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

redlady_1

ChocClare wrote: »

Honey, name ONE thing - anything you like - and you will be inundated with responses from us girlies telling you how to do it (we love the sound of our own voices )

It's not too late to be planting a garden or some pots - even just some salad leaves or something. That would be a "self-sufficient" start. I have a CRATE of seeds - pm me and I will be more than happy to send you some.

As for all the other things you have to learn - ASK! No-one will roll their eyes at you, honestly! :grouphug:

I can vouch for that as I have some particularly strong little Italian tomato plants from young CC.

Did we ever get an answer to the sack of flour problem other than decanting into lock and lock and freezing?

redlady_1

butterflylady wrote: »

Evening Ladies,

A long time reader here who loves the sense of community on this thread but doesn't really have anything useful to contribute!!

A quick question a while ago someone mentioned a gardening book which highlighted what could be planted each month, I'd be really grateful if you could post the details again as this would be a perfect fathers day present for OH.

Thanks

(runs off to hide again!!)

That be Cerwiden who had that I think but as my head if full of discounting cashflow toss at the moment, I am afraid I cannot help with its name. And what you think isnt useful, others will love. Welcome aboard.

flowertotmum

Choclare i have pm'd you..thank you..briney toms wasn't really appealing..but yours sounds better.
Butterfly lady..don't run off come back..
Freudianslip..this is in my opinion the best thread on mse..different folks,backgrounds,jobs,views etc..but we are all here to help anybody..
love ftm

ChocClare

Glad to hear your plants are doing well, redlady!

My greenhouse is chockablock with plants this evening as I have potted everything up rather than attacking the Horror that is the south side of my vegetable garden.

Freezing flour - honestly I would just decant it into bags or boxes as suggested. We used to have huge metal bins of flour years ago when I worked in a restaurant and there were ALWAYS weevils in it :eek: The chef used to sieve them out...

Butterflylady, d/k what the book was you saw, but I have Vegetable Growing Month by Month by John Harrison which is very good - is that the one you were thinking of?

I also recently got out of the library Delia's Kitchen Garden by Gay Search (and Delia Smith) and I thought that was really good too.

And what do you mean, you have nothing to contribute? If nothing else you could tease mardatha about her superior tomatoes! Nice to see you coming out of lurkdom, anyway :T

suzid

Wow just managed to catch up :T
Many congratulations Jedi and a big welcome to baby Daniel.

Goodness there are so many new folk we'll be taking over the world at this rate and a far better place it would be too.
Thank you so much for all the supportive comments about A1. I'm so happy to say that he is still doing well and is eating mince and rice with his normal food. Kimitatsu your suggestions were most welcome, I've never thought to give him pilchards, but have tried liver cooked with veg which he loved. Our local butcher closed several years ago unfortunately so haven't got anyone to ask for the chicken. There is some fish in the freezer which DS doesn't like to that is now a strong possibility. It's so good to have my old friend happily pottering around again and trying to keep Junior in his place. He even ran (of a fashion) up to the top gate to bark at the neighbourhood when I got home from shopping this morning, as if to say 'I'm back, this is my territory'. Wonderful.
I was speaking to a local shopkeeper yesterday who told me he's planted out his veg last week and it had been a big mistake. Has lost many of his seedlings due to the wind. Although we've had rain, it's still very dry and I had to practically screw one of my plants into the ground it was so hard. I was very relieved to see that I still have two apricots despite the howling winds last week and the blackcurrants are starting to change colour. All in all I think we have been lucky not to have more damage and I'm sure the high hedges have helped.
I've just turned over my wolf calendar and found the picture is just like one I took years ago of 'little furry thing' and A1. She was an absolute beauty and how anyone could have abandoned her is beyond me, but if they hadn't we wouldn't have had her in our lives. If I had a clue how to post a picture I could show you all.
Can anyone tell me how to dry 'Honesty'. I vaguely remember having to slit the pods and remove the seeds for someone (can't remember who) but is this required for drying? I'd like to do some sort of attractive feature in the porch, preferably cheap or free and then remembered how pretty Honesty can look. Any other suggestions gratefully received.

littlecal

:wave: hello butterflylady and welcome:)

suzid,glad A1 is doing well:) oooh - I like the thought of us taking over the world:D:D what would we have on our flag? :D

Ches

Honesty dries itself. Pick it when the seed pods look papery then gently rub them between finger and thumb and the outer 'skin' and the seeds will come away leaving the translucent part on the stem.

ceridwen

butterflylady wrote: »

Evening Ladies,

A long time reader here who loves the sense of community on this thread but doesn't really have anything useful to contribute!!

