The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

thriftwizard

We also had a number of impromptu hairdressing situations backalong, as we say in Dorset! Pinking shears are a terrible weapon in the hands of an 8 y.o. who's fed up with his 5 y.o. twin brother & sister... I'd only put them down for a second whilst I answered the phone... however they seem to have forgiven him now!

euronorris

I must admit, I did utter the words 'definitely my daughter', as I cut a bit chunk out of the back of my hair around 8/9 and my mum forced me to have it all cut the same length. I looked like a little boy for a good 6 months haha. And yes, there is a school photo of me at that time! 😂😂

DigForVictory

Mum used to hide the kitchen & nail scissors from us for the week before the school photo after one notable "fringe" I cut for myself. Next year I had the hair all tidy & a splendid thick lip where I'd gone flying from the trike playing the day before. 
I've not forgotten a call I got mid-shop that said "buy hairclippers & come back Now!" - the equestrian clippers we had had burned out two thirds through Middleson's pelt & the new set were needed to finish the job.. (Years later he can still clip his own hair, sometimes stood folded in the middle to let gravity pull it down! He also tidied the mess I made of my husband's hair - I'd never used the clippers before & he was tufted.)

euronorris

I have made a start on the growing fruit and veg prep. Just ordered some seed potatoes and growbags, and some onion sets. Also ordered a new plug plant propagator, a seed tin with dividers (to organise myself better), and some plain, small brown envelopes for saving seeds from plants grown. I also got my copy of the heritage seed catalogue and ordered my 6 free seed choices from them. They arrived shortly before Christmas. Next I will be on the lookout for some good quality compost. Stuff we have bought in recent years hasn't been great. Hopefully get out in the garden this week to do a bit of tidying prepping there.

I'd love to try sprouting broccoli this year, as DD loves it, but we don't have room for full broccoli plants. Does anyone else grow them? If so, do you find them to be space hogs? Easy to grow? Susceptible to pests (I'm guessing caterpillars)?

bluesooz

I grow purple sprouting broccoli every year - but it's in the ground for a long time!  I sow April/May to harvest the next spring.  I grow about 12 plants in, just over, a metre square patch and that provides more than enough for the 2 of us as you have to keep on top of harvesting before it turns into the flower.  (although the bees absolutely love the flowers so i always leave some for them!) It's not that long a harvest time but there isn't a lot else to harvest that early in the season.  I net mine, but this is more for protection from the pigeons. We sometimes get a little caterpillar damage but they prefer the kale - as the harvesting isn't till the next spring they haven't really been an issue

a purple sprouting plant is a lot bigger than a calabrese broccoli plant - It's 4- 5 feet tall by the time its sprouting for harvest.  Easy to grow though - just sometimes need a bit of support 

There is always tenderstem broccoli as that has a much shorter growing season(sow late spring to harvest july/august time) - I've only tried this once and it was a bit of a failure but then i have very dry soil in summer which was probably the reason why.  

euronorris

Thank you bluesooz, that was really helpful  

[Deleted User]

Tiers are being reviewed again this week and there is talk of a level 5 possibly being added to the worst affected areas , I know most people are stocked up with necessities for the holiday period but with Brexit happening too it might be sensible to do a stock check of what you have against what you'll possibly need over the next few weeks. There may not be much difference to what we're usually able to get from the shops but if there is a period of disruption until a new system settles itself down it might lead to shortages of even basics until it's in place and the supply chains are running smoothly again.

greenbee

Getting ready for back to work tomorrow. Although I'm working from home it's pretty full on, so I'm making sure that my meals are planned and prepped in advance - and that they use up small amounts of the stuff I no longer eat much. I've been put on a low-carb diet to help with the consequences of long covid (thankfully not also the low-histamine diet or there'd be nothing left to eat!), so the remaining supplies of carbs and pulses have to be used carefully so I don't trigger symptoms or a relapse. 

My prepping needs to be about building a routine and strategies that make pacing possible and ensure that I have plenty of ready-prepared food so I don't eat the wrong thing when I'm pushed for time or tired. 

euronorris

I have to wonder what else would be stopped in tier 5?! Schools closed maybe?

Take care Greenbee.

elaine241

Well I seem to have triggered an attack of vertigo and I have been feeling blooming awful. OH puts it down to being stressed out before and over Xmas which maybe right. I also seem to have trapped a nerve in my hip so I am struggling to get about , feels like a sharp stabbing pain. Combine the two together and I am right wreck!!
We have snow possibly tomorrow although the hills here are already white. As I am dizzy I can not risk driving to the shops. We only "needed" fresh milk so eldest son walked to the shop. Luckily preps and store cupboard means we do not need to go anywhere near shops until well after new year. If the weather turns awful , I could survive for several weeks on what I have and still eat like a lord. 
The storm put pay to my poly tunnel but I have not had the strength or inclination to go and sort out the twisted mess that is there now. I will wait until I feel more like a human! I will drag the heated propagator out of the shed and start off some chilli, pepper and aubergine seeds as they seem to take forever to mature. The rest of my seeds I sorted before Xmas so all I need to do is identify any holes in my collection and add any new types I fancy growing. I get Grow you own magazine as a present from my sister, The seed packets that come with the mag are good for every day veg . I save my bean seed from year to year and I need to buy peas, seed pots and heirloom toms. I still have plenty of squash put in the garage, toms in jars and as sauce plus loads of veg in the freezer. One positive of lockdown was that I could concentrate on my veg patch and growing the vast majority of my veg, fruit and salads. One project I need to get built is a raised strawberry bed , hopefully next to the patio so I can pick and eat, missing out the washing up!