It was harvest weekend at Sleeping Cougar Acres. We picked whites yesterday in the sun, and reds today in the rain. Both days were perfect. Looking forward to next year all ready. By then my achy, grape-picking muscles may have recovered.
Showing posts with label grapes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grapes. Show all posts
Sunday, October 4, 2020
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Reaping in the Rain
This year the stars (and schedules) aligned to allow me to help with the grape harvest at Sleeping Cougar Acres.
It was a great year for grapes. In some cases we were able to fill an entire bucket with grapes from a single plant. It was a less-than-ideal day for working in the vineyard. There was rain, and there was the knowledge that not all the neighbourhood cougars were sleeping. Reports of sightings in the area added a little extra excitement to the day.
In previous years they managed to pick the whites in about three hours. This year there were so many grapes it took more than seven. We did take a brief break for a delicious picnic lunch that L prepared for us volunteers. Yep, I work for sandwiches. And cookies.
By the end of they day we were all wet, exhausted, achy...
... and in some cases silly.
The grapes were purchased by Southend Winery on Quadra Island. They don't have a final weight for this harvest, but the winery's truck was practically groaning under the load. A bumper crop! Or rather a bumper-to-bumper crop. We filled four of the winery's transport containers. I understand that in past years they only filled one. And we haven't even started the reds.
Yes, I said "we". In spite of the rain, the aching muscles and the possibility of being eaten by a mountain lion, I'd definitely invite myself back to help harvest the reds. A bad day in the vineyard is better than a good day at work. And that's before we've tested the fermented fruits of our labour. So much to look forward to!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Happy Harvest - Part Two
The grapes at Sleeping Cougar Acres are quite different from those you see at the store. They're small, seeded and they grow in very tight bunches. They're also delicious. Far sweeter than commercially-grown table grapes. We harvested the grapes from my plant and from hubby's plant, then continued on until we filled up our buckets.
Just when I thought we would be going into the house to dry off things got even wetter. The grapes needed to be rinsed, and where better to do that than out in the rain? Each white tub holds about 10 - 12 pounds of grapes. It was much easier to deal with them outside than inside. It was either the yard or the bathtub.
Once things started floating out of the grapes I was glad we were outside. There were several critters hiding in those tight bunches. Spiders, earwigs, ladybugs and other creepy crawlies drifted to the surface. L rescued some; the rest had to fend for themselves. If we had been inside they would have been washed down the drain, and we would have had to the clean bathtub when we finished.
Clean grapes in the basket ready for the steam juicer...
...water goes in the base...
...the steam kettle and steamer basket of grapes go on top...
...on goes the lid then it's just a matter time. While we waited for the steam to do it's thing, I headed back out to the vineyard to harvest some beans.
L was concerned that I'd run into a bear out there on my own. It is that time of year, but this was the only wildlife I saw. I left this one to its bean. There were more than enough to share.
It was so peaceful in the vineyard. The only sound was the rain on the plants.
When I returned to the house the steam had done it's thing. We had juice...
...and pulp. Other than picking and rinsing the grapes there was really no other prep involved. The grapes stayed on the stems, and the seeds stayed in the grapes. The pulp headed to L's compost pile...
...and I headed home with 5 litres of juice and a complimentary jar of unsweetened grape jelly courtesy of L. The grape juice has since been frozen in ice cube trays for use in smoothies this winter. The destiny of the jelly has yet to be determined, though L recommends serving it on cheesecake. I'll keep you posted on that.
Just when I thought we would be going into the house to dry off things got even wetter. The grapes needed to be rinsed, and where better to do that than out in the rain? Each white tub holds about 10 - 12 pounds of grapes. It was much easier to deal with them outside than inside. It was either the yard or the bathtub. 
Once things started floating out of the grapes I was glad we were outside. There were several critters hiding in those tight bunches. Spiders, earwigs, ladybugs and other creepy crawlies drifted to the surface. L rescued some; the rest had to fend for themselves. If we had been inside they would have been washed down the drain, and we would have had to the clean bathtub when we finished.
Clean grapes in the basket ready for the steam juicer...
...water goes in the base...
...the steam kettle and steamer basket of grapes go on top...
...on goes the lid then it's just a matter time. While we waited for the steam to do it's thing, I headed back out to the vineyard to harvest some beans. 
L was concerned that I'd run into a bear out there on my own. It is that time of year, but this was the only wildlife I saw. I left this one to its bean. There were more than enough to share. It was so peaceful in the vineyard. The only sound was the rain on the plants.
