I Made a Wasp Trap
 

Now I can't find any wasps.
Where can I buy some?
--
Gordon H
Remove "invalid" to reply

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:12:37 +0100, Gordon H
wrote:

Now I can't find any wasps.
Where can I buy some?

I think the North West has become a wasp free zone. I am assuming you
live somewhere around the Greater Manchester area or did you move?

Steve

--
Neural Planner Software Ltd www.NPSL1.com

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

In message , Stephen
Wolstenholme writes
On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:12:37 +0100, Gordon H
wrote:

Now I can't find any wasps.
Where can I buy some?

I think the North West has become a wasp free zone. I am assuming you
live somewhere around the Greater Manchester area or did you move?

Steve

No, I'm still here. I honestly can't remember seeing a wasp this
year.
--
Gordon H
Remove "invalid" to reply

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

On Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:23:07 +0100, Gordon H
wrote:

In message , Stephen
Wolstenholme writes
On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:12:37 +0100, Gordon H
wrote:

Now I can't find any wasps.
Where can I buy some?

I think the North West has become a wasp free zone. I am assuming you
live somewhere around the Greater Manchester area or did you move?

Steve

No, I'm still here. I honestly can't remember seeing a wasp this
year.

I've seen a mimic but no real wasps. When I check there aren't many
insects at all in my garden this year. No ants! One solitary hover
fly. Perhaps I need new glasses.

Steve

--
Neural Planner Software Ltd www.NPSL1.com

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

In message , Stephen
Wolstenholme writes
On Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:23:07 +0100, Gordon H
wrote:

I honestly can't remember seeing a wasp this
year.

I've seen a mimic but no real wasps. When I check there aren't many
insects at all in my garden this year. No ants! One solitary hover
fly. Perhaps I need new glasses.

Steve

At the present, butterflies (cabbage white) are in the ascendancy, and
the bees are not as numerous, but they like my sweet peas.
Not many hoverflies, but last week I sat supping tea in next door's
garden, and her granddaughter suddenly exclaimed at the hordes of ants
swarming over the low, shared garden wall.
They were flying ants, and we had a hasty ant-bashing session.
--
Gordon H
Remove "invalid" to reply

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:

[quoted text muted]

I've seen a mimic but no real wasps. When I check there aren't many
insects at all in my garden this year. No ants! One solitary hover fly.
Perhaps I need new glasses.

Steve

You having the same problem there too. I was able to keep a large organic
garden for years, now I'm unable to do so--one operation too many on my
shoulders. Now it is sage, three tom plants, tarragon, chives, mint, and
oregano which I let bloom as the bees love the flowers. Back when, I had
all kinds of insects, good and bad but there was no harm done to the
garden. My opinion is that people use too much insecticides. I saw a lot
of lady bugs on the Catalina plum tree and one lacewing on a tom plant
this year where there used to be many. Woe is us in the US.
--
signature goes here

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

Gordon H wrote:

[quoted text muted]
At the present, butterflies (cabbage white) are in the ascendancy, and
the bees are not as numerous, but they like my sweet peas. Not many
hoverflies, but last week I sat supping tea in next door's garden, and
her granddaughter suddenly exclaimed at the hordes of ants swarming over
the low, shared garden wall. They were flying ants, and we had a hasty
ant-bashing session.

See, those ants were looking for a new place to settle, ants are good to
have in your garden, but nearby nests are even better.
--
signature goes here

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

On 18 Aug 2009 21:46:25 GMT, Bud wrote:

My opinion is that people use too much insecticides. I saw a lot
of lady bugs on the Catalina plum tree and one lacewing on a tom plant
this year where there used to be many. Woe is us in the US.

I don't use any insecticides but the number of insects has dropped by
a huge amount this year. None of neighbours use insecticides either so
I can't blame them.

Steve

--
Neural Planner Software Ltd www.NPSL1.com

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

In message , Bud
writes
Gordon H wrote:

[quoted text muted]
At the present, butterflies (cabbage white) are in the ascendancy, and
the bees are not as numerous, but they like my sweet peas. Not many
hoverflies, but last week I sat supping tea in next door's garden, and
her granddaughter suddenly exclaimed at the hordes of ants swarming over
the low, shared garden wall. They were flying ants, and we had a hasty
ant-bashing session.

