Christmas eve donation of Apple Juice to the Vicar of Warmley

As it’s new years eve I wanted to impress some of my friends with a sample of this years cider, so this morning I went down to Willsbridge Mill so see how it’s progressing.

Well it’s a bit of a mixed bag, 2 tubs are still fermenting (that’s good) 4 seem to have finished fermenting but are tasting pretty sharp and need more a little more time to mature (actually a lot more time if I’m being honest !). One tub hasn’t started fermenting (not good) or has possible got stuck so i’ve added a bottle of warm apple juice to hopefully get it started.The last tub tastes rather acetic (the problem I had with my cider last year) so that will probably end up being poured into Siston Brook.

Anyway, the upshot is that I’m not taking any cider to the party, apart from a bottle of Orchard Pig which I was given as a xmas present. That should do the trick !

Happy new year,

Neil
The Scrumping Project.

Rogers Wilkins takes a rest in his cider bard

“You can really taste the apples” said Roger, Cool !

His place is really worth a visit whatever your taste in cider is.

Also a great advert for Bristol, I’m very a proud Bristolian (apart
from the dreadful links to slavery of course), off to cook rice and
peas and bake some apples (to a Massive attack soundtrack,
probably !).

Also on you tube with music
or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m-U-0obLpQ

I’m still pressing for apple juice and cider will be down at Willsbridge mill this sunday afternoon, with the scrumping project press if any one fancies popping down to say hello.

Here is a cider song for you all.
Neilx

A Cider Song

To J.S.M.

The wine they drink in Paradise
They make in Haute Lorraine;
God brought it burning from the sod
To be a sign and signal rod
That they that drink the blood of God
Shall never thirst again.

The wine they praise in Paradise
They make in Ponterey,
The purple wine of Paradise,
But we have better at the price;
It’s wine they praise in Paradise,
It’s cider that they pray.

The wine they want in Paradise
They find in Plodder’s End,
The apple wine of Herford,
Of Hafod Hill and Herford,
Where woods went down to Herford,
And there I had a friend.

The soft feet of the blessed go
In the soft western vales,
The road of the silent saints accord,
The road from heaven to Herford,
Where the apple wood of Herford
Goes all the way to Wales.

Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Willsbridge Mill, new home for the Scrumping Project

We had a great afternoon pressing apples for cider and apple juice at the Avon Wildlife trust’s annual Autumn fair last sunday and meet lots of great people. What I’ve discovered at these events is that I get very little time on the press as visitors/families and friends always jump at the chance to work the press.

The Scrumping project press proves popular againat the Autumn Fair.

I also did my first pressing at the mill on friday afternoon after spending the morning scrumping at various orchards around Oldbury and Rockhampton. This was made really tricky by the mist that hung over the landscape. I get lost driving around those lanes at the best of times and I completely failed to locate a couple of my best orchards. I’ll hopefully find them next autumn !

Pics from the picking and pressing days to follow soon.

Neil

Scrumpers at Oldburt Naite orchard

Things are also looking good for Sunday’s Apple day at Grimsbury Farm, Kingswood. There will be lots of presses on the go and people are welcome to bring their apples to be pressed. There will be music, games for the children and lots of lovely apple juice (and some scrumping project cider !) to taste. Grimsbury farm have also recently opened it’s new cafe selling fantastic tea and cakes so that is worth checking out as is the farm’s new play area for children.

Hope to see you there !!

Neil
The Scrumping Project.

It’s very apt during these grey windy autumn days, enjoy.

It’s written by, Joseph T. Renaldi

Once Upon An Autumn Day

Once Upon an autumn day,
Colorful leaves began to fade
In the midst of a chilly, frosty air
As multitude of trees grew steadily bare.

Once upon an autumn day,
The whispering breeze was here to stay
Moving aimlessly through the countless trees
Scattering leaves with the greatest of ease.

Once upon an autumn day,
The leaves whirled freely in every way,
Until at last they came to rest
Finding a haven in which to nest.

Once upon an autumn day,
The trees were dormant, and the leaves lay
Waiting for the winter snow to fall
To quickly obscure them one and all.

Joseph T. Renaldi

Apple orchard in autumn light