First Steps to Starting an Orchard

Today I have been to the Countryside Centre in Worcester for an 'everything you need to know about fruit trees' day....fascinating. The course was taught by Wade Muggleton, Senior Community Greenspace Officer, in the classroom for the morning then out in the orchards next to the countryside centre - who knew they were there?! One of the orchards is very old and was neglected for 50 years or more, the other recently planted with local Worcestershire varieties. The course was very informative and enjoyable, ranging from choosing the right plant, planting and pruning to turning some of the harvest into juice.

We ended the day juicing lots of apples, mostly windfalls, some we had picked up in the orchard and some brought along by others on the course - delicious - I'm hooked!


Now just to decide what varieties of fruit, which rootstock and where to plant them - and of course to actually get the contract signed and take possession of the house! (Of which still no news - apparently the solicitor is awaiting documents from French tax office.......)

And still we wait...

We are assured that the wheels are still turning....albeit very slowly. We will get there! It's very difficult to update a blog about a specific event when nothing obvious is happening. So I'm adding this just to let you all know that it's not that I can't be bothered!
While I'm waiting (not even any supply teaching coming in yet - still early in the term though), I am 'researching' on the internet -honest! I'm just easily distracted.

I have learned how to make Greek style yogurt, the first batch made overnight - tastes lovely - creamy and mild.
Recipe

1 litre whole milk, 2 tablespoons live yogurt, warmed and put in a (t)rusty old flask overnight.

strained through a linen cloth in a colander

 and then bottled ready for use. Recipe to be refined and served to future guests with home produced honey and fruit. Something to look forward to.
Now....what to do with the whey....