The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

euronorris

Just saw this, and thought it might help people in a pinch if the power is out and they don't have any other alternative means. Would need to be set on top of the hob, for safety.

newlywed

Tried that with a grill pan and tealights in the base of the grill pan and the saucepan on top of the grill rack, to boil some water…. If your saucepans are heavy based pans then it takes an age just to boil water for a cuppa… I bought a cheap pound shop frying pan in case I need to do anything similar!

Wraithlady

Muppet_194 said:

Ive been picking blackberries and tucking them in the freezer for pies or crumbles some time, but as Im trying not to use my oven too often I bet I will never use them up. Can I use pre frozen berries for jam making?? 

Jumbleberry jam is a standard when various freezers have died - basically any berries we had in (usually blackberries and raspberries)

sammy_kaye18

I was on the verge of getting rid of a chest of drawers but instead I have moved them back upstairs into the bedrroom and have stored some food in them, most non perishables, tins, dried foods etc but one draw did have spare biscuits etc and things like that in . Came in handy when husband had covid last week as he had a draw of snacks on hand when he felt peckish! 

Preps so far have included mainly dry good. Keep looking at my hedge outside and thinking I will cut it back and it will provide plenty of kindling style wood to burn so Im hoping I can make a storage space for it so it can dry properly. 

Have been making a list of items for the medicine cupboard and will hopefully start filling that up ready for the winter months to come. 
Have looked through my spare items like bubble bath, soaps etc, hand soap and seem ok on that front at the minute. Running down the freezer so I can do a bigger shop before winter months set in and get it mainly filled with meat and veg etc. 

Garden is still providing. Cucumbers are well on their way with the courgettes. Tomatoes and peppers are still growing and due to produce soon. 

Hoping to get another pressure pole to put across the door to help insulate downstairs as the curtain last year that we put between the kitchen and the living room helped keep the living room lovely and warm so hoping to put one between the kitchen and back porch now too. 

Both of my kids rooms luckily get sun most of the day/morning too so they are always complaining that their rooms are warm but my husband is a freezer so Im thinking I might invest in some teddy bedding for us all. I have plenty of blankets for on the sofa etc as well. I do need more candles though. 

Does anyone think that blackouts will be a thing this winter or is everyone just worried about fuel poverty being more the issue? 

Si_Clist

sammy_kaye18 

Does anyone think that blackouts will be a thing this winter ...?

Seeing as how (a) there's been hardly any money spent on the National Grid in the last 50 years, (b) at times last winter there was very little leeway between peak demand and the available supply, and in particular (c) our dear leaders have been at pains of late to reassure us that "the lights will stay on" this winter,  we're damned sure we'll have blackouts if we get a hard winter.

But whether we do or not, I'm obliged to you for the mention of pressure poles.  I had no idea such things existed, but one would be well handy here.  Any recommendations for an inexpensive make that's available online?

ZsaZsa

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-telescopic-white-shower-curtain-pole-122---218cm/p/0151595

Si_ Clist, I’ve used one of these shower curtains in a previous rental when I wasn’t allowed to fix a proper curtain pole. It held a light-mid weight door curtain without any issue

euronorris

Oh yes, a pressure pole for a curtain over the front door would be great! Thanks.

Elisheba

Si_Clist said:

Funny old world, innit.  The chattering classes go to Waitrose and buy blackberries in plastic packs at £7.50 a kilo.  We wander about within a mile of home and pick them for free.  This year's seen a bumper crop hereabouts so over the last 11 days we've picked exactly 88lb between us.  That's 40 kilo, so at Waitrose's price we've got £300 worth.  And ours are organic ... 

(The answer to your question is we bottle some, make 20 jars of bramble jam, and make syrup from the rest)

40 kg!  You must have been there day and night!  I picked 200gms yesterday and that took me about 20 minutes!

newlywed

Elisheba said:

Si_Clist said:

Funny old world, innit.  The chattering classes go to Waitrose and buy blackberries in plastic packs at £7.50 a kilo.  We wander about within a mile of home and pick them for free.  This year's seen a bumper crop hereabouts so over the last 11 days we've picked exactly 88lb between us.  That's 40 kilo, so at Waitrose's price we've got £300 worth.  And ours are organic ... 

(The answer to your question is we bottle some, make 20 jars of bramble jam, and make syrup from the rest)

40 kg!  You must have been there day and night!  I picked 200gms yesterday and that took me about 20 minutes!

How big a tub will I need for 200gms?

planning on going for a look tomorrow… but not sure how many tubs to take

MingVase

Don't suppose anybody knows of a good place to get powdered mash? Preferably in bigger packs?