Author Topic: Drying Food For Winter (Read 2062 times)

uksfdawn · « **on:** September 23, 2015, 08:16:26 am »

I was wondering as goats like willow bay and another month its going to vanish, can I dry bunches of it for winter use, if so what is the best way to dry it, I have a few large areas of it here :-)
I will apologise now if this is a stupid question $:-\$

shygirl · « **Reply #1 on:** September 23, 2015, 08:17:37 am »

We dried nettles on wire racks? If that helps.

devonlady · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2015, 08:49:38 am »

We also dried huge bunches of nettles for winter feed by tying with baler twine and hanging in a dry, airy shed so you could do the same with your willow herb. If it doesn't work you haven't lost anything by trying.
(The chickens also enjoyed dried nettles in with their mash in the winter)

clydesdaleclopper · « **Reply #3 on:** September 23, 2015, 09:29:58 am »

Just try to pick it on a dry day so it doesn't go mouldy.

cloddopper · « **Reply #4 on:** September 23, 2015, 10:15:15 pm »

My neighbours father 9 83 yrs old ) told me that years ago here in Wales it was common practice for the the single story homes to be thatched in Rosebay Willow herb over willow framework .
The goats would wreck it in a flash if they managed to break their tether and get up onto it . He got a right thrashing off his grandfather because he hadn't tethered the five goats properly , they put a hole in the roof in a half hour or so.