Becoming self sufficient from scratch-my diary

Lotus-eater

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

ooo ye sorry it was well ummmm very off putting it looked as though they were making blocks of slim sorry

but it did put me off, and i must admit it just didnt seem natural.. if that makes sense,

but on saying that, if we know how most of our food is processed or made, we wouldnt eat it

That's very true. I've worked in quite a few food factories making processed food and once you see the cement sized sacks of additives and nasties that they put there, it tends to put you off a bit. I try not to eat anything processed, I don't succeed, but the thought is there.
I also knew a real old country gent a while ago and he was talking about a visit to a pork pie factory and how it put him off them for life. He was far from being a lilylivered animal lover either.

Lotus-eater

gizmocoe wrote: »

Thanks for that. Yesterday I put some fresh green grass clippings in so hopefully that should add some moisture. There had been quite a lot of brown dry stuff from where I had cut back some of the dead winter branches. Will try to alternate more green bits in! We save all our fruit / veg peelings as well as teabags, but I have never put paper or card in - does it work?

Yes it works very well indeed, if you have lots of dry stuff, save it in a bag and put it in in stages, with green stuff at the same time.
Grass clippings will really water it up and will go in great with the dry branches, make sure you give it a good old mix up and get those grass cuttings all over the place.

gizmocoe

I have plenty of ground elder as well as bird cherry saplings springing up all over the place:eek:! We have two ponds with lots of frogs / toads / wildlife, as well as a tortoise, and I like to feed the birds so any ideas for weed killers that are not harmful to wildlife please?
Thank you in advance...

Lotus-eater

Well the cherry tree saplings you can dig up, you're not getting away with that one.
Ye gods! ground elder, poor old you, because if you're not old now, you will be by the time you get rid of it.
You won't get rid of it is the honest answer, unless you blitz the whole area it is in, glyphosphate it, keep doing it till it goes, then do it again when it comes back in from next door.
I put up with it and pretend it's not there, much better for my health.

rchrisp

just found this thread through the newsletter...

i have been growing my own for years, however there is usually one disaster or another that makes the produce dwindle each year (landlord's gardener mowing over the tomatoes last year for example).

so far this year i have 12 mini tomato plants in the ground, all about 50cm tall already, raised on the kitchen windowsill. Still on the windowsill are chillis, peppers and more tomatoes.

i've noticed Morrisons have some plugs in at the moment, as well as a mushroom box that i will be buying on payday, they always work really well. am going to give potatoes another go this year too.

re growing strawberries, they really are best grown in pots or baskets or else they take over the garden.

would love to have chickens but can't see the other neighbours/landlord being too happy about it! we had them when i was growing up and they were great.

thankyou for all the links to seed/plug websites, ive been using QVC and the supermarket until now and been paying through the nose for it! :eek:

Moozle_2

Update:
Sowed broccoli, salsify (??), lettuce, and onion in what I thought was my finely tilled seedbed. I felt a bit funny afterwards as I just cant see how its going to work?!

Sowed Dill seeds in compost in a pot hopefully for my potted herbs collection on my steps. Again, not too hopeful.

It has occured to me that I need to work out the best things to plant together regarding harvest times so the bed can be replanted as one. Though not much sucess online as most of the veg planners seem to contradict each other. So feeling a bit despondant and confused, I think I would feel better if some seeds actually germinated (apart from my 3 yr olds bean that she planted at nursery):o

Worked out I could fit a 6ft x 12ft polytunnel on my top patio, now just need to work out how to raise the £200 for it!:eek:
Made some labels out of milk cartons:D

To Do:
Try and chill out a bit and find some patience from somewhere!
List on ebay, still need to get chicken wire.
Dig over next bed.
Research more about growing.
Perhaps dig up spuds as dont think they will work as planted 3 weeks ago and still not showing?
Look at getting another compost dalek.

On the upside my rhubarb and strawberrys are still alive and look lovely in their little bed!:D:D:D

Money_maker

I really wouldn't dig up the spuds! Now the weather is warming up, they should be through in a week or two.

If really desperate, use your hands to 'dig' down to one to check. Reckon they're fine.

Austin_Allegro

Dont' forget to forage! Read 'Food for Free' by Richard Mabey.

Nettles are prolific this time of year. The young leaves when stewed with water and butter go really nicely with pasta, cheese etc as a spinach substitute (I believe they are actually more nutritious than spinach).

Mung bean shoots are really easy to do as well if you like Chinese food. Just soak some mung beans overnight, then put them in a yoghurt pot with some drainage holes punched in the bottom/sides. Water twice a day and keep out of the light, and in four days or so you'll get beanshoots ready to eat.

fiftyeighter_2

I'm ecstatic. The asparagus I planted last year are growing. I was so pleased some are about 4inches tall. I've never grown them before so I'm like a little child at christmas. Now I just have to wait until I can pick a few. Is it right I can only harvest a small amount in the first year? P.S Thanks to everyone for sharing all those tips and tales.

MissPop

fiftyeighter wrote: »

I'm ecstatic. The asparagus I planted last year are growing. I was so pleased some are about 4inches tall. I've never grown them before so I'm like a little child at christmas. Now I just have to wait until I can pick a few. Is it right I can only harvest a small amount in the first year? P.S Thanks to everyone for sharing all those tips and tales.

Yaaaay, congratulations (fellow Essex...ian )! Isn't it just a fabulous feeling when something actually GROWS?! I can't say I recall ever having eaten asparagus before actually... Let us know how it is when you harvest it!