"We must achieve the character and acquire the skills to live much poorer than we do. We must waste less. We must do more for ourselves and for each other. It is either that or continue merely to think and talk about changes that we are inviting catastrophe to make. The great obstacle is simply this: the conviction that we cannot change because we are dependant on what is wrong. But that is the addict's excuse, and we know that it will not do."
—Wendell Berry

Thursday 13 March 2014

In other news

Finally, after many years, I am getting back into beekeeping. Once I was an enthusiastic beekeeper with over forty hives keeping me busy. I loved it. Bees are absolutely fascinating not to mention quite profitable. So here is the first completed brood box just needing the bees. I will hopefully be getting a nucleus hive soon.
 The wheelbarrow is beginning to show its age. I have pulled it in out of the weather and begun stripping it back. The wheel needs a new steel tyre which I shall make myself. The timbers are so swollen with water that I have clamped it into place so it stays straight and will leave it to dry for a week.
 The barrow body also needs a few new timbers in the front board. I have removed the broken sections and will also leave it all to dry out for a week. Then the missing parts will be replaced and the whole thing will get a good soaking coat of oil and the axle grease repacked. It should then be good for another ten years.
When I was making space for the boiler shed I cut back the nearby elder trees and threw the waste into the pigs yard. Today I noticed the cut sections happily sprouting in the rain. A very determined species of tree although I don't fancy its chances with the pigs.
 
 We have had a really good season with the bananas this year. The bunches are larger, fatter and richer than ever before. The local fruit birds are glutted and so there are plenty left for us. This is our third bunch in two weeks. I suspect most of it will go to fatten the pigs. I can only eat so many bananas...
 This is Jasmine. Sole cat since Sebastian came off second best with a large brown snake. Jasmine is a superb ratter and will usually nail two or more each night. Oddly enough she shows little interest in the local bird life. A good thing or she and I would be having words.
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3 comments:

  1. Anonymous17 March 2014 at 11:50

    Ulf it is time to get a food dehydrator for your excess bananas. We do it with bananas when they are $0.99 per kilo. That was several years ago before the big cyclone and for just one week late last year. I have enough fruit dried to last me all year now from grapes to figs, apricots peaches and vegies such as tomato, capsicum, beetroot carrot and parsnip and herbs such as basil.
    Jim

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  2. Ulf17 March 2014 at 21:10

    I am inclined to agree!
    The weather has just turned beautiful here though and the humidity is falling rapidly. I am wondering if I might get away with drying some the old fashioned way using lemon juice and racks in the sun?

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  3. Jim14 June 2014 at 12:59

    Ulf there seems to be a bit of a break in your blog. Hope all is going well and that we might soon hear the latest from your tropical up in the hills paradise!

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