Preparedness for when

[Deleted User]

My inner squirrel is working very hard these days, I'm slightly concerned about the coming growing season being affected by all this wet weather here and the strange and extreme weather that seems to be happining in other parts of the world meaning that products we have come to expect on the shelves won't be there or if they are, will be beyond affording in the coming years. I've been running on 2 meals a day for the past few months and trying to cut portion sizes to stretch what we have further, I've lost some weight which is very good for me but the best thing is my appetite has shrunk a little and I am finding myself quite content on those 2 meals, one medium sized at lunchtime and a fairly substantial supper later in the evening. I've been doing my usual thing of buying stock cupboard items with what is left of the housekeeping at the end of the week and experimenting with tinned foods in simpler recipes and bulking out with potatoes or rice and fresh veg, preferably home or locally grown. We're well fed, have found some pretty tasty ways of making tinned meat and fish into acceptable main meals and not having much waste, most of which can be recycled, is pretty good too. I think climate change will force us all into a slightly different pattern of eating, a different way of life perhaps and I'd like to try to second guess what it will be like and be used to the necessary changes before I'm forced into them, better place for me to be in my head perhaps!!! Lyn xxx.

sb44

GreyQueen wrote: »

Nipped into the library on the way back from archery class and there was a big screen doing a live feed from Kiev. OMG, couldn't make out much from the ticker line, was being badly translated from a Russian speaker but it spoke of hundreds dead.

Am thinking of a Ukrainian woman in this city, an allotment neighbour, and wondering how she is tonight with all this news breaking.

I have just posted something in another forum about tweets that are coming in from reporters out there, we don't get to see a great deal in our media as a lot is censored, take a look at some of the tweets coming through https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4901877 .

A very sad situation.

mardatha

MrsL, I'm focusing more on medieval peasant food lol - Porridge in all its guises, home made with anything and everything in it, and stews. The slow cooker was really worth the money.

Karmacat

Just been catching up and had a quick online search about the suicides, and I found this, from ons.gov.uk: "

• In 2012, 5,981 suicides in people aged 15 and over were registered in the UK, 64 fewer than in 2011.
• The UK suicide rate was 11.6 deaths per 100,000 population in 2012, but there are significant differences in suicide rates between men and women. Male suicide rates were more than three times higher at 18.2 male deaths compared with 5.2 female deaths per 100,000 population.
• The highest suicide rate was among men aged 40 to 44, at 25.9 deaths per 100,000 population.
• The most common methods of suicide in the UK in 2012 were hanging, strangulation and suffocation (58% of male suicides and 36% of female suicides) and poisoning (43% of female suicides and 20% of male suicides).
• In 2012 in England, the suicide rate was highest in the North West at 12.4 deaths per 100,000 population and lowest in London at 8.7 per 100,000 population."

It certainly seems like there's a cluster at the moment, but not sure how significant it is - though the *methods* thing seems way out of kilter with what normally happens.

[Deleted User]

MAR I'm currently researching and experimenting with POTTAGE and non yeasted breads as they are foodstuffs that will let me use whatever I happen to have in the larder and definately is never the same taste twice. I love to look at what's available for foraging too when I'm out with the lurcha and although I won't harvest what grows here, it's too polluted and is on the dog walking tracks it's good to know what edibles are around at the different times of year in case we ever do need them to supplement what food we do have in the house, Lyn xxx.

mardatha

One thing that does grow well in my garden is the dreaded green stuff - and that is fine in soup and stews in moderation. But the thing that struck me is that it is rich in iron - that balances up the porridge which lacks it.

Frugalsod

mardatha wrote: »

MrsL, I'm focusing more on medieval peasant food lol - Porridge in all its guises, home made with anything and everything in it, and stews. The slow cooker was really worth the money.

Same here but not called it that before.

I am looking at a wonder bag for doing slow cooking while on the move. Only needs 20 of heating the pot and then you pop it in the bag to slow cook without using energy.

Cheapskate

I'm going to buy a kelly kettle this week and would like to know people's experience with them, if you don't mind me asking. Considering the middling or large size, little one no good for a large family! Just got rid of some old kids' books and DD's junior bed, so figure I can buy the kettle and a wind up radio, on the one out/one in principle!

A xo

Cheapskate

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00IJGXCM0/?!!!!!untagged-21

Do I download it or not?:rotfl: "The Psychology of Preppers: Mental Health Issues", think the unspoken title is that we're all a bit moon-kissed!

No offence intended, just thought it was slightly amusing! Having depression, and a mum with dementia, i don't think I can be accused of any sort of "-ism".

A xo

[Deleted User]

I cannot resist popping in today, I do keep an eye on you from time to time though.

Mrs LW is spot on as always, I put a very important link onto my last post on the winter thread and have actually printed it as it is a (scary) timeline. We don`t have endless time to prep and to change our ways. Growing, even on the allotment, will become very difficult. Very wet and stormy for much of the year and also v v cold also roasting in summer but roasting for a relatively short time. We need veg that will stand in all sorts of weather eg I am growing the sutton (broad bean) for the first time this year as it is productive and only 15" tall so will be more able to withstand strong winds. I have lots of fancy seeds but they will remain unsown and I am going to concentrate on basics like blight resistant spuds, lots of kale etc

Re cooking, well me too re pottage all in one pot and I am thankful to have a pressure cooker as I do think we will have rolling power cuts

edit, just to say that I have stacks of wool fibre in and also cupboards full of cloth and I can spin. Clothing won`t be so easy either