Preparedness for when

Frugalsod

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

The polytunnel has exploded with produce this morning, we have climbing beans that are half triffid so I've just put 5 bags out for sale (they don't freeze very well) as I've an enormous bag in the fridge to use already and the red little gem lettuces have all decided to be ready at once so I've put a few of them out too. Any money goes towards next years seeds so it's a win, win situation.

Do you have any spare poly-tunnels for a SHTF situation? They will be very useful in such a situation, especially in a longer term situation.

[Deleted User]

Sorry, we were lucky enough to be gifted the frame for this one when a friend sold thier home here and it's really the very best thing we've put in place in terms of productivity. I rate it much more highly than the greenhouse as it gives a good 6 weeks extension to the growing season on both sides of the season. I wouldn't have credited just how productive they are, amazing things.

Frugalsod

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Sorry, we were lucky enough to be gifted the frame for this one when a friend sold thier home here and it's really the very best thing we've put in place in terms of productivity. I rate it much more highly than the greenhouse as it gives a good 6 weeks extension to the growing season on both sides of the season. I wouldn't have credited just how productive they are, amazing things.

I was not asking for one. :rotfl: I would need to get some where to use it for a start. I was actually thinking of yourself getting a spare. As you have already pointed out they are very productive. I suspect that they may have a really high rate of return if you decide to buy some spares. If one cost £20 but managed to give you £20 of extra crops a year then it would have a rate of return of 100%. So the longer you have one the more you save. It is an excellent example of the principle that it is better to invest in your life than in the bank.

[Deleted User]

Not enough room in the garden for another one sadly and not allowed to have them on the allotment. Never mind, we'll learn how to get the most out of this one and we're doing OK so far. The one we have is 24' x 12' and we have 1/6th of an acre and also have a mini barn, a greenhouse, a summerhouse and standing fruit beds and a seasonal veg bed.

thriftwizard

Oh dear - now I have shed envy (my neighbour has built herself one out of pallets & painted it up like a beach hut) and polytunnel envy!

jk0

Frugalsod wrote: »

So much for the financial crisis being over.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28085256

I suppose the next thing is that the boys in blue will turn up on my doorstep if I post 'Get your money out of such & such bank' on MSE?

GreyQueen

jk0 wrote: »

I suppose the next thing is that the boys in blue will turn up on my doorstep if I post 'Get your money out of such & such bank' on MSE?

Vee know vere you liff and ve're koming to getchu............:rotfl:

I'm leaving my stash for a few more days so my major high street launderette can get it properly clean. Don't want any of that dirty money, no sirree. Oh, and did you know the C* O* Bank has told local authorities that it doesn't want their business? That's nearly 200 councils, plus some Police forces. Announced late last year, apparently. It's a strange organisation which can afford tell a lot of its biggest customers to take a long walk off a short pier, but there you go. Makes you wonder if it's part of a cunning plan to put themselves out of the banking business.

Mind you, having seen what passes as a YS discount in that store, I can only say I'm underwhelmed by their business.

Daz, bottled water left unopened apparently lasts almost indefinately, so no need to fret about BB dates. I saw a post about it on Apartment Prepper.

I was going to change into my scruffs and hie me off to the allotment but it's doing that monsoon rain thingummy again. I'm sure we didn't have such heavy summer downpours when I was a nipper ( Jurassic Era).

Re polytunnels and plastics in general, they wouldn't be a longterm solution in a post-oil world as the plastic would photo-degrade and if you couldn't replace it.........glass would be longer lasting but obviously subject to breakages. Anyone with the experience to estimate the lifespan of polytunnel plastic? I'm expecting that commercial tunnels would last longer as they'd likely have a stronger grade of plastic.

Allrighty, going on the quest for a UFO - if I don't come back later, assume that the wendigo which lives in the freezer has eaten me.;)

[Deleted User]

GQ He Who Knows reckons a domestic polytunnel with non commercial grade plastic will last us 5 to 6 years, the heavier duty commercial plastic should do 10 years ish. I think we'll definately put in heavier next time although this is our 3rd year with the polytunnel and it all looks fine so far with no cracks, tears or holes in it.

It occurs to me that what would be a very viable option in a SHTF situation would be an old fashioned walled garden, like the victorians and edwardians perfected and if possible succession houses built inside the walls, maximum shelter without modern technological equipment.

nuatha

jk0 wrote: »

I suppose the next thing is that the boys in blue will turn up on my doorstep if I post 'Get your money out of such & such bank' on MSE?

Only if you succeed in causing a bank run (or cause 12 of more persons to assemble and one of them commits a violent act or gives concern that an innocent bystander (whether or not there is such a person) would have fears for their safety)
If no one reacts then you're fine

GreyQueen wrote: »

Oh, and did you know the C* O* Bank has told local authorities that it doesn't want their business? That's nearly 200 councils, plus some Police forces. Announced late last year, apparently. It's a strange organisation which can afford tell a lot of its biggest customers to take a long walk off a short pier, but there you go. Makes you wonder if it's part of a cunning plan to put themselves out of the banking business.

Mind you, having seen what passes as a YS discount in that store, I can only say I'm underwhelmed by their business.

I'm presuming they have adopted a policy of exiting all of their lines of business. From being a very successful and pioneering outfit, their nosedive into obscurity seems remarkably well orchestrated.

Re polytunnels and plastics in general, they wouldn't be a longterm solution in a post-oil world as the plastic would photo-degrade and if you couldn't replace it.........glass would be longer lasting but obviously subject to breakages. Anyone with the experience to estimate the lifespan of polytunnel plastic? I'm expecting that commercial tunnels would last longer as they'd likely have a stronger grade of plastic.

Allrighty, going on the quest for a UFO - if I don't come back later, assume that the wendigo which lives in the freezer has eaten me.;)

A local nursery replaces its covers every 6 years, when I was picking her brains the owner said she had the option of paying 4 times as much for covers that should last 10 years.

That's more like a tardis than a fridge, make sure you come back with all your limbs unchewed.

GreyQueen

The wendigo is about the size of a Furby (freezer is only 50 l) but as they always said, it's not the dog in the fight, it's the fight in the dog.

I once received a telephone call from a Furby; it was being assisted by one of my zanier pals, but it was deffo the Furby - we'd met socially at her house so it wasn't a case of ringing up a stranger.

On balance, I'd rather listen to random carp from a toy than a telesales pitch. I still treasure earwigging on my Dad, back when we first had a phone in '84, taking a call from a telesales lassie.

Far too polite to interupt a lady, he listened with growing bemusement and said But we have a fitted kitchen, dear; it came with the house.

FWIW, Dad's idea of a fitted kitchen in one which physically fits inside the walls of the aforementioned room. Their kitchen was (and is) 2 sideboards (1930s one and 1970s one), a small pantry, one wall unit and a saucepan rack. Men with my Dad's attitude could bring capitalism to its knees in handful of years.:rotfl: