the daydream fund challenge thread

troglodyte

Morning all,

Well this is all very exciting! Dave I love your chicken shack :j it's very impressive! I would love chickens (kept some years ago) but in recent years have always been out long hours. Now (inspired by Memory Girl's thread) I'm going to have a shot at making myself a work-from-home job so if that works out I'll treat myself to some chickens as a reward. Now there's an incentive!

Poo, loved reading your story and thanks for the coin info, I had no idea either, will check change carefully now just in case!

Re solar panels, we fitted a solar water system shortly after we moved here (moved 3 years ago) and it has been great, well worth it, at the time solar PV was a much bigger investment and there was no incentive. Now things have changed but we don't have any spare suitable roof space but we are thinking about building a small system on the shed roof to power an outside light and perhaps charge some tools etc.

On a related subject, we are just in the process of installing a fancy Swedish waterless composting toilet as our downstairs loo. Quite excited about that, although perhaps a 'toilet-warming' party might not be such a great idea :rotfl:

Rozee, you are doing fantastically well if you can even think straight with twins to deal with, never mind moving on with the plan, well done!

Winged one I have a similar plan, I have the use of a second garden about a mile away as an 'allotment', this year I planted crops that need less frequent attention there and kept the French beans, sprouting broccoli and courgettes nearer the house, definitely the way to go.


Hope you are all having a lovely autumnal day there as we are here!

alfie_1

hi, i was lucky to get an old estate gate lodge house 6 years ago. it was in a dreadfull state but cheap! it is on its own on the edge of a wood..no neighbours. i have scrounged/been given/bought cheaply everything to "do it up". i have almost finished. the garden is big plus a plot of land near by. i have chickens, ducks and a goose and a VERY large pig ! i have cats, dogs and i LOVE IT!! nothing is immaculate, nothing is NEW, but everything has a story as to how i came by it!
check out big private estates as they often have houses/cottages that need renovating and the estates cant afford to do it so rents/costs are less and most go with a good size plot with no problems re keeping animals.
good luck
p.s. i have posted lots of money saving gardening tips on other forum. have a look at them ,they may help!

Poosmate

Hi Alfie, I think Stitching Witch was thinking along those lines once (last year I think), it's a good idea if you need to move and are in the situation to be able to move out to the sticks.

I have my own house with mortgage and debts and a wildly out of control garden which is about to start paying it's keep! It seems that many of us are dreaming of one day becoming semi/self sufficient and/or smallholders and we are in training for that day.

The beauty of this thread is that we're all at different stages, Davesnave took the leap and has been so inspirational and informative in how his first year has gone. Rhiw has just reached the end of a 5 year plan (Yay! Congrats!), others are staying put and making the most of their lot (like me). It's fab because we are all sharing our dreams, hopes and aspirations, trading ideas for money making, saving tips, chicken care etc.

This thread has been truely inspirational for me. I'm lovin' it!

Poo

Winged_one

Thanks for the thoughts everyone. I will ponder it all thoroughly in the coming weeks.

On the solar PV, we DID consider it but it's not as easy here in Ireland ( there isn't a feed into the grid yet for micro generation properly here - hopefully soon but not yet). It IS something I have on the list for the dream house eventually, and at least we'd get hot water in the meantime.

Back to hte day job this week though. And if I can figure out how to see Dave's photos, that will be progress at home in the evenings!! (Definitely blocked at work, and can never figure it out in brain dead evenings).

Davesnave

Winged_one wrote: »

And if I can figure out how to see Dave's photos, that will be progress at home in the evenings!! (Definitely blocked at work, and can never figure it out in brain dead evenings).

You should be able to click on the thumbnail that will take you direct to the album, but maybe something isn't enabled that should be?

Computers are a complete mystery sometimes. I can't view anything in the planning dept of my local authority's web site. It tells me my Javascript isn't enabled, but it is, and it's up to date. I can view every other blooming authority's planning applications, of course!:mad:

Thanks for all the kind comments on the chicken house, but they should really be directed at the shed company, who did such a grand job in the first place. I just added the twiddly bits.

I'm realising just how bad some animal houses can be, having spent two whole days on reinforcing the hutch DD2 bought for her surviving ferret. I've changed all the bolts and put extra timbers in to strengthen the floors and wall joints, but I'm not confident it will last a year of weather.

