God I love growing our own

[Martimart]

Last harvest of this year's chiles. That there were enough to be worth harvesting at this time of year came as a pleasant surprise. I expected the ones I picked a few weeks back to be the last. Photobombed by jars of honey for "rent".

And another slightly different harvest. This was a sycamore that I had cut down last Winter. Didn't do it myself as it was overhanging some outbuildings and a greenhouse, so it had to be climbed and taken down piece by piece. Soon to be this Winter's heating. To cut the cordwood into suitable size logs I used my new battery-powered chainsaw which I bought because it was cheaper than getting the Stihl (which has decided it absolutely isn't going to start) serviced and shares batteries with my InstantVap amongst other things. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect of it, but generally I think it does pretty well. Not sure what it will be like for actually felling trees. I guess I'll find out in a few months time. I am going to need a few more batteries, but that's hardly the end of the world when I have other tools that also use them. This lot was enough to fill a 6'x4' trailer to overflowing twice over and the cutting ran two 4Ah and two 2.5Ah batteries from full to empty twice each (the saw uses two 18V batteries at a time).

James

Very nice chillies, I’ve done mostly paprika chillies this year, smoked them in the bbq and ground them into a powder, very nice. I think I got more chillies than tomatoes which have been very poor, and the cucumbers which I pulled up in August without getting any fruit at all. It’s been a strange year.

 

[enrico]

What's the name of your battery-powered chainsaw, James. I'm trying to interest my husband in buying one but he says they're not worth it, not powerful enough. Those logs look pretty useful.

Chain saws can be lethal so please get your husband the right gear for Christmas. Chain saw trousers are a must, a friend of mine swung his chain saw backwards and cut into the back of his leg. It only takes one slip. The trousers are full of fluffy which will clog the chain saw and stall it.
I have been using chain saws for many years, the battery ones are good these days better than even five years ago, but you MUST LEARN HOW TO SHARPEN A CHAIN. Sorry to shout but it is so important. A blunt saw will lead to mistakes.
Stihl do an amazing sharpener that does the blade and the depth guage at the same time. There you go, two Christmas presents.
If you are only going to cut small logs then you can buy chain saws with guards fitted that can be used with one hand. They are battery driven and again are remarkably good.
Also don't forget a new chain on a saw will slacken rapidly so it needs tightening as if it comes off the bar at high speed it will have your hand off.
Finally, would you keep bees without doing a course? There are chain saw courses available...... And there is the third Christmas present

 

[enrico]

This is the start of winter 2025 pile. I always store for two years




This is this winters store ready to go, about fifteen layers!!

 

[JamezF]

Very nice chillies, I’ve done mostly paprika chillies this year, smoked them in the bbq and ground them into a powder, very nice. I think I got more chillies than tomatoes which have been very poor, and the cucumbers which I pulled up in August without getting any fruit at all. It’s been a strange year.

What variety/varieties of chile do you use for paprika? I've occasionally pondered making my own. If you're smoking them on the barbie, does that mean they're hot smoked?

Our tomatoes have produced plenty of fruit, just very, very late, so we still have huge numbers of green fruit. In that sense they've not done very well. I switched varieties of cucumber this year though, growing one called Gergana. I've never tried it before but it has done very well despite pretty much all our other squash-type plants (even courgettes!) having quite a poor year.

James

 

[Penninetrader]

Last harvest of this year's chiles. That there were enough to be worth harvesting at this time of year came as a pleasant surprise. I expected the ones I picked a few weeks back to be the last. Photobombed by jars of honey for "rent".

And another slightly different harvest. This was a sycamore that I had cut down last Winter. Didn't do it myself as it was overhanging some outbuildings and a greenhouse, so it had to be climbed and taken down piece by piece. Soon to be this Winter's heating. To cut the cordwood into suitable size logs I used my new battery-powered chainsaw which I bought because it was cheaper than getting the Stihl (which has decided it absolutely isn't going to start) serviced and shares batteries with my InstantVap amongst other things. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect of it, but generally I think it does pretty well. Not sure what it will be like for actually felling trees. I guess I'll find out in a few months time. I am going to need a few more batteries, but that's hardly the end of the world when I have other tools that also use them. This lot was enough to fill a 6'x4' trailer to overflowing twice over and the cutting ran two 4Ah and two 2.5Ah batteries from full to empty twice each (the saw uses two 18V batteries at a time).

James

I am guessing that is a Dewalt or variant of. Main thing is sharp blades and chain oil, less strain on the batteries. What model is your Stihl and what do you think the expensive part of the problem was ?. The handy part of battery tools is the quietness if used out of hours , they can also be safer when hanging on a tree.

 

[JamezF]

What model is your Stihl and what do you think the expensive part of the problem was ?

It's an MS210. It had fresh fuel, clean air filter, new fuel filter and a nice big fat spark at the plug. I'm not convinced however that sufficient fuel was reaching the combustion chamber, so I suspect there may be an issue with the carb or the fuel feed to it. It may just need cleaning, but in any case I reckon it will cost more than buying the electric one given that I already had the batteries.