See, those ants were looking for a new place to settle, ants are good to
have in your garden, but nearby nests are even better.

Yes I know, one of them bit my neck.
--
Gordon H
Remove "invalid" to reply

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

"Gordon H" wrote in message
...
In message , Stephen
Wolstenholme writes
On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:12:37 +0100, Gordon H
wrote:

Now I can't find any wasps.
Where can I buy some?

I think the North West has become a wasp free zone. I am assuming you
live somewhere around the Greater Manchester area or did you move?

Steve

No, I'm still here. I honestly can't remember seeing a wasp this
year.

I haven't either but I'd better not speak too soon. I've had a spectacular
crop of plums and damsons this year which are falling on to the path quicker
than I can pick them up. There's only a certain amount I can eat, the
chickens are fed up with them, my neighbours have their own trees, so I'll
just have to sweep them onto the borders and wait for the wasps.

Imagine my horror when I visited my aunt last Sunday - she gave me a carrier
bag full of plums to take home. I was too polite to refuse them but my
thanks were very faint.

Tina

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

"Gordon H" wrote in message
...
In message , Bud
writes
Gordon H wrote:

[quoted text muted]
At the present, butterflies (cabbage white) are in the ascendancy, and
the bees are not as numerous, but they like my sweet peas. Not many
hoverflies, but last week I sat supping tea in next door's garden, and
her granddaughter suddenly exclaimed at the hordes of ants swarming over
the low, shared garden wall. They were flying ants, and we had a hasty
ant-bashing session.

See, those ants were looking for a new place to settle, ants are good to
have in your garden, but nearby nests are even better.

Yes I know, one of them bit my neck.
--
Get over it and learn to like them ;-) They are amazing insects.

Tina

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

In message , Christina Websell
writes

"Gordon H" wrote in message
...
In message , Bud
writes

See, those ants were looking for a new place to settle, ants are good to
have in your garden, but nearby nests are even better.

Yes I know, one of them bit my neck.
--
Get over it and learn to like them ;-) They are amazing insects.
Tina

The bite didn't hurt much, it was when I tried to suck the poison out...
;-)
--
Gordon H
Remove "invalid" to reply

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

On Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:37:06 +0100, Christina Websell wrote:

I've had a spectacular crop of plums and damsons this year which are
falling on to the path quicker than I can pick them up. There's only a
certain amount I can eat, the chickens are fed up with them, my
neighbours have their own trees, so I'll just have to sweep them onto
the borders and wait for the wasps.

One word: Jam.

Plums and Damsons are very easy to jam they have enough natural
pectin to form a set without too much bother.

Of course if you don't have any jam jars stored away (but who throws
out jam jars?) you might have a problem finding containers.

--
Cheers
Dave.

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
You can buy kilner jars from eg. Lakeland though I have no idea how much
they are. I agree about the jam making. We don't grow plums here but my
son's garden is producing huge quantities of them and they're jam making
like mad.

I used to make all kinds of jam. No one to eat it now though.

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

"Martin" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:45:54 +0100, "Ophelia"
wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
...
You can buy kilner jars from eg. Lakeland though I have no idea how much
they are. I agree about the jam making. We don't grow plums here but
my
son's garden is producing huge quantities of them and they're jam making
like mad.

I used to make all kinds of jam. No one to eat it now though.

No hungry wasps? :)

With any luck:)

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

"Martin" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 21 Aug 2009 22:55:42 +0100 (BST), "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:

On Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:37:06 +0100, Christina Websell wrote:

I've had a spectacular crop of plums and damsons this year which are
falling on to the path quicker than I can pick them up. There's only a
certain amount I can eat, the chickens are fed up with them, my
neighbours have their own trees, so I'll just have to sweep them onto
the borders and wait for the wasps.

One word: Jam.

Plums and Damsons are very easy to jam they have enough natural
pectin to form a set without too much bother.

Of course if you don't have any jam jars stored away (but who throws
out jam jars?) you might have a problem finding containers.

Not if you have a Lakeland close by.

You don't even need a Lakeland. In my neck of the woods, most of the
supermarkets have, if not Kilner jars, Kilner lookalikes. And many a
'department' store has same. Often cheaper than Lakeland too.

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 10:14:11 +0200, Martin wrote:

You can buy kilner jars from eg. Lakeland though I have no idea
how
much they are.

