Harvesting Redcurrants yesterday and today.
After washing and air-drying, I pack them into 8oz bag and store them in the freezer.
Redcurrant sauce is a delicious accompaniment to Nut Roast!
Many of the seeds that are dropped by the birds from gorging on this fruit, will, in turn become true Bealtaine Cottage fruit bushes…conceived, born and bred here.
I regularly give away hundreds of plants like this to visitors, as a way of practising the Permaculture Ethics.
Much of the Buddleia is now in heavenly scented bloom.
This tree was grown from a seed harvested here at Bealtaine.
And this beautiful white Buddleia.
Still no butterflies…just the one on the day my visitors came.
I’m hoping that it is just the wet weather!
Apple crops continue to look good despite the annual, “drop,” that happened during the week.
Now anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I abhor injustice.
I consider it unjust to patent seeds and plants.
This is wrong.
Everyone knows that this is wrong.
There is a feeling one gets in one’s gut when something is unjust and wrong.
Some prefer to train themselves away from this intuitive conscience, our remaining link to the Divine.
Well, I do not and will not.
If something is wrong, it is wrong.
Any politician who colludes in any way with the patenting of seeds and plants is not worthy to serve the people.
They, quite simply, should be cast out from office, as soon as it is possible to do so.
In the meantime, as we have to deal with this abomination in our midst, saving seed and sharing it as Nature does with us, is the most important thing anyone can do.
Now is the time to save seed.
Time is against us.
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Here here! Patenting seeds is simply ridiculous and so short term. Bleurgh! I’m going to stop myself there before I get up on my sopa box and start SHOUTING !
The red currants are looking good – I’ve picked most of ours now, some eaten fresh others in the freezer. But I like your idea of a red currant sauce with nut roast. One to store for the memory banks – thank you!
I have just taken a break from harvesting the currants! I am already eating frozen blackcurrants in my morning blend…oats, soya milk, vanilla, frozen blackcurrants…mmm…turns it into a sort of ice cream whip!
Colx
That breakfast mix sounds soooo delicious! Must try that with frozen blueberries, in leiu of currants! How much soya milk do you use, and do you eat the oats cooked or raw? I have all these things and would love to mix and eat them!!!!!
I use raw oats…good for the heart! You can add as much or as little as you like, depending on the consistency and taste required…experiment! The mix can be sweetened with a little maple syrup if required. I find this is an excellent start to the day and is packed with home-grown Vitamin C! About 250mls soya milk.
That just sounds so good!! I only wish I had fresher fruit to use, but when one lives in the city surrounded by buidlings blocking the sun, one ends up buying their fruit at the grocer’s…but still, I gotta try this!
When I lived in London, as well as fruit and veg from my allotment, I used to travel out into the countryside and visit farms where “Pick Your Own Fruit” was advertised on big billboards on the roadside. I would return with heaps of booty to store in the freezer…fresh and a fraction of the cost!
Sounds like a Smoooooothieeeee…….Suitable for afternoon, and evening blend also? Yum!
A lovely evening treat and so very good for one’s health!If I want to be very naughty I add a couple of Ginger Biscuits to the mix…oh! Stop!
How horrible – to patent human beings! There was a sci-fi pic derived from a novel, starring Uma Thurman and Jude Law that explored this whole genetics thing but I can’t remember the nameof it now. Anyway, just writing to let you know that I saw many butterflies over the weekend in Meath. There are fewer here at home but one or two – mainly white ones have been seen. Maybe it is the weather that has something to do with egg hatching or something. Hope all is well in Bealtaine this morning. xx
Heartwarming news about the Butterflies! I await their arrival! Bealtaine is is great form this morning…birds are singing, cats meowing and dogs wagging tails furiously! Blessings and hugs all round!
Colx
Missing Missy’s Missives……however good to learn that her colleagues (ooopps!) I meant of course SUBJECTS, are all well and happy in Bealtaine!
