Prepping: the new world...

Cherryfudge

I found this which may be useful for those with the option to store out of doors.

Cherryfudge

Okay, this may be a silly question but I've been thinking about veg clamps and could get some sand for one BUT...

I don't need to store vast quantities. I have two compost bins on the go, one of which is about 2/3rds full of compost ready to be used. Could I use that as a veg clamp (I see the link I posted above suggests using peat-free as an alternative to sand)? Or on a smaller scale, would sand in a potato-growing bag be an option? Or do I need more insulation?

I assume sand is generally used as a sort of well-drained deterrent to rodents, but as you can see, I'm a complete novice.

boultdj

Not sure about the compost bin, it 'should' be hot to compost, so might be to warm, also slugs might be a problem. The potato bags on the other hand could be an answer, seeing as the article used wooden boxes.

Cherryfudge

Good point about the heat thanks. I might try a potato bag with sand or ready-made compost as a short-term measure.

fionaandphil

We have 2 large hanging net sacks (the ones the carrots originally come in) in the garage and this keeps them off the floor and leaves some air round them. Keeps them cool too and they last for 6-8 weeks.

For the spuds we use big brown potato sacks and just make sure it stays dry. Do check regularly to ensure no rotting ones. We've done this for a number of years and it works for us.

DigForVictory

Hoping any of our Wimborne Dorset members are safe - a gas leak required evacuations, road closures & all the rest of the “Leave, Now!” protocols. Incident only lasted a couple of hours & was in daylight but ye gods …

thriftwizard

It was the other end of town from us, DfV - we're in more danger from the river, which is well & truly out of bed now, but historically the floods have never reached this high - yet... DS2 used to do his paper round over there, and I have a couple of friends who live there, but no-one's mentioned any undue worries or panic.

DigForVictory

I think it’s time we reviewed using paper masks, soap as standard & generally “am I reasonably certain” protocols again. 

Hate to say it but there’s a virus circulating. A sore throat mostly - the adenovirus. Good news it isn’t fatal unless you’re already immunocompromised etc. (although elderly, pregnant also warned) Bad news, it doesn’t back down with soap or disinfectant, it’s a sore throat you just have to endure. And it can linger. 

Such details are the press has here https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/mystery-disease-sweeps-globe-amid-36435601.amp

So if you were planning to see family but aren’t feeling solidly healthy? Even a bit throaty? Maybe reconsider, as this isn’t a seasonal gift you want to be associated with.

Floss

Noting that the article linked is predominantly from a Pennsylvanian healthcare company, I'm more inclined to believe the GOV.UK health tracking, which says that Adenovirus dropped from 1.7% to 1.2% last week, based on clinical diagnosis statutory reports to the NHS:

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance report: 18 December 2025 (week 51) - GOV.UK https://share.google/QtHiTNbvIVdzfZ3Yi

DigForVictory

Um, this may be blinking obvious but there’s nothing like checking rather than finding out the hard way. 

Before leaving the home, check you are holding the house key as well as any vehicle key.
Happily on my loyalty plastic with an assortment of keys, was a current house key as well as several past ones. Beside me, an offspring absolutely livid that I hadn’t checked as he presumed I was the grown up…. That I am breathing & not setting off back to another offspring to borrow their spare is a minor Christmas miracle!