It's elderberry time!

[John S]

Nearly ? I've already stripped and processed 22kg's into 43L of wine and can barely sleep for the bubling

 

So is mine now, 8 gallons of the stuff (5 in a bin, the rest in demijons)

[Ken L]

So is mine now, 8 gallons of the stuff (5 in a bin, the rest in demijons)

 

Mines in two 18.9L office water cooler bottles - with the overflow in demijohns.....

Toying with doing some more next week because there's a real glut of quality fruit at the moment.

[watatoad]

Off Topic but a question for you wine producers, I have often wondered.

 

As you cant legally use a still, would you get the same effect by putting the wine in a freezer which I think will just freeze the water and leave the alcohol liquid, thus allowing you to pour off a much stronger drink?

[watatoad]

Back on topic.

 

I think the Roach think the elderberries are larger versions of the little black snails they love so much, rather than just a fruit. What do you all think?

[Renrag39]

Back on topic.

 

I think the Roach think the elderberries are larger versions of the little black snails they love so much, rather than just a fruit. What do you all think?

 

Its certainly plausible, especially where the berries are used in the absence of the bushes but I would hazard a guess that on waters bordered by them, they knowingly seek them as a foodsource, especially due to their high energy content.

Might try to work it out when I next keep them.

 

Renrag

[John S]

Off Topic but a question for you wine producers, I have often wondered.

 

As you cant legally use a still, would you get the same effect by putting the wine in a freezer which I think will just freeze the water and leave the alcohol liquid, thus allowing you to pour off a much stronger drink?

 

yes

[Tigger]

What do you all think?

 

 

I think berries are good for birds, so I might go out chopping of hawthorn twigs and pulling of bunches of elderberries for my Macaws, I do every year .

[Ken L]

Be careful to only feed the berries to the birds. Elderberry leaves are quite toxic.

 

Back on topic. I doubt that the fish are mistaking the berries for anything, They are simply a seasonal food source that will help them pack on weight before winter.

My dad used to have some spectacular bags of roach at this time of year on black dyed tares and an elderberry bush overhanging the river was just another aspect of the watercraft that he would employ to find them.