As The Workhouse Approaches....How To Do Everything To Avoid It, the Old Style Way

lostinrates

rinabean wrote: »

In a month or so I'll have a garden! I'm so excited! I keep clicking on all these gardening links and umming and aahing over what I might need but the reality is that I'm a total novice and have no idea. I suppose I'll learn quickly, though (well I hope so - I'm desparate to plant some edible stuff this year )

IMO, you are doing the right thing, clicking, reading, learning. I've always grown stuff...even at uni, but suddenly having choice entirely to ourselves in and enduring way is startlingly daunting.

My local gardening centre seems to have lots of talks etc, and I'm considering going to some of the free ones to see what I can learn.

bertiebots

Oooh rinabean I remember my first garden! :jI was a bit too keen and planted things far too close together in an attempt to make it look mature (it was a large empty plot on a new build) . It was at this point that I realised that I am quite green fingered and anything I plant tends to grow twice the average size:D. So my advice would be to take your time and give your garden chance to grow...and plan a little better than I do probably:rotfl:It took me about 5 years to get it how I wanted but then we had to move because the house only had 2 beds and I was expecting my 3rd child..I will always miss that garden...

Nargleblast

We have a crab apple tree that is about ten years old and always produces a bumper harvest every year. Consequently the kitchen shelf is full of jars of crab apple jelly, enough for us and to give away to relatives. We have also recently acquired two young apple trees, Cox varieties, so I have great hopes for those in years to come. Then there are the dozen raspberry bushes that produce a reasonable amount of fruits every year. Plus a fig tree that gives us about half a dozen figs. Not bad going, I suppose, but I am not so lucky with vegetables. There are some young radish plants that are looking healthy but apart from that I seem to be the kiss of death to veggies. Suppose we can't all be talented at everything!

bertiebots

Damn damn damn..just remembered that my local lidl were selling dwarf fruit trees today for £9.99 damn!!!! I was going to treat myself to a couple ....wonder if any will be left on saturday.

Cheapskate

I received the free seeds from the RHS yesterday, so my very OS weekend will now include planting some of them, along with my poor, leggy spuds! As we're not much above the breadline now, I've got to try everything free that I can! Speaking of bread, I'm going to resurrect the breadmaker mum gave me when dad died - got plenty bread flour & yeast, & think I've seen some offer somewhere for bread flour.
I spent ages in the charity shops yesterday, very little for children at the mo - not how I remember it from just 6 months ago. Has anyone else noticed this? I used to buy lots of clothes for my older kids in CS years ago, before it was cool - well, I was cool, just before my time! I've also started haunting freecycle again, to 'buy' and 'sell' - hope to get free even 1 or 2 of the little things we need for the house, all helps!

Hippeechiq

bertiebots wrote: »

Damn damn damn..just remembered that my local lidl were selling dwarf fruit trees today for £9.99 damn!!!! I was going to treat myself to a couple ....wonder if any will be left on saturday.

I hung my nose over one of those today, but wondered how successful these trees can be grown in pots, and as I have no earth, if I bought one, that's where it would have to stay - in a pot.

ChocClare how exciting for you to have chicks :T you lucky girl you - oh, I wish, I wish, I wish.

Charis

lostinrates wrote: »

I hate the term ''big society'' but like the idea. I see it very differently to hw you describe it. The huge difference between this and Victorian Philanthropism is there is stuff we can ALL do and we don't have to sit hopefully receiving and tugging forelocks in the direction of our ''betters''. Helping ur neighbours, having support network (not unlike this thread)...are parts of the notion of helping our ''neighbours'' in society. If you can do mre with time...perhaps some litter picking on a route you walk.....that's part of it. And yes, its good if those to spare share some, and if they get a feel good fator out if it they'll give again. But we all can...and IMO its only bunkum if we don't bother or take responsibility.

I can't envisage any of the front benchers picking up litter as they go - except perhaps as a publicity stunt. Do you think it's a good idea for the government to put the onus for caring onto unpaid, untrained amateurs? In a crisis, it's a kind thing to help a neighbour, but longer term you can find yourself running around looking after someone else's elderly relative while their own family never visit. Or you may be genuinely too busy to find the time to help and could do without the guilt trip.

