my food and growing diary

ALIBOBSY

So tempted to get planting here lol. Got my grow your own mag and it has some free tom seeds in it. Thinking of starting some early here. Netto are doing the cheap seeds this week as well and once they are my hands I itch to get growing lol.

ali x

carrieon

bay-tree-cottage wrote: »

Carrieon, Could I enquire what wine you are making. I dabbled a few years back with mixed results (some tasted really yeasty, don't think I left it long enough lol) but still have all the equipment. Also I'm thinking of having 3 chickens on average how many eggs do you get weekly sorry for silly qustion I didn't know they layed less in winter.

Hi bay tree,

I just make wine from cartons of fruit juices, the cheapest i can find. Apple juice is my favourite and touch wood it has always been delicious. Have also made a rose wine from red grape cartons. I didn't like this so much but friends thought it was lovely.
1and 1/2 cartons to each demi john. 1kgm sugar and a teaspoon each of pectolose, citric acid and yeast. Its very very easy.
I have 3 chicks now and i get 3 eggs daily. Although rarely in winter i might only get 2 some days. I've had them 2 years. they are black rocks which are apparently good layers.
Good luck you will adore having chickens and they are not hard work at all.
They even have there own characters.

carrieon

Carrieon -- have you tried Freecycle for a greenhouse? Some people give them away if you can come and dismantle it and take it away. Bargain![/QUOTE]

Thanks for that will have a look.

valk_scot

carrieon wrote: »

Thanks for that will have a look.

Top tips for dismantlling a green house...take lots of photographs plus take a glass marker and write what piece it is on every single pane of glass before you take it out. And tag every structural upright etc too. Unlabelled piles of greenhouse pieces can be a nightmare!

bay-tree-cottage

Carrieon Thank you will try

ALIBOBSY I saw Netto's ad for seeds too and I am also eager to start.

nikki20022008

Ended having a total cheat day today the only food I have paid for is breakfast

bartered Milk £0.04
£ porridge £0.06
£ apple £0.06
Total 16p

So yesterdays menu will be tomorrows lol

My mum made us lunch and dinner now that got me thinking I might have to go to see her more often and get free food he he:rolleyes:.

Things I have done:
Started my chilli plants in the house, and put all my potato seeds out now in egg boxes I'm planning on planting them in boxes this year that I have made out of wood which was free from a neighbour who gets free pallets from work. Last year was a nightmare digging them up I'm sure I will end up with a load more coming up again this year as I think I missed a load.

nikki20022008

Something else I have done today I bought a £15 i-Tunes voucher for £13.50 from ebay so that's my dad birthday prezzie sorted.

ChocClare

Hi Nikki, I've just subscribed to this thread too - very inspirational.

You mentioned that your tomatoes were moneymakers - are those the seeds you just planted too? I ask because, like a previous poster, I've just had some free seeds from Grow Your Own magazine but those are plum tomatoes for cooking - useful, but I wouldn't mind some eating ones as well. And did you grow them indoors all the year, or did they live outside at some point? I can overwinter a tomato perfectly happily, but I've yet to have any fruit on it past about October. Do you have any other tricks???? Also, do you find the Moneymaker tomatoes have a decent flavour, particularly in winter?

Sorry to bombard you with so many questions - I moved two years ago to the Middle of Nowhere and, like you, have a large garden (half an acre) and chickens (ten of 'em, all ex-batts). We have planted fruit and nut trees, and keep bees as well as chickens and try to grow a lot of veg (chickens permitting) but my tomatoes have been a bit sad since we moved here - they were always fab in our last house, but this seems to be quite a blighty area so I am always on the look-out for failsafe tips. Whereabouts in the country are you? Do you have decent light (see, more bombarding questions, don't you hate these gardeners)??? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Answers on a postcard....

Anyway, well done with your challenge - I couldn't work out what the references to naysayers was until I went on the 50p thread and saw for myself :eek: - well done for Rising Above and just getting on with it!

Incidentally, I participate in loads of veggie seed swaps and have enough seeds to feed a small country if they were all planted side by side. If there's anything you're on the lookout for, just pm me your address and I will be more than happy to put some in the post to you if I have them - I'd far rather they got planted than just sat in the packets and rotted.

Alwaysthebusybee

Just wanted to say what a fabulous thread. I was given a small greenhouse (plastic one) for a Christmas present (requested) and after reading how much produce you get I can't wait to get started.

I think you are doing brilliantly to have such a goal and to do it healthily too!!

Well done, I have subscribed to keep an eye out for tips.

Sarah

OrkneyStar

nikki20022008 wrote: »

My daughter is at the child minders tomorrow and lunch is free so I'm taking a cup a soup tomorrow as I'm driving all day and have a kettle in the car so want something warm as it's freezing.

Being pedantic here, :rolleyes:, is lunch really 'free' or does the childminder include this in her charge to you ? If so should you be counting something.
Just a thought, not a criticism, to help make things dead pin accurate .
Also, do you count seeds, compost etc. in costs anywhere ?
x