really old style living?

purpleheather2810

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

I've love tolive a more self sufficient lifestyle but considering I can't even afford any land for a small holding there isn't much chance of that happening any time soon
Have enjoyed reading the thread though

Hey bitsy, what about growing stuff on your windowsills, in pots outside or in hanging baskets (we have cherry tomatoes in ours). You'd be surprised what you can grow in a small space. Also don't forget about what is growing in public spaces that usually gets forgotten about. It gets eaten by the birds and the rest rots away. Within a couple of miles of our house there is at least one cherry tree which has had a lovely crop of cherries on it, elderflowers and very soon elderberries, blackberries/brambles, crabapples (on a public golf course) - and we live on a council estate in a large town. Go looking - you might be surprised what you can find, for free, in your local area Also join your local freecycle/freegle group as people with allotments will often share their surplus veg/fruit with you and/or people on there will know the local "hotspots" for free food

purpleheather2810

JackieO wrote: »

My garden is around 30ft x 75 ft and half of that I have had laid to patio.I used to garden quite a bit but now sadly age and clapped out joints mean that the patch of grass at the bottom I have to pay someone to cut at times.I daresay there are a lot of old fogies like me who have a garden but can no longer utilise it.I don't even sit out there anymore as I can't get any sun on my bad arm in case it swells even more.I would happily let someone grow what they wanted in the garden for nothing (think small allotment) just to see the ground used.I did have a green house at one time but I had it removed as it was falling down.Shame really I am sure there are lots of people like me who no longer use their garden who would happily let someone else use it rather than see it go to waste.

I know that people have already mentioned landshare, but you could also try approaching your local allotment association. Our local allotments have a very long waiting list and I expect yours are no different - I'm sure someone who is on such a list would be very pleased to share your garden

Purpleclutterbuck

Thanks very much for the info - I shall have a go - as long as it doesn't look too much like home made washing gloop!

ginnyknit

Do you have to use steralised milk for yoghurt? as the stuff makes me retch, takes me back to my childhood, my auntie always had 'stera' milk.

I never knew it was so easy to make, except I use the flask to add warm water to Dgs's bottles in the night and I dropped the lid in the dark the other night and its never been seen since!

zarazara

re stera milk. I suppose its used so that the only bacteria being added is the yoghurt one. I've never made it with any other type of milk,but I suppose its worth a try.

ceridwen

On the growing things on windowsills idea - and I've got a couple of bits growing on there at the moment myself.....

I wish I was some good at woodwork - so I could make the type of container we could all do with for this, ie:

- a decorative looking windowbox (in whatever length I require for that particular windowsill), with a high back to it. That high back to have mirrored finish internally (eg mirror tiles) - (so that I didnt have to keep turning round my containers as the seedlings in them first lean this way, then lean that way and so on as they try to "reach the sun").

Its a gap in the market that I could fill myself if I had woodwork skills - but if any firm thinks "Oooh...we could do that and make ourselves some money" - errr....<cough> I'd be pleased to try out a few samples..:D

mardatha

I was thinking this morning. (mark it in the calendar quick lol) This thread is verging onto self sufficiency but its basically OS, because maybe that's why they stocked up. If sugar was cheap or plentiful in winter then they'd buy it for summer when they made jam, etc .
And the other thing is that if we do buy in all the ingreds to make jam/yoghurt/soup etc - although its dear at the time - it will eventually cut down the number of times we need to go round a supermarket. And if you're not innit then you cant spend money!

Winged_one

Growing in small spaces works very well. I have a hanging basket of cherry tomatoes for the past few years (needs new plants every spring) which works great. I used to grow peas up a bamboo pyramid in a large tub on the patio (have an allotment at the mo so don't need that one)- climbing beans would work well too - and a "living fence" against the wooden fence of mange tout (could do peas just as easily) - you never even noticed it behind the flowers.

I also grow my carrots in windowsill boxes, as we have carrot root fly on the plot - they only grow to baby size, but still work well (go for early varieties, and stump rooted or round versions). And I have grown a "salad bar" of cut&come again lettuces in windowboxes too which are great for a few leaves for lunch/tea.

I am thinking about giving up the plot next year, for time reasons, and will get a lot more intensive in the garden again if I do. Lots of veggies can be ornamental as much as edible, so can be mixed into flower borders nicely!

Purpleclutterbuck

That's what I think Mardatha - if I don't go down to the shops then I'm less likely to spend!
Does anyone have any ideas about this please
I've got an old cherry tree that has white flesh red skinned cherries and I want to mix them with another fruit to make some jam but I'm not sure what fruit would go -the birds seem to grab them asap but this time I want to use them as they are tasty-
I grow pea shoots for salads from dried peas upstairs on a sunny bookcase as I don't have flat window sills just put an old tray underneath to catch any water

smileyt_2

ceridwen wrote: »

On the growing things on windowsills idea - and I've got a couple of bits growing on there at the moment myself.....

I wish I was some good at woodwork - so I could make the type of container we could all do with for this, ie:

- a decorative looking windowbox (in whatever length I require for that particular windowsill), with a high back to it. That high back to have mirrored finish internally (eg mirror tiles) - (so that I didnt have to keep turning round my containers as the seedlings in them first lean this way, then lean that way and so on as they try to "reach the sun").

Its a gap in the market that I could fill myself if I had woodwork skills - but if any firm thinks "Oooh...we could do that and make ourselves some money" - errr....<cough> I'd be pleased to try out a few samples..:D

Could you not cover a bit of cardboard with tinfoil and stick that onto the back of a normal windowbox? Just an idea.