Preparedness for when

ALIBOBSY

craigywv wrote: »

that's scary as! it would make you want to prep even harder, something big is going to happen in the not so distant! and I will be ready as I can be on my small income, I wouldn't know what its like to go out shopping the way I used to buying nice smellies and stuff for myself now any spare cash goes on hoarding hoardable grub and getting garden tools /compost etc up to growable standards.really want a few chickens but really afraid of mice and the bigger version(cant even say their name) as they would be attracted by chicken food./corn etc.

We have chickens and never seen any of the ratty things lol. just keep the feed locked up and only put feed out when the chickens are eating and its not a problem. Then again we also have 2 cats, plus there are dogs behind and next door, plus several other cats in the area so I suppose it would put off any rodents.

Good excuse to get a cat or dog when you get the chickens . Mind you love animals here lol.

Ali x

Frugalsod

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

Some of the farmers fields around here aren't flooded, nor are in the flood areas, BUT even here there has been so much rain that crops are rotting. Seen piles of swedes and simular root veggies dug up and rotting in piles..

Ali x

Also tractors might have trouble getting to some fields anyway right now.

pineapple

fuddle wrote: »

If anything comes out of these difficult years, I hope it's the realisation that we need a community to pull together and look no further for help and support and that we really should prep and take responsibility for our little part of the world.

A nice example where I live - even though people can be annoying at times..
There is a little access road alongside our row of 6 cottages bounded by a retaining wall . I say retaining wall, as on the other side there is a humongous drop into the field below. Anyhow said wall was giving way putting the row in a perilous position. :eek: To rebuild said wall (the cost of which our row agreed to share) we needed access to the farmers field. The farmer said we couldn't have access unless the whole community agreed to tarmac the top lane (the deeds just refer to 'maintenance' so every year we would have a 'pothole working party').
Though right was on our side on both issues, the legal advice was don't even think about going to court. Apart from which time was not on our side.
To protect our row of cottages and after sticking pins in an effigy of the farmer, the entire community shelled out about £600 per household to tarmac the lane.

Karmacat

Thats making me think, about food security ... not only the crops that are being killed off by the floods, or frozen in the US, but also crops that are rotting, in waterlogged but not flooded fields. Bad news.

Butterfly_Brain

Huge bonuses at Barclays and Lloyds again and Barclays are making 12,000 staff redundant and closing branches :mad: it really looks like the top one percenters are grabbing as much as they can :mad:

Butterfly_Brain

Labour's new dig at the condems on faceache

David Cameron's Facebook movie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3clUh-S2M9Y

Shropshirelass

Hi everyone :hello:
Just want to say thanks for all previous advice. Yesterday when power failed in middle of gale force heaven-knows-what, I was able to calmly lay my hands on solar lamp, candles, lantern, wind-up torches and wind-up radio. Had just boiled kettle, so we had a sustaining cup of hot choccy. Then planned to cook bacon, eggs and beans on camping stovelet, but power returned too soon. DH, who is seriously inclined to anxiety and panic (and just started on new blood pressure pills, so needing to keep an eye on him), he was beginning to enjoy himself. He's not laughing at my preps any more !!:rotfl:
Thanks to Radio Shropshire for their brilliant, regular updates on weather and traffic situation, having to report on floods and trees/roofs/road signs flying all over the place.
In the cold light of day, we have lost a couple of fence panels, and my little lean-to green house - winter salad inside is looking very sad, leaves all curled up in the cold (2 degrees last night). Lots of other houses with roof tiles missing, saw as we passed on our way to the recycling with our load of debris. No more complaints from DH about the old jeep either, he keeps wanting to replace it with something smarter, but it is so useful for trips like today.:j
Serious sympathy to those still without power, and who have had damage. Can recommend the hot choccy. Guess we all have a story to tell this winter, but thanks again to all who have added their twopennorth of knowledge. If we stick together like this we will get through.:)

ALIBOBSY

Karmacat wrote: »

Thats making me think, about food security ... not only the crops that are being killed off by the floods, or frozen in the US, but also crops that are rotting, in waterlogged but not flooded fields. Bad news.

I am thinking I need to get more stuff grown this year. I have been reading up about permaculture beds and love the idea of grwoing so much in such a small area. We have also decided that some of the big front lawn is coming up to create more veg growing beds. Will still need to leave some space for the kids to run around on, but a strip along one edge should be fine. We currently have small flower beds along the edge of the lawn which apart from a few bushes usually get some bedding plants in, this year they will be much more edibles.
Loving edible flowers as they do 2 jobs. We LOVE nasturtiums lovely spicy leaves and flowers and they grow like crazy and need little or no attention.

Seriously looking at other methods of preservation than freezing, managed to dry some herbs in trays in the heat of august/sept, but tempted by a proper dehydrator.
Also still really want a pressure canner so I can preserve sauces and veggies from the garden without freezing.

I noted today the bag of carrots I got from the farmshop no longer say "pony carrots" and simply say "net of carrots" as well as being moved from the corner of the shop to the main veggie section. I wonder if people were starting to ask if they could buy them for eating so they decided to stick them in the main veggie section and amend the name.

I would say to anyone thinking of doing some growing that I have found beans to give great return for the amount of space required. We are still eating runner beans from last year in the freezer and had LOADS, climbing french beans are also pretty good and of course beans are full of protein. I am considering if I can fit some extra beans in to "leave" on the vine to dry out for storage. If some of my stuff will now be going in the new "front" beds I may have the space to squeeze some in against the fence in the back.

Last year I asked for plant pots etc on freegle and had loads of offers, one old gent gave us so many pots and tubs that I still have loads stacked up unused. So looking for good offers on compost (I make my own, but that won't be enough) to fill the extra pots and max the stuff I grow.

Ali x

grandma247

This looks a good idea for gaining extra growing space. I am trying to figure out how to grow a few veg in our tiny back yard which is north facing. I have successfully grown cut and come again salad.

jk0

Even American news networks think British Security is laughable:

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2014/02/12/heathrow-airport-security-confiscates-mini-gun-from-toy-story-woody-doll/