Almost "if you need to ask..." price, kilners are bit OTT for a bit
of jam and even the 1/2 litre ones pretty huge, you are probably
looking at not far short of 2lb of jam in one of them.

Lakeland jam jars are substantially cheaper than their Kilner jars
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/F/product/3819_3818

Much more reasonable and a sensible size. B-)

--
Cheers
Dave.

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:59:12 +0200, Martin wrote:

kilners are bit OTT for a bit of jam and even the 1/2 litre ones
pretty
huge, you are probablylooking at not far short of 2lb of jam in
one of
them.

You'd be surprised how much jam one can produce from a smallish
allotment.

I wouldn't but unless you are voracious jam eaters 2lb will last
quite a while, once opened mold spores get in... Also the size/weight
of a kilner is not so nice to handle as a 1lb normal jam jar.

--
Cheers
Dave.

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

"Dave Liquorice" wrote in message
ll.co.uk...
On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 10:14:11 +0200, Martin wrote:

You can buy kilner jars from eg. Lakeland though I have no idea
how
much they are.

Almost "if you need to ask..." price, kilners are bit OTT for a bit
of jam and even the 1/2 litre ones pretty huge, you are probably
looking at not far short of 2lb of jam in one of them.

Lakeland jam jars are substantially cheaper than their Kilner jars
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/F/product/3819_3818

Much more reasonable and a sensible size. B-)

Some one here was talking about making drinks from excess fruit. I was in
Lakeland yesterday and they have some lovely bottles. The following are
examples:

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/traditiona.../product/13342

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/preserving...ct/11087_11086

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

"Martin" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:39:32 +0100 (BST), "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:

On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 10:14:11 +0200, Martin wrote:

You can buy kilner jars from eg. Lakeland though I have no idea
how
much they are.

Almost "if you need to ask..." price, kilners are bit OTT for a bit
of jam and even the 1/2 litre ones pretty huge, you are probably
looking at not far short of 2lb of jam in one of them.

You'd be surprised how much jam one can produce from a smallish allotment.

Lakeland jam jars are substantially cheaper than their Kilner jars
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/F/product/3819_3818

Much more reasonable and a sensible size. B-)

Better still is to hoard used jam jars and only give away jam in return
for
empty jars :o)

My empty jam jars are no longer empty. They are full of chutney!

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

"Martin" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:01:40 +0100, "wafflycat"
wrote:


"Martin" wrote in message
. ..
On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:39:32 +0100 (BST), "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:

On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 10:14:11 +0200, Martin wrote:

You can buy kilner jars from eg. Lakeland though I have no idea
how
much they are.

Almost "if you need to ask..." price, kilners are bit OTT for a bit
of jam and even the 1/2 litre ones pretty huge, you are probably
looking at not far short of 2lb of jam in one of them.

You'd be surprised how much jam one can produce from a smallish
allotment.

Lakeland jam jars are substantially cheaper than their Kilner jars
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/F/product/3819_3818

Much more reasonable and a sensible size. B-)

Better still is to hoard used jam jars and only give away jam in return
for
empty jars :o)

My empty jam jars are no longer empty. They are full of chutney!

No jam for you then :o)

Not yet. But the batch of plum jam in the cauldron on the hob right now is
almost at setting point! YUM!

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:37:06 +0100, Christina Websell wrote:

I've had a spectacular crop of plums and damsons this year which are
falling on to the path quicker than I can pick them up. There's
only a certain amount I can eat, the chickens are fed up with them,
my neighbours have their own trees, so I'll just have to sweep them
onto the borders and wait for the wasps.

One word: Jam.

Plums and Damsons are very easy to jam they have enough natural
pectin to form a set without too much bother.

I don't like jam though :-(
I'm going to try making damson gin. Like sloe gin but damsons, why not?
Or wash the demi-johns out for some wine perhaps.

Tina

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

On Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:59:08 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:37:06 +0100, Christina Websell wrote:

I've had a spectacular crop of plums and damsons this year which are
falling on to the path quicker than I can pick them up. There's
only a certain amount I can eat, the chickens are fed up with them,
my neighbours have their own trees, so I'll just have to sweep them
onto the borders and wait for the wasps.

One word: Jam.

Plums and Damsons are very easy to jam they have enough natural
pectin to form a set without too much bother.

