OS Achievements of 2006

Queenie

Reading the thread on OS Goals/Lifechanges for 2007 spurned me on to post this thread because I think it's equally important to acknowledge your achievements to date and give yourselves a well earned pat on the back!
Let's celebrate!!! :beer:

What have you achieved in 2006 on the OS front?

* re-learned knitting (Mum taught us all at 5yo but never took it up)
* grew some new-to-me herbs
* achieved my goal to have chickens in the garden (and quails too)
* learned how to cook and enjoy lentils
* now regularly make our own yogurt
* regularly grow/eat sprouting seeds
* downloaded a recipe/meal planning software and use it

I'm sure there is more but I'll come back and edit as I think of them

apple_mint

Good idea Queenie!

My OS achievements for 2006 have been:

* To be self sufficient in HM wine
* Always make my own yoghurt
* Have not bought a ready meal in 2006 - now make all meals from scratch (started mid 2005)
* Make our own butter
* Continue to make our own bread (started 2005)
* Started to use free wild food (nettle soup, jams and jellies - Christmas dinner incorporated HM elderberry jelly)
* Lost 2 1/2 stone in weight (OH lost 2st) ... and boy we do still eat well (see above :rotfl:)
* Cut our food bill by at least £300 a month (also see above)
* Bought my major 'kitchen purchases' from car boot sales (Kenwood Chef, chefette, ice cream maker, baking bowls etc.)


I'm sure I'll think of some more later!

apprentice_tycoon

my triumphs this year are:

Bake 2+ loaves of homemade 5 seed bread every week (Kenwood chef)
Perfected my sausage making (Kenwood chef)
Get into a yogurt making routine so there is always a bowl in the fridge
Grown enough strawberries to make jam for the year

It's not a great deal but it's a bedrock that won't change now

Queenie

apprentice_tycoon wrote:

..
It's not a great deal but it's a bedrock that won't change now

As a practising sausage maker myself .... I'd say you've achieved a GREAT deal a.t. :T :T :T

apple - you've just reminded me of my own foraging success Good one!

apple_mint

OH says that we must be self sufficient in jam and jelly for the next 3 years ... that's what he thinks

hypno06

I have not achieved as much as you guys but intend to do so in 2007.

In 2006 though, I:

- grew my own courgettes, herbs and strawberries
- learnt to make fantastic soups out of anything lurking in the fridge!
- stopped buying processed ready meals and got back into cooking
- began meal planning and shopping list compiling
- lost 2 stone in weight (just need to keep it off now!)

Kazonline

Well done on the weight loss hypno!

In 2007 I

Began making H/M bread (much more nutritious than shop stuff as I add seeds etc)
Got back into cooking more h/m meals
Made Jam & jelly
Made good use of my slow cooker
Put up my own garden fence & made my own gate (lol, now how could I forget that!!!)
Transformed the bottom half of my garden
Made a herb bed
Grew lettuce (ok, it bolted - but I grew it )
Grew toms that I was still picking into October!!!
Erm - something tells me I'm better at this in the summer, lol....

For me there have been lots of little experiments - I think that 2007 will be the year that I actually make the changes 'a way of life'.

Most of all I'd like to say thank you to everyone who has helped me on here during the year - the best part of 2006 for me was discovering you lot, and I really mean that.
Kaz x

Penny-Pincher!!

Another great thread Queenie!

My achievements have been:

99% meals from scratch
more organised
HM pizzas and some breads
tried making soup
used SC loads
used vouchers in Waitrose and save a packet!
learned how to latch hook:D
sold loads on Ebay and will continue
only try to buy what we need, but ned to improve on this:o
get more things done in the morning as Im shot by lunchtime
preperation and focus
I will tryo to improve for 2007:j :j :j

PP
xx

culpepper

1. Finally (weve been here 18 years)got the bottom bit of garden into veg production (home grown sprouts,parsnips and spuds at xmas)
2. Didnt buy a loaf all year!
3. Grew my hair for first time ever and didn't get fed up and lop it all off.
4. Bought myself a new sewing machine from my savings on the food budget.
5. Both my kids are now doing A levels at college after homeschooling (this is their achievement not mine but I am very proud of them)
6.The marmalade I made last winter is going to last round till next batch

thriftlady_2

Oh, I wish I could add weight loss to my list - well done Hypno and Apple Mint:j

OS successes 2006

1) We have been completely self sufficient in jams, jellies, chutney and marmalade. My batch of marmalade will also comfortably see us through till the next batch. Must make some more chutney soon as I've reached my last jar of damson chutney Sept 2004.

2) Made all our bread except pittas (must start making pitta this year)

3) Made all our yogurt.

4) Made gallons of damson gin and quince vodka.

5) Cooked every meal from scratch - not really a special achievement as I've never done otherwise.

6) Made loads of meal plans - but rarely followed any of them

comping_cat

In 2006 i :-

Found OS, wonderful to find like minded people full of good ideas and support!!!!
Started a herb garden,
Stopped using ANY cooking sauces, make all mine from scratch now,
Got a compost bin, and use it!!!!
Make HM bread, rolls and pizza bases.

Not much, but a start, and hoping in 2007 to grow more (difficult in my small garden, but will try) and although we eat mainly HM bread and rolls etc, to try and stop buying processed shop stuff completely!!!! Would also like to start meal planning and loose some weight, which with the help and support of everyone on this board, im sure i will be able to complete these, and prob more goals!!!!