Selfsufficientish.com

I've just loaded up a pair of lambs ready to take to the abbatoir in the morning. I'll be leaving at 5.15am, so it's going to be an early start again.

At least these two co-operated...



We got them from the farmer across the road as a swap for the hay off our field, but they spent part of their life on our place as well as we move livestock back and forth.

If any of the Aberdeenshire Ishers are interested in being reserves for the two butchered half lambs we're selling, let me know as I'm still awaiting confirmation from my usual customers. Meat will be ready early next week.

One thing I forgot to mention - we did find an organic tannery that uses vegetable tannins and can do your sheepskins for you. Unfortunately, we could not make use of them this time as the lambs are starting to moult. I think next time we'll go for mutton and have them slaughtered in April or thereabouts so we can get the skins tanned.

right, so excuse the stupid question:

Sheepskin isn't just any old sheepskin then? I always figured it would need treating in some way, but i thought it was just dried out...

the.fee.fairy wrote:right, so excuse the stupid question:

Sheepskin isn't just any old sheepskin then? I always figured it would need treating in some way, but i thought it was just dried out...

Sheepskin is meat, so if it's not properly tanned it will rot and it will stink! When the sheep is killed, the skin has to be taken off and rubbed with salt to preserve it, then it's sent off to the tannery for treatment.

Given that good sheepskin rugs start at £85-90, you can see why it's well worth getting them tanned and then selling them. Of course, it's also nice to have some of your own sheepskin rugs on the floor.

Stonehead wrote:If any of the Aberdeenshire Ishers are interested in being reserves for the two butchered half lambs we're selling, let me know as I'm still awaiting confirmation from my usual customers. Meat will be ready early next week.

My regular customers are only taking one half lamb, so there's another half to be had if anyone would like it.

Half a lamb costs £55, collected from our place. I can deliver within a reasonable distance, but it costs!

You'd get:

Two leg joints
Two shoulder joints
Chops
Neck chops (good for Irish stew)
Mince (flanks and boned shanks)
1x Kidney
Half liver (if the abbatoir remembers to retain it)

Last time we did two lambs, each half dressed out to around 8.5kg meat, which is about £6.50 a kg. If we were retailing, it would be more but our aim is to supply ourselves with meat, then sell enough surplus to cover the costs and give us a wee bit of cash for Christmas.

The lambs are slaughtered at Rhinds of Elgin, then cut up by Findlay and Leiper in Insch so it's all certified for human consumption. While not organically certified, they were reared on pesticide free pasture, extensively grazed with their ewes and weaned late.

Oh what a pity you are such a long way away! I love lamb.

Gah, dammit! Too far away.

Must find someone local doing the same thing...

The second half lamb has now gone - to an Isher. Many thanks.

oh flip too late

having just demolished a couple of very nice lamb chops with mashed spud, peas, gravy and mint sauce - this is GREAT food - no faffing about, meat and two veg, gotta be one of my favourite meals!
Might be something to do with the fact it's "sheep country" down here, and Southdowns eat really well!

Thanks to PurpleDragon, who just collected her half a lamb and gave us an extra fiver! Cheers, it was much appreciated that you could buy at short notice and sets us up for Christmas.

And we've met another nice Isher who's welcome to come back any time and bring the kids, too. Our boys are already asking when their new friends are coming back.

Thanks again.

I was very pleased to have the opportunity to buy 'real' lamb, and also to meet you all. We had some tatties tonight (verity), all plates were cleared and extras requested. It wasn't an extra fiver - it was extra meat and all the trimmings :) Well worth it, IMO

I scoffed the biscuits on the way back (and I didn't get lost once, thanks muchly!) - you could parcel them up and sell them in the local shops - you wouldn't be able to keep up with the demand. Yum Yum! Can I have the recipe?

Yeah, your boys were a real hit with my lot as well - that was why Lala wouldn't get in the car. She wanted to stay and play some more.

Many apologies to your lovely lady for keep on leaving the crying dolly with her to look after, as well

PurpleDragon wrote:I scoffed the biscuits on the way back (and I didn't get lost once, thanks muchly!) - you could parcel them up and sell them in the local shops - you wouldn't be able to keep up with the demand. Yum Yum! Can I have the recipe?

Your wish is my command!

Typical! Everytime I click on that link I get a be-bop noise and after doing it a couple of times, SSish gets closed completely

We had guests this weekend, and we demolished one of the joints - absolutely yummy, as were the potatoes and carrots we had as well. My guests were very impressed - thank you :)

I still have the bone in my fridge, and I shall be boiling that up tomorrow - what can I do with the bone afterwards - can I feed it to a dog, or is that it - bin material?

How strange.. the link works for me...

Try.. right click on the link and open in new window....

Or... if that fails... try searching for spicy snaps.. using the ssish search button above....