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Post by oldmoleskins on Aug 13, 2008 17:33:22 GMT
I dunno how your quest for sloe gin's coming along FA, but a wander along the hedges here shows nothing to speak of in the way of sloes, damsons or bullace, a sad situation reflected in a total 'crop' of just two greengages in the garden.
It's so comprehensively bare out there I think a late frost is to blame - how's the plummy harvest prospects elsewhere?
OM.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2008 17:35:54 GMT
Well I haven't looked for sloes yet OM but I have noticed what appears to be a bumper crop of blackberries coming this year.
I'll have a look for sloes next time I take the dog for a walk round the lanes.
FA
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Post by Shrubrose on Aug 13, 2008 17:37:44 GMT
We had a poor crop of sloes last year OM (but a wonderful harvest the year before!). This year is looking to be the same - nothing that I can see yet and I dont expect much as we didn't get any blossom to speak of. So, my plans for sloe gin are looking like they wont be realised either.  |
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Post by Ruthie on Aug 13, 2008 18:39:53 GMT
Haven't looked for sloes yet but will when dog walking. Loads of blackberries on the road and the track. I WILL make Blackberry and apple crumble this year!! Care to join us for it OM?
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Post by oldmoleskins on Aug 13, 2008 18:47:52 GMT
Haven't looked for sloes yet but will when dog walking. Loads of blackberries on the road and the track. I WILL make Blackberry and apple crumble this year!! Care to join us for it OM? Love to. OM. |
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Post by borderbabe on Aug 13, 2008 20:45:54 GMT
I've already got about 2kilos of blackberries in my freezer!! Crumble anyone <biggrin>
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Post by Plocket on Aug 14, 2008 8:45:34 GMT
Mum and dad have sloes and crab apples coming, and the wild berries are looking lush too. Hopefully they'll suddenly appear for you OM!  |
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Post by Amo on Aug 16, 2008 18:53:40 GMT
Too early for sloes down here yet but we do still have 3 bottles of SG from last year.  |
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Post by Missredhead on Aug 16, 2008 20:28:36 GMT
I've never tasted SG...whats it like?
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Post by Amo on Aug 16, 2008 20:53:37 GMT
Sweet, warming and earthy!! You can buy what passes for it from Gordon's in the supermarket. When I work the dogs, it's handed around in break times and it can vary quite a bit from each recipe. I like drinking Tanqueray Gin but for Sloe Gin, Plymouth has a better flavour with the sloe. That is just my opinion. There are plenty of things you can do with gin and normal plums, damsons and gages too  ;D ;D |
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Post by Missredhead on Aug 16, 2008 20:55:19 GMT
I don't like normal gin....so would I like SG?
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Post by oldmoleskins on Aug 17, 2008 7:47:26 GMT
I don't like normal gin....so would I like SG? There's a grave danger you may like it too much... OM. |
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Post by Shrubrose on Aug 17, 2008 7:53:40 GMT
I don't like normal gin....so would I like SG? There's a grave danger you may like it too much... OM. Oh yes! So true <noddingheawiselywhilstswallowingtwoparacetamol> |
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Post by Missredhead on Aug 17, 2008 9:50:29 GMT
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Post by Rosefriend on Aug 17, 2008 10:58:16 GMT
Is there a fuss made in the UK , as there is here, about worms from foxes in Blackberries etc.?
It stopped me from collecting them to be honest. The foxes pee/poo on/near the plants and as they are infected with worms, the eggs hatch and the worms then find there way into the blackberries - these in turn can settle in the human liver and do a lot of damage.
The same goes for edible toadstools. My OH's grandmother showed him some of the edible ones but I have found them to be smothered with worms, even when they are young. I found a couple the other day - after 4 hours they were crawling....
RF
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Post by Amo on Aug 17, 2008 14:50:03 GMT
Can't say I've heard of that. Do the worms climb? I haven't done blackberries for years and only used to go for the high ones using a walking stick. They were always sweeter in the sunshine. (Walking stick is a good piece of kit for collecting sloes too ) Have you any links for that? |
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Post by Rosefriend on Aug 17, 2008 14:59:34 GMT
Most of the links seem to be in German Amo but here are a few. It is big news here and has been for a few years. This was in a piece about collecting Wild Garlic Be careful to wash the leaves very well to get rid of any fox tapeworm eggs, which can be very harmful (even fatal) in humans. Fox tapeworm lodges in the liver or lungs, but can reside there undetected for years. Foragers should get regular check ups for this infection after each season, though blood tests are not 100% accurate. Still, they may give some indication. If detected early the worm can be treated/operated upon successfully, but if left too late it can destroy the liver. This safety warning applies to all foraged herbs, berries and mushrooms, but particularly to those that grow close to the ground and are thus more like to be exposed to fox faeces.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinococcus_multiloculariswww.thefoxwebsite.org/disease/diseaserisks.htmlwww.economy-point.org/f/fox-tapeworm.htmlRF |
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Post by Amo on Aug 17, 2008 17:10:57 GMT
Ahhh the Fox Website says it's not in the British Isles as yet. Probably why we've not heard of it. Yet.
