This was today’s view at about six o’clock in the morning in the northern germany refuge. The mist from the farm fields was slowly coming through between the oak trees behind the house and everything was absolutely quiet. Reminded me of a fairy tale or elven forest 🙂
Japanese Box Bellows
I was fascinated by a japanese blacksmith’s video where this guy was working with a (seemingly) traditional two-stroke box bellows, and as things worked out, my hairdryer that I used as a blower for my coal forge recently bit the dust. So the mission was clear, I wanted to make such a cool box-bellows-contraption myself. After doing some internet research, here’s what I did and what I used:
Raised Garden Beds
It took me some time to make these two garden beds, interruptions and delays included, but now they’re done and ready to grow some greens.
Propagating Mushrooms
So I will try to propagate some of the mycelium from the oyster mushroom growing kit. I have already done this years ago and it worked fairly well, so I hope these will thrive as well.
The materials for the growing substrate are 500g of rye grains, 25g of gypsum and 500ml of water. Cook this over medium heat, stirring often, until no more liquid is left over in the pan. You want the grains to be evenly covered in gypsum and well soaked but reasonably dry on the surface.
Growing Oyster Mushrooms from a Kit
I grabbed an oyster mushroom growing kit at a garden store sale almost half a year ago and I finally found the time to put it to use. It’s a convenient and un-complicated way to learn how to care for and cultivate your own home grown mushrooms.
Outdoor-/Fishing Knife Done
I finally finished my Outdoor-/Fishing Knife that I was working on for so long this time. See previous posts #1, #2 and #3 if you like. It’s made from 3 mm 90MnCrV8 steel (type 1.2842), hardened at ~830 °C, quenched in oil and annealed for two hours at 210 °C in the oven. The scales are mahagoni with a cutout for the glass breaker at the end of the handle.
Workshop Beer Taste Test Part 4 (Finale) – “Yggdrasil”
So now for last candidate in the taste test series. The famous
Yggdrasil
Yggdrasil is an immense ash tree that is center to the cosmos and considered very holy. The gods go to Yggdrasil daily to assemble at their things […] The branches of Yggdrasil extend far into the heavens, and the tree is supported by three roots that extend far away into other locations; one to the well Urðarbrunnr in the heavens, one to the spring Hvergelmir, and another to the well Mímisbrunnr. Creatures live within Yggdrasil […]
(Wikipedia de|en)
“Yggdrasil” is a red ale type of beer, unfortunately – for my taste – an all too red red ale… It is very fruity, even “juicy” if you want to put it like that, and for my feel overly sour. Definitely an unusual drink that you have to get acquainted to. People might like it but it surely is not an everyday casual drink.
Skål!
If you like, see part 1 “Sleipnir“, part 2 “Baldur” and part 3 “Mjölnir“
Workshop Beer Taste Test Part 3 – “Mjölnir”
The next beer’s name is known to everybody from the Marvel movie “Thor” (though its story heavily messed up in that film):
Mjölnir
Mjölnir is the hammer of Thor, the Norse god associated with thunder. Mjölnir is depicted in Norse mythology as one of the most fearsome and powerful weapons in existence, capable of leveling mountains […] In the Old Norse texts, Mjölnir is identified as hamarr “a hammer” […]
(Wikipedia de|en)
They wanted to make Mjölnir very traditional, hence it is unfiltered and you can taste that. It’s a Lager and for that, it is surprisingly strong with 5.3% vol. It’s fruity and just a little acidic, easy to have one or several of it. It’s a pleasant beer – a very dangerous drink on hot days 🙂
Skål!
If you like, see part 1 “Sleipnir“, part 2 “Baldur” and part 4 “Yggdrasil“
