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Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Fri Aug 31, 18 6:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Really interesting about the potato planting. I never came across that, but did see people 'potato picking' as the harvesting was called round here. My mother did it once just after WWII when she was living in Kent and Dad was just coming home weekends, but she didn't repeat the experience as it was back breaking work.

Delivered the charcoal yesterday, so am in their good books, and filled some more log sacks. That is 55 in 2 days and my back is telling me it is enough for now. Have to deliver a load today, and it may well be husband and I that do so as it is late in the afternoon in an awkward place, so son will want to go home I suspect.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Fri Aug 31, 18 2:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Digging potatoes is another story, MR. I am not sure how many rows at a time they can dig with some of the bigger machines. I have only ever worked on single row harvesters, big tractor of the day-Massey Fergusson 165 driving and a gang of women, who I used to collect and deliver home, were the sorters. They came with various children who used to play in the field. The potatoes got dug went up an elevator onto a conveyor where the girls sorted them into rubbish-straight on out of the back and good ones, picked out and put onto another conveyor transported to the bagging unit-where I or another person bagged the potatoes and stitched the tops, laid the bag on a pallet, which when full with 20 bags was lowered to the ground, still moving, to await a tractor forklift to collect and load a waiting trailer. We had to start at the back for loading otherwise the trailer tipped up!
Many years ago they used a spinner to dig the potatoes out of the furrow and toss them to one side as they are lighter in weight than earth so they landed on top. This is a method I believe still used today on Jersey Island to get the best quality earlies for which they have a reputation.
I am not sure if there are all in one harvesters with no human interference, except the tractor driver and the man who loads the awaiting trailers with the finished product. I have spent hours on potato harvesters man handling and am glad it is all over for me.

I have had a stroke of luck after the disaster of the small shed to see a friend who has had a caravan demolished and has a base of 4"x 2" good straight wood so I am going to collect tomorrow or later today. This should give me a decent frame to build a suitable set of sides, roof and door to store wood in, in the dry-all my other buildings are full of I don't know what-rubbish if I am honest, and most leak somewhere or other. I may even make a start today when I leave here.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sat Sep 01, 18 6:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thanks for the additional information Gregotyn. I think it must have been a spinner, or even an earlier one that my mother worked with. The downside with all the automation and the way benefits are calculated now is that there is very little seasonal work like that available on a casual basis. I know that hop picking was another one where the children went along too, and families from the East End of London used to regard it as their annual holiday. They used to grow hops to the north of here, but sadly if the farm grows any at all now, it is very few and for decoration rather than use.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Sat Sep 01, 18 9:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I have collected my wood from the neighbour, early in case she changed her mind, and I have found some decent pieces of 3"x3" and 3"x2" to make a base and uprights at home. So it really is get down to it. I have a lot of used straight nails for the cladding, but will be bolting the frame to give strength, along with a few diagonals. Then comes the need for some cheap waterproof cladding I thought of a tarpaulin, but think it won't last long in the winds we have up here so it may be chipboard and plastic with, laths to hold it in place, something will turn up lost and looking to become a shed cover. The ends of the other non starter shed may well become the "new" ends!

I have to go to see a man who has just dug a lot of stone from his garden and wants to get rid of some so I may just have a new improved stone drive driveway. My current road to the buildings is stoned with rather large rocks to be good-better than nothing. But the stuff offered would put a good cover over a good base. I guess I could do the job with my fore end loader but it would take a long time, as the bucket is quite small.

Now there are farms who employ pensioners, MR, to go and pick apples. It appears they go to these farms and park their caravans and then work till they have had enough, or they have finished to crop. It will certainly be my summer job when I do retire. It appears that the older people do this work well and tend to place the apples rather than throwing them and so there is much less bruising. I am happy where I am for now. We have had an all change with my immediate boss setting up in opposition, by taking over a company-competitor-whose owners wished to retire. His no2 has taken charge and very good he is too-well he is to me.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sun Sep 02, 18 7:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You seem to be doing well with getting odd bits nobody wants for the shed and drive Gregotyn. As you say, something will turn up for the shed covering I am sure. We have been using a plastic cover on a shed in the woods for several years now, held down by rope, but it is doing well. That is probably a lot more sheltered than your shed though.