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Post by Rosefriend on Aug 17, 2008 17:15:39 GMT
Mmmh I had read that - just wondered if it was up to date.
RF
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Post by Amo on Aug 17, 2008 17:34:32 GMT
I'm sure there would have been a bit of a 'thing' about it if it were here, and I do get the right magazines to see that type of thing. Mind you most people don't think rabies is dangerous here.  |
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Post by Ruthie on Aug 17, 2008 19:43:49 GMT
I think rabies is dangerous! Many years ago, in another life, I had a saturday job at the local quarantine kennels so I know all about it!
Well OM, did a recky on our dog walk this AM and me and OH both agree, there seems to be a dearth of Sloes!!! WE saw some trees/bushes without any sign of berries. Then saw some with a few berries, which, actually looked ripe (bit early though) a few which were still green but, on the whole, not very many. May have to drink my Gin neat this year........................
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Post by 4pygmies on Aug 19, 2008 5:51:16 GMT
I haven't had a chance to check out my secret Sloe hedge (in the forest...somewhere...ssh...) but the Blackberries are looking good. I picked my first batch from the thornless one in the garden and made a crumble with some of my apples too - yum! I notice the Rowans are absolutely loaded too this year already - does that mean a harsh winter? When it's deepest winter and we're in the leek shed, frozen to the marrow, we regularly break out the Sloe Gin at around 3pm to warm our poor bodies - only a small glass each but it does the trick - lovely.......  It's just as nice if a few other berries have been mixed in it too - elderberries are especially good, gorgeous colour .  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2008 8:21:02 GMT
I've been and collected a few sloes already and when I was out with the dog last night, there were loads of big juicy sloes and blackberries around. Can't wait to get my first batch of sloe gin on the go. And there are plenty of elderberries around too, so I may have to give that a try. In the interests of "research" as to whether I'd like it, you understand......... ;D
FA x
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Post by oldmoleskins on Aug 31, 2008 17:46:37 GMT
I'm beginning to think this must be very local then... had a really good look around maybe half a mile or so of hedge and failed to find any meaningfull amount of sloes and now no plums/bullace at all. I was going to take a pic of the odd one or two I'd seen, but there's absolutely nothing out there. Plenty of blackberries (hurrah) masses of elderberries (muted hurrah):  OM. |
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Post by Missredhead on Aug 31, 2008 19:54:08 GMT
There are loads of elderberries in the alleyway a the end of my garden....the birds eat them and then make a mess on the bin lids out there So long as they miss the washing, I don't mind. |
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Post by Ruthie on Aug 31, 2008 20:12:51 GMT
There are loads of Elderberries at the top of my garden if anyone wants them. I'm pleased to see the pigeons eating them (and they look so funny balancing and weighing the branches down with their weight) and noticed a few starlings on them today. The more they eat the less seedlings I will have to pull out next year. I have nightmares about the one that I don't notice which takes over my garden before I can do anything about it. They grow so quickly!!
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Post by Rosefriend on Sept 1, 2008 6:52:57 GMT
Elderberries are very "in" here in Germany and a lot of people make juice and save it, to take for strengthening the immune system, or if they get a cold in the winter time.
It looks as though it is a good year for them, blackberries too and edible toadstools.
RF
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2008 22:03:49 GMT
I went out picking in my lunch hour today and I now have enough sloes to make a batch of sloe gin and I'm going to have a go with some sloes & blackberries to see what that combination with gin tastes like. When it's all done, I'll tell you what it tastes like. If I can still see my 'pooter....... ;D FA x |
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Post by oldmoleskins on Sept 4, 2008 6:44:23 GMT
I went out picking in my lunch hour today and I now have enough sloes to make a batch of sloe gin and I'm going to have a go with some sloes & blackberries to see what that combination with gin tastes like. When it's all done, I'll tell you what it tastes like. If I can still see my 'pooter....... ;D FA x I think you'll stand a very good chance of producing a very fine drink FA - my local sloe-ginner is happily 'dropping back' to blackberry gin in the absence of sloes... OM. |
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Post by snowowl on Sept 4, 2008 10:04:33 GMT
Whoo blackberry gin   |
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;D ;D
