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Think
about the country wildlife when collecting berries for pies
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Going nutty
We must not use all of these fruits ourselves for our jams, jellies, pickles
and chutneys or come to that all the elderberries and crab-apples and blooms
for our homemade wines and syrups.
Talking of which ... what a wonderful winter warmer is "Sloe Gin". I read
once a recipe in an old "Mrs Beeton’s Cookery Book" that started with:-
"Take One Gallon Of Gin"! - in those days that would have cost less than
50 shillings - Now what? It would cost £50 at least before you started!
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"I
know I left them here somewhere..."
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The Jays and Squirrels
are just two of many that collect nuts and seeds and hide them away in caches
for winter sustenance. The fact that they do not always remember where they
hid them all becomes evident in the spring,when in the middle of that well
manicured lawn a young oak tree from a buried acorn or hazel tree from a
nut, suddenly appears.
It's just one of the ways that nature helps itself to regenerate and expand.
We parents and
grandparents should all try to give our children and grandchildren a chance
to appreciate this regeneration, by taking them out to collect a few nuts,
conkers, chestnuts or best of all acorns, and plant them in a pot or two,
keeping the pots outdoor in a natural environment and let them see what
happens next spring. Interesting and educational, all good training for
them and us and their future too.
Oh! Here is a lovely poem to read and discuss :- John Betjeman’s "Diary
of a Church Mouse". Go on, read it - it just may make you look at life from
a different angle.
' Tis fun too!!!
If
you'd like to get in touch with Tony you can email him
at devon.online@bbc.co.uk
Previous
diary pages:
If
you enjoy Tony's Dartmoor Diary you might also like to take a look
at "Grass Roots"
by Devon farmer Anton ;
Click here
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