Fruit.
Plums and apples.
About 200 pounds of Black Doris plums. The tree was so laden that branches were breaking. After picking all that was within reach, I laid tarpaulins on the ground and shook the tree. There are yet more but I have reached my limit.
I bought two dehydrators (2 for the price of one deal because one was a display model and missing some non vital trays). After 48 rolls of fruit leather (plum and apple or plum and banana), kilograms of dried plums, dried tomatoes and dried apple slices, came more kilograms of frozen stewed plums and stewed apples. Eventually about 60 pond of plums went to the Community Pantry. The same again got shared around families to whom I have delivered bikes, to the local school, and even a big box to the office of my financial advisor (it's a small community really, boxes of plums, legs of lamb, buckets of pears and the like get swapped about. The objective is 'no waste if someone else needs or will enjoy the grub').
The refugee kid who spends all his non-school time out here got to deliver plums into school to share with his class. Contrary to expectation it seems to have increased his street cred, and given him more confidence about his status and the value in his life of an education. (His truancy is becoming a thing of the past as each day produces a school experience his is pleased to relate).
Now Bro has picked his treasured cooking apples and all eyes have turned to me. The freezer is full. Okay, I will can them.... They go by the comical name of Peasgood Nonsuch. No one here has heard of Bramleys.
What is the favoured cooking apple where you are?
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteOne of my allergies so can't vouch for the difference, but I do recall that dad grew both Bramley and something I think was called Blenham..................ah, wait, just did the go and ogle thing. There's a variety called Blenheim Orange, which I suppose must be the one. Mum wasn't averse to cooking the eating varieties either - he grew Cox's Orange Pippin and a deep red thing which I don't recall the name of. Count me a bit envious of all those yummy plums though!!! YAM xx
Wow you have been working like a machine. What a wonderful community. Sharing the bounty. We are kind of like that here. Sharing knowledge, and harvests. We also help each other when ever it’s needed. I just wish the rest of the world would become like that
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteSadly with old quarter acre blocks now being subdivided fruit trees are becoming a thing of the past in the suburbs. Lemon trees are around in older gardens but becoming pot plants specimens in smaller ones. Sharing excess does go on via CWA and Probus meetings - bags of this that and maybe some tomatoes as well.
Granny Smith’s would be the cooking apple most Australians are familiar with
That's a really good point about modern housing and gardens. There is a new park here behind an industrial estate (a sort of water run-off area) that has included fruit trees in its plantings. The idea is simple - people walking there can help themselves to fruit. The trees are laden and no one has touched them!
DeleteI love that community spirit , freely sharing food and services around. I wish there could be more of that in our World.
ReplyDeleteRepurpose old phone boxes into food exchanges perhaps. Secretly drop off your surplus beans and collect a zucchini😁
DeleteI buy apples at Walmart, and whichever of the 10 types they have is the cheapest is what I buy. I found they all cook well and we both loved stewed apples, bob can't chew raw because of his teeth and I can't because raw hurts my stomach. slice and a large dollop of cinnamon a tad of water, zap 10 minutes, stir zap 10 minutes and they are delish.. and good for us, quick and easy . Beau loves them too. I am impressed with your young friend and changes in his life and think it is amazing you can help keep him in school.. good job
ReplyDeleteCould your community be returning to a barter system?
ReplyDeleteMmmmm!!!!
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing the community garden and seed/plant/fruit and veg exchange shelves in Dargaville.
A brilliant idea obviously working.
A lovely apple variety.
Bramleys are good when allowed to ripen...but people are used to those in the shops picked too early so that they will travel.
I've grown Edward 7th ( I think that was the name) and Reinette D'Orleans, a good dual.purpose apple.