Thriftlady's wartime experiment

PipneyJane

MrsLurcherwalker said:

Bumping this thread yet again because it contains some very useful information and might be of great use as we go into the 16 or so weeks shutdown, I know we're NOT at war but using  what we do have to best effect is going to be as important as if we were at war.

Good thinking.  I do wonder how bad things will get, not because the disease is progressing but because humans are behaving like scared idiots, hence the crazy bulk buying.

- Pip

Primrose

I,ve just been recalling the horrible smell of Lifebuoy soap and my mum washing my mouth out with it after I used  a naughty word.  Not sure if it's still available today.  It would surely knock the guts out of the Coronavirus ! 

Primrose

I know people have been condemning some of the bulk buying that has been taking place but we should remember the airlines' emergency procedure "Always put on your own oxygen mark first before you attempt to help others". .  I don,t think that  people should necessarily be condemned for stocking up.  Yes, a few may be profiteers but many will be preppers trying to look after their own families and perhaps also trying to provide storecupboard supplies   for elderly or disabled relatives and friends who are unable to get out to the shops. Also people will have read what has happened in other countries with Coronavirus lock-ins and are trying to be protect themselves against a similar situation. 

Let's not judge too harshly.  I would save my wrath for the profiteers on internet selling sites, not Joe Blogs who,s trying to protect his wife and kids or his elderly grandmother ! 

[Deleted User]

Most people will only be trying to stock up for the predicted period they are likely to need to be out of circulation and you need quite a lot of stuff for a minimum of 16 weeks so although it may look like people are buying to excess it might be they actually need the amounts they're getting to facilitate a family rather than hoarding as an individual.

We have decided that because we're in social distancing mode and less active than we normally are to cut portion sizes on meals and only have 2 meals a day both to keep us from putting on weight through inactivity and to make the supplies we do have last as long as possible.  Wartime strategies that worked well.  This couldn't have come at a worse time in the calendar right at the hungry gap' period where nothing is planted on the plots, nothing (except rhubarb) is growing and ready to harvest and most of last years harvest has been used up.  We still have tomatoes, broad beans , plums and sweetcorn in the freezer and home made jams made last autumn but not anywhere the quantities that we had in the early part of the winter.  Those without the land to grow their own will need to buy in everything.

We're using up what we have fresh first, then we'll eat from the freezer and only when those sources are used and gone will we start on the tins and dry foods that we have a little of.

Primrose

We too decided today it would be sensible to cut down on our meal portion sizes to make supplies last longer , use up our fresh vegetables first, perhaps only having one fresh vegetable apart from potatoes whereas normally we'd have a selection of two or three.  We too have virtually finished the winter veg from our small garden plot.  Have also had the conversation about consciously trying to limit the amount of loo paper used per visit as we don't have as large a stock as I would like and absolutely none available locally.  May have to co spider holding back newspapers for recycling, cuttinto into squares and keeping a container by loo so that soiled stuff can be incinerated in garden (don't want blocked sewers to add to our other problems.)

I think this developing situation will be an eye opener for young people. We oldies have a memories of conditions deteriorating rapidly during the last war and our parents having to cope but we,ve had so many years of freedom and plenty that relearning hardship will still be rather a shock.
However, with humour and patience we will hopefully survive.  I don,t think the government is necessarily getting everything 100% right on the protection front for healthcare workers but it,s a harsh situation and our first duty is to look after ourselves so we can then support others. 

[Deleted User]

If it wasn't so immediate and quite so daunting as a situation I'd be having a giggle at all the times I've been the recipient of scathing derogatory posts over on the prepping thread from those who KNOW I'm absolutely bonkers!  funny old world isn't it? turns out maybe I'm not quite as mad as a hatter after all! and now they ALL know why we are preppers from conviction don't they? xxx.

Cherryfudge

MrsLurcherwalker said: Wartime strategies that worked well.  This couldn't have come at a worse time in the calendar right at the hungry gap' period where nothing is planted on the plots, nothing (except rhubarb) is growing and ready to harvest and most of last years harvest has been used up.  

Thank for bumping this thread!

Remember if you have a garden that ground elder is edible: https://www.onlyfoods.net/aegopodium-podagraria-ground-elder.html

[Deleted User]

As are nettle tips (first 4 tiny leaves), dandelion leaves, young hawthorn leaves, chickweed, sow thistle, hedge garlic, wild garlic, both white and purple dead nettle, hairy bittercress, ladies mantle and mallow leaves all of which are available to forage for now because I made mental salads from then as I saw them when we walked the footpath on Saturday.  Primrose flowers and primrose leaves (young ones) are also edible, elderflowers in the fullness of time too but not the leaves. Goose grass is edible and plantain leaves but both are very bitter.

Elliesmum

Well, it's good to see some positives in this situation.  I rang my parents the other day (85 & 84) and Dad answered the phone stating that everything was ok, there are 2000 tea bags in the house and that's without Mum stockpiling!  Somehow I think they will be fine...

EM x

[Deleted User]

Bump, bump, bump.....