James

 

[enrico]

It's an MS210. It had fresh fuel, clean air filter, new fuel filter and a nice big fat spark at the plug. I'm not convinced however that sufficient fuel was reaching the combustion chamber, so I suspect there may be an issue with the carb or the fuel feed to it. It may just need cleaning, but in any case I reckon it will cost more than buying the electric one given that I already had the batteries.

James

I use an easy start Stihl power chainsaw. Incredible thing, you just gently pull the starting cable and it charges a spring which just fires the whole thing into life. No standing there for hours trying to start the damn thing. Best thing I ever bought, along with the Stihl sharpener which I can't praise enough.

 

[beeker]

Well done @enrico was just going to post the same advice, also having seen the result of a similar injury at work, which ended a guy's working life in a second. Always use safety trousers gloves boots and helmet, no matter how small the saw.

I've got the bigger Einhell battery one too, and it's fantastic, lives in the van now. Was dubious originally about the Stihl sharpener as there are loads of gimmicky sharpeners, and I do an ok job with a hand file, but the Stihl one really is good, that and a knock in vice to hold it steady (another present idea)
Stormy weekend coming up, know what I'll be doing Monday

 

[JamezF]

Looks like I'm going to need quite a few recipes for green tomatoes...

That's not even all of them. I reckon I have at least another two baskets left on the vines and my wife has a carrier bag full to give to someone who wants them to make chutney. I had to pick them though as blight has finally struck (hardly a surprise at this point) and one or two of the fruit are starting to rot.

Alternatively, my brother has suggested that I sell them to colour-blind people

Interestingly, the cherry tomato that I have grown for the last couple of years, a variety called "Garnet" that isn't marketed as being particularly blight resistant that I'm aware of, is showing no signs of being affected despite being in close proximity to the plants that are.

James

 

[Erichalfbee]

That's not even all of them.

Same here.
You could start a cafe … call it WhistleStop

 

[JamezF]

Same here.
You could start a cafe … call it WhistleStop

Fried green tomatoes are one of the things we have discussed giving a try

James

 

[pargyle]

Fried green tomatoes are one of the things we have discussed giving a try

James

And you can freeze fried green tomatoes !

 

[Penninetrader]

It's an MS210. It had fresh fuel, clean air filter, new fuel filter and a nice big fat spark at the plug. I'm not convinced however that sufficient fuel was reaching the combustion chamber, so I suspect there may be an issue with the carb or the fuel feed to it. It may just need cleaning, but in any case I reckon it will cost more than buying the electric one given that I already had the batteries.

James

It's an MS210. It had fresh fuel, clean air filter, new fuel filter and a nice big fat spark at the plug. I'm not convinced however that sufficient fuel was reaching the combustion chamber, so I suspect there may be an issue with the carb or the fuel feed to it. It may just need cleaning, but in any case I reckon it will cost more than buying the electric one given that I already had the batteries.

James

Yep, the batteries are key in power tool decision making, did the same myself today in regards a multi tool. as for your Stihl, like myself given time, you will probably give it another go.

 

[Murox]

I experimented with growing a dwarf bush variety called Red Robin this year , in containers and in my conservatory. Planted the seed rather late but he results are good, some still ripening on the plant but we been eating them since July. Sweet with a good acid balance. No signs of blight etc. Noticed the ripe ones if left on the plant too long will begin to split.

 

[Andy]

There are some nice jam recipes that come out a bit like marmalade. Not sure what I used last time as I just google each time.

 

[Lolly Bee]

Literally just jarred up the last of the Green Tomato and Chilli Chutney. Now just to make Red Chilli Jam. Then summer is done!

 

[JamezF]

Literally just jarred up the last of the Green Tomato and Chilli Chutney. Now just to make Red Chilli Jam. Then summer is done!

My wife is just making a trial batch of green tomato and chile jam. Looks like it might be a good alternative to marrow (courgette), ginger and chile chutney given that the courgettes were awful this year.

I'm confused as to how the Summer can be done though. I'm still waiting for it to start

James

 

[enrico]

Literally just jarred up the last of the Green Tomato and Chilli Chutney. Now just to make Red Chilli Jam. Then summer is done!

Finished our chilli jam a month ago but then we start everything early so that we have ripe fruits in the summer. It goes in so many dishes that we make pots and pots of it.

 

[JamezF]

I have wanted to do this for so long...

A couple of weeks ago I was offered the opportunity to pick some perry pears from a local orchard. There were two of us interested and we picked around 75kg of pears between us. This afternoon we took them to the premises of a local orchard group to crush them and then press them using a hydropress, which I've never used before. I can't deny that it was very impressive. You'd never think that just tap water pressure would extract so much juice.

In the end we split forty litres of juice between us. Now the interesting bit starts...

James

 

[Penninetrader]

I have wanted to do this for so long...

A couple of weeks ago I was offered the opportunity to pick some perry pears from a local orchard. There were two of us interested and we picked around 75kg of pears between us. This afternoon we took them to the premises of a local orchard group to crush them and then press them using a hydropress, which I've never used before. I can't deny that it was very impressive. You'd never think that just tap water pressure would extract so much juice.

In the end we split forty litres of juice between us. Now the interesting bit starts...

James

I am guessing the leftovers will be compost or will it make feed for something ? What is the interesting bit, does it involve alcohol ?