Hello to alfie. A gate house sounds fantastic, as they usually go with picturesque parkland, old trees etc, so even if it isn't immaculate, (whose place is?) there will be loads of character.

alfie_1

Winged_one wrote: »

We managed to get chatting a little over the weekend, DH and I. It looks like we are both coming around to the reality that, we WILL get somewhere eventually (it's in the back of both our minds all the time), but it will be more medium to long term in the planning (probably at least 10 years away - unless DH's career totally stalls in the meantime). And I will stay working at that stage until my pension can support the 2 of us (his pension is doing diddly squat, so we will be relying on mine in reality), and commuting either daily or at weekends.

In the meantime, we are doing our best to learn, and to add to savings, and do things we can for OS/frugal/eco-friendly type lifestyle. We are doing an attic conversion in our current house starting in about 3 weeks time, and adding a solar panel for hot water as part of that, and increasing the levels of insulation also in the house - oh, and adding on a second water butt coming from the back of the main roof. (We did an extension out the back about 3 years ago, which meant a HUGE solar gain, and added insulation meant that even though we have loads of extra glass, it is a LOT warmer in winter now and easier to let air through in summer, and we have a water butt from this small roof too which meant almost no mains water on the garden this summer). And that is also where a lot of the current savings are going right now (doing it almost entirely for cash, but taking a small loan to keep a "rainy day fund" available too).

We are in the throes of trying to decide whether to keep the allotment. I think we will keep it for 2011, but do it differently. Like more coverage of the ground, more potatoes, more pumpkins and squashes, more leeks, and more roots (parsnips and turnips mainly), about the same on onions and garlic. But perhaps trying tomatoes again (plum types for cooking and maybe some regular ones). Peas and beans will be more considered - I want lots more climbing beans for storing dried (borlottis etc - ideas welcome for other types) but fewer french etc to use fresh. I want to have to make fewer trips there next year, as it was taking too much time in terms of getting tehre and back, and stressing about NOT getting there.

But we will ramp up the back garden growing again. The tomatoes work well, we know - both trained against the fence and a hanging basket of cherry ones. A "living fence" of peas also works well, and mange tout really only work at home (get too big on the plot). I want to do more beans (french and broad) in the garden to be able to pick regularly. More salads and radishes, and carrots in tubs (they get root fly on the plot). And a couple of brussels sprouts and/or purple sprouting brocolli for winter consumption.

And I am perfecting a lot of skills too. My sewing is improving and I have been getting lots of ideas for things that would sell well should I need/be able to. I have been preserving and baking a lot more recently, and finding good foraging sites in the past couple of years. And I have just (literally, over teabreak) been told I can get some "garden fresh eggs" from a colleague, so I may do a barter on veggies or jams with her.

The daydream is not dead, but taking a different shape at present, so we'll see how it evolves in the coming years. (And I will be keeping saving for when the opportunity presents itself).

hi winged one... why dont you sell your baking ? we have a couple that do just that at our local carboot sale each sunday. THE most amazing cakes £1 a slice and there is always a que!! the cakes are huge ! but i reckon `12 slices per cake =£12 ?? also local markets often have "stand by" stall vacancies. home made is the thing at the mo. you just have to be confident . wear a bright pinny and get noticed!
i swap eggs with my postman for tomatoes etc. i dog sit for people and get a sack of dog food in return [i have 3 dogs] there is a "bartering" world out there still!!

alfie_1

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

i used to take FULL advantage of their own policy.. which was if you got overcharged for an item they would give you a full refund and you could keep the item:D my freezer was bulging at the seams.... and the kids had loads of ps2 games and cds for christmas that year:rotfl:

i also used to use alot of money off coupons, and they nobbled me:rolleyes: so i had to lay low for a while, this has happened a few times now, but i think i am due to go back to test the water again so to speak..

i have just finished counting the amount of beans i had..lol.. i know i am sad.

the runner beans i had 821

and the broad beans i had 834 got to work out how much is going to cost me to plant htem in the tray of 9 which cost me 12p each..

wonder how much profit i will make on each one..need to get my calculator now

hiya. a cheaper "pot" for your beans is to cut a newspaper up , roll around a small jam jar twice ,level one end and overlap by 2,3 inches at open end and then scrunch fold the bottom into the hollow, remove and you have a bio degradeable pot. put in compost and put in seed, get some shallow mesh plastic veg trays that market stallholders throw away and pack the pots in.you dont have to remove paper when you plant in the ground saving you approx £20+

alfie_1

Davesnave wrote: »

You should be able to click on the thumbnail that will take you direct to the album, but maybe something isn't enabled that should be?

