Self sufficiency

halloweenqueen_2 · 3 January 2005 at 12:16AM

I was nosing around Amazon and saw a book by a guy called John Seymour on self sufficiency - does anybody have this book - is it any good. Thought this would be a good time of year to really start planning akitchen garden, have started on herbs etc and i am hoping to go into growing more than a few peppers and a tomato.
I don't have a huge garden but have bought some carrot seed that will grow happily in containers. Would love any help and tips, how to preserve stuff by canning/pickling would be a great help (getting cocky here now haven't even grown anything to preserve yet!).
I'm trying to get into things like making soap etc.
Any suggestions?

scrimperjan · 3 January 2005 at 1:00AM

I've had that book from when it was originally published, I think it would be in the early seventies.....still got it somewhere. I almost lived in it for a while, it fed my dreams of self sufficiency (still only dreams I'm afraid). Now that I'm older and wiser...well, older, anyway.... I feel maybe it made things look a little too easy. Why not order it from your library before investing? Also have a look at the Gardening Guild website at https://www.gardeningguild.com - the forum there (confusingly under 'Village Hall' on the home page) has lots of good stuff, not just about gardening, also about crafts, keeping chickens, cooking & preserving, recycling etc.

halloweenqueen_2 · 3 January 2005 at 1:05AM

Thanks for the advice and the web link - hadn't thought of the library - doh!
I live in a rural area so i thought I would use it to my advantage and it would keep me putside a bit more! Well except for the cooking bit! Unless I'm bbq-ing!

tiff · 3 January 2005 at 1:20AM

You need to pay for subscription to access the gardening guild forum. £10 annual or £5 quarterly.

scrimperjan · 3 January 2005 at 1:27AM

That's worrying, I don't even remember registering. Seem to be having too many Senior Moments just lately.

halloweenqueen_2 · 3 January 2005 at 2:03AM

I didn't pay the subscription - perhaps the library can help!

Trow · 3 January 2005 at 11:45AM

I have just had a look at the gardening guild - and although there is a subscription option that offers more options, the registered option is free and gives full access to all the bulleting boards as far as I can tell. You can't use the trading post though, and you can't post on all forums - not sure if you can post on some though.

halloweenqueen_2 · 3 January 2005 at 1:10PM

I registered but as soon as I tried to look on the messages posted it said I had to pay

Trow · 3 January 2005 at 1:37PM

I registered but as soon as I tried to look on the messages posted it said I had to pay :(

I see what you mean .... there *must* be similar forums available that are free of charge though

Trow · 3 January 2005 at 1:47PM

This place looks quite good, but I don't have time to look at it in depth right now:

http://www.acountrylife.com/forums.php

edited to include the correct URL!

scuzz · 3 January 2005 at 1:48PM

You must try growing your own runner beans! A few babmboo training poles for them to grow up. They are so much nice than shop bought. And let any that feel tough with really big beans keep growing. Then pick them and dry the beans on some kitchen towel and store to grow next year! They need soaking in water over night before planting.

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Self sufficiency

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