Glad your new boss is good to you; you seem to do a lot of odd jobs around the place that nobody else does, and that makes things run well because people know where to find things you put away.

We had another show yesterday; our first day off for 4 weeks today, and the sun is shining. I have to water the greenhouse and do the picking, but think I will spend most of the day resting if I can.

Yesterday's show was quite quiet, but in a lovely place. It is in a wood, and we are in a clearing in the oak and holly trees. They have been doing a lot of work in there over the last year, and the holly trees that used to back our stall have been cleared and given way to bracken and bramble, so we had to be further forward than we were. There was also a new track driven through, probably for extraction of the oak, and that disorganised things in our section a bit too, but still good. Some banter with the power lathe turners next to us about their coughing generator when our bungee lathe runs on tea and biscuits for the operator, so a good day in general, but all of us very tired now.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 18 1:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I always have been a scavenger MR., case of having to be, we had very little as children, my father dying when I was eight left my mother with 2 boys, but wonderful grandparents. I chopped wood for fires since then. I was practical, my brother did the paperwork. I still use the family chopper now and then, but tend to use a brummock now-2 edged and one "hooked" end. The chopper although small has a bit more meat on the end for stubborn pieces. I have just started with a friend who has a chopping machine and his boys put my 5", 4", 3" and 2" thick pieces into stick form, then as it doesn't do it all to my customers expectations,(read 'my expectations!), I do the larger pieces again when I get it home. We do a 7x4ft load at a time. It saves my arm a lot of pain from when I was hitting the big stuff! I can still do the 5/8ths" to 1" thick stuff easily. All I have to do is cut to length.

Regarding the drive I haven't got round to starting that, but think I need to soon, as he won't wait forever to have the stone pile reduced. I need a tipping trailer that works-I already have the loader tractor in place-must get some more diesel too! In theory I can borrow his digger and dumper, but they are hired so think that could be a mistake if ought goes wrong! The stone is only 300 yards down the road and free!

My new boss is good to me, he takes the time to explain about things, and grows medium tomatoes which he shares and they are very very good! He takes the time to show me more and more on the computer, so I don't have to bother him anywhere near the amount I needed to; such a shame the previous boss didn't help me in that way.

Having to move for brambles is one thing, but I would have been picking the berries as fast as I could. I have been giving a lot that I have picked to the people I go to after library on Saturdays. I have just gained a bramble pie because of that, bonus. Mrs Watkin always makes a mushroom sandwich for me too, at this time of the year and they are delicious; no-one in their family likes them! I have decided to make the new shed totally rather than use parts of the other 'rather the worse for rot' in places! I remembered that I have a lot of 3" by 2" in 6 ft lengths, just need to dip them in a preservative.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Wed Sep 05, 18 7:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Although I was brought up to make the most of things, the 'make do and mend' mentality of my parents youth took a lot of working through, we didn't have to scavenge for things I am glad to say. There were also things that Dad did, like chopping kindling. If I wanted to do that sort of thing it would have been 'too dangerous' for me I am sure. It sounds a good way of going to get most of your kindling produced by machine and just do the odd bits to size.

Your new boss sounds as if he will educate you a bit further with the computer. It will save him time, but it will also give you more confidence with it too.

Sadly I don't think there were any berries on the brambles; not that I could see anyway. I am picking loads from the garden, but don't tend to make puddings these days, so they are in the freezer for future reference for bramble jelly and wine. I have loads of wine on the go as I used the ones that defrosted when the freezer went wrong, but may make a bit more jelly. I know I have a bumper crop of quinces this year, so will have loads of that to make soon.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 18 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Blackberry and apple pie-a statement that stands on its own; (luckily not all the world know about it). Yes the new cutting system that I take the wood to saves a lot of time, doesn't comply with my quality standards, but as I mentioned, I can remedy them. I try to cut some thin stuff each day and when I get a couple of feed bags full it will do 4 nets tomorrow-the rate at which I sell it on average throughout the year. I go for as much as I can when the weather is good and the pallets are dry and hope to get a good stock in the summer, for when demand passes my ability to cut and chop wood. If the new system gets good and regular I hope to do a lot more in the summer in future, and get another outlet on board. A friend is hoping to get a shop interested where he goes to do his shopping.

