Monthly Archives: January 2014

QUAILS IGNORE WEATHERMAN

Lightning

There was a lot of conversation. especially on Facebook, as to the possible effect on hatchability of poultry eggs when heavy thunder is experienced during incubation. During the second half of December Dunedin experienced very heavy weather with lots of thunder, especially in North East Valley. During this time I had a batch of 120 Quail eggs in the incubator, which hatched  on 4 January and the results are that  I had 57% live birds at 17 days old of all eggs placed. This compared with the running average for the year of 59% is a negligible difference and disproves the theory that heavy  weather effects hatchability. It may be small numbers to be statistically significant and the weather may not have been bad enough (I would hate to experience  more severe storms), but at least I have some results. Will continue to monitor this  in future.

Hedgehogs or no

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Last night I found a little hedgehog in the veg patch. Not knowing what to do, I looked it over and it seemed quite well but young. I put it in a box with bedding,water and a bit of bacon, and hit the internet. Searching ‘hedgehogs in Dunedin’ threw up two startlingly  different points of view, a horrifying conundrum for an animal lover (meaning everything alive) like me and my household.

There is the conservationist view that hedgehogs are introduced disease carriers and that they deplete already endangered species, think ground roosting birds, and that they should be treated as vermin and killed. I understand the conservation theories behind this totally and would agree wholeheartedly that endangered indigenous species should be protected had I not found this cute little fellow who is now sleeping beside the back door myself. Also, the idea that a bounty was paid in the past for hedgehog snouts makes me shudder.

The opposing point of view is that  hedgehogs mainly eat invertebrates, making it the friend of the veg patch.  Apparently the diseases they carry are mainly mange and ringworm which are treatable conditions.  There is plenty of advice about how to keep the hedgehog in the garden well and happy and how blessed  one is to  have these small critters  in the garden.

I will never be able to harm the little fellow, so the question  is to give it to someone or set it free to live in my pesticide free back garden with the chickens. I also know that chickens and hedgehogs are not compatible, but will try and manage it appropriately.

My grandchildren are on their way to see the hedgehog, so I think I can guess the outcome of this one!

Hedgehogs or no

2014-01-29 09.39.55

Last night I found a little hedgehog in the veg patch. Not knowing what to do, I looked it over and it seemed quite well but young. I put it in a box with bedding,water and a bit of bacon, and hit the internet. Searching ‘hedgehogs in Dunedin’ threw up two startlingly  different points of view, a horrifying conundrum for an animal lover (meaning everything alive) like me and my household.

There is the conservationist view that hedgehogs are introduced disease carriers and that they deplete already endangered species, think ground roosting birds, and that they should be treated as vermin and killed. I understand the conservation theories behind this totally and would agree wholeheartedly that endangered indigenous species should be protected had I not found this cute little fellow who is now sleeping beside the back door myself. Also, the idea that a bounty was paid in the past for hedgehog snouts makes me shudder.

The opposing point of view is that  hedgehogs mainly eat invertebrates, making it the friend of the veg patch.  Apparently the diseases they carry are mainly mange and ringworm which are treatable conditions.  There is plenty of advice about how to keep the hedgehog in the garden well and happy and how blessed  one is to  have these small critters  in the garden.

I will never be able to harm the little fellow, so the question  is to give it to someone in the department of conservation or set it free to live in my pesticide free back garden with the chickens.

My grandchildren are on their way to see the hedgehog, so I think I can guess the outcome of this one!

Ricotta and Beetroot Tops Pasta. One of the best pastas I have ever eaten and I have eaten a LOT of pasta!

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Most of the ricotta has been devoured; we ate it on toast with jam on top, as part of an antipasto spread involving the roast carrots and beetroot that the tops came from, and I am ashamed to say that I ate some ‘straight’ using a spoon. Today’s lunch was delicious and quick to prepare

Ricotta and Beetroot Tops Pasta 

2  cloves garlic

4   tablespoons of olive oil (More if tr is too tight)

1  pinch chili flakes

3  cups cooked beetroot tops. I have quite a lot in the fridge after cooking my harvest.  link

4  strips of bacon, chopped ( normally I would use panchetta, but where I live good quality Italian meats are non existent)

1/2 cup of ricotta (or, in my case, as much as you have left over)

Spaghetti

Parmigiano grated

Put the spaghetti into fast boiling, salted water. Cook until al dente, not soggy. Use a pan big enough to hold the sauce and the pasta. Crisp the bacon  in olive oil and add the chili and garlic. When the garlic has softened add the beetroot tops and fry for a bit. Cook until the beetroot is hot, check for salt and pepper. Stir in the ricotta, not too well,  keep a few lumps in the mix  Add the pasta and mix. Serve with grated parmgiano .

The Stadium Markets, Dunedin every Sunday

The Stadium Markets, Dunedin every Sunday

I go to the markets every Sunday to sell Quail Eggs and other Quail Products, have a laugh and a chat to fellow stallholders and meet friendly Dunedinites. I love the people and the products, mostly grown, cooked or made by the stall holders, with other interesting stuff in between. I intend blogging about what I have seen on the markets.  So, hopefully you will be able to read all about it here next week.

This week I sold out of my Quail eggs early during the day but do not intend selling out again!  I also got a large container of ripe, luscious cherries from Michael and Glenys Roche of COAL CREEK GARDENS, a farmer/stallholder,  which I carted home and spent the best part of afternoon and night sorting and preserving. The biggest and best that did not get gobbled up I preserved  in cognac, some are now fermenting to distill Grappa from at a later stage and the rest I am making into jams. I like all things lemony and added some lemon peel and juice to a batch of cherry and a batch of blueberry jam, the rest I made in the traditional way.  If I add the apricot jam I made last week and the plum jam of the week before I nearly have enough jams to last until next season, with some spare to give away and also taking into consideration that the apple  and tomato seasons are still to come. I make the most wonderful Tomato, Basil and Chili Jam!

Another stallholder, THE NAKED SCOTSMAN by Sandy Stoddard who claims to make Otago’s Cheekiest Preserves (I do agree with him on that), asked me to bring in some quail eggs next week as he would like to try and include pickled quail eggs into his range of wonderful products. I cannot wait to see how his trial with this is going to pan out.

A picture of my jam making operation, with the espresso pot on standby to keep me awake.

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