really old style living?

betony

...adds to above post in very small voice...

sorry, post moderater for going so far off-subject...

seasalt_2

Think I must be going doolally - spent all last night trying to catch up on this thread and thought I had posted too - but obviously not!

Aha! So that's what RV stands for mardatha - was going to ask - would never have got there by myself! Do you think renaming him would improve his outlook?!

My twopence worth for the garden (do as I say not as I do - but it's what I wish I HAD done!) is to start SMALL, maybe just one small veg bed (salads) and then only add another once it's clear you can manage the first and so on. And I second the no-dig (or nearly no-dig) system - less work for better results. I, of course, tried to work out how many onions/tatties/carrots etc we (extended family of ten!) would eat in a year (answer:too many!) and spent weeks and weeks removing tons (literally) of rocks and stones and rusted bits of machinery from the old stackyard and then met an elderly man who used to work for OH's father who said he had spent weeks putting them all in there when he was a lad (bases for the haystacks/cornstacks) when the "new" (late 1920s) stackyard was built! It's an area probably not quite as big as an allotment but not far off - and I have been struggling to keep up ever since - it's productive alright - I even have a polytunnel in there now - but there are always jobs I never quite get around to and that's frustrating. I have concentrated on the vegetables, and flowers, apart from self seeds and companion planting, haven't really got a look in and I would love to make a pretty patch outside the kitchen door. Have been saying I will do it every winter/spring for about four years now but it hasn't happened yet.

I am also wary of stocking up on huge quantities of eg flour as in the autumn/winter, we invariably get mice or, worse, rats in the walls - I have to keep everything in large jars, tins or robust plastic boxes as they once got into my kitchen cupboards - and also, although we have an outhouse, it needs major repairs and is too damp to keep dry goods in. Also I am a bit ambivalent about it. I do keep fair stocks in - have to because if the boat doesn't get in in the winter, the shop soon runs out of fresh stuff/bread/milk etc - but on the other hand I am trying to declutter - hate living in mess and muddle (although I do!) and really want to paint the floors etc. My dream house (this one but with changes/additions) would have a pantry - I may yet make the tiny utility room into one - and a porch. Although I did read somewhere (permaculture mag?) that a broken chest freezer can be used outside as an insulated, cool, dark space to store produce in - might need some kind of ventilation though - I am going to explore this as we only have a smallish upright freezer in the kitchen. and it's not enough! Will have to make a trip to the dump next week, I think.

OH, of course, thinks I am mad. He would just as soon live on crisps, biscuits, oven chips and fizzy drinks from the Co-op - all things that weren't available when he was young!

Two other questions, I've been wondering about. Is homebaking really cheaper? I'm sure bread is, as our cheapest loaf here is rarely less than £1 (even on offer!) but cakes and biscuits? I grew up with all homebaking but stopped doing it myself a few years ago as I eat it - can take or leave most shop cakes - but have done a lot more this summer, mainly because I thought it would be better for the kids - but I can see the electric meter spinning round when the oven is on and I do wonder about the cooking costs? (In the winter I use the solid fuel rayburn as it's lit anyway and then it's not an issue.)

ALso, one last (I promise!) newbie question. How do I find out how to quote/add those little smileys/put things at the bottom? Is there an idiots guide for the computer unsavvy anywhere? Can you point me in the right direction? Thanks.

seasalt_2

Betony, the thanks button seems to have disappeared?

ETA - ok it has reappeared now - sorry!

betony

seasalt wrote: »

Betony, the thanks button seems to have disappeared?

Not sure why, is it just for that post? Perhaps 'someone' doesn't approve of my idea?

ThriftyFelicity

seasalt wrote: »

ALso, one last (I promise!) newbie question. How do I find out how to quote/add those little smileys/put things at the bottom? Is there an idiots guide for the computer unsavvy anywhere? Can you point me in the right direction? Thanks.

If you want to reply to a specific post, instead of clicking on "Post Reply" at the bottom of the page, click on "Quote" on the specific post you want to comment on / reply to. It will then automatically appear in your new reply, with the code that makes it appear as a quotation already inserted. You can edit out parts of what you are quoting if you like (as I've done here), by simply deleting sections of the text, but make sure you keep the code (the bit in square brackets at the start and end of the quoted section), or else the text won't look right.

To insert smilies, make sure you click on "Post Reply" and not simply use "Quick Reply". When you click on "Post Reply", there will be a list of smilies to the right of where you are typing, simply click once on the smilie you want and it will appear at the position of your cursor. When you are replying to someone by using the "Quote" button, you will also have the smilies available to insert.

To get text to appear at the bottom of every post, click on "User CP" in the top green band (NOT when you are in the middle of replying to a post), and then on the left-hand side, click on "Edit signature". Anything you type in there will show up at the bottom of every one of your posts. (Make sure to click "Save signature" when you are done.) If you change your signature, it will be changed in ALL of your posts, new and existing.

Hope that helps. Bit difficult to explain in words, would be easier in person.

seasalt_2

Thanks felicity - you have explained brilliantly. Don't have time to "play" now - I MUST do some work(!) but will experiment later on. Have been using quick reply up until now.

