Category: Chilcotts Farm

Latest on what’s been happening on our smallholding at Chilcotts Farm.

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Medlar in Autumn - North Devon

Autumn Fire!

Wow! The colours of the medlar in autumn is incredible!

I have never eaten the fruit. Each year I store it, ready to eat, and never get around to it.

I am not sure if it is the fact that you have to let it get to the point of rotting before you eat it that puts me off?

However, I wait until the spring and the big flowers probably make up for what I may have missed.

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A walnut tree shedding its seed, the walnut

Walnuts are falling!

I checked the walnut trees a week ago to see if the nuts were ready.

The tree still showed the green fruit intact with no signs of releasing its nut from the fruit.

I checked again yesterday, and within just one week, the tree had started to drop its fruit. The green fruit had split open, and some of the nuts were lying on the ground. Others were just about to fall.

I quickly gathered and picked all the nuts before an opportunist squirrel or mouse had the opportunity.

They are now all drying in the warmth of the utility room, to be eventually stored in our outside store, ready for eating at Christmas!

  • Walnut fruit
    Walnut fruit
  • A walnut tree shedding its seed, the walnut
    A walnut tree shedding its seed, the walnut
  • This year's harvest of walnuts
    This year’s harvest of walnuts
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Hazel nuts grown in North Devon

North Devon Homegrown Hazel Nuts

Today has probably been the first chilly morning, the temperature is beginning to turn. However, it is dry and sunny, so a chance to gather in some of the nuts.

We have a small young nut orchard with cultivated varieties. Primarily, hazel nuts, but also walnuts and sweet chestnuts.

Before Mr & Mrs Squirrel take my hazel nuts, I thought I would get in there first and pick them.

The walnuts and chestnuts aren’t quite ready yet, so will leave them for another day.

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Goose down left behind after a Fox attack in Bickington

Fox Attack & a Goose Killed

Yesterday afternoon one of our geese was killed by a local fox in Bickington.

This year we have now lost to foxes two ducks, a chicken and now a goose. We have not had loses like this for the last 7 years.

Fortunately, each time it has only been a single bird taken, and appears to be an opportunist always attacking in broad daylight in the afternoon. I suspect a young brazen fox, or a parent feeding cubs.

A warning to any other poultry keepers, or small pet owners in the Bickington or Fremington area, be vigilant!

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Wildflower meadow in Barnstaple

This is what I want, I really really want ….

I have a two acre field, I really want to turn into (revert to?) wildflower meadow. How do you do it? Can anyone help?

It seems really complicated and expensive.

Done the research over a few years and got the facts, just spent £40 on seed! (mixture of perennial and annual from Pictorial Meadows #PictorialMeadows) only does 10 square metres. 2 acres is equivalent to 8,000 square metres …… so at a price of £32,000 …. not really achievable????

A lot of money, but it needs to be done right, so hopefully this autumn we will get started. I then just need to work out how to do it affordably over the next 5 years ….. yes a 5 year project ….

#RHSGardensRosemoor have stared a wild flower meadow, and it is looking good. They are just down the road, if they are reading, perhaps someone could help out, after all we are members. I could pay in honey, vegetables or fruit ….. but I suppose that is coals to Newcastle???

Anyone any thoughts on how we can do this in an environmental way, for little cost, to achieve a native meadow.

Cornflower growing in North Devon
Cornflower growing in North Devon
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Decorated goose eggs

Decorating Goose Eggs

Evgger wanted to decorate an egg for Easter?

We use goose eggs, as they are large, however chicken and duck eggs can also be used following the method below:

Preserving The Egg

Eggs can be hard boiled and then decorated, however, these should then be eaten.

Goose egg shell is quite robust, so can be used to make a decorated egg that will last and keep indefinitely.  To make a decorated egg, the white and yolk need to be removed, and the inside given a little wash.  This can be done by 'blowing' the egg.

Blowing an Egg

Blowing an egg is quite straight forward, the method being applicable to most eggs.  Here's what to do:

  1. Holding the egg over a bowl, pierce a hole in both ends with a clean wood nail.
  2. This will make a pin prick hole in either end of the egg.
  3. Make sure that you push the nail deeply into the egg to make a hole in the egg membrane.
  4. At this stage,still over the bowl, pierce your lips over one hole in the egg, while keeping the other end unblocked.
  5. Give a gentle blow.
  6. The egg should start to come out the other end.
  7. If you are having difficulty, cover both the holes, give the egg a vigorous shake to try and break up the yolk and white inside.
  8. Try blowing again.
  9. Once the white and yolk has been completely removed from the egg, don't throw it away!  The egg yolk and white, can be used for cooking.
  10. Now hold one hole of the egg under a cold tap and let water fill the egg.
  11. Give the egg a shake, then let the water drain out.
  12. Leave the egg to dry.

Two goose eggs laid at the beginning of March

Geese Eggs, boiling on the stove.

Goose Eggs Blown and died ready for decorating

Basic dyeing

  • Once dried the egg can be decorated.
  • Decoration can be left to your imagination using a variety of techniques, from pens, to stickers, to paints.  We use an edible egg dye, but food colouring can be used too.
  • The advantage of the egg dye is that it is edible and can be also used on hard boiled eggs.
  • Follow the instructions on the egg dye packet, but typically this involves dissolving the dye in water and then dipping the egg.  An egg could be dipped multiple times, to get a rainbow or blend of colours.
  • In our picture, we have dyed the egg all one colour, there are a couple of eggs, that have been dipped in a marbling dye, which gives a marbled affect.

Further Decoration

If you are colouring your egg first, as described above, wait until the dye is dried, then embellish your design with transfers, and felt tip pen.

As a final layer of protection an clear lacquer or varnish can be applied.

To finish it off, why not thread a bit of ribbon through the egg, so that it can be hung up?

Decorated goose eggs swinging from a tree in spring - Easter

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