As services are run down trained workers are left jobless, and those of us still reasonably able bodied people in retirement areas may well be outnumbered by those needing help. A support 'network' only works if the supporters are also supported. I'd rather services were performed by trained operatives with the proper equipment. Sometimes they may be trained volunteers, for example Meals on Wheels, Lifeboats, Guide Dogs for the Blind. If we are feeling philanthropic there are plenty of volunteering avenues to explore but if we patch up the holes in provision with a temporary solution we're just hiding the need for a long term resolution.

lostinrates

Charis wrote: »

I can't envisage any of the front benchers picking up litter as they go - except perhaps as a publicity stunt. Do you think it's a good idea for the government to put the onus for caring onto unpaid, untrained amateurs? In a crisis, it's a kind thing to help a neighbour, but longer term you can find yourself running around looking after someone else's elderly relative while their own family never visit. Or you may be genuinely too busy to find the time to help and could do without the guilt trip.

As services are run down trained workers are left jobless, and those of us still reasonably able bodied people in retirement areas may well be outnumbered by those needing help. A support 'network' only works if the supporters are also supported. I'd rather services were performed by trained operatives with the proper equipment. Sometimes they may be trained volunteers, for example Meals on Wheels, Lifeboats, Guide Dogs for the Blind. If we are feeling philanthropic there are plenty of volunteering avenues to explore but if we patch up the holes in provision with a temporary solution we're just hiding the need for a long term resolution.

I don't think anyone is suggesting other than trained people should do specialised jobs. the ''big society'' though has certainly been involved in lifeboats and guide dogs though: I don't know if those organisations could do with out them. The role here, might not be manning a boat or training a dog, but it can be fundraising to help pay for the skills to do so, or some of the less skilled jobs.

I've moved a lot, and I do feel bad for people I've become a help too, but I do my best to make other connections for them. The payoff is that I also often get help I need. As a person with ill health and a lot of animals times I've helped people mean that people are willing to go out of their way to help me.

People who are trained respondants to some sorts of emergencies have been ''ordinary'' for a long time...always maybe...sometimes professionals working out of hours sometimes skilled amateurs. I've been one of them! I hope to do some more training next winter to do so in another role. I've also done planty of unskilled volunatry work in charities also employing skilled workers for other roles...while also working. I have the luxury of more time now, but the complication of less mobility and reliability. I'd rather services were balanced, but that we all realised we were part of a solution, and that when things go wrong its our problem. IMO there is a lot of disconnect and a lot of people willing to get but not give.

ChocClare

Nargleblast wrote: »

We have a crab apple tree that is about ten years old and always produces a bumper harvest every year. Consequently the kitchen shelf is full of jars of crab apple jelly, enough for us and to give away to relatives. We have also recently acquired two young apple trees, Cox varieties, so I have great hopes for those in years to come. Then there are the dozen raspberry bushes that produce a reasonable amount of fruits every year. Plus a fig tree that gives us about half a dozen figs. Not bad going, I suppose, but I am not so lucky with vegetables. There are some young radish plants that are looking healthy but apart from that I seem to be the kiss of death to veggies. Suppose we can't all be talented at everything!

I'm sure you know this, but crab apples are brilliant for producing pectin, so if you have loads, you could use 'em as a setting agent for other jams as well.

On the veggie front, do you like French beans? They are easy peasy lemon squeezy to grow and produce very good crops. If you fancy giving them a go, pm me and I'll be happy to send you some - my French beans actually come from France, and the French are not believers in selling tiny packets of seeds - you get boxes full enough to plant several hectares, so I'd far rather see them planted than shrivelling away in the box...

[Deleted User]

Cheapskate wrote: »

Have a virtual wibbly moment on me, then, in recognition of all council customer services workers! :beer: :rotfl:

A xo

My youngest Dd when she first left school at 17 worked for the DHSS and after getting quite a lot of abuse then decided to change her job and went to work for a Kent council .The week after she started the odious 'Poll Tax ' came in and she then had to put up with all sorts of abuse ,which she found a bit unfair as she also had to pay the blessed tax as well.The worst was when a chap came into to complain and she was trying to help him sort out the forms ect and he totally lost it and physically spat at her..Today over twenty years later she has been an estate agent (another unpopular job)for almost 4 years and is now working as a senior negotiator for a letting agency .But she loves doing what she is doing now and the firm she works for are brilliant.A little politeness does go a long way and I always find a smile and a thank you helps no end