This blog will be closed

Just a notification that this Blog will be de-activated soon. It would be great if any followers  would migrate with us to the FB site we use to gently promote our little business and 'Like' it to get the occasional update. Thank you! Don't worry, you will not be bombarded with drivel and marketing messages (you can always block those!) : Just like this Blog, our business FB page is all about green issues, fine food and nature around the house.
Thank you for your support!

Home cured bacon, smoked in our garden...delicious!

Half a pig from the old local breed 'Gloucester Old Spot' has been expertly jointed on our kitchen table. The finer cuts have been dry cured in salt for some seven days (yes, making bacon couldn't be simpler!), hung in the garage in the cold winter air for a few days to mature further, and smoked in our own 'food processor' in our garden. This intriguing design comprises a wood-fired pizza oven, bread oven, BBQ and food smoker - all in one!

Our wood-fired pizza/read oven, bbq and food smoker in action

Grilled smoked bacon, all home-made, filling the house with delicious smells...

Our honey has won some prizes!

We are really pleased with the excellent feedback we had at the Midland and South Western Counties Convention of Beekeepers on the 6th. September 2014.
Nikki entered honey in two classes: 'Light honey' and 'Two cut comb'.
The light honey won a 'Highly commended' and the two cut comb won a 1st. prize!

More great pictures of our pond life

Home made bacon

We make our own bacon using Gloucester Old Spot, a rare breed pig,  from Sudeley Hill Farm, Winchcombe.
These sides of pork (loin and belly) have been dry cured in our own special curing salt for 6 days, are now hanging in the cold well-ventilated air of our garage to loose some moisture and dry out a little.

'Green' bacon, fresh from the dry-cure, hanging out to dry and mature

Just some beautiful photopgraph of our pond-life

Northern Crested Newts have moved into our pond!

Our Resident Zoologist/herpetologist (son) Richard has positively identified the presence of Northern (or Greater) Crested Newts in our garden pond.
This is good news, as these Newts are one of only four amphibians which are protected by the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

It wouldn't be such good news if we were planning to do extend the house or built in the garden as the authorities would have the power to stop any work that would disturb their habitat. It is an offense to:

• Intentionally kill, injure or take a northern crested newt

• Possess or control any live or dead specimen or anything derived from a northern crested newt

• Intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place used for shelter or protection by a northern crested newt (in practice this means both its breeding sites, and its terrestrial habitat)

• Intentionally or recklessly disturb a northern crested newt while it is occupying a structure or place which it uses for that purpose

Richard finds a Northern Crested Newt

Positive ID through the underside markings by photographing through a glass plate

Close up of Northern Crested Newt