Brew Your Own - one step closer to The Good Life

For many a year my nickname amongst friends has been Barbara, aka felicity kendal from the Good Life. Not that I resemble her in any way possible, but more because I've always loved living life with a nod to the alternative and environmental way. I've composted for many years, attempted to grow fruit and vegables (as per my previous post). I've finally met my 'Tom'. Thats my husband Mark, who is also interested in some of the above, but prefers to investigate the technical aspects of alternative fuel.

Finally, after a break of over 15 years I've made a return to one aspect of the Good Life, and thats home brew. My father used to make home brew when I was a child, mainly beer and some wine and was also a champion pickler, and I guess some of it has rubbed off. I first flirtered with home brewed wine some years ago and mainly as the concoction produced was so awful it could strip paint and kill small mammals, I gave it up, only to return to it this year. The trigger was a birthday present I purchased for my twin brother, a home brew cerveza kit. I then purchased another beer kit for my husband, and a wine kit for a friend's birthday, before taking the plunge and having a go myself.

So what's happened so far. Well I can categorically say that wine kits have improved significantly in the last 15 years and are now a by-product of some vineyards, keen to cash in on this profit margin for their excess grape juice. My garage is currently straining under 60 bottles of wine and 15 litres, with another 22 litres in production. My first attempt was a small 6 bottle kit of Heron Bay Italian Amarone - delicious. Followed by plum wine, zinfandel, barolo, chablis, bordeaux etc. The favourite by far being Beaverdale White Bourgeron, a white burgundy which is absolutely fantastic. On brew at the moment is a Chardonnay/Chenin Blanc which I await with eager anticipation.

I have to say that my decision to return to home brew has nothing to do with cost, I'm a member of a wine club and still order wines in this way, but the sense of pride and achievement you have when you've made something that tastes great is just the same as if you'd cooked a banquet for friends...its priceless. The obvious cost savings are a bonus, especially when the wine tastes so good. I'm lucky enough to have 2 home brew shops nearby, Leyland Home Brew in Lancashire http://www.leylandhomebrew.co.uk/ and the Grape Vine in Pemberton, Wigan. However for a great selection and range you can't beat http://www.hopandgrape.co.uk/.

So what next. Well having understood the wine making process a little more through the use of kits, my next step is to progress to what I would call 'fresh' wines, using damsons and perhaps elderflower. I have my fruit press at the ready and am just waiting for the harvest. I'll keep you posted.

Cath

Everything's rosy in the garden...grow your own

Ok, ok so to some people it may be that I'm just jumping on the bandwagon of celebrity chefs and their desire for us all to grow our own - in reality, its probably because I have a bit of a thing for Hugh Fearnley Whittingstal, but one thing's for certain, he's absolutely right, and growing your own thing is the new black!

I've always had a dabble in veg growing, but have stayed close to the odd carrot (literally, in 2006 I only managed to grow one carrot, bugs bunny must've scoffed the rest), and plenty of tomatoes and potatoes. I lay claim to a damson tree in next door's garden that leans over our fence. Other than that, I'm seriously short of becoming Barbara to Tom in 'The Good Life'.

However, this year is different, and I decided to buy some raised bed kits (these are wonderful, cost approx £38 for 2 x 3ft by 3ft plastic raised bed frames from Dobies Garden Centre online). Piut plastic sheeting on the base and fill with compost - our own from the compy bin. So what's growing in the garden at the moment:-

an absolute abundance of salad leaves including rocket, wild rocket, lollo rossa and catalogne - of the cut and grow variety, so we eat 2-3 plants one week, and 2-3 the next week, by which time the first plants have re-grown.
Lots of peas and beans, both heritage variety from garden organic. www.gardenorganic.org.uk - join them and the heritage seed library and you can swap seeds (EU regs state they cannot be sold for lots of bizarre reasons) and bring back some heritage veg varieties.
Potatoes - aaran and charlotte, both early and late crop
Safe, chives, bay, mint and oregano
Tomatoes - several varieties including baby sun
Courgettes
Onions and for later in the year, sprouts

whilst I'm no Percy Thrower, I was amazed at how much I could cram into these 2 little plots, and how well they've thrived. Its not an expensive hobby, but is very rewarding and doesn't take up too much time once the seedlings have been planted out.

I'm looking forward to fresh peas and beans and veg this year, and the continuation of the salad plot.

Cath