Betony, it wasn't just your post, I don't think it's personal, just something to do with how the boards work?

Thats_Me_3

Mardatha, isn't it strange how it always seems to be the men in a family who have issues with saving money, make do and mend, foraging, growing food etc. etc.? I am so very lucky as my OH has completely (all but!) put our garden over to growing veg, knows where all the bargains are to be had, will collect up fallen wood for the burner, forage (oh we do like a bit of free food!) and so much more. He takes real and genuine pride in spending as little as we can (means we can get the last bit of the mortgage paid off!) while not living like we are deprived peasants! I came to work this morning and left him to make apple wine, rhubarb wine and some yogurt.

Is your OH worried that people will think he is poor and can't provide? I know when mine was younger and in *important and thrusting* jobs he felt like that and was often worried by what other people would think. But honestly, redundancies and breakdowns have been the making of him!! LOL!!

As quite a few people have said, try to start small. When you can grow some lovely lettuce and have it as part of your meal, you can say *oh, it does taste better fresh doesn't it?* and he will agree. From there, introduce other small things a bit at a time.

Don't forget, you do not have to do everything all at once. If you expect to be able to handle an allotments worth of growing right away you will be disappointed and downhearted. Start small and reap big rewards. I'm pretty sure he will one day ask you to *grow some more of those lovely tomatoes* or whatever. That is when he will be converted. It will happen one day, just be patient.

mama67

missychrissy wrote: »

I was brought up with parents that made everything themselves. I didn't realise until I was probably a teenager that when I was about 6 or 7 my doll's cot and bed and wardrobe were made by my dad and all the doll's bed linen was made by my mum. I thought Santa left them because I'd requested them.

My parents did teach me to be self sufficient. I watched my dad on the DIY scene and my mum on the knitting/crochet/quilting/patchwork/dressmaking scene. I cannot remember learning to knit - I must have been very young when my mum taught me but I am very glad she did.

The older I get the more really old style living I become.

I don't have a company pension scheme so when I retire I will be on basic state pension so I have to practice now on living on as little as possible as basic state pension is just that.

I remember a farm that my dad made for me when I was approx 6 or 7, mum and nan used to make all my dolls clothes.
We also had a big garden and I grew up with veggies from the garden and fruit from our trees etc.

mardatha

Oh god I am so embarrassed now. LOL !! ty all xxx I was just having a whiney day. And yes ThatsMe, I think you hit the nail on the head. He is always worrying over what the neighbours will think, and I couldnt care less. So maybe he sees all this stuff that we do in here, as "being poor" instead of "being sensible" ! That sounds right. And yes, I was thinking that I could do a square at a time, maybe just 18" or 2ft because its really overgrown and full of old fencing and nettles.Then next year I'm going to use builders one-ton bags as containers, so all I need is a flat area to sit them on.
We have been married 44 years and he does look after me and look out for me. He just has some funny ideas & is very stubborn. LOL !

mardatha

Remember to multiply the amounts of each item on the list by the number of adults you are preparing for.

BASIC PREP LIST FOR ONE MONTH/ONE ADULT
* Water: 30 gallons per person minimum
* Canned meals: 30 cans per person (Pasta meat mixes; Chunky type soups; Chili; etc.)
* Canned/Tinned meat spreads and similar items for sandwiches: 12 cans
* Peanut Butter: 2-3 lbs per person
* Jam/Jelly: 1-2 lbs per person
* Crackers: 4 1 lb. boxes per person (for sandwiches and snacks)
* Canned fruit: 12 cans per person
* Instant breakfast cereal: 30 packs per person
* Vegetable/fruit juices: 1 gallon per person
* Coffee, (2 lb) tea, hot chocolate etc. Consider instant in case no electricity.
* Dry milk: Large box, increase if frequent milk drinker; 2 per child
* Dessert items: Canned or single serve puddings and similar , hard candy, or similar comfort foods and "treats", if funds allow
* Sugar: 5 lbs
* Salt: 1 lb; other spices/condiments as desired
* Baking soda: 1 box

* Tylenol/Acetaminophen: bottle 100
* Ibuprofen: bottle 100
* Multiple Vitamin: 1 bottle/30 day supply
* Prescription Medications: minimum 30 days supply

* Antibacterial soap: 1 per sink
* Hand sanitizer:minimum 1 pocket size and one large to refill from
* Bleach- unscented, 1 gallon
* Vinegar: plain, 1 gallon for disinfectant purposes

* Toilet paper 10-15 rolls
* Paper towels; 6 rolls
* Paper plates, cups, disposable silverware
* Manual can opener
* Camp Stove, sterno or other alternative heating method to boil water and fuel
* Flashlights: One per person minimum, consider LED lights to reduce battery usage. Additional LED headlamps extremely useful.
* Radio: battery powered
* Batteries: 3 to 4 sets per battery powered item
* Fire extinguishers
* Battery operated smoke detectors

* Children specific items: Food, formula, diapers, OTC medicines
***************************
Remember this is a basic list to cover a lot of situations, earthquake or epidemic or floods, etc, and adapt it to suit.