Computers are a complete mystery sometimes. I can't view anything in the planning dept of my local authority's web site. It tells me my Javascript isn't enabled, but it is, and it's up to date. I can view every other blooming authority's planning applications, of course!:mad:

Thanks for all the kind comments on the chicken house, but they should really be directed at the shed company, who did such a grand job in the first place. I just added the twiddly bits.

I'm realising just how bad some animal houses can be, having spent two whole days on reinforcing the hutch DD2 bought for her surviving ferret. I've changed all the bolts and put extra timbers in to strengthen the floors and wall joints, but I'm not confident it will last a year of weather.

Hello to alfie. A gate house sounds fantastic, as they usually go with picturesque parkland, old trees etc, so even if it isn't immaculate, (whose place is?) there will be loads of character.

ive used the large wooden crates that are used from certain industrial estates for hutches/housing. they are SOLID! just drive around your nearest I. est. and just ask for them...
another good thing is on some big building sites they have the big wire fence security panels. [approx10ftx6ft] some get damaged and if you contact the foreman/company they will give em away.minor repairs needed but strong weld wire. iv got 10.[£10 to a workman to deliver] i built two pens , one for my chickens at night [has shed inside too] the other for my owl!

Poosmate

alfie_1 wrote: »

ive used the large wooden crates that are used from certain industrial estates for hutches/housing. they are SOLID! just drive around your nearest I. est. and just ask for them...
another good thing is on some big building sites they have the big wire fence security panels. [approx10ftx6ft] some get damaged and if you contact the foreman/company they will give em away.minor repairs needed but strong weld wire. iv got 10.[£10 to a workman to deliver] i built two pens , one for my chickens at night [has shed inside too] the other for my owl!

Well done Alfie on getting those damaged fence panels, was it very long ago? I'm only thinking that they would maybe be thinking of scrapping them at the local scrapyard nowadays given the recession and the price of scrap.

CTC, I wonder if I could pick your brains a little? I have a pair of 1970's Levi's courdroy hipster flares - would they be classed as "vintage" or "classic" or just unfashionable? If so, any idea of their worth?

Also, how many bags of cans did you take to the scrappy for £8?

I've been collecting cans for ages and have maybe 3 or 4 black bags full of crushed cans - just wondereing when it will be worth cashing them in.

I haven't decided what to do with my undated 20p yet. I don't really want to sell on Ebay so am thinking either sell to Royal Mint for £100 or hang on to it in the hope that the value will increase. I don't know - I need some guidance on this one... anyone?

Poo

alfie_1

Poosmate wrote: »

Well done Alfie on getting those damaged fence panels, was it very long ago? I'm only thinking that they would maybe be thinking of scrapping them at the local scrapyard nowadays given the recession and the price of scrap.

CTC, I wonder if I could pick your brains a little? I have a pair of 1970's Levi's courdroy hipster flares - would they be classed as "vintage" or "classic" or just unfashionable? If so, any idea of their worth?

Also, how many bags of cans did you take to the scrappy for £8?

I've been collecting cans for ages and have maybe 3 or 4 black bags full of crushed cans - just wondereing when it will be worth cashing them in.

I haven't decided what to do with my undated 20p yet. I don't really want to sell on Ebay so am thinking either sell to Royal Mint for £100 or hang on to it in the hope that the value will increase. I don't know - I need some guidance on this one... anyone?

Poo

If you tell the foreman/company that you are trying to recycle/go green and that its for animals [can always add they are "rescued"] and they will often part with the wire fencing!! too much hassle for them to send to scrap. they appreciate that you are asking and not stealing them !
also check with fencing firms if they are removing chain link fencing, they have to pay to tip so are gratefull to be able to off load it. iv fenced all my land with 5ft chain link just for the cost of posts!
ALSO ASK YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL AS THEY RENEW FENCING ON COUNCIL PROPERTIES.
ALSO wood chippings from tree surgeons. they again are pleased to have a "dumping" area. makes great paths [put old carpet down then woodchips preferably and that makes path weed free]