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

greent

redlady_1 wrote: »

Now the OH is talking about going veggie and I cannot blame him. Except I am not giving up my bacon sandwiches!

In which case make sure the bacon is British reared (not just packed) - the welfare conditions of our pigs are much better than those elsewhere in Europe..;)

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2009/01/19/113864/Pig-industry-gets-media-backing-as-Jamie-Oliver-campaign-kicks.htm lots of links if you google it

Larumbelle

greent wrote: »

In which case make sure the bacon is British reared (not just packed) - the welfare conditions of our pigs are much better than those elsewhere in Europe..;)

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2009/01/19/113864/Pig-industry-gets-media-backing-as-Jamie-Oliver-campaign-kicks.htm lots of links if you google it

I've noticed that at the same time as the supermarkets have trumpeted that they're selling higher-welfare British-reared pork to satisfy the converts, they seem to have constant offers on ridiculously low-priced foreign low-welfare stuff. It's almost like they take great delight in proving that most people will buy any old thing if it's cheap enough. I call it the Hugh F-W effect, as they did the same thing with chicken products during that campaign. I find it astonishing how quickly people do boomerang back to the cheap stuff.

We don't buy very much pork but OH does like it. We can't afford to use the brilliant rare-breed butcher we have nearby, or any of the 'good' butchers. Unfortunately most of our other local butchers pretty much sell supermarket meat and couldn't tell you where it comes from other than a wholesale market. But we do get the odd bit of pork from M&S, I read somewhere that M&S and Waitrose are the only supermarkets whose pork is reliably British higher-welfare stuff. We get M&S vouchers from time to time and buy it when it's on offer. It's no dearer than other supermarket pork when it's on offer, but it's still not so cheap when you're on a budget.

I could never convince OH to become vegetarian. Two meat-free main meals per week is about his limit, although I do manage to con him now and then with an extra one of omelettes or 'something' on toast We don't compromise on quality and welfare, so it means strict portion control and being a little bit savvy when shopping. We are lucky that we can usually afford to do this; when we haven't been in that position, we have done without completely.

scottishminnie

oldtractor wrote: »

I am seriously considering putting up duvets along the walls. our front bedroom front wall is very thin,its an old cottage, its just wattle and daub plastered over and is very thin,whereas the other cottage walls are 2 ft thick stone. if i line the front wall with duvets it should make quite a difference in insulatiing ability.

My friend lives in an ancient cottage which is pretty cold in winter, She has wall hangings in her lounge, hall and dining room. The lounge one is a huge persian style rug. When I commented on how much I liked them she told me the main reason for hanging them was to "line the walls" a bit and provide some warmth and the decoration factor was just a bonus. She also told me that the canopy thing she had above her bed was for the same reason. It was like a wooden rectangle with velvet drapes attached on either side and some velvet round the top. (I'm not describing this very well:(). I had always thought it was very medieval looking (very in keeping with the old cottage) and was quite surprised that it had any other purpose but I guess in times gone by these were perhaps ways to keep homes warm too.

Emptynester

GreyQueen wrote: »

Re sowing the Kestrels later in the year, I feel a bit stuck as they appear in the shops as seed spuds from January onwards, when I buy mine in mid-Feb they are already sprouting and the shoots are starting to come thru the nets. I chit them for several weeks and then plant them deeply. Can't see how I can stop them doing what they're doing, but would not-chitting and planting them when they appear in the shops slow them down enough, in terms of them being about a foot tall in mid-May which is when we have the late frosts? If I delay the purchase they'll be none left.

Advice from any and all parties very welcome, please. I do use fleece but even cheap fleece works out an expensive faff for a whole tattie patch.

I wonder if you keep them (the seed potatoes) in the fridge for a few weeks if it will help. Of course I don't know how many seed potatoes you use or how big your fridge is. My fridge is small but early in the year I can get away with keeping things in the cupboard under the stairs (coldest place I can find in the house) which would free up space in my fridge. Any way it's an idea.

