| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Rob R |
Rosewood Sloe Berries For Sale - Half PriceThinking about those people who aren't blessed with sloes with which to make their favourite Christmas tipple, or jellies, or chutneys, I'd like to offer my own sloes, over 50% cheaper than the supermarket prices, at £2-40 per lb. Delivery available to all corners of the UK.PM me if we can help. Edit: All of our sloes are field grown at Rosewood Farm- we will not pick any from roadsides. |
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| Nick |
Which supermarket is flogging sloes this year? | ||||||
| Rob R |
Dunno, but google suggests Waitrose did in 2007. | ||||||
| Nick |
Blimey. Well, sounds a good deal to me.
Indeed!
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| Rob R |
It occured to me today when I was thinking how noone has come to the farm this year to pick any, presumably because all those without sloes were miles away, sooo... | ||||||
| Bernie66 |
Can you confirm that the packaging would be recycleable and or reuseable which would be another selling point on top of the very reasonable price? | ||||||
| Rob R |
Yes, card with a plastic liner to contain any juices in transit was my thinking, as per our meat, but on a smaller scale not that we're averse to a 22kg order of sloes. 
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| Ixy |
We've picked 12kgs in two days and we've barely scratched the surface of ONE hedge = c'mon don't be shy, we can handle it, you might think that Xkgs of sloes to process, without running the gauntlet of the thorns and angry livestock or farmers, was the stuff of dreams - not anymore! | ||||||
| Bodrighy |
Thanks but we are in the same position as you, hedges of the things in varying stages so plenty to come as well. Needless to say the best ones (look like plums) are 15 foot up in the tree. The birds can have them 
Also lots of hips and haws so we now have plenty of rosehip syrup and cordial and are looking at recipes for the haws Pete |
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| Ixy |
That's OK - you can buy a copy of the Rosewood Hedgrerow Recipe Book when it comes out 
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| Bodrighy |
 Might take you up on that
Pete |
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| cab |
You guys should also consider selling off sloe saplings as hedging plants. People pay good money for weeds like that. | ||||||
| Rob R |
That'll be next after they've finished fruiting
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| dpack |
have machete ,fork and gloves | ||||||
| Rob R |
The first 4lb are dripping over a bucket as I type, destined for jelly, smells good.
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| Rob R |
Edited with further info. | ||||||
| toggle |
Found one decent tree of them round here, got the lad to climb up the hedge to pick them |
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| 2steps |
Do you have any sloes left Rob? | ||||||
| Rob R |
Yep, we'll have them into early November I reckon
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| Rob R |
As an indication of volume/weight 1kg is about 1.5 litres, so a 12 litre bucketful is 8kg. | ||||||
| Nutmeg |
We picked some huge sloes this year and put them in gin. I don't know what else you'd do with them? Apparently when you drain the gin the 'spent' sloes are good added to flapjack.
Just one word of caution; if you should ever get one of the thorns of blackthorn stuck in your skin make sure you get the whole thing removed quickly as they cause blood poisoning. This happened to my Grandfather and he was very ill indeed. |
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| gil |
Sloes have stones in that need to be removed before you put them in flapjacks, unless you want broken teeth ! |
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| toggle |
looks carefully at sore bits on hands |
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| Bodrighy |
I suspect that it isn't the thorn that is the probem but the dirt that is on it. Especially if there is a road near.
Blackthorn isn't usually classed as a problem as far as I know. Pete |
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| Mr O |
And I thought sloes grew on Blackthorn bushes ! |
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| Rob R |
Jams, jellies, chutneys, just like any other fruit they are very versatile, we just don't appreciate our own fruit in the UK. |
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| Rob R |
There you go- another advantage of our sloes
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| 2steps |
I put them in my 'hedgerow' jam with apples, rowanberries and elderberries | ||||||
| cab |
Are the sloes selling, Rob? | ||||||
| Rob R |
Yep (Thanks to all those who have ordered already) The first orders are in the gin already, and I've made some jelly with a couple of kilos of our own, another 8kg have gone into the freezer to make gin/vodka as & when we can afford the alcohol. 
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| Nutmeg |
Yeah might be a bit fiddly, hope they'll come away from the stone easier after being in the gin for a few months. How long do you guys infuse them in the gin? I've seen recipes suggesting anything from one to six months, strain and then a year to mature. Half my bottle is made up of sloes. |
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| Nutmeg |
Oouuu now they're getting interesting. Why didn't I think like this? Any perfect combinations for them? |
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| gil |
I do sloes for 3 months in gin.
That way they are done in time for New Year, if not Xmas. |
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| stumbling goat |
my order of 5 kilos arrived safely, thank you.
after several hours prep they are now immersed in gin and sugar. sg |
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| Rob R |
I think of them as just little plums (and I only really like plum jam if it is mixed with another fruit), although the prep time for jams and chutneys make me favour the jelly method and just use the sloe flavoured juice with other fruit/spices in the final jam or chutney. |
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| Rob R |
We're coming towards the end of the season for sloes round here if anyone would still like to come/get us to pick some. | ||||||
| fezzer37 |
Sloe BerriesRobIs there a chance to buy 16lbs of these sloe berries? James |
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| Rob R |
Yep, you certainly can! I better get picking!
You may order through our website: www.rosewoodfarms.co.uk/shop |