Crab Apple Cider Recipe

This is the Hedgerow Hippy take on a quite ancient Hard Apple Cider Recipe. All Apples are Foraged, and only bought item is the sugar. 

1-1.5 Kgs Crab Apples (washed but not scrubbed, bruises and rotten discarded)

4 litres of Warm Water (boiled, or filtered, not tap) 

300g - 500g Sugar (depends on Apples and personal taste) 

Wooden Spoon (not metal)

Grater

Jug

Sterilised Clear Plastic Buckets

Demi Johns, or Fizzy Drink Bottles 

Airlocks or Balloons

Muslin, or even Net Curtains (clean but not washed in detergent) 

String

Take washed Crab Apples, and grate into bucket. Will be looking into making Mini Cider Press, or upcycling something for this, at later date. Does not matter if Pips go in, but try to get just the Apple! 

Boil Kettle, either leave to cool down, or add filtered water to cool. Don't use water straight from tap, and don't use water that's too hot.

Add 4 litres to every 1kg - 1.5kg of Apples. Stir well. Cover Bucket with Muslin, or nets. Tie with string to hold in place. Put somewhere warm, dark, but not too hot. This can now ferment for 8-10 days. 

FORAGED CRAB APPLES

This MUST be stirred everyday. Failure to do this will just end in a mouldy mess!! The Apple gratings will rise to the top, and you should see some bubbling, as in photo below. There should be no mould. If there's a tiny amount, just stir in. Huge amount, remove!! Fermenting will take 8-10 days. Depends on the Apples and conditions. Once the Apple gratings sink to the bottom, it's ready for the next stage. 

Pour the liquid through a sieve, lined with muslin (nets), to filter out any bits. Best to do this into a Jug, makes it easier for pouring into Demi's/Bottles. Pour into sterilised Demi Johns, or Fizzy Drink Bottles. These are good as do not explode, which can happen with glass!! Do this with all the liquid, finally squeezing all the gratings to get the last juice out. 

Adding Sugar will vary with taste. A good excuse to have a taste!! I've added 80g for every litre, but it will vary with every batch of Apples, and your taste. Add by mixing with little warm water to dissolve. You may have noticed I've not used any Yeast. The object of the Hegderow Hippy recipes is to try and be as natural as possible. There's Natural Yeast present on the fruit, and good bacteria in the air. The only problem with this is you can't guarantee what you will get at the end. Every batch will be different in taste, and alcohol!! Personally I think this is part of the fun.

Seal Demi Johns with Airlocks, or Balloons can used as a cheap replacement. Means you can have loads of Bottles on the go!! Put just couple of pin pricks in each Balloon. Air can escape under pressure, but air cannot enter to spoil the ferment. Once the final bubbles have stopped, or the Balloons are no longer inflated your Brew is ready to Bottle. Fizzy Pop Bottles are good, or you can go down the Glass route, but make sure it has definitely finished fermenting, or they will explode. 

Your Brew can be drunk straight away. I'm not sure how long it will keep, but once you've had a Glass or 2, it probably won't be a problem!! There are some variations to this recipe which I'll add at a later stage. Please let me know how you get on, or ideas to improve!! 

Land Of Waterfalls

Today's walk is in some newly found woods. Very lucky with the weather, early morning fog, burned away by some lovely sunshine. Very quiet in these woods, except for the waterfalls and Birds, a Woodcock spotted early on. I've called this place "Land Of The Waterfallls" although walking deeper up into the woods, it does feel like the "Land Time Forgot!" There are some really old parts, as shown in this photo. 

Which gives it quite a spooky, but atmospheric feel. Just love the green vibrant colour of the moss, awesome smell of "woodlands" too. There's a fairly steep climb to the top. Accompanied all the while by small waterfalls and brooks, so the background sound is just amazing. The largest waterfall being this one. 

This is about 7-8 ft high, and off it runs a small stream full of frogs/toads spawn. Can't wait to see if can spot any tadpoles later on. The "Hairy Lads" absolutely love it here, plenty of places to explore, and always a source of fresh water! 

It's amazing how nature eventually takes things over, love how the moss has made this old discarded tractor tyre, actually something quite lovely, and an art form to look at!! 

I shall definitely be returning here again, and I don't think the lads will complain. This is my first walk blog, so not sure how much detail to put in, or leave out!! Please let me know your thoughts, and what you like to see in future walks. 

Cute Caterpillars, and amazing views!

Today's walk started pretty much as normal really, then I came across something I've never seen before, a "Cute Caterpillar" apparently will turn into Elephant Hawk moth. It was about 7 cms long and as thick as my little finger.... 

Amazing or what? Cute too....

Further on into the walk, I felt we were being watched, me and my "Hairy Lads" 2 Lurchers, looked into the distant trees and spotted a Buzzard. It didn't move, as we got closer, just sat there and watched us. Didn't get too close as don't like disturbing them just to get a photo. 

Finally after about 2 hours, we reached the very top of the hill. Quite a stiff climb up the last few hundred feet. Outstanding views, quite windy, and probably a few degrees less than in the valley. I'm dreadful for always having a jacket tied round my waist, but I was pleased to put it on, while right at the top. Get the feeling my dogs weren't as inspired by the views as me!! :) . Can you spot them? 

Hope you've enjoyed this very short virtual walk! Just trying out working on the Blog on my iPad, again any feedback welcomed.... 

Hazelnuts And Getting The Strop

Welcome to the first Blog of the "Hedgerow Hippy!". Hoping to do a couple a week. Please let me know what you think of content, and what you would like to see, read about. Will try to make them informative, interesting and fun. Mainly about Countryside/Wildlife with photos from CAC Photography, aimed at those of you who may not be able to get out into the Countryside as much as you would like... 

     

Today's title "Hazelnuts and Getting the Strop!". I love foraging, it's free and you can eat what you find, 2 of my favourite things! (Always be careful what you're picking, and where!) In season at the moment are Hazelnuts, one of the easiest things to collect, often just found on the ground. You may find Squirrels, Rats, Mice and Voles already had their fill! Only pick up the uneaten ones, although the chewed ones do look good in your Pot Pourri, or your Nature Bowl (that's for another Blog). They'll most likely be green when you come across them, put them somewhere dry to store, and they'll gradually change colour. What to do with them? Of course they can eaten as nature intended, straight from the shell. Great source of Protein! How about the classic "Nut Roast"? No, I'm not sure about that either, but I am going to give this a try. 

"Hazelnut Bread" Grind cupful of young nuts, mix with cupful of Self Raising Flour, half cupful of sugar and little salt. Beat an egg with some milk, add to nut mixture, knead until a stiff dough. Shape, then bake medium heat oven 45-50mins until cooked. Now as of writing I've not tried this! So let me know if you try it, and if it's any good! 

"Getting The Strop" 

Came across these on my travels today. Known as "Razor Strops" so called because they used to sharpen the cut throat razors on them. A slice was cut off, left to dry and could be used to sharpen knives! They have many qualities, antibacterial, can be used as a plaster, should you cut yourself in the middle of nowhere. Can be dated back 5,500 years!! Have been used for Tinder, in lighting fires, I've not tried this yet, but do believe you have to dry slithers of it very well to get it to light! If lit though will smoulder, and can be used to keep midges away. 

Hope you've enjoyed my first blog, and please give me your feedback. Be kind though!!