Preparedness for when

Cheapskate

fuddle, just found this recipe. Apparently the bloke made it when he appeared on Countryfile a few years ago. HTH. Might have a go myself, loads of elderberries round here!

http://www.greenmanherbalist.co.uk/elderberry_syrup.html

Recently, I've bought some new torches, need better batteries for them and existing torches, a few more 2 litre bottles of Basics water, pack of disposable craft knives (use for crafts, but would also come in handy if the SHTF).

I tend to forage wherever is convenient for me, but avoid picking too low down and not too near main roads (animal wee and car pollution respectively). All the things I forage are frozen and then cooked at a later date, so I reckon any bugs will be goners! None of us has been ill in 20+ years of making stuff from the foraged food.

Mrs_T_M, I'm seriously envious of your food prep schedule! All I've managed to do this year is grow more spuds than last year and some herbs, but have picked millions of brambles that are frozen now - I'll make jam and pies one weekend. I've sent for Real Seeds new catalogue, would rather have their heirloom, true seeds even if a bit dearer. Looking forward to making, baking, growing, etc., much more from now on. Black dog trailing further behind me just now, smallest child now at nursery school, feel more like doing "stuff" now, esp when I catch up on these threads - very inspiring! :rotfl:

A xo

fuddle

auntymabel wrote: »

Do any of you foragers worry about picking from places popular with dog walkers? I'm thinking about the parasites that can get in the soil from unwormed dogs? I have foraged for elderberries and blackberries before but hadn't thought about this.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

We have a bigger problem here - foraging in Industrial Teesside :eek: Who knows what we're breathing in here, let alone what the plants are absorbing.

I think you have a real valid point but I would like to think that an owner who cares enough to take their pup for a long walk amongst our green and pleasant land would be a responsible owner and protect their dogs from something so horrible. Stereotypical view there - or maybe just a reflection of my own dog ownership.

[Deleted User]

The Cat: So what did you do?

Lister: Well, like, scrumping. When I was a kid back in Liverpool, we always used to go scrumping.

Kryten: Oh, stealing apples? That's hardly a crime, sir.

Lister: No, but me and my mates, we used to go scrumping for cars.

xxlouisexx56

So I finally got around to watching the blackout program yesterday and it leads to some pretty scary thoughts.

We live in a small 2nd floor flat but my priority is obviously my children.

I'm now sat making a list of thing to get in and make sure we keep a good stock of.

I'm thinking
- nappies
Wipes
Water
Calpol
Paracetamol
Ibuprofen

We all have Wellies, thick socks, warm coats, jumpers etc.

But what about food?

Mrs_T_M

RAS wrote: »

Have you also discovered freegle or freecycle here?

Yes, both. Thus the apples!

I've been sick last night and today, but I really need to get better so that I can go out and collect jars with lids from glass recycling tomorrow! I missed the last recycling day and I'm completely out of jars now! Well, I have a few to can a bit of chicken meat in, but nothing big enough for the broth that we will have after cooking it. DH is looking forward to having home fried chicken tonight, I just hope I can stand long enough to do it!

Shropshirelass

Mrs-T-M thanks for link to recipe for flower jellies, got me feeling all creative, also that recipe site has lots of interesting things, I have saved it for future reference.

Regarding Chazzers they used to be a lot more useful when they were locally organised. Agree local hospice shops are better regarding price and choice, think there is a class aspect to how some CSs allocate merchandise to their shops nowadays.

TPTB have removed the serious ingredients that used to be in cough medicine, (e.g. alcohol :eek:) so you are as well to make your own - honey, lemon or elderberries, ginger, whatever is soothing and pleasant and adds Vit C.

GQ ... weeds... as well as groundsel (seems to be toxic), we can boast rampant buttercup, dandelions, rose bay willow herb, thistles, and chick weed (encouraging a couple of woodpigeons to keep this down). Nettles I have been making into liquid fertiliser. Will have to look at possible uses for the others. I know dandelions grow strong roots, so I like to e-x-t-e-r-m-i-n-a-t-e before they live that long.

When stocking up, I always make sure first we have milk (we use UHT), and bread or similar (flour, pittas, etc) as I have been made nervous by the sight of empty bread and milk shelves in sm before long weekends or when weather forecast has been bad.

Wild winds here at present - trees have lost branches and twigs, lots of debris in the roads, but not much rain.

[Deleted User]

If you've got weeds you've got FOOD!!! I've a couple of really quirky books about weeds nd how to make them edible, take chickweed for instance, backadays it was eaten as salad and sold in bunches at markets, rose bay willow herb is edible but apparently very bitter. Cleavers (sweethearts/goose grass) is also edible and when it has set seed, the ripe seeds can be collected, roasted and make a coffee substitute. The humble garden weeds we dispise are all a good source of calories in extremesis, so don't let the pigeons get them, save them for you!!!

ALIBOBSY

7_week_wonder wrote: »

Have you got a Chinese Supermarket anywhere near you? The ones in my area do 1 kg bags of bicarb for a ridiculously cheap price.

Frivolous question: I have Last Light on loan from the library and Blackout downloaded to my phone: which one will I start with on my long train journey to visit relatives this evening?

TBH the only chinese supermarket I know of is around 40-50 mins away in Manchester, unfortunately.

Ali x

[Deleted User]

toilet rolls.

I know there's a particular fascination (maybe obsession is a better word), among the posters on this thread, with stocking up on toilet rolls.

Therefore, I'm pleased to announce that, ALDI are again stocking Saxon toilet rolls, at just £1-99 for a 9 roll pack.

That's about 22p per roll.

I've just bought 3 packs which, given I live on my own, is a comfortable 6+ month's supply.

craigywv

hi all, not shtf but does anyonehave a ginger cake recipe thatdoes not include treacle as i have none thanks xxx