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  1. CortneyD

    Lychee Tomato Wine - I'm going for it!

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

    Jack Keller Home winemaking

    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
  3. CortneyD

    Apfelwein Recipe using fruit, not store bought juice

    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...
  4. CortneyD

    Timing apple harvest for wine

    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...
  5. CortneyD

    Dried Elderberry Alternative?

    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...
  6. CortneyD

    Post a photo, any photo

    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?
  7. CortneyD

    What's that insect?

    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!
  8. CortneyD

    Labor Costs

    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...
  9. CortneyD

    Any other thrifty wine makers out there?

    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...
  10. CortneyD

    My Rhubarb Haul

    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...
  11. CortneyD

    Tips/tricks for cleaning sediment stains inside bottles?

    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...
  12. CortneyD

    Japanese beetle problems?

    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...
  13. CortneyD

    Japanese beetle problems?

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

    Japanese beetle problems?

    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...
  15. CortneyD

    Anyone Oaked Rhubarb Wine?

    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...
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