Thank you.
Great post. We are in New Zealand, and have very similiar type climate. Good for growing, good for all things natural (for the time being)..Corporate hijacking of our natural resources should never be tolerated by anyone, so don’t be fooled by the veneer of a “green” economy looming. Dr. Vendana Shiva tells it like it is at G20 Summit: http://current.com/technology/93815835_dr-vandana-shiva-on-rio-20.htm
Dr Vandana Shiva is one of the very few people to speak up for Mother Earth…more power to her! Thanks for the link!
Colx
I am trying to change a city yard in Madison, Wisconsin to a permaculture island. I am gathering knowledge from your post and from friends in Minnesota who has turned their yard in to a permaculture yard. So far I have torn up 80% of the front yard grass putting in a garden and stone defined beds with mostly naturals for Wisconsin and raspberries across the front. The naturals I choose are ones endangered here, The back yard the same. I will be planting four more trees out front and two Hazel nut bushes (coming from my Minnesota friends) I am going to try to create a hedge row like you showed us along the drive between it and the neighbors. Because lawns are excepted norm here supported by the city powers I am planting and tending agains the odds. So I must create a organized beauty. Ha Ha. We are also not to use gray water here and we are in a draught. I have rain barrels some 198 gals of water gathered in the only rain we have had all gone now. I am hand emptying all bath water and dish water and carrying it to the areas on a rotational schedule along with tap water. Some plants are going to sleep early, and the 180 year old Silver Maple is under stress dropping her leaves. A friend added up the gallons I had carried it came to 80,804 gallons of water hand carried and dipped out to the plants. My season because we should start turning cold in October and planting begins in late May. We just had a week of 100 plus weather. Wish me and the plants endurance.
Well God Bless you and your mighty work!
You certainly have your work cut out!
The sacred space you are creating for Mother Nature is akin to an altar for the Most High.
I believe there is treasure in Heaven for those who tend our sacred Earth.
Nature never did betray the heart that loved her!
Colx
These are VERY GOOD photographs……..wondering if you ‘evolved’ from being a professional photographer in a ‘previous life’ to your current permacultural calling?
In terms of creativity it would seem to be a valid and indeed natural progression.
I love taking pics…but no, never a photographer! Teacher.
Colx
Here is the US, not only are corporations patenting plants/seeds, they are trying to patent DNA from PEOPLE! It could result in a situation where you don’t own the rights to your own body anymore. Sounds a bit sci fi, but here is a report by National Geographic —
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/10/1013_051013_gene_patent.html
Thanks for posting the link. I had observed that Monsanto have patents pending on Human Milk. people need to awaken and realise that this is the “Rhinoceros in the room.” PS…it was never “elephant!”
colx
I was curious, where in Ireland do you live? I live in the Dallas, Texas area, hot and dry. This spring we had double the normal amount of buttlerflies than usual, which was fantastic! They say it’s because we had such a warm winter. Our seasons seem to get hotter and hotter, and a warm winter is not normal, even for us. I agree with you about patenting seeds and plants. It is ridiculous to patent nature!
Living in the North west of Ireland, not far from Sligo. Our summer happened this year in March and April. Much rain since then and the notion of the familiar,”soft rain,” that once made Ireland green all over, has now faded.
Patenting seeds is an evil business…the more I learn about this atrocity the crosser I get!
Colx
I need to move to the Northwest of Ireland, if for no other reason than the cooler temps that allow you to grow the most exquisite plantings! I dream of gardening in such a place like yours! Our summers in Texas last from May through October, so our hottest days are now in July, with little rain or none at all. We have about 2 weeks of Spring, and I don’t even know what a real winter looks like lately. Our weather just gets hotter every year now.
Yes, indeed, I live on a blessed Isle.
The weather may be wet, but the seasons are still in place!
On the plus side, there are a huge amount of properties for sale and all are low priced!
Take a look at http://www.property.ie The North West!
Colx