I don't like jam though :-(
I'm going to try making damson gin. Like sloe gin but damsons, why not?
Or wash the demi-johns out for some wine perhaps.


I make damson gin! Do you want my recipe?

--
Sally in Shropshire, UK
Posted through uk.rec.gardening

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

"Christina Websell" wrote in message
...
Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:37:06 +0100, Christina Websell wrote:

I've had a spectacular crop of plums and damsons this year which are
falling on to the path quicker than I can pick them up. There's
only a certain amount I can eat, the chickens are fed up with them,
my neighbours have their own trees, so I'll just have to sweep them
onto the borders and wait for the wasps.

One word: Jam.

Plums and Damsons are very easy to jam they have enough natural
pectin to form a set without too much bother.

I don't like jam though :-(
I'm going to try making damson gin. Like sloe gin but damsons, why not?
Or wash the demi-johns out for some wine perhaps.


Or use vodka instead of gin... *hic*

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

Sally Thompson wrote:
On Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:59:08 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:37:06 +0100, Christina Websell wrote:

I've had a spectacular crop of plums and damsons this year which
are falling on to the path quicker than I can pick them up.
There's only a certain amount I can eat, the chickens are fed up
with them, my neighbours have their own trees, so I'll just have
to sweep them onto the borders and wait for the wasps.

One word: Jam.

Plums and Damsons are very easy to jam they have enough natural
pectin to form a set without too much bother.

I don't like jam though :-(
I'm going to try making damson gin. Like sloe gin but damsons, why
not? Or wash the demi-johns out for some wine perhaps.


I make damson gin! Do you want my recipe?

Yes please!

Tina

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

wafflycat wrote:
"Christina Websell" wrote in
message ...
Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:37:06 +0100, Christina Websell wrote:

I've had a spectacular crop of plums and damsons this year which
are falling on to the path quicker than I can pick them up. There's
only a certain amount I can eat, the chickens are fed up
with them, my neighbours have their own trees, so I'll just have
to sweep them onto the borders and wait for the wasps.

One word: Jam.

Plums and Damsons are very easy to jam they have enough natural
pectin to form a set without too much bother.

I don't like jam though :-(
I'm going to try making damson gin. Like sloe gin but damsons, why
not? Or wash the demi-johns out for some wine perhaps.


Or use vodka instead of gin... *hic*

g Have you tried raspberry vodka? I don't have any raspberries but for
those that have a lot, it's really lovely.
I tend not to drink vodka, it has this peculiar effect on me. While I'm
drinking it I feel absolutely sober. When I go outside I fall in the flower
bed..so I avoid it now ;-)
I rarely drink spirits anyway, but if I do I know when I've had enough, but
vodka never tells me that!
Spirits are a Christmas drink for me, so the damson gin should be just about
ready by then.

Tina

Damson gin (was I Made a Wasp Trap)
 

On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:45:20 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

Sally Thompson wrote:
On Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:59:08 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

snip

I don't like jam though :-(
I'm going to try making damson gin. Like sloe gin but damsons, why
not? Or wash the demi-johns out for some wine perhaps.


I make damson gin! Do you want my recipe?

Yes please!


Damson Gin:

3 lb damsons
3 lb sugar
1 x 70cl bottle gin (use the cheapest possible)

Put into screw-top glass jars or demi-johns (no need to prick damsons). Stir
or turn every day for at least six weeks until sugar is dissolved. Bottle.

Drink .
Fall over :-)


--
Sally in Shropshire, UK
Posted through uk.rec.gardening

Damson gin (was I Made a Wasp Trap)
 

Sally Thompson wrote:
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:45:20 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

Sally Thompson wrote:
On Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:59:08 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

snip

I don't like jam though :-(
I'm going to try making damson gin. Like sloe gin but damsons, why
not? Or wash the demi-johns out for some wine perhaps.


I make damson gin! Do you want my recipe?

Yes please!


Damson Gin:

3 lb damsons
3 lb sugar
1 x 70cl bottle gin (use the cheapest possible)

Put into screw-top glass jars or demi-johns (no need to prick
damsons).

No need to prick them with a silver pin?? Are you sure? My grandmother
told me this was essential.


Stir or turn every day for at least six weeks until sugar
is dissolved. Bottle.

When do you strain the damsons out so that the stones don't make it bitter?

