The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

mothernerd

jamanda said:

Just when you think you have a grip on everything (ish) something else comes round the corner trying to knock you down.

I have half a dozen plums ripe at the very top of the tree.  I'm not wasting them so am devising a cunning plan to get them.

How bendy are the branches. I helped a neighbour tackle an overgrown leylandii by hooking branches with a wooden walking stick and pulling them down low enough for her to cut them.

jamanda

My cunning plan is similar - DH will be instructed to swing from the branch bending it down, and I'll harvest the plums.

I haven't actually told him yet but I'm sure he will be delighted.  Either that or I'm scooting him up a ladder and he doesn't much like those.  I think it's a winner.

elaine241

Finally caught up! I'm still on antibiotics as doctor was worried I have a secondary infection of bacterial pneumonia as well as the viral sort! Chat with doctor and she said she thinks I have had Covid despite three negative tests! I had symptoms the first week and had home kits delivered, I tested negative but youngest son tested positive! He was totally free from any symptoms whatsoever. The only place within the possible infection timescale he had been was to school for 3 two hour slots! The secondary school was supposed to be set up with the strictest of distancing and anti viral precautions!!!! Back to the drawing board there then!! I know environmental health teams plus medical teams have descended on the school as he was the only reported positive test in the county that week! I was not too bad with the initial week of symptoms, then got better for a few days , then knocked flat from week two onward, I am now at the beginning of week 5! Only have one day antibiotic left and I am feeling a lot better and even have a bit of energy , even in this heat!  
The garden has been basically looking after itself apart from the odd watering and time when I fancied picking beans, peas or courgettes. We have been buried alive in both climbing french and runner beans, over 10 kilos in the freezer, eaten loads and soooooo many left to pick! I have harvested the shallots and onions and they have dried off well in the poly tunnel. The tomatoes and potatoes have got blight  , I have put some copper sulphate on them, taken all the leaves and infected fruit off but I am not hopeful. Some are starting to ripen so hopefully if I pick them off I can at least save some. The potatoes I have chopped the haulm off, leaving the roots and potatoes in the ground. This is the method used by  commercial growers but they use a chemical decimator to kill the foliage, I used secateurs! The potatoes are coming up clean, blight free and remarkably very, very little slug damage. I will leave them in the ground for now as it is hot and dry, they wont deteriorate. I have picked some cabbage white caterpillars off the brassicas and fed them to the hens! The rescued ex battery hens didn't know what they were, but the other hens soon showed them.
I am aiming to go and pick some plums and damsons I have spotted in a hedgerow. I have also earmarked one cooking apple tree in an empty house, it overhangs our field ( tree not house!) . I have spotted two crab apple trees and several other apple trees I am aiming to scrump from! In the nearest town I have been earmarking several feral trees I can pick plus some from trees planted by the council; an early morning trip there! 
Prepping wise I have stocked up on yeast, flour of all types, loo rolls, tins, pasta, rice, beans, grains and porridge oats in the pantry plus candles, matches, firelighters, gas for camping stove  in the shed. Medicinally I have a very good stock but I am picking up the odd thing, yesterday it was ibuprofen, calamine lotion and benadryl. 

ivyleaf

So pleased you've felt well enough to post today, Elaine!  I was getting worried about you and I'm quite sure I wasn't the only one. You really have been through the mill!

DigForVictory

jamanda said:

I have half a dozen plums ripe at the very top of the tree.  I'm not wasting them so am devising a cunning plan to get them.

I am a devout believer in child labour...
When that fails, the long distance loppers and then carefully dragging the fruiting branch to where one of the tall can get at it. (Some fruit trees need pruning for height Anyway)

Elaine welcome back & delighted to hear the health police are going to get some live fire exercise on a school. It needs to be right.

jamanda

I think I overused child labour when mine were biddable.  They detest anything to do with the garden now.  Grandchildren are now taller than me and could possibly be coerced when they visit tomorrow.

I'll do the poor little old granny bit and see what happens.

VJsmum

Saw one of these advertised and thought some might be interested - a portable water filtration system..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sawyer-Products-SP128-Filtration-System/dp/B00FA2RLX2/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&hvadid=80607978075242&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvqmt=p&keywords=sawyer+squeeze&qid=1597178363&sr=8-11&tag=mh0a9-21

daz378

Clicked on it and was duly informed  id bought one in 2014.....still in my bob...off to bed  on a 9...6  tomorrow....stay safe

Karmacat

Elaine, glad to see you - and good that you know something about the transmission route you've been very unlucky and it just shows how much about this virus we don't understand.

Si_Clist

jamanda said:

 Grandchildren are now taller than me and could possibly be coerced when they visit tomorrow.

Ahah!  What your grandkids need is a challenge.  How about "Bet one of you can't stand on the other one's shoulders"?