It was getting tough in 2006 and the workhouse still threatens us in 2011

Chickenopolis

westcoastscot- what an inspiring post, thank you. Your self sufficiency experiences I feel would make a great read.

westcoastscot

Hi Mardatha, we used to shop avery couple of months when we were off the island, but only for basics - we never had much room in the car for anything else! We eat 'ordinary' food, lots of it - I have one with a serious dairy/egg allergy so no packet/processed food anyway- not that we ever really have, it just isn't accessible where we live and my lot have such huge appetites that a packet of biscuits wouldn't touch the sides!!!! I'm working near a Tesco once a week just now, so shop then - its only a food one, and only has a small range but enough for us. I use the local butcher/greengrocer/fishman as much as I can, and I make a meal plan of sorts. We have a couple of days a week meat free if we can, but to be honest I find it difficult to feed my fisherman son enough without meat - he does like lentil pie though! and on a non-work day a vegan lasagne, baked potatoes or vegan pizza. Most of the year I have a pan of soup on the go, and the boys eat loads of that with loaves of bread.

I agree butter does make soup lovely, however we try and cook stuff we can all eat. I have a few soup recipes that are always reliable - pea and mint, butternut squash, tomato/bacon and chickpea, and I tend to make those rather than a generic bung-everything-in one, as I know they'll be tasty. I take the "bung" approach to stew though with a little meat and its mostly tasty, especially with dumplings.

Getting hungry now!

Ginny I agree butter on toast is lovely! I make butter about once every month, purely for me to have on my toast

Hi Chickenopolis (love the name!) - self sufficiency was easy on the island - I guess it wasn't really "self-sufficiency" as such but I can't think of another name for it. We lived very remotely, and grew our own food, kept lambs and a milking goat which provided meat - and traded stuff or skills as we needed - for venison, or the car fixed, or a lift. Apart from the lack of space here we don't have the network of friends to trade with in the same way, and that was key to having a rounded life. I think it would be very difficult to have the time and expertise to truely go it alone. To be honest I was shocked when I moved back to the mainland and realised how much money is required to get the things that you need!

WCS

lil_me

Catzine - Freezer bags - reusable freezer cartons, goodness direct do Eco friendly bags, you could freeze in a dish then knock out into bags which could be washed then reused and defrost inside a dish (sock hangers work for drying washed bags) tin foil the same

I'm a lurker more down to time at the moment. We don't regularly plant, can't use the garden for it but DS2 has planted potatoes again this year

I'm looking at getting a second freezer and keeping it in the shed, DP has said yes he'll have to do the wiring, I currently have very little freezer space. I've got reluctant veg eaters, big meat eaters, makes shopping expensive but I'm getting there.

Westcoastscot any chance of recipe for the tomato/bacon and chick pea please?

Anywhere cheaper than £1 per kilo for dried pasta shapes (Iceland) that anyone is aware of? Just trying to build up some store cupboard at good prices before winter

I'm away in the caravan & it's a good way of monitoring how much we eat/need to eat as I can't bulk buy/cook when I'm away, it's a bit scary now the boys are adult sized

kidcat

Hoping both taurus and FTM are doing ok, wanting to send you both hugs.

NOthing very much OS here as am laid up again - it appears that having a tooth removed can mark the beginning of the problems - I am now struggling with aftereffects of the anaesthetic used - who knew it would make me that ill, and now it appears that the injection sites are all infected too!! So now I am nauseous, dizzy and in pain - oh joy, and the kids are going crazy confined. OH is shopping each day - so inefficient and costing a fortune, and still there is little to eat.
At this point I would kill for some green veggies - even (sorry mardatha) kale sounds good.

Have looked at the big brands deal for £30 of free stuff but am worried it will all be stuff we wont use and £30 at rrp may not actually be worth it - so still dithering.

Chickenopolis

westcoastscot wrote: »

Hi Chickenopolis (love the name!) - self sufficiency was easy on the island - I guess it wasn't really "self-sufficiency" as such but I can't think of another name for it. We lived very remotely, and grew our own food, kept lambs and a milking goat which provided meat - and traded stuff or skills as we needed - for venison, or the car fixed, or a lift. Apart from the lack of space here we don't have the network of friends to trade with in the same way, and that was key to having a rounded life. I think it would be very difficult to have the time and expertise to truely go it alone. To be honest I was shocked when I moved back to the mainland and realised how much money is required to get the things that you need!

WCS

Thanks WCS-I guess "mutual sufficiency" would have been a better phrase. This kind of approach makes a lot of sense to me, as times are getting tougher financially for most of us we may need to think along these lines . Such as sharing skills and stuff that we have more of than we need

HariboJunkie

bonnie_bumpkins wrote: »

OK you've shamed me and I officially delurk...

If you'll have me I'd love to join

newlywed wrote: »

Hello, I'm a lurker

westcoastscot wrote: »

Hi Haribo/everyone, you are right of course, it's no good keep popping up and passing comment and going again!!!!

catznine wrote: »

Hello again! Decided to de-lurk and add a post, Thanks for the encouragement Haribo! I don't post very often as I don't really feel I have much to contribute,

Yay!! :j:j:jMy recruitment drive is working . Don't any of you dare say you have nothing to contribute. All your posts are inspriring. What could be more inspiring than everyone feeling welcome and not letting anyone or anything alienate them when they need support.

Hope you feel better soon Kidcat
Nice to see you Lil me :hello:
WCS. We will HAVE to get together soon and barter. My tentative dream (helath permitting) is to retire to the place where you crofted and be as mutally sufficient as possible.

My poor old legs aren't up to much today so am knitting, sewing and surfing. Luckily I have a lovely man who is doing everything for me but he is drawing the line at peeling my grapes. :rotfl:

Seakay

lil_me wrote: »

Anywhere cheaper than £1 per kilo for dried pasta shapes (Iceland) that anyone is aware of? Just trying to build up some store cupboard at good prices before winter

Tesco has Value penne at 19p for 500g

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/search/default.aspx?searchBox=pasta

Reverbe

ginnyknit wrote: »

I think you have it there Mardatha - its the butter. My late neighbour used to pass pots of soup over the fence that she had made and I know she always used butter. I have , of late, decided as there are only the two of us now we should have the taste of real butter - i dont want any additives in anything if I can help it - and boy is it nice to have a piece of toast now.

ppl put butter in soup??!! :eek::eek: TBh mine are always tasty and I use nothing but veg,. stock pulses etc etc and herb n spices.. certainly dont use butter or any form of spread.IN fact I have several books of soup recipes and cant find a single on that lists butter as an ingredient..

mardatha

Can I come ??? I have a thing for islands, totally different feel to life on an island and I love it. I promise I will sit in the corner and drink tea and knit - and I always behave. You know that. :A
:rotfl:

HariboJunkie

mardatha wrote: »

Can I come ??? I have a thing for islands, totally different feel to life on an island and I love it. I promise I will sit in the corner and drink tea and knit - and I always behave. You know that. :A
:rotfl:

I am planning on growing an acre of Kale. I think that tells you everything you need to know.

We will end up on an island one day (and I hope it's the one I can see from my desk at the moment) but are waiting until the girls leave school first.

I'm a huge fan of butter in soup. It's how I start all mine with either onion or leeks softened in butter. It gives a much better depth of flavour and the only soup I use any dried herbs in is minestrone.