Underhill Harvest in February

Early in February Elaine, Geoff and I went down to Underhill to harvest the rest of the fruit. The damsons were so prolific that I am still cutting them up and making jam. Five trays at least two or three damsons deep makes for a lot of cutting up.

I've now got it down to a fine art. Card table in front of TV as Surrey used to do but I don't watch the cricket. I watch one of the many DVDs I have and have never had time to sit for so long. Currently I am watching two series of The House of Elliot. Cut off one cheek each side for jam and use the remainder for jelly to add to the jam when I cook it. That means less cuts on my thumb and a quicker job in the long run.

We also picked plenty of apples from one of the trees (Five Crown I think) and a few from one or two of the other trees. I'll chop these for jam. I've already added some to my first batch of Damson and Apple Jam.

Then there are quinces and peaches (probably for jam) and quite a few pears for eating when they eventually ripen. They ripened well at home last year so I'm hoping they do so this year as well.