I'm not sure how long I will be able to say this, but yes we're still picking blackberries. This week we also started on Crab Apples.
The weather is rapidly turning and cooler days are ahead. This is quite noticeable after the major rainfalls we had this week. In fact, this allowed us to put our attention on another activity of the farm which we hope will be a major element of our business: fruit-based value-added products....ie. jams, jellies and cordials.
We decided to start our experiments with the Black Current (or Cassis) which we picked earlier this year. Since we were late in the season when we arrived at the farm, we do not have much stock, but enough to test our basic jam making principles.
For all of our jams, we have decided on two things: 1. we would use less than the usual amount of sugar, and 2. we would only make small batches at each time. Both of these principles are attempts to lead to fruitier, fresher jams and jellies.
For the Black Currant jam, we simply used the berries, a bit of water, some sugar and pectin. The results of the initial Black Currant batch was so positive (there's nothing better than fresh jam and home made bread), that we quickly moved on to the Crab Apple jelly.
For the Crab Apples, we used the standard process (again limiting the amount of sugar). So basically Crab Apples, water, sugar provided us with a beautifully set jelly with a wonderful orange-pink color.
When the skies cleared this week we continued our work on cleaning the land. One of the major efforts was the removal of an ancient chicken coop (which at some point in time would house up to 100 chickens). Because of its structure and the confined space these chickens would have lived in...we've started to refer to it as the "chicken concentration camp". It's hard to believe the conditions these animals would have lived in.
So here is the time lapse photos of the deconstruction (which took the better part of the week and some very dirty work in extremely smelly conditions....including piles of maggots, mouse nests and spider colonies of all kinds). Finally, we can see more of our land!
The cleaning of the land included also quite a bit of weeding. We discovered five large Pippin Apple trees on the border of the property (once the habitual vines were cut through). We hope to bring these back to production in the next two to three years. It will require quite a lot of pruning, but these apples are ideal for cider making. Here's the before and after scene once we took care of the apple trees.
Another area that will require perhaps years of remediation is the Arctic Kiwi field. We started the weeding of some of these plants, but it is a tremendously difficult effort. The Kiwi vines are completely entangled with grape vines and other plants, it is very hard to see what is what in this "Canadian Jungle". Sometimes it is like untangling a ball of string. However, I do think this may be worth the effort. Once properly trellised, these vines are truly beautiful.
Of course this is where I also encounter my new occupational hazard. Not hornets this week, but bees. I'm not sure what I did to upset them, but I did get stung twice before running away from my Kiwi project.
Here's a feel for the before and after of a Kiwi weeding.
Work on the house has also progressed. We now have gone from two 60 Amp fuse boxes to a proper 200 Amp breaker switch panel.
We have also started work on the upstairs flooring. This is where I think things may get a lot worse before they get better.
By taking away layers of carpet and some tiling, we discovered that the original floor may not be recoverable. The old pine flooring would have been subjected to too many nails, staples and glues. Perhaps man years would be required to bring it back.
The result, we will need to look for an alternative floor....however we do want to somehow keep and recover the original staircase.
I leave you this week with another special moment. There is nothing like the sound of the land after a heavy rainfall. The birds and insects all come back to life in the crisp air and sometimes you are blessed with a magical rainbow.
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