Empty

oldtractor

scottishminniethats an interesting reply. I know what you mean about the bed drape thingy, a friend had a similar thing. Only the other day I was discussing this with DH as a way of keeping in the heat in the winter,basically turning the bed into a 4 poster with drawable curtains.
interestingly in 17th and 18th century yorkshire there used to be beds encased in wood,sort of a bed-in-a-cupboard. you slid the door open to get in then slid it shut,dark,warm very private. the panels were often highly decorated. I've seen similar in Holland in a houseing museum there.

redlady_1

Chirpy - it should say on the box. They are 15 Value free range ones. I think they are £1.76. I did notice they have an offer on 9 at the moment too.

If you lot keep coming up with these scary articles I am going to be a right skinny minny! :-)

catznine

Ah! Here comes the rain and quite a lot of it too (with some thunder!) Thank goodness for that!

Wedding went well, such a lovely day, the fabric hearts looked so pretty hanging from the trees at the venue and the bunting looked nice over the sweetie table! The bride sparkled with happiness as did the groom and the bridesmaids kept us laughing with their antics and they still managed to make me a cuppa in the morning! Back to normality now and frugality big time!!!! Ahhhh!!!!! : )

I've started by buying 3 x 750g gammon joints for £10 in Mr S, it works out so much cheaper to do this! Thanks to the poster who suggested this! 750g of ham for £3.33 against £9.32 to buy 750g in plastic packs! Huge saving and tastes wonderful. Cooked ham freezes well in slices so I won't waste any and the other two joints are in the freezer for another time!

Breadmaker is back in use and also made up some very big double choc muffins from a mix from an order with big brands at the beginning of the year, You just add water or oil and water to the mix and bake!

We have decided on an austerity season over the next few months, buying very, very little and using up whatever we have! No eating out unless with vouchers (and then only if we must) We will have friends around to tea instead or for a budget dinner party so that should be challenging. Presents are coming from the pressie cupboard or I will make something, asI will with cards.

Only treats for us will be some prints of the wedding and granddaughter and maybe if we are really careful, the cost of a tank of fuel to get to see our granddaughter, really miss her as they are 6 hours drive away!

[Deleted User]

This has become such an interesting thread. I had a rummage in my freezer today and am glad to say that I don`t have any basa. What cost food, eh? I got a leaflet from http://www.piggles.org.uk/ in my ethical consumer magazine and I saw countrywise a few days ago when there was a good explanation of what goes on to produce beef and about how the standards are very low in other countries. I have bought British as long as I can remember but I think I am going back to organic only and will be eating even less meat than we do now

I have been very busy today, moving trees in pots with dh, making bread rolls and muffins and making no faff strawberry jam as my friend gave me a lb of lovely strawberries a couple of days ago. It was so easy as I really couldn`t be faffed with making normal jam

Same weight of jam sugar as strawberries. Mash. Bring to boil. Rolling boil 4 minutes. Then I put it into a bowl as I coulkdnd`t be bothered with jar faff today and it`ll get eaten quickly anyway

I treated myself to vacuum jars to go with the sealer and I admit that they are wonderful. I put strawberries into one and they were good as fresh picked today and they are already saving on the special bags

I made roasted potatoes with the charlottes today and they are lovely, a very crispy coat and I am sure would freeze well, only I have no room

I see TJ Hughes is under threat :eek:

Lakeland delivered today, so quick and every item in the sale. Pop up flat airers £1.99, ecozone balls £4.99 instead of £10.99. lol I now have enough washing balls to last me until my 70s

oldtractor

kittie please tell me more about the vacuum jars and sealer.

[Deleted User]

I got the pro from andew james and I like it so much that it is permanently on my worktop, even though I have limited space. eg, I picked a cabbage and kept it in a large poly bag which I sealed and didn`t vacuum. I used it each day for 3 days, rolled the bag and re sealed it daily and the cabbage today is still as fresh as ever with no markings on the cut edge. Dh is using it too. I put a load of peeled shallots into a canister, vacuumed and put it into the fridge and they are as good as new, I only take out what I want and re vac the rest.I opened oatmeal today, near its use by date, so poured thge rest into a canister and vacuumed and popped it into the fridge, knowing that it will be good for quite a while now