really old style living?

MrsMoo2U

Hello, I have just come out of lurkdom, hope you dont mind.

I have, for a very long time, wanted to live and work in the country and live a very simple life. Last year I managed to move to the country. My job however is still quite full on and I travel a lot. Recently I have been reading up much more on foraging as I have been coming across things that I would really like to collect and do things with but I want to be certain what I am picking. Close to where I live is a woods where I walk my dog everyday and I have recently been finding lots of mushrooms so I am currently looking into that to see what they are. Yesterday I went to a meeting and had to park in a bit of waste ground at the back of a car park and when I got out of the car I realised that I was parked right next to a raspberry bush and there were lots of raspberries there so I filled a bag and brought them home. I have always wanted to make jam so think I will give it a go this week. Can I just ask, somebody has mentioned jam in the breadmaker or slow cooker. I dont have a slow cooker but do have a breadmaker so could somebody let me know how you would make jam in that and is it as good or better than doing it in a pan? I have duly subscribed and will be lurking around learning lots of things from you wonderful ladies.

downshifter

Re the foraging - in a field behind me is a tumbledown cottage - criminal I know, but that's the Peak Park's planning laws for you. The house is nearly gone, but the garden is full of gooseberry bushes, planted lovingly by someone years ago.

And picked just as lovingly by my good self!!!!

DS

mardatha

Cherisong - I asked about jam in my BM and it seems some do and some don't ..If it does then it will say in the handbook I think. Mine is a Panny .
Ginny - we should all now sit down with a calculator and work out exactly how much we would/used to spend on all these things that we now make. That would really give a wee boost when you see actual figures

Gigervamp

ceridwen wrote: »

Further on that - I was correct in remembering about the Co-Operative helping out with beekeeping - I don't know if they are still doing this - but I found:

http://jaksie.com/free-bees-from-the-co-operative/

and I would think its worth asking the Soil Association too if they know of any help available.

I searched on the co-op's site and found this. They did a trial last year in Manchester and this year they extended it to include London and Inverness, but applications have now closed.

When we were talking to the lady from the beekeepers association at the weekend, she said a basic hive costs around £200 and a colony of bees about £120. Then there are things like smokers, veils, gloves etc. An all-in-one suit like we wore when we went to look at a hive, costs £95 fom Thornes.

downshifter

On the grapefruit curd topic again, if anyone sees any offers on butter or sugar, can they let us all know?

Ta

carriebradshaw

mardatha wrote: »

Awh CB, I hope you're fully ok now and will take life easy. It's bad enough here - but where you are the distances are even greater, and petrol costs money. But it is good to have each other in here - so when we have down days or weak weeks we can come on here and get psyched up My OH is sometimes ok with this and sometimes sneery & my kids all think I'm batty.. but that's not new !

oh yes I'm tip top now hon and I was just having a mini panic the other day thinking about stuff now I keep saying to myself 'just keep calm and carry on ' and you're right it's good to have somewhere like this to connect with like minded friendly people :T

Well done on the yoghurt making btw :TI must try that again sometime

mardatha

One thing re the yoghurt - did I read somewhere that I can freeze the live yoghurt in case I need it again for a starter ? I was thinking of putting a tablespoon into indvidual freezer bags & just taking one out when I needed it ?
And how do you add some flavour for when he gets bored of plain ? Can you add essences like vanilla or mint?

RAS

Another thing with the yoghurt recipe?

Does it work with skimmed milk (I cant drink/eat full or semi-skimmed)?

Anyone tried it with live milk, as I could use goat's milk?

ginnyknit

downshifter wrote: »

On the grapefruit curd topic again, if anyone sees any offers on butter or sugar, can they let us all know?

Ta

Some of the shops such as poundland, do sugar for 69p, its now 98p in Mr T. I got butter for 69p yesterday whoopsied - it should have been 1.39:eek::eek::eek:

Mardatha, I washed out a lemon curd jar the other day ready for re filing - it was Mr T economy, the residue of curd wouldn't wash away, it turned to a white glue - hmm now why do we make our own besides the cost! I agree we need to work out costs to make against costs to buy. I am hoping a seed loaf in the Bm will work out at about 40p for a 750gm loaf compared to maybe over a pound in the shops - righ off to knit more socks, make carrot cake and get my notebook sorted for costings - this should be interesting :j:j

Great to see all the new posters joining in - We will need each others support me thinks.

mardatha

I'm just posting it on here because I canny count LOL ! I am knitting socks too. Horrible colour but very warm