Mead again

I took my mead to an SCA arts and sciences event to get some feedback, and it didn't totally suck. The night before the event I took half the mead and 'backsweetened' it with 500g of really nice honey that I got out of my hives a month ago, right on the cusp of wrapping them up for the winter.

The original mead was very watery, and not terribly flavourful, but someone suggested that I could use it to make extracts. That's a fantastic idea, and I'll be doing that. The sweetened mead was a little bit watery, and it didn't meet the standards of the master brewer who tried it, but everyone else thought it was perfectly fine. Also, it had a kick like a mule. I don't know what the alcohol content is, but it's definitely over 10%.

I'll be giving a jar of mead and a jar of honey as 'rent' at the place where I keep my hives. I hope they like it.

My next brewing adventure will be more controlled. I bought a couple cider kits, and I'll be starting them soon. I want to have some good beverages to share for the SCA summer camping season, in good Anglo-Saxon mead-hall fashion.

Easy homemade gifts

1. Homemade peppermint extract

Take clean, fresh mint leaves, fill a mason jar, crush with the handle of a wooden spoon to release the oils, fill to the top with a clear liquor of your choice, and put on the lid. Let it sit for a month or two (two is better). Strain into gift jars. Give to your favourite baker.

How to become a little bit more self-sufficient (even if you live in the city)

Being more self-sufficient also means saving a bit of money. This is what's called a 'win-win', I believe! If this is super new for you choose one item off this list, and start from there.

1. Have some herbs in pots in a sunny window.

My kitchen is too dark to keep plants in, so all of my herbs, and my lemon and bay trees have ended up in my daughter's 'study'. She likes being surrounded by plants while she works, and her window faces nearly directly south, so everybody is happy. Between this and my outdoor herb garden I haven't had to buy anything except annual herbs for years, and I have enough to give away as gifts, as well as make my food extra yummy for the whole year. I honestly believe this is why my roast chicken and soups are as good as it is. Fresh, or freshly dried, herbs really do make all the difference.

Planning a dye garden for myself

If I'm lucky this is what we'll get done this coming summer. I forgot to label the water barrel (bottom right) and the composter (the yellow and brown box at the top), and the small shed (empty white box at the top).

Medieval plant dyes (and modern)

As long as you have red, yellow and blue you can mix and match to make almost any colour. Some of these dye plants are more resistant to fading in sunlight or getting washed out of the fibre than others.

Any plant name that is in bold is a perennial (or biennial).

Red - 

Medieval European- Madder (Rubia tinctoria), Lady's Bedstraw/Cleavers (Galium verum)

Other- Amaranth (Hopi red dye), Dyer's Alkanet, Henna (Lawsonia inermis) (shrub), Joe Pye Weed, Dyer's Woodruff (Asperula tinctoria), Brazilwood (tree)

Orange - 

Medieval European- any yellow + Madder, or just Madder itself

Other- Dyer's Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria), Orange Cosmos, Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldstrum') (edges into dull yellow)