When I returned to the house the steam had done it's thing. We had juice...
...and pulp. Other than picking and rinsing the grapes there was really no other prep involved. The grapes stayed on the stems, and the seeds stayed in the grapes. The pulp headed to L's compost pile...
...and I headed home with 5 litres of juice and a complimentary jar of unsweetened grape jelly courtesy of L. The grape juice has since been frozen in ice cube trays for use in smoothies this winter. The destiny of the jelly has yet to be determined, though L recommends serving it on cheesecake. I'll keep you posted on that.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Happy Harvest - Part One
Fall has arrived and harvest is happening at Sleeping Cougar Acres. Last Wednesday I got to take a small part in that process. That morning the weather fairies decided to remind us west-coasters that summer doesn't last forever. It was grey and rainy and dreary. It was exactly the kind of morning where you want to pull the blankets over your head and settle in for some serious hibernating. As I didn't have to work, the thought did cross my mind, but the grapes and L were waiting.
A rainy morning, but sunshine awaits around a bend in the drive...
...as did a beverage to celebrate the harvest - a blend of white (petit milo) and red (leon millot) grapes. Unfermented, of course. It was before noon you know!
It had been a while since I had been to the vineyard. I was surprised when I could see grapes from the gate. Last time I knew they were there, but I couldn't see them until I got closer to the plants.
L has started a tradition of naming plants after some guests. You can check on your plant's progress when you visit, and in my case I got to harvest the grapes from my namesake. That's my plant on the left and hubby's on the right.
We filled two tubs with grapes then wandered over to check out the garden.
Look, it's a sea cucumber! Actually, it's just a wet cucumber on a very rainy day.
The garden has only produced one pumpkin, but it's an impressive one. All the other squash plants are producing like mad. The pumpkin plant decided to put all it's energy into one whopping gourd.
From the garden we headed over to the manure pile. I filled up a tub for my own composter. Nothing like wallowing in poop on a rainy day!
We loaded our haul into the wheelbarrow, and headed up to the house to dry off and begin the juicing process. Looks good, doesn't it?
A rainy morning, but sunshine awaits around a bend in the drive...
...as did a beverage to celebrate the harvest - a blend of white (petit milo) and red (leon millot) grapes. Unfermented, of course. It was before noon you know!
It had been a while since I had been to the vineyard. I was surprised when I could see grapes from the gate. Last time I knew they were there, but I couldn't see them until I got closer to the plants.
L has started a tradition of naming plants after some guests. You can check on your plant's progress when you visit, and in my case I got to harvest the grapes from my namesake. That's my plant on the left and hubby's on the right.We filled two tubs with grapes then wandered over to check out the garden.
Look, it's a sea cucumber! Actually, it's just a wet cucumber on a very rainy day.
The garden has only produced one pumpkin, but it's an impressive one. All the other squash plants are producing like mad. The pumpkin plant decided to put all it's energy into one whopping gourd.
From the garden we headed over to the manure pile. I filled up a tub for my own composter. Nothing like wallowing in poop on a rainy day!
We loaded our haul into the wheelbarrow, and headed up to the house to dry off and begin the juicing process. Looks good, doesn't it?
Sunday, May 31, 2009
What's up at Sleeping Cougar Acres?
I recently brought home rhubarb from Sleeping Cougar Acres. It went into crumble and sauce and there was plenty left to freeze. There were signs this week that there will be plenty more to reward us for our work before the summer is over.
If you look closely, you can see tiny bunches of grapes beginning to appear
What once looked like a vineyard of bare sticks is beginning to green up.
First squash! There wasn't even a vegetable bed here when I started to visit the farm.
Blueberries are flowering. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a crop like the one I heard about last year.
On Monday this was a bare vegetable plot. By Friday there was the beginning of peas...
... and corn.
I'm finding helping on the farm to be rather exciting. There's something new each week. New projects, new things to learn and this week new growth. It's going to be an interesting summer.
If you look closely, you can see tiny bunches of grapes beginning to appear
What once looked like a vineyard of bare sticks is beginning to green up.
First squash! There wasn't even a vegetable bed here when I started to visit the farm.
Blueberries are flowering. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a crop like the one I heard about last year.
On Monday this was a bare vegetable plot. By Friday there was the beginning of peas...
... and corn.I'm finding helping on the farm to be rather exciting. There's something new each week. New projects, new things to learn and this week new growth. It's going to be an interesting summer.
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