Here is a recipe for this ancient, delicious beverage, from P.

Mead.

This recipe is simple and will make 24x 750ml bottles of medium sparkling mead it you should see plenty of it this October.

Ingredients

6kg of Honey

20 litres of clean water

1 packet of yeast

1 packet of yeast nutrient (talk to your local brew shop about the best yeasts and nutrients)

1 packet of brewing lozenges (or white sugar)

Equipment

1 beer brew kit.

25 litre sealed container (fomenter vat)

1 air lock

1 bottling hose

1 long spoon

1 thermometer

24 x 750ml bottles and caps

Procedure

Clean, clean, clean everything. You can use regular home brew products or just bleach and hot water just be sure to rinse every thing before use.

For those who are used to beer making just treat the honey as you would your beer malts.

Boil 4 litres of water add your honey to dissolve it and add the mixture to your vat.

Fill the vat with the other 16 litres of water and stir. Make sure the mix is dissolved.

Make sure the water temperature is less than 28 degrees Celsius. Add your nutrients then your yeast. Close your fomenter vat and put your airlock in place.

The mix will bubble away for at least 2 weeks depending on your ambient temperature. Cooler temperature will mean a longer fermentation time.

Wait for fermentation to stop at least for 2 days. Other recipes will ask you to decant your mead into another container at this stage to clarify the mix. But we want a little live yeast left to allow a fizz.

Clean your bottles.

Add 2 lozenges or a tea spoon of sugar to each bottle. Fill the bottle and cap.

Leave for 1 month before your first taste. The mead won’t be at its best until at least 3 months after bottling. It might be a little cloudy but no more than an ale would be.

It’s best to cut your teeth brewing beer before you try mead just to get used to the processes. Good Luck.

The Aboriginal Reserve near Mount Franklin

Warning for Aboriginals: this article may contain images and views of deceased people.

There was an Aboriginal reserve around Mount Franklin in the 19^th century. Between 1852 and 1864 two Aboriginal families farmed on a 21 acres near Mount Franklin.The families farmed a section of the Aboriginal reserve, formally the Loddon Protectorate established by Edward Stone Parker in 1841.

This was an organised system that helped displaced native people from tribes of the area to run their own farm under Parker, who provided services of magistrate and guardian. Parker gave employment to the native people in pastoral and agricultural care, as he understood that they had lost their traditional way of life and thus he encouraged that they adopt a European lifestyle.

These Aborigines belonged to the local Jaara or Jajowurrung tribe, whose numbers had diminshed greatly since the 1830s. Parker’s intentions were as good as any respectful albeit ignorant colonial settler, however there is little record of the feelings of the Aborigines – one reported that he did not like Europeans or their customs, yet had no choice but to adopt that lifestyle.

Farm of Aboriginals near Mount Franklin

Eventually as the people of these tribes disappeared - dying of diseases or murdered, the reserve was closed and the two families amoung others were moved to an area near Healesville.

It appeared E.S Parker made a great attempt at saving the native people by civilising them in this area, but that is very difficult to do when the native people lived so differently to the White settlers, who just boast about their civilised ways. There has been verbal debate and rumours about the possibility of a more brutal destruction of the native people in the area of Mount Franklin and Franklinford, but I personally am not sure of such documented fact, nor knowledgeable of any citations regarding that kind of information.

Other details of this history are mentioned in the October 16th 2010 blog post 'A History of Mount Franklin'
http://mountfranklinannualpagangathering.blogspot.com/2010/10/history-of-mt-franklin.html

Today, we respect the land and their tribes, and thank them for allowing our presence on such sacred ground. The Celtic Heritage Society have always been respectful of elders, tribe members and their ancestors when conducting their own ancestral and traditional ceremonies upon this land. Both the ethnical peoples ancestral ceremonies are not so different when you look deeper into them…

References:

Reilly, Dianne. & Jennifer Carew, ‘Sun Pictures of Victoria: The Fauchery-Daintree Collection – 1858.’ Currey O’Neil Ross – The Library Council of Victoria, 1983

Mount Franklin Annual Pagan Gathering: A Touch of Info

Mount Franklin Annual Pagan Gathering: A Touch of Info

A Touch of Info

Just a little bit of info to help those not familiar with the Mount and to help you prepare for the weekend. Even though its not until October with most of us leading disgracefully busy lives some pre-gathering info for those unacquainted may help you to get ready!
1.Camping grounds only-there is no accomodation unless you wish to book yourselves into accomodation within commuting distance to the Mount. These would include towns such as Daylesford, Guildford and Castlemaine. Bendigo if you don't mind about a 45 minute car trip. Mount Franklin is roughly about 1.5 hrs from Melbourne and you would most likely need to hire a car or scout the public transport to at least get to one of the towns listed above. I'm sure numerous people would be only too happy to help you get from these towns to the Mount if you stick your hand up in time and lets us know. Naturally all camping equipment you would need to supply unless you are coming from interstate and a large tent,  tops you over the carry on baggage allowance-if so please let us know early, lots of us with lots of stuff!! We can probably get you through the weekend.
2. It can get bone chillingly cold and wet or both! Prepare adequately for all weather conditions. Really. That floating medieval outfit might look glorious in the day sun but believe me when the sun goes down we will all be marvelling at the innovative ice sculpture someone bought along....
3. The CHS typically sets up a communal tent and party area so under all weather conditions we can celebrate our wonderful sabbat and shared weekend together
4. Children and dogs-of course!! We love them and they are more than welcome please make sure however that both are well behaved and you have leashes :P.....**and remember they are your responsibility and you MUST clean up after them-no dog crap, nappies etc are to be left on the Mount...
5. Rubbish-is your responsibility!!! If you bring it-take it home with you or dispose of in the nearest garbage receptacle available-DO NOT LEAVE IT ON THE MOUNT-this includes cigarette butts and booze bottles.
6. There is no potable water on the Mount please bring sufficient water with you. The water available has a fire retardant added to it and is therefore not suitable for consumption.
7. Fire drums are made available and only fires in the places provided are permitted-absolutely no fires outside of these areas is allowed.
8. Music, voices and acoustic instruments are all welcome-stereos and 'doof doof' music will be plunged over the precipice never to be heard of again....
8. If we think of anything else we will let you know! Most of all enjoy the days and Sabbats as they fall,  bringing us closer to the 30th Mount Franklin Annual Pagan Gathering....