Hello!

[Goldfang]

Hello everybody, found this website via the Kitchen garden website, like what I have found here. I have an allotment, two green houses and grow herbs, soft fruit etc in the garden. As a family we like to hunt, gather and grow a large percentage of the food we eat. Also very interested in preserving food, hoping to build a smoker and a drying box, hopefully to cater for the kids appetite for very expensive biltong. I lived in the Falkland islands for eight years, learnt a lot of usefull stuff.
Regards, Goldfang.l

[Rohen]

Kettering? Ah I used to work there

Welcome

[Wombat]

G'Day Goldfang,

Sounds like a nice setup you have there!

Biltong eh, is there a South African connection?

Nev

[Millymollymandy]

Hi Goldfang and welcome to the site. Did you grow anything when you were in the Falklands? Should imagine there was a pretty short growing season there and not very warm.

Anyway sounds like you'll have lots of advice for us with all your growing experience. Look forward to hearing more from you!

[glenniedragon]

Hello there! I used to live and work in Kettering too! (I lived near Wicksteed Park and worked in Theatres at KGH!) where do you go a-hunting? Welcome to the site

kind thoughts
Deb

[gunners71uk]

welcome to the site the only thing i know about kettering used to have a good footie team,hey gold fang do you know any good recipes for courgettes and marrows as i am growing 12 plants !!!!!!!!!. i have some recipes. but want to know chutneys etcetc.

[justkate]

Hi Goldfang, nice to meet you :-)

Kate

[hedgewitch]

Hi there and welcome to the forum

[Ermintrude]

Hi there!

Let us knoe how you get on with that smoker, I'm very interested!

[Goldfang]

Hello again everybody, in answer to some of your questions, no South african link Nev, I got into biltong through eating the south american version called jerky that the Chileans i worked with in the Falklands used to make. Regarding the Falklands it is gardening on the edge! Potatoes, root vegetables and cabbages grow really well, things with a long growing season and things like peas and beans are very difficult, no Bees!
I understand that they now grow an amazing amount of stuff in huge polytunnels that are heated by burning waste oil from the cruise ships that they sell the stuff to.
Regarding smoking food, I am going to follow (hopefully) the instructions in the exellent book 'Preserved' by Nick Sandler and Johnny Acton, (this is not a plug) I reckon everyone should have a copy of this book.
Regards, Goldfang.

[Chickenlady]

What is biltong? Some kind of dried meat?

Welcome to the site!

[Goldfang]

Biltong, or Jerky is air dried beef that is usually dried in the open air on racks, having first been coated with a salt/spice mix which acts as a flavouring and as an insect deterrent whilst drying. It has been used as an emergency storable food in Africa and South america for centuries.
Other meats can be used. the commercial makers (good but expensive) use Ostrich, Kudu and buffalo. You can make it at home in a purpose built drying box or in an oven set at a very low temperature. The secret is not to over dry the meat, the pieces should break like a green stick, not snap in half. Also, the meat should be fat free to avoid it going rancid. Biltong can be eaten as it is, or used in stews etc.

[Wombat]

I had a South African friend who told me how to make it, but never wote it down.......

There are plenty of recipes on the net though.

Nev

[Millymollymandy]

I've tried it once. Uhhhhh - I think it is an acquired taste. And I haven't acquired it!

[Andy Hamilton]

Hello Goldfang and welcome to the site.

Seems that we get quite a few people from northants coming to ths site, good to see as I originate from Northampton.