I have lost my OS ways, help!

Pinkstar206

Hello all, am totally new & this is my 1st ever post :j . Been reading the OS forums on and off for a few yrs but decided to take the plunge. Have various financial issues which mainly originate from OH but we are now "in it together". I work full time and have one very lovely but energy sapping 8yo DS. My main need is for moral support & motivation as OH still has some bad financial habits even though I have managed to educate him a bit... Apologies if I've done anything the wrong way in terms if posting or replies in advance as I have not much idea what I'm doing & hope it works. You all seem so friendly & supportive in here I just thought it would be nice to be a part of it. Thanks! :beer:

Caterina

Hello Pinkstar206, welcome aboard, how lovely that you decided to write your first post on this thread! Make yourself at home and good luck in your pursuit for an OS lifestyle.

Patentgirl there is still time to sow a few overwintering veg but to make it easier on yourself, not cheaper though, I would buy plug plants. Kale from seed now is too late, but plugs have a chance of success. Yesterday I read that some varieties of carrots can still be planted and also beetroot (although it is touch and go). I get my plug plants from http://www.organicplants.co.uk they are good and reliable in my experience.

I plant Italian salads and leaves from seed now, one is Scarola and the other is Cicoria, I get them from Seeds of Italy but I think you can get them from Amazon too. Incidentally, it is worth asking for the paper catalogue from Seeds of Italy as it is lovely, with lots of info and recipes, not just a seed catalogue!

Pak choi and mizuna leaves, winter oriental salads are on also to plant from seed, but keep a sharp watch out for the slugs. Last year a bed of pak choi we planted got eaten virtually overnight by the bl** dy beasts.

Ask around for any other growers with spare sprouting broccoli plants if you don't want to buy them. There are always spare ones! They will serve you well in the hungry gap from March to June. The flowers are delicious and the leaves can be used as kale.

Speaking of leaves, radish! Plant it now (do as I say, don't do as I do), quick growing, and the leaves can be used as greens too, salad greens when young and small and cooked in garlic and chilli oil when older. When very big they need to be chopped finely and boiled, but still ok. And you can saut!e or boil oldish overgrown radishes, unless they have gone woody.

October is the time for garlic and Japanese onions, but we no longer bother because they take a lot of space for a relatively cheap to buy, even organic, crop that needs a lot of attention. I love planting broad beans in autumn, the plants overwinter well and do not attract blackfly like the spring planted ones.

Edited to add: some people grow potatoes to get new potatoes for Christmas. I have never done it but you might want to google it. I know it can be done in rubbish sacks in sheltered conditions, if you find out more please let me know.

Hope this helps.

villagelife

Thanks for that post - I will find it very helpful as I must plant something in my newly dug garden.
My house is looking tidier at moment - helping as I tidy as I go to some extent.

Caterina

Good morning.

The sun is shining, after yesterday's rain, it makes me feel so much better! So, today's OS plan is for a personal NSD (there might be bits and pieces of building items to order etc) as I have all the food I need for good breakfasts, lunches and dinners for today.

I have explored a range of free and very cheap (£1 gym sessions) activities for over 50s in my locality, including tai chi, yoga etc, and also crafts sessions at very low cost, a knitting group and sewing group for £2 each. I know there are free groups around but this ones are led so you can get help, and they are run in a community centre. At least I do not have to consume expensive drinks like when going to knitting meets in fancy caf!s and everybody is drinking lattes!

Funny how, even if school times are over for my family, the twins being 25 now, September always feels like a time of new beginnings much more than January does, I am sure this feeling must be shared by most mums.

So I am starting planning for my new season of housewifery, interspersed with craft sessions, gym and fitness sessions and even free cookery classes. I know how to cook but it is nice to go and meet other people, it is a way of socialising. I am planning to give up my gym membership that comes up for renewal in October and start using all these facilities. My only exception being one bootcamp per week, which I pay in babysitting both for me and for DH (super easy, one and a half hour twice a week, one minute from home, the girls are lovely and go to sleep easy and quiet).

I am struggling with the idea of letting go of work altogether, the three days of two hour after school babysits are ok but I am So. Very. Tired! of caring, looking after children, mine or otherwise. But the money is handy, the mother is a lovely woman and I feel I have committed now, the younger child is changing school, joining his older brother in a very demanding private school (from a very gentle one) and he probably would find a change of childcare very destabilising. I think I shall give it to half term and review it then.

Have a good OS day.

mardatha

I sometimes wish I could get to classes... even a knitting group would do. Be a wee change from 4 walls and a RV. But they're all too far away. My social life is in here

jlhmd666

mardatha wrote: »

I sometimes wish I could get to classes... even a knitting group would do. Be a wee change from 4 walls and a RV. But they're all too far away. My social life is in here

I often feel like that too although, in my case, it's family and health that stops me going to clubs rather than distance. I also have to fit things in during the day as OH wouldn't be happy if I went out on a night time and left him with the kids.

Pinkstar206

Good morning Caterina and thank you for the welcome, much appreciated. It's nice to feel I'm making new friends!

I know what you mean about September and new beginnings, but then I have worked in education for the last twenty something years having been a student before that... Your plans for craft, gym and cookery sound great and it sounds like you'll be kept busy. I'm afraid those expensive lattes you mentioned are one of my main weaknesses; I bought a (reduced) coffee machine this summer hoping to recreate them at home but have not quite managed the magical brew as yet.

Sunny day here too though don't think it will be a NSD as I need to get a few dinner things having not managed to be as organised as I'd like at the weekend. I just need to resist the impulse buying, much like the lattes :rotfl: Also OH has an interview for a job at the local library today, he is desperate to get this as he is unhappy in his current (p/t) job so am keeping everything crossed.

Hope everyone has a good day, will check in later.

jlhmd666

Fingers crossed for your OH pink. I hope he is successful with his job interview

Pinkstar206

Thank you jlhmd! Will let you know what happens (don't know how to thank people for posts yet...!) P

patentgirl

Morning everyone

Thank you Northwest and especially Caterina for your help and advice on vegetables still in time to plant. Will get some plugs today hadn't even thought off that. Just going to google the two sites you recommended now.
Plan today Baking now leaving me rest of day to concentrate on ordering plugs and preparing beds ready for growing as back to work for 3 Days tomorrow.
Pink star hope interview for OH goes well.