It Beets Sugar

I’ve grown them a few years in a row now, mostly they were thrown over the fence to the pigs. I only had a few seeds, so this year, after saving the previous years seed I’m growing a larger crop. I’d like to have a go at extracting sugar syrup, slicing it thinly, washing out the sugars, compressing them and then drying  the pulp that remains for winter feed for the goats.  Has anyone had a go at doing this? I’d also love to have a go at making ethanol. But without a still, that’s not going to happen. If things fall apart in the future it would be good to know how to keep the whippersnapper going.  Though, come to think of it, I still have the scythe in the shed. 

I’ve taken a year off work to study fulltime, and while uni hasn’t started yet I’m having a great time writing non-fiction, novels and catching up with the garden, and, as always, extending the darn thing.

 

The summer has been the hottest since we arrived in Tasmania, now seven years.  It's also the hottest and driest most locals can remember.  The kiwifruit (which, unfortunately, I had already counted) were devastated by the 41 degree day we had several weeks back. And yes, it was a new record temperature. 

 

Extending the garden is probably not the brightest thing I’ve ever done. I love planting out, I’m just not so gung ‘hoe’ on weeding.