Originally Posted by farmgirl

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we live on an acreage and are seriously considering having some weiners next spring to raise free range and then in the fall take them to a custom butcher so we get proper bacon and pork with crackling
we have a book by hugh fearnley whittingstall , famous in uk for a tv series called river cottage where he lived self sufficient in dorset and it includes butchery diagrams for the way we are used to our meat etc and how to salt bacon


as for sausages i am going to ring our old butcher in oxford and beg for a recipe

Originally Posted by Bob

Which one would that be?

Originally Posted by iaink

Yeah, Lots of farmers markets around here (Belleville, Stirling, Trenton etc), although I have to confess that I dont go to them, the hours are a bit odd. Its a hotbed for syrup production too around here. Was a bit confused by the pails stuck to the trees in the spring until the OH explained it!

Too expensive to have all the time though, so we usually make do with the 15% blended stuff, which is pretty good to be honest. Wouldnt touch that other non maple stuff with a ten foot pole now. Fortunatly the real thing was a pretty popular gift when I got my citizenship, so we still have that luxury for Sunday breakfast, at least for a little while longer

Had the last of the Xmas parades today, did 6 in all, and the weather was unbelievably good for them all, no snow or worse, rain, and really not that cold except Fridays hometown affair. It was good fun, and now Iris thinks I know Santa as I have spent so much time helping him!

Take care

Iain

Originally Posted by Rhodes

May I just say that I consider maple syrup to be the most foul substance in all Christendom. I am quite amazed that someone should have drunk the sap from a tree in the first place, but absolutely astonished that it shold be considered such a good idea.

Originally Posted by willmore

Hi there -

We do the same thing. Unbelieveable how expensive the syrup has become since I was a kid. We bring some back with us, and then "syrup" it down a bit with the cheaper stuff, so it lasts longer.....still very very nice with pancakes and french toast.

Iris is at a good age at 2 to really begin to seriously enjoy xmas now. I can remember my kids at that age and waking up at 3/4 in the morning to open presents and not being able to get them back to bed. It really makes xmas worthwhile to see their faces beaming on xmas morning and being with friends/family.

Sounds like you had alot of fun helping with the santa parade. The one in Victoria was done the middle of November - way to early this year. Hoping to catch one in Ontario when we're there.

Take care - and "lurk more often" we really miss you.

Originally Posted by farmgirl

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we live on an acreage and are seriously considering having some weiners next spring to raise free range and then in the fall take them to a custom butcher so we get proper bacon and pork with crackling
we have a book by hugh fearnley whittingstall , famous in uk for a tv series called river cottage where he lived self sufficient in dorset and it includes butchery diagrams for the way we are used to our meat etc and how to salt bacon


as for sausages i am going to ring our old butcher in oxford and beg for a recipe

Originally Posted by iaink

Dont tell the immigration officer you feel that way...you'll never get in!

Originally Posted by Rhodes

I should be all right if they don't mention it first - the merest hint of the stuff is enough to set of the Tourette's Syndrome, and I fear that anaphylaxic shock can't be far behind.

Originally Posted by iaink

Are you going the spousal route, or is this going to make passing the medical difficult?

Originally Posted by Covenant

Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall is the chap, here's his web site. Excellent programme oft repeated on Discovery Home and leisure.
http://www.rivercottage.net/index.jsp

Out of interest, I read somewhere that unless you have a piece of land upto a set acreage, you aren't even allowed to raise a chicken?

Apparently, and I hope someone will correct me if I'm wrong, although a number of 'farms' come up on the market, few are legally allowed to keep livestock.

Glad to see you're still around Iain

Originally Posted by farmgirl

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thanks for the web site will have a look
in canada we have 13 acres and nearesr neighbours are 1.5 miles away so we seem to be left to do what we want i dont think its same in uk is it

Originally Posted by Rhodes

Fortunately, I married my Canadian, so the conditions were not taken in to account for my medical.

Originally Posted by Rhodes

May I just say that I consider maple syrup to be the most foul substance in all Christendom. I am quite amazed that someone should have drunk the sap from a tree in the first place, but absolutely astonished that it shold be considered such a good idea.

Originally Posted by iaink

Depends what province / municipality you are in. From reading this forum there are some strange ones out there (I think the one that Cov and I am thinking of was somewhere near Calgary or in BC??), so "Buyer beware" applies, check that a property is zoned for what you want to use it for before you get stuck with a farm you cant farm on!