What's going on at the Manor? Stardate: 20160822

[Andrew Cumberland]

I have a batch of 20 quail eggs in the incubator on day 15 now.  I took the egg rocker out today and laid them gently on the floor of what I am hoping will be their brooder soon.  What's the difference between an incubator and a brooder?  An egg rocker.  I use the same incubator for both purposes.  Real quail breeders have two separate bits of equipment.

The alcoholic ginger beer is ready to bottle tomorrow.   I'll try not to add too much sugar and avoid some beery explosions.  

I've made some kumquat and ginger marmalade and a bottle of gooseberry and ginger jam.  I also got almost a kilo of Yacon this harvest.  I trotted it out at a BBQ that I had on the weekend and people liked it very much. I'm in silverbeet and spinach at the moment which is good, and the cherry tomatoes are still producing.  OMG! The Madagascar beans look like they are producing a bumper crop.  Don't stand down wind of Andy next week folks.

The damn chickens are off the lay again.  The wacky hot and cold weather sends them nuts.  It never bothers the quails though.  They are such reliable little birds.  Oh, the folks at the BBQ also got to eat 2 dozen boiled quail eggs, just for something different.   Continuing the animal theme, the fish have started eating again, and the worm farm has never looked better.  

Finally, I have an adult education, cheese making course starting this week at the local school.  That's always fun. 

[Andrew Cumberland]

It's weird - I've told them that if they don't start giving eggs they are headed for the pot.  Even that didn't work!

[Susan]

My chickens are ALL laying at the moment.  Even for a family of 5 that gets a bit much.  It's scary though, cause I know that when they start going off the lay, it won't conveniently be one at a time.  The whole bloody lot of them will be off and I'll have to buy eggs again!  Your little quail superstars seem to be a way round that :)

[Dave Riley]

What's going on at the manor? All manner of things.

[Dianne Caswell]

Sounds like things are really happing there, have fun at your Cheese Making Class this week. Can't wait to see your garden for the first time at your GV in December.

[Lissa]

An explosion of Tiny Farm activity :)