Prepping for Brexit thread

GreyQueen

Very few people I encounter IRL want to talk about Brexit but, without exception, regardless of their 'side', they are livid with disgust at the antics of the politicians. The disgust is being expressed by persons of all age groups, socio-economic groups. political affiliations and even nationalities.


Complete.and.utter.disgust.



What was that old joke? That no matter who you vote for politicians always get in............?


Meanwhile, back on Planet Sensible, I have spent 3.5 hrs digging on my allotment in a vicious cold north-westerly wind. Spuds go in next Sunday, regardless of politics; a tater is a tater is a tater.

elona

GQ

A more edible version of "A rose is a rose is a rose". Tribute to Gertrude Stein.

I am slobbing about and keeping warm as the week has been quite busy so far and I am taking some time out. I want to get around to recycling some empty boxes and also labelling others so I can find stuff.Since I know the family are busy today I can take the chance to just potter at home.

Karmacat

GreyQueen wrote: »

Very few people I encounter IRL want to talk about Brexit but, without exception, regardless of their 'side', they are livid with disgust at the antics of the politicians. The disgust is being expressed by persons of all age groups, socio-economic groups. political affiliations and even nationalities.

Complete.and.utter.disgust.

That's exactly what I've found. I'm starting to get really angry when I hear a politician say on tv "the public will lose trust in us". Will! Pah. Have lost trust, thats the truth.

Meanwhile, back on Planet Sensible, I have spent 3.5 hrs digging on my allotment in a vicious cold north-westerly wind. Spuds go in next Sunday, regardless of politics; a tater is a tater is a tater.

Well done GQ. I've taken my 48-hours-soaked lentils and finally planted them to become microgreens. I hope they do!

DryTheRain

The lentils sound interesting Karmacat - d'you use a jar or another type of sprouter? I usually have mung beans and cress on the go, but there are many many lentils in the cupboard and I'm keen to get the most out of them.

Also wondering about storage containers now my stores are getting larger. I'm thinking large-ish clear boxes might be good for things like nuts/seeds, dried fruit and pulses, be great to hear any recommendations

Zentimes

Karmacat wrote: »

That's exactly what I've found. I'm starting to get really angry when I hear a politician say on tv "the public will lose trust in us". Will! Pah. Have lost trust, thats the truth.

Yes I lost trust in them a long time ago, as did everyone else I speak to!

Well done GQ. I've taken my 48-hours-soaked lentils and finally planted them to become microgreens. I hope they do!

Exciting! I got my book delivered on soil sprouting yesterday and have most of the kit I need already. Have ordered some seeds, and cleared a shelf where I can make a dark sprouting area. I'm really looking forward to how they'll turn out. Good luck with yours Karmacat!

Karmacat

DryTheRain wrote: »

The lentils sound interesting Karmacat - d'you use a jar or another type of sprouter? I usually have mung beans and cress on the go, but there are many many lentils in the cupboard and I'm keen to get the most out of them.

I've used the little plastic trays that supermarkets use to sell mushrooms in, and I've put about a centimetre of soil in there, then covered them up with another little dredge of soil (from a garden centre). Watered with an indoor watering can, and put it on the windowsill. I think I need to cover it somehow? DryTheRain, you've got more experience than me, how do you grow your mung beans and cress?

Also wondering about storage containers now my stores are getting larger. I'm thinking large-ish clear boxes might be good for things like nuts/seeds, dried fruit and pulses, be great to hear any recommendations

My go-to for storage is 24 litre crates from Wilko. They fit under beds, and they don't take as much floor space as a conventional "under bed" storage box. I have one of dried beans, one of peas and quinoa etc, two of carbs, plus a couple for first aid supplies (I've seen how quickly you go through wound dressings with ordinary things like dressing a day-op thing).

Zentimes wrote: »

Exciting! I got my book delivered on soil sprouting yesterday and have most of the kit I need already. Have ordered some seeds, and cleared a shelf where I can make a dark sprouting area. I'm really looking forward to how they'll turn out. Good luck with yours Karmacat!

Exactly, soil sprouting As I mentioned, mine are on the windowsill. I toured a hydroponic farm recently (will blog about it at the end of the month) and they had led lights on their crops. Is your area dark just for the soaking?

Zentimes

Karmacat wrote: »

Exactly, soil sprouting As I mentioned, mine are on the windowsill. I toured a hydroponic farm recently (will blog about it at the end of the month) and they had led lights on their crops. Is your area dark just for the soaking?

No, dark only for the first 3-4 days after the seeds have been soaked and placed in trays (try covering them with soaked folded newspaper). Then after that, once they're about a couple of cms in height, put 'em into the light! Well at least that's what the book I have says, I have yet to do it. Will be getting my seeds early this week.

DryTheRain

Hey Karmacat that's a really good idea for recycling mushroom containers (I hate wasting them), will definitely give it a go thank you!

I started growing mung beans and cress (aka mustard and cress) a few years ago, for extra vitamins, following a similar benefits fiasco. For cress, simply sprinkle seeds over a layer of kitchen roll in a flat container - mushroom or a takeaway box - mist daily and watch it grow. Small seeds like broccoli, black mustard, (pink) kale all work well this way.

Mung beans are super easy and very fast - put a modest layer in a jam jar with holes,punched in the lid, soak overnight in warm water, then tip and drain, before placing on a windowsill. Rinse and repeat daily until they're to your liking, then place in the fridge in a kitchen roll lined container. Personally I like them when they're about tadpole sized, nice tail but still a bit of crunch in the bean 8-).

Besides being easy to grow, mung sprouts have a sweet, delicate flavour that goes with almost everything. The easiest way is to sprinkle them on liberally at the end, really good with mash, stews, curries etc but my favourite is a a fried sesame seed and (aldi) ham omelette, hits all the right notes that one.

Since my PPI payout I've upgraded to a biosnacky jar (with proper drainage lid) and ikea cress trays (£1.99 w/seeds) to hopefully help my crops along. Fingers crossed!!!

Zentimes

Brexit stockpiling has made the BBC breakfast news today - just a short piece but it was mentioned there are plans by some supermarkets to restrict the amount of 'certain items' you can buy online - no mention of which ones although toilet paper seems to be right up there with the most popular purchases.

The longer this goes on (i.e. government not reaching any kind of deal or agreement as to what's going to happen) the more likely the wave of stockpiling is going to grow which will of course then lead to shortages. The govt telling us 'no need to stockpile' isn't a lot of use as many of us now pay no attention to what they say considering the mess they've made of just about everything.

GreyQueen

There isn't an inevitability of shortages because some people stock up.


Firstly, because supermarkets are reactive and are ordering in as we check out their goods. Unless the supply side is disrupted (and nothing has happened to disrupt it - yet - and may never happen) they simply order up more from their suppliers.


If tens of thousands of people decide to buy ten tins of baked beans instead of two, the baked bean cannery gets a bigger order, which may result in overtime for existing staff or even more lines opening up and new hires. I used to work in a food packing plant and it had several great tiled halls with up to twenty lines, with raw product in one end and finished product boxed out the other. On any given shift, only about 8 out of 20 lines would be running, as not all were tooled up for the same product. The factory management could move operatives easily from one product line to another, as orders came in from the supermarkets.


Also, most of us in the UK have smallish homes, perhaps with a small backyard shed, for those of us with backyards. So, very little space to hoard food, plus limited incomes, make this a self-limiting phenomenon.


Righty, off to workski. GQ xx