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

ceridwen

Thanks Jolaaled - sent to my public blog.:T

squeaky

mardatha wrote: »

Squeaky, I am totally in awe but should have known that this site would have a separate "leek and turnip" thread for when I needed it :rotfl::rotfl:

It wouldn't surprise me if Old Style was found to be the biggest single resource on the web for "home economics" or "domestic science".

27,479 threads

1,195,401 posts

..at the time of writing.

It isn't very often that a question comes up where we can't find "something" that may help a member these days.

The real trick is making the best of the Search facility here - which is why we have a complete sticky just for searches...

I searched but couldn't find anything

Edit:- That huge number of threads is why we merge threads so often in an attempt to keep relevant info on a given subject easier to find. I dread to think what the thread count would be otherwise.

[Deleted User]

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grandma247

I can smell changes in seasons too. I can even smell winter coming in September or october. It does seem our weather is six or eight weeks different.

I think that those of us with gardens or allotments need to think about growing more under cover. Either greenhouses, tunnels of different heights, cloches or coldframes.

westcoastscot

Really glum here on the west also, wet wet and wet - it becomes a river around the house, eventually coming up to the level where it runs through the allyway and down the hill to the canal - so no danger of flooding in the house but the garden gets it every year. I'm envious of those bottling stores - its something I often do as our power is dodgy in winter and I hate to lose freezer stores but my garden has yielded very little this year - and the brambles are only just beginning to flower. I'm pondering a different way to go next year - I was near Lochinver (beautiful part of the world Red Doe) and visited the hydroponic place - really fascinating! and am pondering a crack at that to see how it goes. I suspect it will be expensive to set up initially, but may be more reliable if I can find a space. They did have wee kits for starting - am off to email them.

Stay safe everyone,

WCS

mardatha

I would try hydroponics if I had more energy. Totally agree re weather up here, summer is just a few warm days and then a memory. I find it much windier and wetter these last 2-3 years as well. My dad grew tatties, turnips, caulis and cabbage - but he said his mum grew tons of kale, she even called the back garden the "kale yaird".
I was probly traumatised while still in the womb.
Today is hellish, no other word for it. Chickens haven't even poked their noses out the door at all, and muggins here had to serve them breakfast in bed.

Gigervamp

When I'm outside, I spend a bit of time watching the clouds go by. I've noticed that over the last couple of years, they've changed the direction that they come from. Our weather almost always came in from the west. Now, it's nearly always coming from the north west and we've had a lot more wind too. I'm wondering if the gulf stream has moved a bit.

It's been like autumn here too and the leaves are already turning. The grey weather is so depressing.

Mrs_Chip

I 'smelt' autumn here in SE London a good couple of weeks ago - and on a couple of mornings the air had autumnal feel, and the spider's webs were dripping with dew. Never normally get these days until late Aug early Sept, so very early this year. Lets hope we will get a period of settled weather in September.

Our weather is very much influened by the position of the jet stream, so I keep an eye on the predictions for it's position - if it is sitting under us we can expect our air to be dragged from colder climes.

Seakay

culpepper wrote: »

Scottishminnie you needn't actually spray the fruit.
You could make up a sign pointing out that the brambles,trees etc are sprayed and so fruit is not safe for consumption.
That way, you the owners know it is safe but the trespassers wont want to risk it.

Also, there is a very strong garlic spray that you can make up. It is supposed to deter slugs from nibbling leaves and also cats from fouling your garden. Not sure that it works on either count but it does smell pretty rank and yet is harmless for consumtion and can actually be washed off (doesn't survive more than a shower of rain) so that you can use the fruit yourselves.

Crush a whole bulb of garlic and add to a litre of cold water. Bring to the boil and boil for 5 minutes. Cool with a lid on the pan. Strain and keep in a bottle in the fridge. Add 2 tablespoons to a litre of water in a spray bottle and spray on leaves to deter slugs, 4 tablespoons to a litre to spray on earth to deter cats, 50/50 mix to spray on privately owned produce to help to deter thieves alongside "tresspassers and thieves beware, this produce is not fit for human consumption" notice.

VJsmum

Interesting you say that GQ, as i have felt for some time that the seasons have moved forward a bit.

A huge tree in the "garden" at work has just about lost all it's leaves already. Whether that was the dry weather contributing, i don't know. However there has, of recent years, been a late flourish of warm, sunny weather through September / October time.

Having said that, I have spent 6 weeks this year out of the country (lucky me!! ) and have only experienced 4 days of rain in that time. Unfortunately for me those weeks have coincided with the best of the weather here - so i haven't had the best of both worlds (poor me:( )

Isn't there a theory that says that the weather goes in 7 year cycles? If that is true, I think we are in about year 4 or 5 . SOmething to do with La Nina?

Certainly the last few winters have been harsh. I hate the cold and the dark and it really does depress me (and, yes, i mean depress). Last year, though, i wasn't too bad and i am trying to think of what was different to make my mood so much better. Unfortunately I haven't come up with an answer yet.

Anyway, i am off up the lanes later to see if anyone has left me any blackberries - the small bush opposite the house doesn't even have enough for a pie!