HI! I chatted with some of you in September at the HMFA meal in Davis Sq. You had brought a large supply of apples, which I believe were Roxbury Russets (or possible golden russets). I would like to know more about your canning projects, and if some canned products are available. You also spoke of cider, mentioning Phil in Harvard, who uses primarily macintosh apples. They are from old trees. For a longer lasting cider or for hard cider different apples are necessary. I am interested in a cider project, both sparkling and hard. Cider manufacture is making a recovery; there are some in New England and some in New York, but none I know of in greater Boston. Are you interested in going down this road. In Europe cider makers are doing interesting things with bottled cider and at farmer’s markets. A favored apple is a cross with the Cox Orange that has some of the fruitiness and sweetness of the parent. I just did up 20 plus pint jars of raspberry-plum jam. In also did some raspberry peach (with a small amount of raspberry relative to peach) which turned out well. I should havew a harvest of over three gallons next year as well as a blackberry harvest in mid to late August. I just did a batch of raspberry-plum with half agave syrup and half light brown sugar. Very tasty, a touch tart and with no vanilla. At the very least, I would like to know what sort of canning and cider you did this Fall and if you are still doing things. I assume you have a cider press. Fedco wants to do a project with roxbury russets in the Boston area. The question is if it might be possible to plant an orchard and then to market the products (jams, ciders etc). I had an option on a two acre parcel (conservation land) in Lincoln. There were a few complications, but in essence the locals were interested. What I needed were some others who also wanted to become involved. There is also an opportunity in Concord. Now, Concord and Lincoln are not exactly urban, but Lincoln was a little over 16 miles from my front door. Any interest? It would mean approaching the board of the Codman Comunity Farm again, talking to the Conservation Commission again and rustling up some interest in Lincoln and elsewhere. one of the board members lives in Somerville. Also we were hoping that the U-Mass Field Station in Waltham would become a focal point for urban agriculture and gardening. Any interest?
Cordially yours, Steven
Hi Steven,
Thanks for your post! Sounds like a very interesting project, although a bit outside of our “urban” realm. One of our members does have a cider press, which we used to make cider from crabapples and apples last fall. If you’re interested in getting involved, please join our email list to hear about harvesting, canning, and cidering events later this year. Sign up on our website at http://lurc.herokuapp.com/?page_id=67
Thanks!
Julia
Anybody interested in helping harvest garlic mustard (invasive plant) at Fresh Pond on Earth Day (Monday night, April 22)? I’m the volunteer coordinator at the Cambridge Water Dept. We’ll be making pesto with it (which is unbelievably tasty) and your group would be welcome to take home as much as you can harvest. I’ve canned pesto, but I also think it’s fine to put in mason jars in the freezer. Rich in Vitamin C!
Hi Deb,
Thanks for your post! We are having trouble keeping up with spam comments, so it’s best to post about events on the League of Urban Canners Facebook page. I will post this there and also send an email to our list. Thanks for letting us know about this event!
Julia
Hi,
Trying to get more information about group as well as sign up for canning class at Cambridge Community Center on July 15, 2013. Please advise Thx in advance.
Hi Melannee,
Thanks for your comment! Feel free to post any questions for the group here. Please note that we don’t have an affiliation with the Cambridge Center for Adult Education – it’s best to go to them directly for information on classes. Thanks!
Julia
Cambridge
HI! I chatted with some of you in September at the HMFA meal in Davis Sq. You had brought a large supply of apples, which I believe were Roxbury Russets (or possible golden russets). I would like to know more about your canning projects, and if some canned products are available. You also spoke of cider, mentioning Phil in Harvard, who uses primarily macintosh apples. They are from old trees. For a longer lasting cider or for hard cider different apples are necessary. I am interested in a cider project, both sparkling and hard. Cider manufacture is making a recovery; there are some in New England and some in New York, but none I know of in greater Boston. Are you interested in going down this road. In Europe cider makers are doing interesting things with bottled cider and at farmer’s markets. A favored apple is a cross with the Cox Orange that has some of the fruitiness and sweetness of the parent. I just did up 20 plus pint jars of raspberry-plum jam. In also did some raspberry peach (with a small amount of raspberry relative to peach) which turned out well. I should havew a harvest of over three gallons next year as well as a blackberry harvest in mid to late August. I just did a batch of raspberry-plum with half agave syrup and half light brown sugar. Very tasty, a touch tart and with no vanilla. At the very least, I would like to know what sort of canning and cider you did this Fall and if you are still doing things. I assume you have a cider press. Fedco wants to do a project with roxbury russets in the Boston area. The question is if it might be possible to plant an orchard and then to market the products (jams, ciders etc). I had an option on a two acre parcel (conservation land) in Lincoln. There were a few complications, but in essence the locals were interested. What I needed were some others who also wanted to become involved. There is also an opportunity in Concord. Now, Concord and Lincoln are not exactly urban, but Lincoln was a little over 16 miles from my front door. Any interest? It would mean approaching the board of the Codman Comunity Farm again, talking to the Conservation Commission again and rustling up some interest in Lincoln and elsewhere. one of the board members lives in Somerville. Also we were hoping that the U-Mass Field Station in Waltham would become a focal point for urban agriculture and gardening. Any interest?
Cordially yours, Steven
Hi Steven,
Thanks for your post! Sounds like a very interesting project, although a bit outside of our “urban” realm. One of our members does have a cider press, which we used to make cider from crabapples and apples last fall. If you’re interested in getting involved, please join our email list to hear about harvesting, canning, and cidering events later this year. Sign up on our website at http://lurc.herokuapp.com/?page_id=67
Thanks!
Julia
Anybody interested in helping harvest garlic mustard (invasive plant) at Fresh Pond on Earth Day (Monday night, April 22)? I’m the volunteer coordinator at the Cambridge Water Dept. We’ll be making pesto with it (which is unbelievably tasty) and your group would be welcome to take home as much as you can harvest. I’ve canned pesto, but I also think it’s fine to put in mason jars in the freezer. Rich in Vitamin C!
Hi Deb,
Thanks for your post! We are having trouble keeping up with spam comments, so it’s best to post about events on the League of Urban Canners Facebook page. I will post this there and also send an email to our list. Thanks for letting us know about this event!
Julia
Hi,
Trying to get more information about group as well as sign up for canning class at Cambridge Community Center on July 15, 2013. Please advise Thx in advance.
Hi Melannee,
Thanks for your comment! Feel free to post any questions for the group here. Please note that we don’t have an affiliation with the Cambridge Center for Adult Education – it’s best to go to them directly for information on classes. Thanks!
Julia