Drink .
Fall over :-)

smile

Tina

Damson gin (was I Made a Wasp Trap)
 

In article ,
Christina Websell wrote:

No need to prick them with a silver pin?? Are you sure? My grandmother
told me this was essential.

Well, it isn't for sloes :-)


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Damson gin (was I Made a Wasp Trap)
 

Damson gin (was I Made a Wasp Trap)
 

In article ,
Christina Websell wrote:

No need to prick them with a silver pin?? Are you sure? My
grandmother told me this was essential.

Well, it isn't for sloes :-)

Yes it is. Bet my sloe gin is better than yours, having been pierced by a
silver pin ;p)
It has to be silver, nothing else will do.

You aren't posting from Whitby, by any chance, are you? :-)


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Damson gin (was I Made a Wasp Trap)
 

Damson gin (was I Made a Wasp Trap)
 

On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:47:21 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

Sally Thompson wrote:
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:45:20 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

Sally Thompson wrote:
On Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:59:08 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

snip

I don't like jam though :-(
I'm going to try making damson gin. Like sloe gin but damsons, why
not? Or wash the demi-johns out for some wine perhaps.


I make damson gin! Do you want my recipe?

Yes please!


Damson Gin:

3 lb damsons
3 lb sugar
1 x 70cl bottle gin (use the cheapest possible)

Put into screw-top glass jars or demi-johns (no need to prick
damsons).

No need to prick them with a silver pin?? Are you sure? My grandmother
told me this was essential.

No need at all - I thought that was for sloes.

Stir or turn every day for at least six weeks until sugar
is dissolved. Bottle.

When do you strain the damsons out so that the stones don't make it bitter?

Only when you bottle it. I can assure you it's not bitter! A friend said
she uses the damsons afterwards in an alcoholic crumble, but we found them a
bit dry for that. Haven't yet found a good use for them.

Have fun.

--
Sally in Shropshire, UK
Posted through uk.rec.gardening

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

Gordon H wrote:
In message , Christina Websell
writes

"Gordon H" wrote in message
...
In message , Bud
writes

See, those ants were looking for a new place to settle, ants are
good to have in your garden, but nearby nests are even better.

Yes I know, one of them bit my neck.
--
Get over it and learn to like them ;-) They are amazing insects.
Tina

The bite didn't hurt much, it was when I tried to suck the poison
out... ;-)

Now you're being silly.

I Made a Wasp Trap
 

In message , Christina Websell
writes
Gordon H wrote:
In message , Christina Websell
writes

"Gordon H" wrote in message
...
In message , Bud
writes

See, those ants were looking for a new place to settle, ants are
good to have in your garden, but nearby nests are even better.

Yes I know, one of them bit my neck.
--
Get over it and learn to like them ;-) They are amazing insects.
Tina

The bite didn't hurt much, it was when I tried to suck the poison
out... ;-)

Now you're being silly.

I know, I'm a pain in the neck.
--
Gordon H
Remove "invalid" to reply

Damson gin (was I Made a Wasp Trap)
 

wrote in message
...
In article ,
Christina Websell wrote:

No need to prick them with a silver pin?? Are you sure? My
grandmother told me this was essential.

Well, it isn't for sloes :-)

Yes it is. Bet my sloe gin is better than yours, having been pierced by
a
silver pin ;p)
It has to be silver, nothing else will do.

You aren't posting from Whitby, by any chance, are you? :-)

lol

Damson gin (was I Made a Wasp Trap)
 

"Christina Websell" wrote in message
...
wrote:
In article ,
Christina Websell wrote:

No need to prick them with a silver pin?? Are you sure? My
grandmother told me this was essential.

Well, it isn't for sloes :-)

Yes it is. Bet my sloe gin is better than yours, having been
pierced by a silver pin ;p)
It has to be silver, nothing else will do.

You aren't posting from Whitby, by any chance, are you? :-)


No, not now, I managed to make it back home.

Phew:))

Damson gin (was I Made a Wasp Trap)
 

"Sally Thompson" wrote in message
al.net...
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:47:21 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

Sally Thompson wrote:
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:45:20 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

Sally Thompson wrote:
On Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:59:08 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

snip

I don't like jam though :-(
I'm going to try making damson gin. Like sloe gin but damsons, why
not? Or wash the demi-johns out for some wine perhaps.


