really old style living?

mardatha

Lovely pics zara ! Nice jam pan too ....:)
I'm taking a step further with this self sufficiency thing and looking at making our own yoghurt. My OH can eat it by the pailfull and its a big item on our shopping costs.

mardatha

What I've decided to do first in the quest for self sufficiency (or at least less shopping !) is to get bulk supplies of :
splenda
marg
butter
porridge oats
sultanas
-- which will take care of the HM biscuits & nibbles --

That will be Costco this week. Then week two will be :
lentils
barley
stock cubes
broth mix
-- which will take care of the soup basics --

I'm still working on week 3. But it will be amazing to feel like I'm in control and I can make anything without running out to a shop to get "stuff "...:j

[Deleted User]

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.

zarazara

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 think its Hugh F_W who is involved in something called Land Share. Check out his web site. It matches people up,those with ground and those who want to grow veg. Maybe a card in the local newsagents,to see if someone wants to grow veg on your plot would be a way forward for you.
A friend of mine shares an allotment with this wife. She does the outside gardening and he grows things in the poly tunnel,he is disabled and needs a wheelchair. Maybe raised beds could work for you?

stitching_witch

JackieO wrote: »

.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.

Jackie, look into "Landshare" which I believe started as a River Cottage initiative. http://www.landshare.org/ It might help you find someone who is desperate to grow things but hasn't got the space.

I will join in with the thread next week as it's a manic weekend for me - just reading things and subscribing so I can get back to all the interesting bits once I get time.

ceridwen

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.

Jackie

I see I've been "beaten to it" in mentioning Landshare. You might also find there is a local initiative along the same lines in your area if you are lucky - in which case you could choose between that and the Landshare scheme.

Don't know if you belong to anything like a local W.I. group or a church of some description? I think you might "strike lucky" if you put up a notice on the church noticeboard/parish magazine or similar.

Its a win/win situation - you'd be helping someone out who wants to grow something and doesnt have any land to do so. On the other hand - you'd be gaining as well - as you would get a share of the produce:D

I don't know what sort of share-out of produce there normally is in this type of scheme - but the proportions you kept and they kept would be something you would discuss between you with the would-be gardener.

[Deleted User]

Thank you all for your suggestions .great idea that ceridwen re looking in the parish magazine or church notice board.I am going to the local community hall this afternoon with my grandsons as there is an event laid on for the childrenfor swopping their Match Attack cards and Panini cards.so I may have a word whilst I'm there.It does seem such a waste of land which maybe someone could uses.I have a back gate and an outside tap so it wouldn't make any difference if I was at home or not re watering .

Welsh_Poppy

Jackie
Wish you were near us as just what we are looking for as we have tiny garden and just dug front garden over and have veggies growing in it but too small for us.

ginnyknit

mardatha wrote: »

Lovely pics zara ! Nice jam pan too ....:)
I'm taking a step further with this self sufficiency thing and looking at making our own yoghurt. My OH can eat it by the pailfull and its a big item on our shopping costs.

Theres a thread on here for yoghurt making in the slow cooker if you have one, but you can make it in a flask I beleive, if you set it off at night I beleive its ready for brekkie!

mardatha

I foundit got it all written down. If you're on a really low income like us, you have to judge whether its worth doing things sometimes don't you ? At the beginning I spent a fortune trying to save money . Re yoghurt, buying the sachets would work out dearer but if I can make nice yoghurt without them, then it will be good. So it's all written down and on my wee list