Slow down! The shut down halted most flights – not all as the rich continued with their private planes (of which about 50% of flights have no passengers!!). As planes are a major source of pollution this has to be a good thing. But people need holidays, and the cultural benefits of foreign travel are invaluable. A conundrum. Maybe shorter journeys abroad by train, and flights that are powered by electric planes (yes the technology is getting there), will be the way to go.
REWILDING
Tens of millions of gardens across the UK have a large area devoted to mono culture. i.e. grass. Much of this is never sat on or played upon. Just cutting the grass once every 10-14 days. Benefit to wildlife = zero.
So I have rewilded my front lawn (and the back one too!). It started up with raised beds for herbs (mint, sage, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, Jerusalem artichoke, fennel, anise hyssop), but has now spread to the whole former lawn. I have planted some bush roses and salvias, marigolds, poppy, chicory, and many other wildflowers (some donated by Di Redfern – thank you). I have put in 100 bulbs, and have 200 more coming. Some plants do well others do not – it will sort itself out with a little help from me.
Hopefully the increase in insects of all kinds will be beneficial to the environment.
I am much heartened to see a couple of other people leaving the flowers in their lawns alone.
It is not neat and tidy – nature does not ‘DO’ straight lines.
PICKLED ONIONS
I am not sure if I am just a bit stupid, or totally stupid? Probably the latter!
Well I am about half way through a 5kg sack of pickling onions – and although they are small, they are still too big for my 350ml jam jars (I only get 6/7 in a jar). I have started to jar them, basalmic vinegar, red wine vinegar, malt vinegar, some with chilli flakes (just a few), and I just got 5ltr of white wine vinegar for when my bigger jam jars arrive.
SLOE GIN
The sloes this year of epic quality and quantity. I picked 1.5kg in about 20 minutes.
My recipe
300g sloes and 300g sugar in a 1ltr jar or bottle, then fill with gin (500ml fitted exactly).
Shake regularly to dissolve the sugar and once a week after that. ready by xmas, but better by next summer.
SPICY ROSEMARY AND CHEESE THINS
A success story – I will also post my disasters!
1 tbsp chopped rosemary
1/4 tsp chopped chilli flakes
100g flour
100g cheddar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
100g butter
Mix all together and make a roll in baking sheet Swiss Roll sort of size, maybe a bit smaller). Put in FREEZER for 30 minutes. Pre-heat oven to 180C
Take out and cut 3/4mm thick rounds and put on baking tray and bake for 12-15 mins. Let cool for a few minutes, then on to wire rack for 30 mins. Delicious! I rarely make things that I think are really good – but this one is!
On things not going well!!! My piccalilli is rubbish – I thought I had followed the recipe fairly well (I am not good at this bit of cooking!). But basically I have pickled veg in a spicy vinegar sauce.
Politics
Political thoughts
Firstly corruption. I am sure. Actually I am not. The cabinet did not overtly discuss giving contracts to mates, even when it was blatantly obvious they could not supply the goods. But it must have been acknowledged at some stage. Perhaps dealing with multi billions just made them complacent. But how do they give multi million contracts on such life saving issues to firms with no products or experience?
Welcome to theJamJam
Hi there, this is my new blog.
I am not too sure how it will work out. I guess there will be recipes, environmental stuff, lots of geography, gardening bits and pieces (especially re-wilding), political comments or more likely rants! and lots of other random thoughts.
Feel free to add your comments – if I don’t like them I will delete them!!