The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

RAS

Elaine, also look out for a cheap dehydrator. Desiccated veggie whizz up into an almost instant soup mix and are OK1 in stews. Fruits make good nibbles or compotes.

elaine241

nannywindow said:

Thanks for the info about the excess food Elaine, I don't live that far from you and I will pass the word around to anyone in need. I'm sure they will be very grateful for any help at this difficult time.

It is not for just people in need, it is for anyone who wishes to stop food going to landfill. We do put up some boxes for families but after that everything in the village hall is for anyone who wishes to take it. To date we have prevented approx 120 tonnes of perfectly good useable food from going to landfill. We also give people with hens, pets etc the remaining salads, veg, bread for their animals to eat.

RAS

I know what you mean. Elaine. I volunteer and sometimes lunch is yellow-stickered. I don't NEED to do this but I'd rather buy a sarnie or salad that's going to hit the bin than make my own at a similar cost, when the home resources last longer. And I finally finished the curry yesterday made from a 75% off pack of meat bought just before closing on New Year's Eve.

thriftwizard

I've just had  delivery of about 10 packs of past-sell-by Little Gems & watercress for my chickens, from a local friend involved in a similar organisation. Brilliant - my birds think it's Christmas now!

Si_Clist

thriftwizard said:

I've just had delivery of about 10 packs of past-sell-by Little Gems ...

I started wondering how come your chooks don't choke on them, then I realised you're talking about the lettuces, not the sweets (Midget Gems) ...

jcriyadh

lovely to see you again @elaine241, we also have a food share project at Goytre Village Hall which I pop over to weekly.  These are such great initiatives and take away a lot of the stigma around food banks, etc as people from many different circumstances use it.  The volunteers who run these are amazing. 😃

thriftwizard

@Si_Clist, I suspect even Midget Gems wouldn't shut them up for long... but I promise not to try, Defra really wouldn't like that - gelatine!

Toonie

I've been glad of my preps the last few days. Got a positive Lateral Flow Test this week (DP was not positive). Went to get a PCR (and DP had one too as he drove me to the testing site). We're both positive! I was supposed to be starting a new job. Thankfully new employers have been understanding, so I'll start when out of isolation. I made banana bread for breakfasts and cooked up a big piece of gammon which did several suppers/lunches before being chopped up and put in the freezer to make a pie with in a couple weeks. We were able to book in a delivery today so got some fresh bits and pieces and treated ourselves to a piece of lamb for supper as feel disheartened by all the setbacks recently.

Si_Clist

We've been going through the plans for this year's fruit and veg production and it's occurred to me to ask - anybody know when Lidl are due to get their seeds in the stores?

Toonie

I think it's normally around February Si. You've made me think about looking at my fruit/veg plans as well.