Coming Clean!

[Treehugger]

Well, a heck of a lot of you have provided me and OH with some great ideas recently regarding English Wine and I have to come clean and confess that the reason why was that we were seriously considering buying a vineyard that is currently up for sale in the South. We went to view this weekend and were extremely excited. Our excitement was soon dampened, however, when we got there. The place was an absolute tip, filthy dirty and really run down. Now this wouldn't put us off as we are a couple of grafters and would soon get stuck in and get the place sorted. The present owner, however, was a most obnoxious, arrogant fellow who had let his vines go to rack and ruin. He openly admitted that they had a rat problem in the cellars which were so smelly it made me gag! It was such a shame to see what was obviously once such a beautiful vineyard going to such waste. The worst thing was the price that he wanted for the place and he definitely wasn't going to budge on that. So in the end OH and I have resigned ourselves to the fact the vineyard is not going to be for us. This, however, leaves the question of what exactly we can do? We are still intrested in a rural business. I was wondering about Cider............

Any ideas or suggestions are most welcome as we are a bit lost!

[jazzactivist]

It sounds like you might have had a lucky escape from that vineyard, treehugger! I think that a nice glass of cider or perry is every bit as good as a glass of wine, and is much more fashionable right now. However, best of all, to me, are lovely fruit spritzers made with fresh fruit cordials. If you had some land then you could set this up anywhere with whichever fruits grow best there. Sloes are very under developed, I think, as is rhubarb juice and cordial. There must be a really refreshing adult soft drink to be made from these. I really like the idea of temperance bars too - real pubs, but selling interesting, healthy soft drinks on draft - yum! Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

[Treehugger]

Thanks Jazz. I love the idea of some sort of Rhubarb farm as I just LOVE the fruit and agree that they are very underdeveloped. I can just imagine acres and acres of rhubarb ..................

[keepersdaughter]

Treehugger, I had some lovely rhubarb cake when we were at Oxburgh Hall recently and got a copy of the recipe. I can post it if your interested.

[Treehugger]

Oooh, yes please. On the same note, OH and I visited a Lavender Farm recently and I had Lavender cake which was beautiful until OH pointed out that it smelt and tasted a bit like bath salts - kind of ruined it from then on!

[keepersdaughter]

Treehugger, I sampled some homemade strawberry lavender jam this weekend. I must admit I was a little dubious about the lavender part, although i love the smell of lavender wasn't sure I would enjoy the taste. Well, this was the best jam ever, the lavender was very subtle and perfectly complemented the strawberry. It was at a little craft fair and i was telling the women of my first attempt at jam making woes and she said i could go to her house and she'd show me how to make it. So if i do I'll pass any tips i may learn on.

[franbee]

and I was given a box of chocs from Hotel Chocolate, and one of them was 'salty caramel and lavender'. It tasted very much of lavender, but the caramel blended very well, and it wasn't too sweet, in fact it was yummee.

[franbee]

Jazz, if you like a temperance bar, after you get moved, pay a visit to Rawtenstall, there is the oldest temperance bar there, and if you come on the right Sunday you can get the steam train to Ramsbottom, to the farmers market.

[Rose]

If you google Moniak Castle you will find a winery that produces beautiful wines and none from grapes. It might give you some business ideas. I have tasted their Birch wine and it is superb.

[Oola]

Ah what a bummer Treehugger. Still, I think it gives you plenty of scope for other ideas. I love cider, and it's getting more and more popular, so that is definitely one direction you could go in. Love jazz's idea too, I'd like to experiment in that sort of area, but I don't think Rich and I are anywhere near being able to put money aside for such a venture. You are SO lucky, I hope it works out well for you :)

By the way, was the Lavender farm in Shoreham in Kent?

[Treehugger]

No it was further South than that. Don't really want to post the name here as it may give the game away where the vineyard was and I don't want to risk offending anyone. Thanks for the tips all. We are now looking at several other options. I will keep you all posted. x

[jazzactivist]

Thanks, franbee, I'll definately be off to Rawtenstall to try out the temperance bar once I've moved. I have read about it and must admit that it sounded great. On the subjects of lavender and rhubarb, I once had a lavender and vanilla sorbet in a restaurant that was very refreshing. The warm and cool flavours really complemented one another. Also, I made rhubarb margheritas last year from the HF-W cookery book and they tasted fantastic - sharpish and salty. Someone near to where I live is experiementing with making drinks and ice cream using spruce extract, as she lives in a forestry house in the middle of a much maligned spruce forest. It tastes really refreshing too, and sophisticated, and I could see it on a restaurant menu. Good luck with your plans, treehugger, and keep us informed about how you get on. I can't wait for my, much smaller, change of lifestyle which I hope is just around the corner.

[Treehugger]

It sounds very interesting Jazz. Keep us up to date please?

[Treehugger]

I was just thinking, and OH and I are wanting to move to a rural business - anything considered really, but are having trouble locating one. We are open to moving anywhere in the UK. Are there websites and agents that deal specifically with these types of business? If so, could you point us in the right direction?

[JG]

Lavender farms seemed to be 'the new black' in New Zealand when I visited in 2007. Always seems a popular range in NT type shops, and for days out - my mom has beento one in Yorkshire and one on the Isle of Wight. I can't get enough of lavender bits and bobs, including lavender chocolate, from Waitrose, but now coming in to other supermarkets. Can't remember the name... something with 'Tree' in it? ... black or brown packaging with a coloured stripe across the top denoting the flavour. Not cheap, but you don't gorge on it.

[Oola]

Treehugger, how about this: http://uk.businessesforsale.com/uk/Browse/Agriculture-Businesses-for-sale.aspx

There's a couple of things like soft fruit farms etc.

I'd love to get my hands on somewhere like that, I'd go mad doing farmer's markets, having a little cafe with fresh fruit smoothies, soft fruit cakes, desserts etc. on offer. Raspberry tea! So many ideas...lol...

[Treehugger]

Thanks Oola. It all looks interesting. Apart from the Mussels Farm! Don't fancy going out on the sea in this weather to 'harvest' the mussels!

[jazzactivist]

Look in the classifieds of Permaculture magazine and Smallholder, treehugger. Sometimes they have existing businesses for sale. Someone came to look at my house today who is planning to grow and harvest wild flower and grass seed. I also once saw an article about a man who grows plants and harvests the petals to dry for confetti. However, you would need an area with lots of sun and fairly predictable weather for that. I still think that rhubarb is due for a rennaisance. The important thing is to grow something thart you love and would feel passionate about for a long time, as it must be pretty hard work.