A quick question a while ago someone mentioned a gardening book which highlighted what could be planted each month, I'd be really grateful if you could post the details again as this would be a perfect fathers day present for OH.

Thanks

(runs off to hide again!!)

Do you mean this one?

"Grow something to eat every day - how to produce home-grown fruit and vegetables all year round" by Jo Whittingham

redlady_1

See, I knew Cerwiden would come up with the goods.

Now, I need a rant. I am bloody shocked by what happened in the Panorama programme. I was horrified by it and I have a strong stomach. Will anything be done? Of course not! It never is! Until the law changes and starts to actually protect the victims and prosecute the aggressors (without them spouting their Human Right toss) then people will continue to think they "deserve" things and "have a right" to do things. Nurses in hospitals are not even helping our elderly eat or drink! I have experienced this first hand with my ex when he contracted MRSA and was put into an isolation ward. This was before it was an acceptable risk when you go into hospital. He phoned me up and asked me to bring in a takeaway and drinks as he hadnt even been fed!!!!! They ignored his calls. Now I know that not all places are like this but I think the powers that be need to get off their high horses and come down to our world with our MSE ways and be held accountable. We know about value for money...and breathe.

On another note...the lottie is virtually dead despite the OH watering it daily (or so he says) or stuff hasnt germinated. My garden however, is going nuts!

Another tight month for me after buying most of Focus! My biggest problem being petrol again.

Pleased A1 is dodging his cloud! Long may it continue.:D

freudianslip

Charis wrote: »

Ah, don't worry freudianslip. We will collectively be your grandma and show you things she could only have dreamed of, like how to freeze, microwave and budget for your petrol, none of which my gran lived long enough to see in general use. And us grans are still learning too None of us knows it all but between us we seem to know the answer to most things. Start with the things you can do now and add to them a little at a time. Baby steps.

If you have some time, read through the older OS threads listed at the start of this one (there are about five, I think). See for yourself how far some of the posters have come since they started to post. Not overnight, but gradually, a little at a time.

ChocClare wrote: »

Honey, name ONE thing - anything you like - and you will be inundated with responses from us girlies telling you how to do it (we love the sound of our own voices )

It's not too late to be planting a garden or some pots - even just some salad leaves or something. That would be a "self-sufficient" start. I have a CRATE of seeds - pm me and I will be more than happy to send you some.

As for all the other things you have to learn - ASK! No-one will roll their eyes at you, honestly! :grouphug:

aaaw thank you. I was being silly last night and feeling sorry for myself. I have a grasp of somethings but the absolute shock of reading on here last night that you could make your own butter was a big one. I had no idea. Butter is something that is made in a factory that you must buy in the store. I am very increasingly hating the fact that every aspect of my life has been 'marketed' and my belief of 'the world' is what other people wanting to make money have 'taught' me. I feel used and stupid. It's not just about butter really it's about not having any grounding, not having any skills passed down. I'm relearning what is important this past year. Being skint has brought me to this juncture, not a lifestyle choice but now I wish it had been my lifestyle all along. I feel somewhat content.

I taught myself to crochet via you tube tutorials. I'm saddened by that as my grandma was a super crocheter and knitter. I would love to knit but I just can't grasp it.

Like I say, always be proactive, doesn't help anyone to wallow in self pity so I am thrilled to be here, learning from you all I'm excited by the real fact "what am I going to learn today" that's a good feeling to have in life huh!?

ceridwen wrote: »

Do you mean this one?

"Grow something to eat every day - how to produce home-grown fruit and vegetables all year round" by Jo Whittingham

I really like the sound of that book. Another one on the library reserve list.

I have reserved "The Battersea Park road to paradise" too. The author was on radio 2's drive time last night. I'm not too sure what it is all about but the concept seems to be a humerous journey into real inner happiness. Got to be worth a try.

A glorious day here. Off to water, the redcurrent, blackcurrent, blackberry bushes and strawberries. The more I plant the more I want to plant!

I was looking at a large concreted space I have in the garden and thought chickens. I'll look into that today. I quite fancy the challenge of learning how to make a enclosure myself too.

Enjoy the gorgeous day everyone. Hope you all have as much sun as we have here.

freuds