really old style living?

mardatha

This is sort of why I wanted to change my way of living. We can't stop the prices rising but we can stop being so completely dependant on the supermarkets. This summer was far too short and things haven't done well in the garden - so need to plan better for next year. But I did get enough tatties to keep us for months..
I got 10 bags of bread flour stashed, 10 boxes of teabags, and 10kg of lentils. Aiming now for 10 pkts porridge.
So if I went to the shop once a month and replaced what I used then thats a start. I am sort of wondering now if another freezer is the way to go - or fixing up the shed to store root veg in instead..

NualaBuala

I've keep hearing things about wheat/flour prices; bad crop in Ireland/UK, exports forbidden from Russia but on the plus side that USA had a bumper crop .... and am I right in thinking a lot of the strong bread flour comes from USA grains - have a feeling our climate is not good for protein content. I think regardless prices just keep going up and and up anyway! I did hear of some people buying grain direct from farmers and milling it themselves. I saw very cute mills at the organic market the other week - I think that might be a touch too OS for me though!

I would love not to be dependent on supermarkets but I think the best I can do is minimise it. My main dependence on shops will be fresh fruit and veg - does anyone know what can I grow over the winter months? Even my herbs on the windowsill barely grew last winter so I'm wondering if there's anything I can produce?

D&DD

mardatha wrote: »

This is sort of why I wanted to change my way of living. We can't stop the prices rising but we can stop being so completely dependant on the supermarkets. This summer was far too short and things haven't done well in the garden - so need to plan better for next year. But I did get enough tatties to keep us for months..
I got 10 bags of bread flour stashed, 10 boxes of teabags, and 10kg of lentils. Aiming now for 10 pkts porridge.
So if I went to the shop once a month and replaced what I used then thats a start. I am sort of wondering now if another freezer is the way to go - or fixing up the shed to store root veg in instead..

Thats really the way I started Mardatha I also watch for special offers and get to know roughly how often each item comes around.Thats usually when I stock up so although the store might run down to say 4 bags of bread flour if I know theres a deal coming round I'll hang on.
That said a lot of things like bread flour,yeast and rice are not often on offer in my area :mad:

Nuala I think theres a thread on the greenfingered board regards to Autumn planting? Do you have a greenhouse?

parsonswife8

NualaBuala wrote: »

I've keep hearing things about wheat/flour prices; bad crop in Ireland/UK, exports forbidden from Russia but on the plus side that USA had a bumper crop .... and am I right in thinking a lot of the strong bread flour comes from USA grains - have a feeling our climate is not good for protein content. I think regardless prices just keep going up and and up anyway! I did hear of some people buying grain direct from farmers and milling it themselves. I saw very cute mills at the organic market the other week - I think that might be a touch too OS for me though!

I would love not to be dependent on supermarkets but I think the best I can do is minimise it. My main dependence on shops will be fresh fruit and veg - does anyone know what can I grow over the winter months? Even my herbs on the windowsill barely grew last winter so I'm wondering if there's anything I can produce?

Our tomatoes are still grass green.:mad: I've got some thriving parsley and basil on the go. Will dry in the microwave and bottle and keep in the fridge or in the shed.

There's nothing wrong with frozen fruit and veg, the Value mixed frozen berries in Sainsburys are only £1. Tinned pineapple, peach and apricots in juice are okay.

meanmarie

I had cherry tomatoes until Christmas last year in an unheated porch...only 2 plants and they didn't produce lots but was pleased....have them again this year, hoping for similar result.

We always sow scallions and spinach aug/sept, they can be harvested all winter, they don't grow fact, but do produce usable food, chard is also good and we are trying celery for the first time...its looking good so far, sprouts would need to be hardy plants by now but you might get them at the organic market....is that the one in Temple Bar Nuala? Plan on sprouting seeds this year to ensure a fresh bit of something at all times.

Marie

D&DD

Marie we took a chance earlier in the year and bought some celery plants...they looked lush,grew well,tasted them...godfathers they were bad :rotfl:I eat most stuff but the evil taste they left in my mouth was something else!
I've since read *think it was on grapevine* to grow it in buckets stood in water trays so it doesn't get bitter.
I bought some seeds but not sure wether I want to try it again *shudders*

mardatha

Oooh I forgot about dehydrating... might look at that for next year, mean to make the veg plot a lot bigger next year. I only buy frozen fruit ever, we dont eat much fruit, mainly with jelly and cream.
How much are dehydrators and where would I get one?

D&DD

mardatha wrote: »

Oooh I forgot about dehydrating... might look at that for next year, mean to make the veg plot a lot bigger next year. I only buy frozen fruit ever, we dont eat much fruit, mainly with jelly and cream.
How much are dehydrators and where would I get one?

Got mine from Tchibo on special a few years back,don't think they do them any more but someone said westfalia do a similar one for around £30..will see if I can find it..http://www2.westfalia.net/shops/household/preserving_food_and_jam_making/preserving_food/dehydrating_/193811-food_dehydrator.htm

Kathlicos has posted on the greenfingered board about dehydrating and has posted some videos on youtube

ginnyknit

Just picked another sunflower and have hung it for seeds to drop out, really get a stash going there. Have salvaged some tomatoes so am hoping for enough tomato sauce to last a while. the store cupboard is getting quite full now and the freezers are groaning. Mum got me some real bargains on Bolton market, ham joints for 2 quid and a huge pack of bacon so they went in the freezer. The flour stock is going well too as there are a lot of offers on - which I have picked up on here. We are shopping less and less now which suits me fine.

ThriftyFelicity

NualaBuala wrote: »

I would love not to be dependent on supermarkets but I think the best I can do is minimise it. My main dependence on shops will be fresh fruit and veg - does anyone know what can I grow over the winter months? Even my herbs on the windowsill barely grew last winter so I'm wondering if there's anything I can produce?

I don't think there are any winter-hardy fruits, but for veg there are a few things. Some Oriental greens can be harvested in the winter... this year I'm going to try Pe Tsai, Komatsuna Japanese kale, and Tsoi sim, all available at Real Seeds. I also have seed for "Helen's Welsh Siberian Perennial Bunching Onion" (there's a mouthful), which can be sown through mid-September and harvested through Feb. Winter radish can be sown through the end of this month and harvested through Feb. Other winter-hardy crops are corn salad, kale, spinach and winter lettuce.

I'm sure there are more...