My new boss is good at his job and helps me a fair bit. My problem is that my memory is not what it was, so he gets a bit frustrated when I don't remember what he showed to me to solve a problem. I explain i have a hard time at home when I berate me for losing my keys for example! But if I can progress a bit each week it will be good.

I am not a drinker but do make, occasionally, some sloe gin and leave it a couple of years when I do, and then it can only get better from that point. The last time I did it I kept it till it became "nectar", not my description, at 5 years old. I remember on RC we talked about sloe gin and how it was made in the south way before now. Those on the hedgerows here are just about ready now!

I hope the other 2 girls are ok; we have not heard from either of them for a while.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 18 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Blackberry and apple pie-a statement that stands on its own; (luckily not all the world know about it). Yes the new cutting system that I take the wood to saves a lot of time, doesn't comply with my quality standards, but as I mentioned, I can remedy them. I try to cut some thin stuff each day and when I get a couple of feed bags full it will do 4 nets tomorrow-the rate at which I sell it on average throughout the year. I go for as much as I can when the weather is good and the pallets are dry and hope to get a good stock in the summer, for when demand passes my ability to cut and chop wood. If the new system gets good and regular I hope to do a lot more in the summer in future, and get another outlet on board. A friend is hoping to get a shop interested where he goes to do his shopping.

My new boss is good at his job and helps me a fair bit. My problem is that my memory is not what it was, so he gets a bit frustrated when I don't remember what he showed to me to solve a problem. I explain i have a hard time at home when I berate me for losing my keys for example! But if I can progress a bit each week it will be good.

I am not a drinker but do make, occasionally, some sloe gin and leave it a couple of years when I do, and then it can only get better from that point. The last time I did it I kept it till it became "nectar", not my description, at 5 years old. I remember on RC we talked about sloe gin and how it was made in the south way before now. Those on the hedgerows here are just about ready now!

I hope the other 2 girls are ok; we have not heard from either of them for a while.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Fri Sep 07, 18 6:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Cassandra is still posting on Facebook occasionally, but I think she is having internet problems, so is mainly doing that on her phone, which she doesn't use for this. Haven't heard anything from Jam Lady, but last heard of seemed to be very busy, so no doubt we will get a report in due course.

I haven't been in the woods this week, as husband and son have been doing a lot of firewood, and I have been doing paperwork and other odd jobs. Started to dig over my onion bed yesterday and harvested some onions, but they were very poor as too dry weather. I only watered very occasionally, so probably far too dry for the poor things.

We now have another headache; Gove has decided that wood fired stoves and fires are too polluting and has opened a consultation aimed at trying to get all suppliers to guarantee their wood at less than 20% moisture content when supplied, which in the UK is a pious hope in wet weather is stored outside. The standard he wants all to follow is less than forthcoming about what is required, and the suggestions are that all wood should be kiln dried; which wastes gas or electricity or uses waste wood which produces pollutants etc. It also assumes that anyone who is burning wood for home heating can store at least 2 cu m, or they will be using the wood within a week or 2. In our experience, most people can't store more than 1 cu m at a time, and often only 1/2, which may last them the whole winter. The suggestions are also that you should only light a fire when you really need one; cols chimneys produce more pollutants, so shows how much the people writing the standards know about wood fires. Aim seems to be to get everyone onto gas or ideally electric heating. Mad and could put us and many like us out of business at worst or raise the cost of firewood by 20$ or more at best.

Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2501
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Fri Sep 07, 18 1:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yes I have been busy, the weather has been atrocious with temperatures in the low 90s Fahrenheit and high humidity day after day, and a granddaughter has been in the hospital since last Saturday with sepsis, unable to keep even oral fluids down. I have other things occupying my mind at the moment.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Fri Sep 07, 18 2:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

However blue my politics are this lot are leaving much to be desired in all aspects of their tenure of ruling; I will be voting elsewhere next time round. I would not be prepared to waste a vote on Boris.