I make damson gin! Do you want my recipe?

Yes please!


Damson Gin:

3 lb damsons
3 lb sugar
1 x 70cl bottle gin (use the cheapest possible)

Put into screw-top glass jars or demi-johns (no need to prick
damsons).

No need to prick them with a silver pin?? Are you sure? My grandmother
told me this was essential.

No need at all - I thought that was for sloes.

Stir or turn every day for at least six weeks until sugar
is dissolved. Bottle.

When do you strain the damsons out so that the stones don't make it
bitter?

Only when you bottle it. I can assure you it's not bitter! A friend said
she uses the damsons afterwards in an alcoholic crumble, but we found them
a
bit dry for that. Haven't yet found a good use for them.


It seems an awful lot of sugar to damsons.
Won't it be like syrup?

Tina

Damson gin (was I Made a Wasp Trap)
 

On Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:38:58 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):


"Sally Thompson" wrote in message
al.net...
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:47:21 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

Sally Thompson wrote:
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:45:20 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

Sally Thompson wrote:
On Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:59:08 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

snip

I don't like jam though :-(
I'm going to try making damson gin. Like sloe gin but damsons, why
not? Or wash the demi-johns out for some wine perhaps.


I make damson gin! Do you want my recipe?

Yes please!


Damson Gin:

3 lb damsons
3 lb sugar
1 x 70cl bottle gin (use the cheapest possible)

Put into screw-top glass jars or demi-johns (no need to prick
damsons).

No need to prick them with a silver pin?? Are you sure? My grandmother
told me this was essential.

No need at all - I thought that was for sloes.

Stir or turn every day for at least six weeks until sugar
is dissolved. Bottle.

When do you strain the damsons out so that the stones don't make it
bitter?

Only when you bottle it. I can assure you it's not bitter! A friend said
she uses the damsons afterwards in an alcoholic crumble, but we found them
a
bit dry for that. Haven't yet found a good use for them.


It seems an awful lot of sugar to damsons.
Won't it be like syrup?


Not really, but on reflection the first time I made this I had been given 15
lb of damsons - try explaining that amount of gin in the supermarket g. I
think I was probably a bit more liberal with the gin on that occasion because
I had bought it in litre bottles, and the result was better than when I stuck
strictly to the recipe above. I haven't any left of last year's to sample,
but you could try a little less sugar and see what you think of the result.


--
Sally in Shropshire, UK
Posted through uk.rec.gardening

Damson gin (was I Made a Wasp Trap)
 

On 2009-08-27 18:26:46 +0100, Sally Thompson said:

On Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:38:58 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):


"Sally Thompson" wrote in message
al.net...
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:47:21 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

Sally Thompson wrote:
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:45:20 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

Sally Thompson wrote:
On Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:59:08 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article ):

snip

I don't like jam though :-(
I'm going to try making damson gin. Like sloe gin but damsons, why
not? Or wash the demi-johns out for some wine perhaps.


I make damson gin! Do you want my recipe?

Yes please!


Damson Gin:

3 lb damsons
3 lb sugar
1 x 70cl bottle gin (use the cheapest possible)

Put into screw-top glass jars or demi-johns (no need to prick
damsons).

No need to prick them with a silver pin?? Are you sure? My grandmother
told me this was essential.

No need at all - I thought that was for sloes.

Stir or turn every day for at least six weeks until sugar
is dissolved. Bottle.

When do you strain the damsons out so that the stones don't make it
bitter?

Only when you bottle it. I can assure you it's not bitter! A friend said
she uses the damsons afterwards in an alcoholic crumble, but we found them
a
bit dry for that. Haven't yet found a good use for them.


It seems an awful lot of sugar to damsons.
Won't it be like syrup?


Not really, but on reflection the first time I made this I had been given 15
lb of damsons - try explaining that amount of gin in the supermarket g.

Qui s'excuse, s'accuse. ;-)) Just put on a purple hat to match your
nose and stick the latter in the air while swanning through. ;-)
I
think I was probably a bit more liberal with the gin on that occasion because
I had bought it in litre bottles, and the result was better than when I stuck
strictly to the recipe above. I haven't any left of last year's to sample,
but you could try a little less sugar and see what you think of the result.

I'm going to pass all this on to someone working here who is
overwhelmed with plums and damsons this year.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon