If push comes to shove...?

ceridwen

newwen112 wrote: »

I have wondered this. I have always thought if the conspiricists are to believed, in August this year we start world war three.

Well - if they're right - we can all stop worrying about the future now - as there won't BE a future to worry about:)

I DO like to see a positive slant in everything if at all possible:rotfl:

rhiwfield

dreaming wrote: »

I posted on another thread a few weeks ago about an article I saw in Grow Your Own magazine about growing stuff on balconies etc. and the guy reckoned he saved about £720.00 last year (from memory he calculated how much it would have cost him to buy the produce). I have since found his blog on http://www.verticalveg.org.uk/
He hasn't posted much this year but past posts were very informative. I do have a small garden but thought I could adapt some of his ideas - especially about using plastic drinks bottles to make self-watering containers.

Looks like he has lead flashing on his roof, maybe not ideal for watering edible plants. Love the concept though.

rhiwfield

Kirri wrote: »

I don't generally buy any veg for myself from the supermarket now but it means I go without if it's not in season or frozen, it depends how harsh you want to be on yourself! I have enough stored to get me through the winter though at the moment it's mainly potatoes, squash, onion, garlic, frozen beans, carrots, onions, frozen tomato sauces etc. I'm happy to live on what I have, even if I eat the same most days, other people may not be?

And here's the point!

The savings you can make increase:

• by your ability to grow food well
• by supplementing with wild foods
• by saving seed
• by using scrap or freely available materials
• by composting, manure crops, comfrey,free manure
• by using rainwater to avoid water charges
• by eating everything produced, replacing not just bought in fruit and veg but also "snack" foods such as sliced ham.
• by storing produce until needed
• by preserving for lean months
• by converting produce into high value products e.g wine

but it will mean that choice in winter months will be limited, even for a fully self sufficient grower, and I'd expect nearly everyone to spice up the diet with some bought in food.

yorkieorchid

Hi to you all. I just love this thread! Such an interesting and informative debate going on too. It took me a few hours to read through all the posts but i feel really inspired now, thankyou to all who have contributed.

I have an allotment and up until last year was just playing at it really, but this year i am really trying to plan what i grow to ensure a good succession of crops. I too have had to tighten the finances up, and have noticed the food prices going sky rocket. ( Raspberries are £8.85kg in Tesco!) I have loads in my freezer!:D

rhiwfield - I think your compostbin website is fab. I noticed you have used plastic water bottles as demijohns, what a good idea! How do you make holes in the plastic lids for the rubber bung and airlock? Also i would like to have a go at making cider this year as i had loads of surplus apples last year that do not store well. Do you need a fruit press or can you just chop up the apples and make as for wine? If you have a recipe for cider that you wouldnt mind sharing i would be really gratefull.

Janet x

Lotus-eater

You do need to press apples to make cider. Well mince them up first, then press.
Once you get the apple juice, you just add yeast (some people don't even do this, allowing for wild yeasts to colonise the brew), instant (or almost) cider

Orange_King

dreaming wrote: »

I posted on another thread a few weeks ago about an article I saw in Grow Your Own magazine about growing stuff on balconies etc. and the guy reckoned he saved about £720.00 last year (from memory he calculated how much it would have cost him to buy the produce). I have since found his blog on http://www.verticalveg.org.uk/
He hasn't posted much this year but past posts were very informative. I do have a small garden but thought I could adapt some of his ideas - especially about using plastic drinks bottles to make self-watering containers.

Thanks dreaming for your post. That blog is superb and I was really impressed with the aerial gardening of Helen Babbs - this gives me "food" for thought indeed........

I have a small vertical garden up one fence panel at the moment but I feel another project coming on now after seeing the extent she has taken things to and so many vacant fence panels elsewhere that could be put to good use..

Davesnave

You can hire fruit presses. Probably best to book well in advance. This is the sort of thing I found from a quick Google:

http://www.slorchards.co.uk/ApplePressHire.html

rhiwfield

yorkieorchid wrote: »

rhiwfield - I think your compostbin website is fab. I noticed you have used plastic water bottles as demijohns, what a good idea! How do you make holes in the plastic lids for the rubber bung and airlock? l.

Janet x

Janet, sorry but its not my site We use demijohns for wine but dont make cider. Maybe Davesnave, Lotus Eater or another poster might know

Davesnave

rhiwfield wrote: »

Janet, sorry but its not my site We use demijohns for wine but dont make cider. Maybe Davesnave, Lotus Eater or another poster might know

Err, no but the bottom of this page refers to 'gallon water containers from Tesco' (gosh, that's a five letter word I don't often use!) Any good?

http://www.thebrewshop.com/contents/en-uk/d83_airlocksand_bungsforhomebrew.html

You could Google around like I did, but even Downsizer didn't seem too sure on this:

http://forum.downsizer.net/post-579674.html&sid=1c444f868b1df1736ce9509446caba72

Lotus-eater

As long as the lid is big enough, fitting an air lock should be easy! Just drill a hole in the lid the right size. Simples.

Of course it helps if like me, you have a full set of holesaws