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Oooh! I am SO excited to hear how this one turns out. And yes, those thorns are NO JOKING MATTER. Yikes!

I've been able to find a free PDF of the book online at multiple websites, so I downloaded that for reference rather than buy the book. https://swguildpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Jack-Keller-Complete-Requested-Recipes-Collection.pdf

Hi All! I've been struggling to find an apfelwein recipe that doesn't use store bought apple juice/concentrate as the primary source of apple. I've got nothing against them, I just have 40+ lbs of frozen and cubed apples from this year's harvest that I really want to use (I have bittersharps and...

Yes, the conventional gardening wisdom is when they come away freely. I was taught that when you gently hold the apple from the bottom in your palm and lift up and turn it slightly it should come away from the tree freely- that's when they are ready for harvest. Once you have a couple that do...

Hi All! I've got enough blackberries to try a port recipe I've had my eye on. It calls for 5lbs Blackberries and 1/4 lb dried elderberries and 1/2 lb raisins for a gallon. I'm wondering if I could reasonably use dried blueberries? I haven't seen dried elderberries at any local stores, but I...

We just pulled the trail camera chip from off the hill behind our house and could not believe our eyes when we saw this. Four cubs!!! Black Bear Jacuzzi?

I'm inclined to agree with @David Violante , looks like a leaf hopper of some ilk, those might be in nymph stage which makes specific ID tougher. Those links David provided will give you all the intel you need! Good luck!

I know I'm a bit late to this debate, but I've been thinking about this more and more since I read it. My logic is that, if its my hobby or a task that benefits me, the "cost" of my time CANNOT factor in. Why? Because I don't factor in my labor costs when I make a loved one a birthday cake. Nor...

If I'm able to disperse the cost of the initial gear (I don't use any pumps, just the basic equipment), the only cost I have per batch is yeast and sugar because we forage all of our fruit. The cost of additives (yeast nutrient, campden, tannin, etc) is nominal across batches, but even if you...

I've made 3 batches of rhubarb only wine and find it quite flavorful and delicious, but I also bumped up the volume of frozen rhubarb by 20%. It made a big difference. But if you aren't a rhubarb lover (I am, don't come at me with any of that strawberry-rhubarb nonsense) go ahead and blend it...

Are you talking about stuck on sediment or actual staining of the glass? For the stuck on sediment I pop some dried beans (small ones, like pinto or navy or even lentils) in with the warm water and soap and shake it around, the beans act as an abrasive and do a good job dislodging the sediment...

I wanted to pop on and second @winemaker81 and agree that dozens of studies of those Japanese Beetle Traps have shown that they bring more bugs to your property than you are killing. Even if you can put them away from your crop and are catching bugs with them, you are actually creating a bigger...

@my wine holler if you have any hiccups or issues with it! I'm happy to help troubleshoot.

I second hand picking into soapy water if that's logistically possible, that's what we do with both the Japanese Beetles and their cousin Rose Chafer Beetles, but that's because we are trying to stay pesticide free at our place. However, I will add that our local orchard expert gave us a great...

My beans were brittle too and its only been going for like 7 weeks now, so super young. I'll avoid using it for a year if I can! That was my initial thought, wait until I rack it after the secondary ferment and then see where we are at and tinker there... that's when I'd partition off the...

@winemaker81 I do make homemade vanilla extract, but I've only just started so my stuff is sorta weak for now, perhaps close to standard strength. It'll be a bit more mature when we come time to rack it into carboys- would you add the extract at that time? Or now during primary fermentation...

Hi All! I just got a 5 gallon batch of rhubarb going (have to make wine for all the black raspberries coming in right now!) and as I wrote before, we were happy with the last batch with this recipe, but I was hoping to get a bit more of a vanilla note/warmth to it. I have some American Oak chips...

Oh now you've gone and done it. I have boatloads of this stuff because it reseeds everywhere in my garden. I'll be watching with baited breath to see how this one comes out...

Our haven't showed up yet in Northern WI, but it was a mild year for their sandy-soil cousins the Rose Chafer beetles, so I'm hoping it will translate to an easier year with the japanese beetles too. Fingers crossed! Much luck and healing/healthy juju to you and your wife- I hope the transplant...

UPDATE: I oaked 1 gallon of our black raspberry and just tried it after a month. I was only able to find chips at our local supplier, untoasted American oak to be exact, but I soaked them for a day and tossed them in. I am super impressed with the added depth and complexity as compared to its...