2024 Frugal Living Challenge

Viking_mfw

Have just experimentally bottled stewed apple ready for pies @Frugaldom and it seems to have worked. I pick up windfalls on a piece of land at work as no one else does and therefore have a glut around now. 

Glittering_M

Thank you @Nelliegrace and @Frugaldom that's really helpful both of you, I really appreciate it.

MessyMare

Hello all I’ve been reading the thread and it’s been helping me to get back in the mindset and back in control of my money. I’ve worked out my budget for next year but am just going to focus on using up what I have for the rest of this year. Made pulled chicken wraps today, and finished off with a lemon meringue pie I made yesterday.

my DH has been so happy this weekend, as I’ve been bustling around cooking, baking and taking care of our home. 

Katiehound

In a fairly old hedge near me , at least 50 years old there are hawthorn, elder, field maple (no fruit) and bullace. These bullace are pale green but looking online the trees are very pricey. Oh, there's also a damson. I'm not sure I would want sloes- yes, yummy sloe gin , but the thorns are evil, much worse than hawthorn.

Did you know you can make hawthorn brandy? it can be from the flowers alone , or with the hips. 
haw gin, brandy or tincture

Elderflowers for cordial, or elderberries make amazing elderberry port, you need to keep it for a year (I have lost that recipe!)

Google is certainly your friend when hunting for such recipes

Glittering_M

Thanks @Katiehound. I've never even heard of bullace!. Thanks for sharing what is growing well for you, that's great for inspiration!

Katiehound

Maybe another small tree for your hedge might be rowan. It grows into quite a slender tree with lots of glowing red berries (unless you buy a fancy one where the berries can be pale) Berries for the birds or you can make wonderful jelly to have with cold meat. A friend made it once- I have never made it or even had access to the berries but I remember it was delicious , so clearly it made a big impression.

Frugaldom

Good morning, frualers

Apples aplenty here and the rowans are dripping in berries. Rosehips are begining to appear. Hedgerow jelly is a favourite of mine. Recipe wise, they are all on the blog, just use the search box or the lengthy list at the bottom of the page. Sadly, I lost several years oh blog pages when i gave up my server space but there are still thousands of frugal posts on the Blogspot one. I will get round to updating it on the he Frugaldom front. Right now, I'm trying to drum up a little support for our wildlife watching weekends. We ask for £5 per night parking for campervans stopping over and many bring along  food for the animals. 

Nelliegrace

@Glittering_M I have just remembered the name of the company for edible fruiting trees and shrubs. 

https://www.korewildfruitnursery.co.uk/nursery.html

We grew honeyberries, chokeberries, Japanese wineberry, and japonica. You could add tayberry or loganberry to your hedge. We will be foraging sweet chestnuts soon. I pierce some and boil them in a jug in the microwave. 



Crab apples, rosehips, elderberries and blackberries, a hedgerow jelly and an old fashioned cold remedy in one. My Granny would stir a spoonful of her blackcurrant jam in boiling water for a comforting hot drink. I like a cinnamon stick stirred in boiling water for a cold, one stick does several days.

We are using up the cooking apples which won’t store, from the garden, ones with grubs or bruises. I must save the peel from our daily orange, (half each for breakfast every day,) and make a batch of Pam Corbyn’s delicious jelly. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-jwQnlKSxQI 

It will fill the gap until the Seville oranges are in season. 

Glittering_M

Thanks @Katiehound and @Nelliegrace

I'll get looking into it. 

Never thought about jam and hot water that's a great idea!

Viking_mfw

I have been reading the Non Consumer Advocate blog recently and she has a great motto: 

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

Thought that might resonate with a few in this thread