Rustical

Category: Growing

  • Harvest Wreath Success!

    First prize at the Hesketh Bank Village Show for my ‘Harvest Circle’ creation. I’ve never done any flower arranging before but I couldn’t miss out on the chance to include logs, pumpkins and wreaths so very pleased with coming first! Slices of our home grown Silver Birch made up  the base with a simple squash…

  • Beech Logs and Chunks back in stock

    It has been a while but beech is back in stock. Some will end up being sold amongst the mixed hardwood firewood but the bulk of this tree will be used for serving boards & platters, logs and heartwood wood chunks for smoking food and walking stick handles. The bulk of the branches have been…

  • Polytunnel Update – End July

    A quick update from the polytunnels: Giant Pumpkins Over the last few weeks the main vines have achieved the most desirable length for the production of a giant pumpkin and the selected female flowers cross pollinated with it’s carefully chosen suitor. A couple of pumpkins have now set and are definitely on their way to…

  • Green Beans and BBQ Greens

    The haul from the polytunnel this morning…. The green beans and chuckie eggs will be lovely with a nice piece of gammon this evening and the Lemongrass, Rosemary, Parsley, Rocket, Jalapeno peppers, Garlic and Cucumbers will go towards a big BBQ tomorrow. We do like fresh produce and it can’t get any fresher than this!…

  • Preparing Oak and Rosemary

    Not a chore I particularly like as I am not a big fan of having my fingers so close to a bandsaw blade but it has to be done; preparing heartwood wood chunks. The oak is first cut into rings on the bandsaw and then chopped into pieces using an axe. The pieces are then…

  • Wood smoking revelations

    We have a new Customer. Stuart from Southport is a new customer. Stuart has specific requirements for his 10 hour smoked brisket and he came to see if we could meet his needs. The answer is of course ‘yes’ but that isn’t what prompts this post. Talking to Stuart made me realise that I don’t…

  • 6m x 3m ebay Polytunnel

    We needed some temporary storage for keeping the elements off some small farm implements and thought a domestic polytunnel would fit the bill and, if it lasts long enough, could be reused for ‘kiln’ drying wood when the storage problems get resolved. I also had wondered if such a thing would be any good for…

  • Hydroponic Trials Update

    Celeriac Celeriac being a moisture loving plant that needs fertile, moisture retentive soil I thought it might perform well hydroponically. Our celeriac was grown from seed (rather than the recommended plugs) in 8cm pots. When roots were showing, the pots were then placed in a small NFT system. These have overwintered in a small greenhouse without…

  • Log Trailer Arrives

    Our long awaited low ground pressure log trailer has finally arrived! For use behind a compact tractor or ATV it should be just the job for extracting logs and brash without making a mess.

  • Log rings for table displays

    Just a few log rings now cut and drying out in advance of the wedding season so that we have a few in stock and ready. Sizes range from 6″ to 14″ in a variety of species. Stock is very limited so please do not leave it until the last minute if you have specific…