Sunday working

A fantastic summer like day. And what did I do? Set up a senseles, time wasting production line to deal with the mass of maize cobs we seem to have collected over the last few days.

I keep promising not to collect them as every year we have done so, it seems to be accompanied by hassle and lots of work. Have tried everything to get the cobs dried but one needs a very dry, well ventilated, animal free barn - mice are brilliant tightrope (hay bale twine) walkers.

Last year we didn't collect them as there was a glut of apples which the geese and horses loved. While they both like maize too, it's not the most healthy stuff. The chickens don't like whole maize corns but want them broken/cracked. Probably the best bet would be to try making popcorn.

All my Heath Robinson attempts to get a machine to strip the cobs failed miserably. If I ever do this again, I have to invest in a hand de-corning machine which cost new around 40 Euros - have to get Angie to keep an eye out at second-hand markets.