It is strange that wood fires are pollutant when they were the bees knees at one stage, which I find difficult to understand. All that has happened is that we have in many cases planted trees which when they reach their allotted lifespan, are felled and then used for whatever and then burned, or are felled and go straight to the fire for logs. This is that we are in part of the carbon cycle by burning wood for heat. There are plenty more seriously polluting vehicles on the road than not, I would suggest, than there are pollutants being releaseded from logs. Perhaps someone should suggest we limit families so that we won't have so many people about to pollute as much. Politicians should use smaller cars for 'officialdom' trips for a start? Raise the age of driving to 18,19,20 and stop the over 65's driving? Give or take a bit burning wood is 'greener' than burning oil, not sure about gas or electricity where they come in the burning regimen.

Relevant-I am off tomorrow afternoon to get kindling cut on my friend's machine again. This time I have a larger load on the trailer. I am hoping it does a lot more than the previous lot which produced 28 nets. I also hope to cut a few boxes to add to the pile of potential pollutants before Gove gets his way!

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sat Sep 08, 18 7:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Well at point of use, gas and electricity are far less polluting, but that doesn't take into account their extraction, production and transmission. As far as that is concerned, they usually need a lot of electricity (or perhaps gas) to bring them to the point of use, which uses more fossil fuel, but when of course may produce more pollutants. Let's hope he gets the boot before he does irreparable damage. If any of you fancy filling the questionnaire in it is on the National Coppice Federation site on Facebook. It covers other fuels than wood as well. I know I shouldn't try to influence your answers, but remember if this goes through you might not be able to buy firewood, even at your local shop or garage.

We did another charcoal firing yesterday in the new retort, but because it wasn't lit until 12.30 and took a long time to get the retort stage, it finished at about 9.30pm, so it was porridge for dinner last night, than bed.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Sat Sep 08, 18 9:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I don't do FB, MR, I can't get my head round it, age; I tried to get to the questionnaire by googling it but no good. Could you download a copy for me and I could send it in? At least with my kindling I am using wood for the third time-growth, harvest to product and then lighting fires for heating, with the fasteners going to the scrap man. I wonder if fire lighters are less polluting? There is another use for the wood, it keeps my mind occupied, otherwise I may be dangerous! I must admit I would like to see more burning of scrap timber for heating public places. It appears that this is something done in Russia in the forested areas, scrap wood is used to heat the villages on a collective basis-some; poor chap has to fill the thing all night! They also have places where the hot coal ashes are spread on the icy roads to give grip for vehicles carrying goods out and goods into these out of the way areas. I worked for a timber pallet maker for a while and we used to get timber in from Russia in spring and autumn. It seems that the roads are impassible in spring and autumn when the weather is too wet, so the timber is moved in summer and winter to their processors, usually close to docks, and then, cut packed and sent on is way.
Anyway I am on my way to help the Russian economy by cutting some kindling today.

I am sorry to hear of your granddaughter, Jam Lady, I hope she gets better soon. I hope your weather is a taste of things to come here, where it is wet and miserable this morning. I could do with a good spell of weather as I have to make a new shed to accommodate more firewood.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sun Sep 09, 18 5:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Sorry Jam Lady, I should have wished your grand daughter well too. I hope she is improving and it leaves no lasting damage.

I will see what I can do about that survey Gregotyn. I will try to post the address, and see if it is possible to print it out and send it, but not sure it will be.

I received a surprise package yesterday; I had said on a Facebook thing that both Cassandra and I are on that we can't get possum wool in the UK, and she has sent me a ball of wool that is 25% possum wool. It feels lovely and soft, so I will use it for a hat or something as it is too nice for the socks it is intended for. It is also cold wash, and after wandering round the woods, my socks need rather more washing than that.

Mainly work on the National Coppice Federation Gathering yesterday. As if I didn't have enough paperwork of my own!

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