones and steeped the kernels I don't think it'll be...

That looks like a great set up, Russ. If only I had a garage, or a cellar for that matter.

I have something very similar. It's slightly wider and is in two parts that bolt together, so I can travel with it (although I haven't felt the need to do that yet - maybe because I don't do much travelling :lol:). It's fabulous - you can get so much more creative with colour and texture than with k...

Well, I hope you get it all fixed. I think you're just the woman for the job. Have your neighbours had similar "snags"?

ina, even the folks that make the craft gins don't distil the alcohol. They buy spirit in, steam the botanicals it, and then either re-distil it or add sugar as a liqueur. (Guess who's just been on a gin tour :wink: :lol:). Russ, my Dad used to have a recipe called Poor Man's Brandy, which was a win...

a line of crooked sockets here and there does not come as a suitable finish Oh dear, that would drive me crazy. :shock: A few years ago we did some work and a friend put in a new double light switch, upside down! It drove me mad for years. We recently had an electric shower fitted by an electrician...

Blackberry whisky, you say. Hmm. I'm not sure whether my OH would laugh or cry at that. I'm certain he'd give it a try though - at least once.

Just chillies now, and some hydroponic lettuce. We finally got round to having a go at Christmas tomatoes in the hydroponic unit - the plants are looking very good thus far. The chillies have been very disappointing this year. Abundant but no heat - even the scotch Bonnets are mild! They're all tast...

Whatever you get, just make sure they're sturdy - and preferably with something to hold on to. Or maybe that's just me - I never deel particualrly steady even on my one step! I'd pretend it's come on with age but in truth I was never great with them.

Hi Russ, welcome home!
I think of you whenever I pass the Keilder Forest.