2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

savingforarainyday

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

I am going to grow potatoes.

Have no idea how but I am sure it will become clear!

xx

Layered in a tub.:D (Don't know if space is an issue for you)

tink1981_2

LB29 wrote: »

Is anyone else planning on growing there own veg? I'm not very good at gardening but was thinking of having a go. Do you actually save any money or just end up with nicer food?

We are we did quite well with things in pots this year and as we've now move to a house with a proper little garden we've turned half of it over to be a vegetable plot.

Our friend lent us this book to help us plan what do grow. Some of it went over my head but there were some helpful tips on designing your plot and planning for crops year round.

We got out seeds from Nicky Nursary (link) and have used some money from the grosery budget to pay for them... working on the theory that if they are a sucess that's where we'll save money! Really liked them because you can by the packets in smaller sizes which works out perfect for the 2 of us and we managed to get about 25 different things for just over £20. We get our seed potatoes from a small local garden place where you can buy them buy the potato rather than having to buy bags of them

Good luck with what ever you decide to grow

tink x

LB29

tink1981 wrote: »

We are we did quite well with things in pots this year and as we've now move to a house with a proper little garden we've turned half of it over to be a vegetable plot.

Our friend lent us this book to help us plan what do grow. Some of it went over my head but there were some helpful tips on designing your plot and planning for crops year round.

We got out seeds from Nicky Nursary (link) and have used some money from the grosery budget to pay for them... working on the theory that if they are a sucess that's where we'll save money! Really liked them because you can by the packets in smaller sizes which works out perfect for the 2 of us and we managed to get about 25 different things for just over £20. We get our seed potatoes from a small local garden place where you can buy them buy the potato rather than having to buy bags of them

Good luck with what ever you decide to grow

tink x

Thanks,

I have a book that I bought years ago but haven't used, its the royal horticultural societies allotment handbook. Will be using this and the internet.

That site for the seeds looks good. I would much rather keeps things small this year and see how I get on.

rising_from_the_ashes

LB29 I grew some peas & runner beans this year - I had 2 HM planters made out of some bits of wood, lined with thick polythene stuff (old cat litter bags/dog food bags/compost bags etc). They were about 2.5 feet x 1.5 feet and I got 12 peas & 6 beans in each. Sat in the corner of the garden fine and really didn't take up too much room/require too much "hard work".

Next year, def aiming to do some more (esp the peas as these were fantastic!) - the beans certainly lived up to their name and literally "ran" all over the place and I got loads (loads in the freezer to do me over the winter). Def doing next year & want another couple of planters (I eat most of the peas fresh & many didn't even make it into the house!)

natnat13

Right, I am going to do my budget tonight and plan, plan, plan!
I have been having a good tidy up today and finding things to sell.
Also thinking of growing some veggies, but then I thought about it last year too.....!

Buffythedebtslayer

savingforarainyday wrote: »

Layered in a tub.:D (Don't know if space is an issue for you)

:jSee It has become clear!

thank you. I have an old bin that I think I will use..........

xxx

Selwood

Please include me for the 2012 challenge!

Thanks.

dizzy_lizzie

I'm so pleased the link to the meal planner will be helpful for some of you.
I remember when weesl was setting it up, mse forum members tried out recipes and reported back. I can heartily recommend the sweetcorn fritters in the vegan option.
icontinuetodream I'm also vegan and will definately be growing more veg this year. My other half grew potatoes last year and they were delicious with a nutty taste, gorgeous mashed. I'll ask him if he can remember the name. We also grew spring onions, green beans and carrots. We have strawberry plants and a blueberry bush. But we never have much luck with herbs for some reason.
x

Sessie

I got a lot of seeds free from the front of gardening magazines that family members bought. In fact, I got so many I still have a lot that I will use next year!!

I did really good at growing potatoes -actually just used potatoes I had in the house, put them on the windowsill until they grew "eyes" and then put them in a hessian sack outside in compost and watered, layered more compost and waited til the greenery appeared and repeated. Got a pretty good haul at the end of it for no cost at all! Will def be doing it again this year!

Unfortunately my foray into carrot growing was not so successful. They were about as long as my little finger and rather thin. Tasted FABULOUS but not really enough to make more than one meal
From what I hear I needed to space them out a bit more - lesson learned for next time!

Also grew strawberries (you don't get much yield in the first year) and a lot of herbs. Oh, and blackberries.

Am going to try and do a bit more next year but am limited to growing in pots only.

My parents also have apple trees so we make huge vats of chutney in the late summer from those which see us through the winter for only the cost of vinegar and onions and sultanas (cheap baking ones). We also make apple pies and stewed apple which we freeze for winter for almost-free puds!

It's quite exciting planting and waiting for a little green shoot to appear. I have three and a half year old twins and they ran outside every day to see what had grown so we'll be doing it again this year.

Good luck!

x

LolaLemon

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Hi Emma. Here's an excellent site that was set up by weesl a member of mse.
Caters for a selection of dietary requirements on a budget link



Ooh Lola you naughty girl Enjoy.
x

Lol I know! But I couldn't resist it. I wanted to see if he listened to me when I said I didn't want or need an I pad. Plus, he is now in Cuba, so won't find out :rotfl:
I'm really really happy with it. Just going to see if it has spreadsheets on it as I don't think it will let me download the SoW :-(

Recently found out my sister is pregnant :D very exciting, hoping it will kick start me into my crochet.