I enjoy all aspects of fermentation to include the research into recipe formulation, planning brewday, actual brewday, cellar work, etc. …and I enjoy sending beers to competitions which is a whole ‘nother hobby, and sharing at the monthly beer club meeting. However, I brew 2x monthly, and brew club only meets monthly so that can only consume so much time. Besides routine social events a few nights a week, I like to fill the gaps with maintaining my cpl acres. Mowing, fertilizing, aeration, irrigation, trimming bushes, maintaining flower beds, etc. Just get outside and get moving while sticking close to home.
I would love to have a 3pt aerator for my tractor but they are simply out of my land maintenance budget. They’re very proud of them $$$$.
So, I adapted my el cheapo tow behind aerator to my 2” receiver so I can lift it over the driveway, place it right next to obstacles, etc. w/o getting off the tractor a bazillion times.
I may lock down the blocks using that 2”X 2” but I am not sure I need it just yet. We’ll see.
I grow roses, and I bake. I also chair nerdy committees in my professional association (currently chairing a governance committee charged with reviewing current committees and recommending changes as needed). Here’s my birthday cake - it was a 6” chocolate cake with ermine frosting.
My problem is that if I’m not fermenting alcohol, I’m fermenting foods like sourdough for bread or pizza, or making a fermetation like Cortido. About all that is left is washing and sanitizing, but those are not hobbies.
I cook a lot and enjoy it. I also garden, which I don’t really enjoy but I do it for hard to find produce to cook. I’ve started dabbling in growing mushrooms which also loops back into cooking.
I’m a terrible guitar player but it’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was a little kid so I’m keeping at it.
I work out 4-5 times a week but I don’t consider that a hobby. It’s to stay healthy and stave off the calories from beer.
Twenty years in the Air Force left me with a running habit that I haven’t been able to kick. But I don’t count it as a hobby because running is cheap¹ and has direct health benefits.
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1 — You can make it expensive if you want to, but if you have shoes and the ground, you can go for a run.
This thread has inspired me! It’s cool learning about what other homebrewers do when they are not making beer. Thank you all for sharing.
I have obsessed over beer for so long that I have neglected making room in my brain or my garage for other hobbies. Time to branch out. Making (very good) bread is tops on my list, sourdough especially.
And Kilroy, wow that is stunning wood work. Wow. You are way beyond “hobby” with that level of skill. Cheers!
