THE Prepping thread - a new beginning :)

[Deleted User]

I am mentally prepping for water shortages in future years and my new and large front lawn, is going to be no more. I`ll have to live there first, obviously, to get the flow of it. I did it here and it is working very well. I am thinking a few taller points, I have a very sturdy and heavy unbrella stand and a large black rectangular umbrella, I have 3 lilacs in large pots, I have roses to move and roses are doing very well indeed in the drought, maybe a bit more height via a dogwood. I am thinking self binding gravel with edges made from brick. Two seating areas, one made from concrete with a fire thing in the middle.Drought resistant ornamental grasses. I have decided not to use a garden designer, I can do that myself. I think I will start with a good photo taken via a drone. Future proofing and easy care

I want far more gravel around the house and continued into where the paths will be, free draining and disliked by night sneaks. I want to be able to back my car right up to the house too, so it would be just a few short strides to indoors


I also have mental preps for my large new utility ie a large pantry prep storage cupboard and counter space for seldom used electricals, like the panny that I almost gave away. I am using it today, XL loaf to slice and freeze

maryb

I sometimes dream about building a house from scratch if we won the lottery. I'd still have a lawn (and DH wants one big enough to have a ride on mower:D) but underneath would be a large rainwater storage tank taking the run off from the downpipes. I'd also have a borehole

Solar panels for water and power supplementing a ground source heat pump for basic background heating

Cellar (we have cellars under the entire house and they are fantastic) with light wells, but otherwise all one level (From cellar to attic in this house is three flights of stairs:eek:)

Mud room for coats and boots and storing things like shopping bags with a sink for washing veg when they come in from the walled kitchen garden. Big freezer and shelves along the wall in a big pantry next door

A laundry room with ironing station and airing cupboard so I can put towels and bedding away as soon as they are dry. Access direct to outside for hanging laundry to dry with some sort of covered area so I don't need to use a tumble dryer

A big flat terrace with shade and sunny areas and big enough to put up a small marquee for parties

A girl can dream:)

[Deleted User]

My dream home would be a 'cob' house with 4ft thick walls, small deep windows with seats on the inside, a huge farmhouse kitchen with a solid fuel range, enough storage rooms for all my home grown and bought in supplies, a loft big enough to take not only the prepping equipment but to use as an apple store, so it would have to be well insulated but with adequate ventilation and also frost and vermin proof. I'd want an orchard and a big enough plot to put hot houses and enough veg beds in it, a huge fruit cage, a bore hole or natural spring, a cellar and cob outhouses for storage, a root cellar dug into a bank, a HUGE water storage from rainwater facility, be far enough out to be able to run a wind generator and enough solar panels and batteries to be able to be completely off grid. And a safe room!


As you say Mary, a girl can dream! and hope!

moneyistooshorttomention

Rather different dream home here.

Mine would be built around an internal courtyard garden (ie sorta Moroccan style). Fountain in the middle/small trees in huge pots/etc.

So I guess that would mean corridors on all sides - linking the rooms with each other. Large kitchen - one of those big enough to have a sofa in as well and I'd have an even bigger walk-in larder than I do now. I'd also have a really large bathroom (REALLY large - as it would be big enough for a bath and a large walk-in shower and a sauna).

Main bedroom would also be big enough for a sofa and would have a dressing room off it.

Garden - large (my definition of.....) with a wild swimming pool in and an orchard.

Don't want much - ahem:rotfl:

[Deleted User]

sometimes, just sometimes parts of dreams can be made to happen, in a roundabout way of course
Rainwater harvesting, I have an underground tank but am not using water from it right now, although it is just about full. All this heat, penetrates through the ground and all these basic tanks have are 2 filtration systems plus a strong pump. Imagine how the water looks when it comes out now, a bit coloured and a bit smelly. Ideal conditions for anaerobic bacteria. It also costs about £600 to get it cleaned out every 5 years, so imo very much not worth having and especially if retrofit, ie massively expensive. My outside harvesting system, on the other hand, is perfect for plants, I put in extra `attractive` storage tanks with one flowing to another and excess to the harvester under the ground. The water in these outdoor tanks is and remains sparkling and I believe that is down to me sinking a lot of ceramic water cleansing hoops in bags. BTW runoff from downpipes also includes bird poop and whatever dust and dirt comes down from the air


