If push comes to shove...?

Sally_A

@ RAS - thanks.

@ kittie - would go for 8 poles minimum in the wigwam, it gives more stability to the structure - if you are not that overkeen on runners, grow climbing frenchies up the other 4, they are usually earlier by about 3 weeks.

Both runner and french bean seeds can be saved too - let the last pods dry out completely and shell them and keep the seeds - some old gardeners reckon after a few years of saving they are a better strain than the original for your area/planting conditions. Discard any with miniture holes in as the bean weevil has got to them. Replenish with new seed if you think yours are getting a bit ropey, but at the mo I think the last new seed for runners was bought in 2003, and french beans 2006.

rhiwfield

Just to briefly return to the theme of rising prices here's today's CPI inflation figures from the Office for National Statistics:

Rise from November 2010 to Dec 2010 (just 1 month!):
"food and non-alcoholic beverages: prices, overall, rose by 1.6 per cent, the largest rise for a November to December period on record. The upward effects within this category were widespread with the most significant coming from fruit and vegetables"

Over the 12 months food rose by 5.7% against overall CPI of 3.7%.

• Fruit rose by 8.6%

• Vegetables rose by 8%

Yesterdays article in the Guardian, before these latest dreadful inflation figures were published, highlighted the impact of rising prices on poorer families.

But as posters to this thread have shown, it is possible to reduce reliance on shop bought food, even if you only have a small growing area.

Sally_A

In a recent clearout, found a Suttons Catalogue from 2005, prices have risen about 20% on average for 2011. Unsure if that is because seed production costs have increased, or whether seed companies are jumping on the GYO bandwagon. Also noticed in the 2005 catalogue - choice of seeds was minimal to say the least.

Rather than freezing, I reckon canning could be the next big thing- the french do this, but to be honest I haven't got a clue where to start. Previous generations salted stuff, but I think this is beyond my tastebuds, so may have to look into canning.

Note to self: must Google.

shellysue

I am going to bottle stuff this year, apart from possible problems with electricity - power cuts etc, I wondered how much it costs to keep food frozen.

cootambear

Sally_A wrote: »

In a recent clearout, found a Suttons Catalogue from 2005, prices have risen about 20% on average for 2011. Unsure if that is because seed production costs have increased, or whether seed companies are jumping on the GYO bandwagon. Also noticed in the 2005 catalogue - choice of seeds was minimal to say the least.

Rather than freezing, I reckon canning could be the next big thing- the french do this, but to be honest I haven't got a clue where to start. Previous generations salted stuff, but I think this is beyond my tastebuds, so may have to look into canning.

Note to self: must Google.

Everyone to some degree suffers from `branditis`, that is that the view that premium branded goods are better than their cheaper counterparts. That may well be the case in some cases, though we have to subject it to cost/benefit ratios.

Aldi seeds may germinate less (arguably) than suttons seed. lets say by 50%. yet suttons seeds cost 5 or ten times as much.

thus, cost benefit wise aldi seed would be much better value.

So, along with above average inflation rises in premium brands,we have seen the rise of pound shops and discount supermarkets offering basement prices.

you pays your money, you makes your choice.

Lotus-eater

shellysue wrote: »

I am going to bottle stuff this year, apart from possible problems with electricity - power cuts etc, I wondered how much it costs to keep food frozen.

We canned (or jar'ed really) some of our tomato sauce this year for the first time.
My Italian friend always does it and convinced me to give it a go. I have to say that it's worked really well, doesn't take up any freezer space and is ready immediately, rather than having to remember to take it out to defrost.
We are doing to do more next year.

Smoffi

The reason why we have these issues.. is simple.. we do not share

If those who had shared with those who didn't. If we stopped looking at earning top dollar every time and storing things for a rainy day we would not have this issue.

We throw out enough food every day to feed thousands whether it be in our bins, supermarkets or the actual production process.

It is blindness of those in power to see this fact!

shellysue

my plan is to grow enough to feed my family and bless people with the excess, this year God willing, I will be able to do that, last year we didn't have enough to give away.

mambury

I'm with you guys!! Fruit and veg seem to have nmassivly increased in price recently and as I am veggie and the rest of the family eat a lot of fruit and veg I want to make sure that a) we can keep eating good qaulity food and b) we can still manage a healthy diet....

I have a large garden (1/4 acre approx) and as money is tight already and due to childcare issues I can only work weekends when OH is around so I had already decided that growing is going to have to be my other 'job'. I have quite a few jobs to do to the veg plot as I didn't really do a massive amount last year so now is planning time...

Sally A - thanks for the link, quantities are something I need to work out.....

I have a freezer but I need another, mine is full to bursting at the moment anyway so I shall be looking on freecycle. Like Cerwiden I have a dehystrator (a new'toy' but one I think will be worth the investment in time) and I will be looking into canning/bottling too. The chicken coop has been bought so I am looking to get chickens after feb 1/2 term (as I am going away for the week) and the weather will be warmer.

I am lucky that I can cook and live in the country (nearest village is 4 miles, nearest supermarket is 15 miles away) so I feel that I am probably in a better position to survive than maybe others with limited space.

So far I am planning to grow a mini orchard with a few eating apples, a cooker, some pears and plums. I also have a large wooden 6' high fence running down the side of my garden which is shared with neighbours that are more than happy for me to grow up against it so I was thinking about hops (OH likes beer!) and grapevines. In addition to the fruit I have two greenhouses (6x6 and 6x8) and access to plenty of manure from various animals depending on which farm I go to.....

Now I do have a few questions...... Does anyone live in Devon (other than Davesnave.... I know you are fairly local to me!), and grow pears? I live at the top of a hill so we get a lot of westerlies and a lot of rain but the ground is fairly well drained but I was advised that pears will not do too well in exposed areas? Can anyone suggest some varities that would be okay? The same for the plums..... And how would grapevines do as the fence I plan to grow them against is west facing and will get the brunt of the winter weather (the septic tank is also sited next to the fence so would the roots be too much of an issue??)

We seem to have a microclimate in the area too with spring starting a couple of weeks later than the surrounding area.

Anyone mind me jumping on the bandwagon??

zarazara

Another fan of canning here, we are still eating rhubarb,strawberries,blackcurrants,raspberries and gooseberries which I canned [jarred] last year. This year I hope to get enough tomatoes to try. re germination of veg seeds. As far as I am aware there is a minimum germination rate by law with veg seed,but not with flower seed. So it shouldnt matter where you buy your seed from, maybe the cheaper packets have a few less seed in them, but who wants 2000 rocket seed anyway?