the daydream fund challenge thread

Lotus-eater

Rummer wrote: »

I have decided to start with 'The winter of disconnect" about a family who live without technology for 6 months :eek: I keep thinking what would I do without all your advice at the touch of a button, it would take me ages to find the answers to my many simple questions.

You just do what we did when there was no such a thing as the interweb connect thingy. And no forums.

My first act of gardening was at 12 when I sneaked a bit of garden from my (very ungardening) parents and wandered through the local vicarage which the church was selling off. There was a huge strawberry patch, so I learnt on the spot, no books of any kind to help me then, snip snip (they look like small plants) back home, all survived.

In some ways, we have too much information at our fingertips now, it's alot easier when you just think, sow, plant, eat, renew.

But the best thing of course, is the old boy round the corner.

rhiwfield

Lotus-eater wrote: »

But the best thing of course, is the old boy round the corner.

Lotus-eater, what a kind thing to say!

Rummer, love looking at books for inspiration with a glass of red wine and a fire going

Been next door trying to sort out a bit of OSB board to roof the log store which is a bit bigger than I thought, prob get it but have to wait a bit. In meantime constructed the roof frame with scrap rafters from next door's demolition. Determined to do it without buying in more wood!

Saw first asparagus shoot of the season today!

lostinrates

There isof course the interim option of down scaling technology but keeping some.

Both our mobile phones managed to die in recent weeks. DH has a work blackberry a uk mobile and a couple ofoverseas sims too. entirely unnecessary IMO. I just have my mobile, but its useful...taking calls in the garden instead of sitting in near the land line. But I find myself wondering if I really want to replace mine...I've put the sim in an old semi-functioning phone for now...but do I NEED it? I don't deny its very, very useful, but I do not think, in the position I'm in now, it ranks as ''essential''. We'd cope ok without tv, but I do like the radio. And I love the internet

Rummer

When we bought our first flat we spent 6 months without a TV and it was some of the best times I have had and I spent many a night wrapped up in a good book. We only got one when I had my DD as I was in all day and was starting to go a bit stir crazy. Now though I seem to spend too much of my time in front of the TV while typing on the laptop and text/chatting to friends. I think a solution for me would be to limit my access which is easier to do in good weather!

I appreciate greatly what you are saying about giving gardening a go and learning as you go along and that is really what we have been doing for the last few years and it is only recently that I have started reading and asking questions and it has been worth the effort as I have made life easier for myself and improved the way I have done things.

As for the old man round the corner we don't really have one of them. All our neighbours are young couples with only lawn and many have gardeners. My grandfather was a keen gardener but sadly he passed before my interest really took over so I missed the opportunity to learn from his experience and wisdom. So ladies and gentlemen I am afraid that my enthusiasm and endless questions are directed towards you :rotfl:

lostinrates

OK, we're considering a bog purchase of a paddock cleaner. its just too many hours we're spending poo picking atm, and paying for labour to do it would quickly work out more expensive...(£25ph locally!). I'm VERY confused which to go for though. atm this one http://www.horsejumpsforsale.co.uk/terra-vac-colt-6694-p.asp and this one http://www.paddockcleaner.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=61&category_id=17&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1 seem well recommended and abut right for us, but different styles of operation. The sweeper is apparently less good in winter but quicker to use the rest of the year....

lostinrates

Rummer wrote: »

So ladies and gentlemen I am afraid that my enthusiasm and endless questions are directed towards you :rotfl:

As mine are too.

Lotus-eater

lostinrates wrote: »

OK, we're considering a bog purchase of a paddock cleaner. its just too many hours we're spending poo picking atm, and paying for labour to do it would quickly work out more expensive...(£25ph locally!). I'm VERY confused which to go for though. atm this one http://www.horsejumpsforsale.co.uk/terra-vac-colt-6694-p.asp and this one http://www.paddockcleaner.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=61&category_id=17&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1 seem well recommended and abut right for us, but different styles of operation. The sweeper is apparently less good in winter but quicker to use the rest of the year....

I don't know anything about paddock cleaners, but the PC1000 has a 2 stroke engine, not the first one I would choose.
I'm not sure what engine the Terra vac has as it doesn't say, but if you go to the terra vac main website they offer free onsite demonstrations. Well worth it I would have thought.

ukmaggie45

LiR, the paddock cleaners are very expensive! :eek: But I can see that it would be worth it from the labour saving point of view (given my current state of health I would *need* one of these). And think of the wonderful compost heap you'll be able to have! But on the whole I'm glad I don't have horses - apart from being terrified of them, the costs are awful. :eek: I do envy you the lovely manure though. :rotfl:

lostinrates

ukmaggie45 wrote: »

LiR, the paddock cleaners are very expensive! :eek: But I can see that it would be worth it from the labour saving point of view (given my current state of health I would *need* one of these). And think of the wonderful compost heap you'll be able to have! But on the whole I'm glad I don't have horses - apart from being terrified of them, the costs are awful. :eek: I do envy you the lovely manure though. :rotfl:

The manure is good, but they are also part of my potential income stream. Csts don't HAVE to be awful (infact this year we spent proportianlly 1/3 of last year on hay and less than 20% of last years feed costs). Choosing the right type of horse can keep costs down...a sturdy native pony can carry a man and cost a packet of peanuts, where as our bigger older ''well bred'' ones cost more in food and rugs etc.

The labour is a bigger issue, and we have to get to grips with it because its stopping other stuff happening because we're out there all the time.

If it goes into being a fuel source for the house then it will be money well spent on that score too! Pay for itself in no oil use in not very much time at all!:eek:

Rummer

well I have tried and failed to get into the winter of our disconnect so I am going to go back to the library and choose something else, there are just too many fabulous books in now to settle for something that is not keeping my attention. The snow is coming down thick and fast here and I really do not want to go out but I will just have to wrap up warm!