PV, solar thermal, triple glazing, heatsink floors, solar shading etc well that is another matter and I will only be setting up solar shading when I move, leaving all the rest behind for someone else to enjoy. I will try and set up outside water harvesting but my main objective is to be water frugal, in a specific area, which I know can be done and for me not having grass can look extremely attractive and be very future proofed ie low maintenance

[Deleted User]

I was trying to remember when my appreciation of water began and it was in 1976, when we had hardly any money and a 1750 cottage in the middle of no-where. We did not have mains water, our water came from a tank higher up the hill, on a field where cattle grazed. It soon ran out that year of the great drought and my dh brought water in containers home from work. I remember I was scrupulously careful about water hygiene, we had a three year old and a one year old. That summer I cut black bin bags open and collected drips from the side of the steep craggy hill, I used buckets, they were never filled but were a life saver, a small bit in each. So I will always do my bit to save water, running out could happen nationally and in those days the population was 56 million, now it is 67 million and rising

[Deleted User]

Apologies for forgetting their name, but someone a while back was looking for a power-bank, for their daughter to carry, to enable them to keep their phone going in an emergency.

If you are still looking, £land are currently selling 1200mAh ones.

WeegieWumman

r.a.i.n.b.o.w wrote: »

Were you listening to LBC this morning?! A caller made that exact comparison (abusive relationship EU/UK) plus also the radio host looked into the airforce Eire has... 2 helicopters and 2 planes, one of which hasn't flown since the 1960s :rotfl:

Leo Varadkar, (taoiseach) forgot to mention that the British agreed to send the RAF over Ireland and the Atlantic to deal with any hijacked Irish passenger or private aircraft.

[Deleted User]

I have done another 2 hours and got very hot, the back of my t shirt was wet. I am trying to prep for first stage removals ie anything in the garage. Just speaking to my neighbour and many people have almost given up on the allotment, at least for this year, not coping with with the drought and a watering can. Badgers have eaten sweetcorn and trampled anywhere looking for anything to eat. I am going up to see the damage to my plot later, will water courgettes and keep on top of watering some plants that are coming with me. Cabbages are coping magnificently, not needing to be watered often if at all. I may bring some large nets back, very large, shake out wash and tie up tomorrow


I have packed lots of dried foods like pasta, into 18litre really useful boxes, so I won`t really go empty handed. I have sardines in oil, seeweed, tuna, pasta made from quinoa and lentils. I won`t starve, I can also sprout dried beans and I will buy some fresh alfalfa seeds. Imagine if the jet stream was stuck like this, south of us this winter, the amount of snow and the freeze being the opposite of the heat that we are having now. Tbh I would cope better with that than with this searing heat


For the ladies or any man with man boobs, under boob itch, caused by heat, moisture etc, blooming horrible, washing often and drying well, clean fresh bra daily, wired or not wired, loose or close fitting. I sorted it today, I hope and fingers crossed. Used a pot of `healthy hoof`, sloshed it on and no itches so far today, in spite of me being uber hot. I just ordered a pack of 3, I think I only had one pot

Karmacat

I must learn to use a power bank, still not got to grips with what they do and what they mean...

Active prepping is ready to take off for me again: I have my dishwasher working steadily :o:o and the dried-on banana has gone I really do need to sort out a way of washing the trays manually, and I think I have, but it means bringing in some plant saucers big enough for trees, currently in the garden, and cleaning and disinfecting a couple of times.

Plus the f/f is now defrosted - I must finally figure out where the drain thingy is, and how to open it ...

When I went on a day trip to Chelsea Physic Garden on Wednesday (which was full of prepping-type plants) I thought it was good to find a couple of blackberries fully ripe. But I've just been for a walk round the block here, and the hedges are *full* of ripe berries! I'm away till Friday, or I'd be at it right now.