Small holdings and the like - My Right Wing Agenda

22/08/2008

Today I went for a trip around the outskirts of Gloucester the south side, Hardwick way, I have to say we live in one of the prettiest counties. It makes me more than ever want to be a Farmer, but since I am not (knowingly) linked to the aristocracy, or have just invented the next huge thing in the dot com era, I don't have a spare 400-500K in my back pocket, therefore the only realistic way to become a Farmer is to try and get a small property and a few acres. That way I can have some sheepos, cattle and pigs to go with my chickens. I can still have a day job. Just the other week on Sky news they had some mini cattle that you could leave outside all year round and they were half the size of regular ones.. ideal for small holdings.. Unfortunately whilst there seems to be a slump in the market for houses at the mo... I didn't see anything suitable on my little drive... So if there are any single Farmer's Daughters out there at the mo.. looking for a guy... I could be interested especially if living / working on a farm is required

Posted at 22:57 by Gordon Taylor | Category: Small holdings and the like | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

11/04/2008

Venison and Beef Pie

Yum Yum one of my fravs... started making some dinner for tomorrow.. since tomorrow I will be busy electioneering and all.. I'm just waiting for my squash and winter veg mash to roast... so have a minute to let you into the secret of a great tasting Pie..

Its dead easy you need 2 lb of diced venison, and 2 lb of diced beef... the best butcher is in Easington down this way he has venison when its in season and a slaughter house attached to his butcher!!.. and I got a half one and cut it up myself late Feb. before the season ended hence I have some in my freezer J

Ok you put the diced meat in to a slow cooker. And simply add a rue based gravy.. I fry some onions in butter diced small.. then add a little powdered mustard maybe 2 tea spoons and then flower until its a rue. In the other pan about ¾ of a bottle of French red wine, ok it doesn't have to be French.. two knorr stock cubes 1 veg and one beef or chicken.. just bring to a simmer till cubes are dissolved... then make into a thickish gravy... simply poor this into the slow cooker, I usually dice a few cloves of garlic and a couple of onions... this time I had a few mushrooms left so they went in to...

The Next day you wake up to the most divine smell!!! Then simply get short crust pastry.. Make it yourself or buy it up to you... layer the dish your putting the pie into.. Then get some puff pastry for the top... 40 mins to an hour in the oven and it's all done!!

Posted at 23:36 by Gordon Taylor | Category: Small holdings and the like | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

07/02/2008

Jamie at home

click the title to see the video for jamie at home.

Posted at 23:34 by Gordon Taylor | Category: Small holdings and the like | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

21/01/2008

Should everyone keep chickens?

I've had six chickens in my back yard for about 4 months now, they are great!! They are really fun to watch, they make me eggs for a small amount of food. My garden is fairly secure and maybe 12 or 14 feet by maybe 40 ish maybe (that's a total semi educated guess)

The point I wanted to make is that keeping chickens is fairly easy, you need to let them out in the morning & feed them I keep some feed up in there pen in a plastic container. At the end of the day I need to lock them into their box. At some point I collect the eggs sometimes first thing sometimes last thing... and sometimes in between...

Keeping chickens is really fun and you could spend a lot of time watching them, I now no longer need to buy eggs... I'm getting 3-5 eggs a day!!!

If you have the space it really is worth keeping a few chickens!! Even if you have two or three you should get at least one egg a day

Posted at 00:40 by Gordon Taylor | Category: Small holdings and the like | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (2)

07/01/2008

Hugh’s Chicken run

Well having just watched the first part of the ch4 big food fight... Hughes chicken run... I'm sooo glad I don't eat chicken... I actually keep six chickens for eggs.. they get free roam of my garden and if they are locked in there coop they have a bout 10foot sq.. and in their house it's about 1.2m sq so after seeing a battery farm where they put 17 chicks per square meter no natural light ever... I won't be eating any non free range meat in the near future... owww how I want my own small holding more and more... one day I will be rich enough to live in a house a very big house in the country... and keep sheep and chickens and geese.. just like Alex James from Blur!

Posted at 23:48 by Gordon Taylor | Category: Small holdings and the like | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (1)