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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15578
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 18 6:37 am Post subject: |
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Bio-char, which is quite fine bits but not dust are used for the garden. The dust disappears too quickly, but no reason not to use it as far as I know. We don't have a big market for it so we tended to put it in the tracks to firm them up, but we don't get so much with the new kiln.
We have been at the National Coppice Federation Gathering over the weekend. Our coppice group was organising it so a lot to do. I am exhausted now. On Friday it was rather windy, but no major problems, Saturday was warm and sunny, so idea. Sunday it rained, but most of the things were carried out inside, so it didn't cause us an real trouble. Luckily the rain stopped so we could get the charcoal out of the kiln and into dumpy sacks to bring home. Think we now have 3 dumpy sacks full, so plenty of stock to pack at present.
I will let Cassandra know you send her your regards Gregotyn. Not sure how her computer link has been, which is how she posts here, but she posts on Facebook, mainly from her phone I think, and seems well. |
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gregotyn
Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 2201 Location: Llanfyllin area
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 18 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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I assume you were demonstrating at the coppice group show, MR? Free entry I hope and free wood to do the job of demonstrating? if so that seems like a winner to me! Does it keep as a commodity or are you still selling well? I would think that no-one is doing bbq's our way now, the weather is much too unpredictable.
I don't have much to report, having done very little over the weekend except de-nail boards, saw to length and chop wood. My stock is building up and sales are lower than I expected, they must be hanging on to light their fires! I should get through the winter with what I have ready now, so only need to top up for next spring bit at a time as the winter progresses; but that is theory, in practice who knows?
Thank you for 'talking' to Cassandra. I hope she is well, I can't cope with facebook, I can't work how to use it somehow, beyond my 'pooting skills. |
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15578
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 18 6:18 am Post subject: |
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Cassandra seems to be fine. No idea why she hasn't been posting here, but I know a little while ago her internet wasn't playing, so think she tends to use her phone for FB not her computer.
We were organising the show, and husband and son were demonstrating our retort kiln. We didn't get free entry, and we had to supply our own wood, but we get the charcoal. It will store through the winter, but we may get some sales, so we will see. At present we have some ready bagged, and quite a bit in dumpy sacks now.
I was so busy dealing with things round and about at the Gathering that I didn't get much of a chance to do much else, although I did manage to go on the visit and find out that the way I have been doing my hazel baskets is right. Otherwise it was making sure everyone was where they ought to be, putting loo rolls in the toilets, helping at the auction etc. etc.... |
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gregotyn
Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 2201 Location: Llanfyllin area
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 18 1:30 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you, MR, for the Cassandra info.; we three have 'known' each other for a long time now, I enjoyed her stories of down under, but just want to know she is alright.
I am not sure you should, having organised the show, paid to get in-seems a tall order, when you have so much other expense just showing there, but it sounds as though you have a good start to next season with the bonus stock.
The weather today has been lovely-sunny, blue skies, no clouds, warm and comfortable. I drove home with the window down part way, very pleasant. |
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15578
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Jam Lady
Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 2507 Location: New Jersey, USA
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gregotyn
Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 2201 Location: Llanfyllin area
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Posted: Fri Oct 19, 18 1:49 pm Post subject: |
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Another good day, after a foggy start at 4.30am. We have had a frost or so, but I have had nothing on the roads to see or to skid on; maybe it justs feels cold to me. Long may it last that way. I don't mind snow, I can see it and drive accordingly, but ice is not always noticeable till it is too late. It is 'over' for the summer, it is now the weather changes and wood men get logging, or in my case I get even more excited on the kindling. I am storing a trailer for a friend at home. He and I are going to pack the logs which are on the trailer and try to sell them at the farm gate, along with some kindling.
With the help of a friend I am on top of the kindling now, he has been doing a lot for me recently with his machine. It doesn't do the kindling as well as hand done, but it chops in 2 hours as much as I can do in a week. All I have to do is get a trailer load together every 2 or 3 weeks and potter over, and the kids do the work and I collect the following week, or that day if they have a mind to do it straight away. I go through each bag of wood and throw what I don't want, and correct what I do if too large or too much rubbish attached. People are paying good money and want a good product-and don't expect splinters or ironmongery attached. I also only put in 'clean' wood. I have developed a market fo the offcuts and miss shaped pieces that fall from the chopping process-the sort of bits you would use at home, but not think of selling-well I used to give them to the couple opposite, but she mentioned that I did chopped wood to a friend and so she wanted some and then another joined the gang and it is snowballing without any effort on my part and they now all want the offcut rubbish! Saves me the bother of having a bonfire. There is a standard-the bit of wood must have some "meat" in it and be at least 3 inches long. I tend to put a few slithers in the proper bags as this aids starting, my excuse for them being there.
Cassandra would be interested in the lectures about the dyes, Jam Lady, as last time we heard from her she was well committed to the job and if I remember she won a prize in a show with her dyed wool products. I will be interested in the wooden products. I hope all well at home for you and the neighbours are getting on with the new building project. |
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15578
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 18 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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Will be interested to hear about the brushes and brooms and the dyeing Jam Lady. You have different types of brooms to the ones we traditionally use, which is probably why someone tried to order a besom from us for the US a while ago. We said no as there could have been problems as the birch is 'bark on'.
Yes, Gregotyn, if Jam Lady does a post on it, I will tell Cassandra about it as she may well be interested.
You seem to be doing well with your kindling. Good luck with the firewood too.
It is getting a bit colder here overnight, but today is really lovely. We had our volunteer group this morning, and while the 'active' group were burning up some brash, the 'less active' group went for a walk to see if we could find some fungi. Not very much, but it was warm enough to take off my jacket. Sunny and very little wind, so really pleasant in the woods. Some colour to the leaves, but the top ones have been blown off over the last few weeks unfortunately. |
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Jam Lady
Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 2507 Location: New Jersey, USA
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15578
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15578
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gregotyn
Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 2201 Location: Llanfyllin area
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Posted: Tue Oct 23, 18 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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Well after all the giving you, MR, have done for your son he is now returning a gift to you and husband; what rotten luck. It does happen and as I was once told, that by the time you have the obvious symptoms you have already probably passed the cold on without even knowing that you had a cold-not sure if I believe that, but potentially a useful statement! I hope it clears up quickly-keep warm.
The kindling has just started to 'go' now, I am pleased. I am up to speed and expect to get to Christmas with what I have already with ease having had a big push over the last couple of weeks I have stock ready at around 250, and in the box-un netted yet-about a further 60-70 nets worth' so I can go away to my friends' for the holiday with a clear mind that there is no panic-famous last words!
I too am sorry about the baskets and brooms Jam Lady. I am always interested in such things even though it is unlikely I would ever get down to making them myself. I have too many trees to come down in the near future as they are starting to interfere with some of my guttering, and 5 at least will have to come down, 2 immediately; one in particular has its roots close to the footings and through a drain. I am lucky in that I am going away for a couple of nights in the near future to my Bridgnorth friends so the trees will get a stay of execution till I get back and a friend is there to help, in case of a disaster. We are well in the throws of defoliation up here MR. Opposite to my holding's gateway is a small walkway-very overgrown, and it is where I throw bits for birds and wildlife generally, normally all is hidden in there by foliage but that has almost disappeared. I also found a slug in my kitchen, but that could have come in on my boots. |
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15578
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 45470 Location: yes
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15578
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