The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

basketcase

Siebrie said:

My allotment once got raided, and all they took was the leeks! There were peas, cabbages, potatoes, lots of berries, etc, but I think they just did not recognise them on the plant.

We filed the theft with the police, which was fun, and we even made a small article in the local newspaper

I used to have an allotment - wish I still did - and one of my neighbours had just the odd lettuce or couple of carrots taken.  This happened a few times, so he hung around.  It turned out to be students who hadn't got any educational support and couldn't get jobs to get money.  They'd been so hungry but were really ashamed and offered to pay, but he said "No.  Feel free to take stuff as you have been doing, just ask."  He never saw them again and nothing else disappeared.  People can be so odd...

boultdj

It's frustrating when you do go to add stuff on [cat litter in my case] and find half your order has been taken off, so I have been able to replace one of the thing's, and at last the litter is back in and now on the list.
I will have to brave the supermarket's, which I don't want to do, but need's must.

jamanda

My online order shows everything you have ordered.  When you get the delivery, however, it is more of a lottery with half of it missing.

basketcase

I tried to place an order late last night, with Mr S.  There were no delivery slots available because they're being reserved for vulnerable people.  There was an offer of Click and Collect, which assumes you've got easy access to a computer and a car, or access to someone who has.  I have both, but pity the poor souls who don't.

I can't help but think that rationing would be a good idea.  For everybody, like in the war.

Si_Clist

basketcase said:

I can't help but think that rationing would be a good idea.  For everybody, like in the war.

That would be an interesting social experiment.  So many people nowadays have such a finely-developed sense of self-entitlement, plus they've grown up with everything they could ever want readily available all year round, it would come as a dreadful shock.  Can you imagine the fuss when folks can't get their usual artisan loaf from Waitrose or their favourite handcrafted crisps?

[Deleted User]

I think rationing would be THE most sensible thing that could possibly be done and for those who don't actually know how to cook some very basic cookery leaflets, very   very basic like how to make pastry, how to make mashed potato from scratch, how to boil an egg etc. so people can begin to learn how to make do and feed themselves from scratch.

unrecordings

boultdj said:

It's frustrating when you do go to add stuff on [cat litter in my case] and find half your order has been taken off, so I have been able to replace one of the thing's, and at last the litter is back in and now on the list.
I will have to brave the supermarket's, which I don't want to do, but need's must.

For pet related stuff I did a Zooplus order on 20th - I just got the dispatch notification, via Yodel, so fingers crossed

euronorris

Rationing will be difficult for the many people who live in ill equipped, one bedroom falts or studios or bedsits though. One of DH's friends only has access to a 2 ringed hob. Nothing else. So he eats a lot of tinned stuff. Not saying that he couldn't make something from scratch, just that for people like him, a cookery leaflet with a list of one pot stovetop meals would be better.

There's just no simple solution, is there? Very trying times.

What I have seen in our area, and I presume is happening everywhere really, is lots of places offering delivery of fresh fruit/veg/meat and/or ready prepared meals. ie, butchers are now taking orders over the phone and then it gets delivered on a non contact basis. I've seen similar from bakeries. This offers people a different solution, without having to go to the supermarket.

It is also worth considering local farm shops. The ones that are a bit out of the way, if you are able to get there. There is one by us, and they stated on their FB page that they had sacks of potatoes, fruit and veg, meat, milk, eggs etc. So I risked it early yesterday morning. Taking precautions of course. There were only 2 other people in the shop. The people at the till were wearing gloves and insisted on packing for you, requested payment by card only, had a pump of hand sanitizer by the till and had signs all over the place asking people to respect 2m distance. Of course a bit pricier than the supermarket, but a much nicer experience. We now have a sack of potatoes again, and fresh eggs. So we have more than enough to keep us fed until the supermarket delivery due on 7th.

It's not perfect, but it means I didn't need to put myself into a long queue with many others. Which hopefully meant that those who couldn't travel further, or afford to pay a bit more, didn't have to wait as long.

basketcase

MrsLurcherwalker said:

I think rationing would be THE most sensible thing that could possibly be done and for those who don't actually know how to cook some very basic cookery leaflets, very   very basic like how to make pastry, how to make mashed potato from scratch, how to boil an egg etc. so people can begin to learn how to make do and feed themselves from scratch.

That's the same lines I was thinking along.  Having got Eat for Victory (I think), I noticed that they assumed nothing.  I think it'd be a great help.  Did I hear that Jamie Oliver was going to do a Cookery Basics series on TV?  Good idea.

@Si_Clist I agree.  Mind you it seems that, when rationing was first introduced, they were expecting a huge outcry then.  But most people realised that it was the fairest way.  Along with the entitlement, I think there's a fair degree of panic because the basics just aren't taught any more.

oceanspirit

basketcase, the Jamie Oliver programme is on catch up, Channel 4.  I've found the two I've watched quite useful even though I'm a good 'bung it in' type cook.  We had curry made with "fake" coconut milk (used some ood hemp milk as that's what I had open) last night and it turned out OK, at least OH was scraping the bowl with more enthusiasm than usual, so I'm assuming it was OK!