Missy’s full time working mum juggling act MF adventure

missymoo81

@joedenise thank you for the help, I will
do the pulled pork tomorrow and let you know how I get on! 

redofromstart

My advice is:

(1) to only grow things that you actually like and that taste better - I hate courgettes, they outperformed last year and the late great Mr Redo was only willing to eat so many.  Probably still have revolting courgette curry in the freezer. Tomatoes on the other hand are much much nicer than shop bought.
(2) to allow for the costs of compost and pots - MrM flower buckets at 8/£1 and a drill for drainage holes work for things like tomatoes.  10p/litre for compost is about right.
(3) to buy one of the cheap multi seed packets rather than buying XYZ specific variety that then owes you £3.50 and gets eaten by the blasted slugs anyway or is pennies in the shops because they have a glut too (I think I paid £1 for six packs in Aldee which included tomatoes, courgettes, spring onions etc - the tomatoes are doing really well)
(4) perhaps start small - if you eat lots of basil, buy a supermarket one and split it into more pots. Water from the bottom. Do not leave it unwatered in full sun 
(5) do not do 'no dig' gardening till you know you are going to carry on and be successful.  The cost of the compost is awful and the local cats think its a giant litter tray.  
(6) ask around - people generally grow too many courgettes and tomatoes and will happily share their seedlings when they realise they have more than they need. These then owe you nothing but the cost of the compost

under no circumstances grow 20 courgette plants.  after a while your neighbours hide from you in case you are holding courgettes.

(Ironically this year the slugs ate all but one of my courgette plants - last time I looked it had a baby courgette but I haven't been up the garden since.  Its probably a marrow now.)

Anyway, hope that helps.  I am going to put myself a tray of value tortilla chips, covered in some chopped home grown tomatoes and grated cheddar into the oven.  Pennies but glorious.

greenbee

I like courgette curry. 

But otherwise, I agree with @redofromstart. Start small, and see how you go, otherwise it's just another item on the to-do list. 

Bluegreen143

If you enjoy gardening then it’s a great outdoors hobby, active but relaxing at the same time. But remember it’s not really the money saver it can be touted as being. I always say never start gardening to be frugal, do it cos you love it. There are much easier ways to make savings, and if you aren’t careful gardening can cost you more than you save. 

missymoo81

Firstly thank you @redofromthestart for your very informative post, I really appreciate all your points, all your courgette talk did make me chuckle. And your tortillas covered in tomatoes and cheese sound amazing! I have tried so many times to grow tomatoes. And they never ripen, or sort of split which I think is blight, which is a huge shame. I’ve never had any luck with courgettes either when everyone else seems to have lots. I wonder if I just don’t water enough or they’re not in big enough pots.

@greenbee i am very aware that I don’t need more on my plate I was hoping it would be a nice distraction but appreciate it’s a very fine line.

@Bluegreen143 no I assumed it wouldn’t be that money saving, I think if you do it on an allotment so on a bigger scale and make it almost your job, there are huge savings to be made but otherwise I appreciate it’s more of a hobby. I’ll have a bit more of a think before I part with any cash. I know it’s the wrong time of year anyway. 

Have more problems this evening, after finally sorting out one of my work issues, I come home to OH having upset the neighbours quite badly. So had to placate them and then explain to OH why they were upset, he’s gone off in a woe is me mood. So don’t know when he’ll be back.

I’m cosy on the sofa which is where I will stay for a while, love having a duvet on the sofa! I use it all year round just to watch tv. 

greenbee

@Bluegreen143 - my dad always used to reckon that the fruit and veg we grew was far more expensive that what we could buy! So growing stuff you love and is difficult to get hold of/expensive is a good idea.

Varieties of soft fruit that you can't get in the shops as they don't store/travel, broad beans (I only usually get a couple of meals, but fresh home-grown are different to bought whether fresh or frozen), french/runner beans, radishes, rocket, spinach, and chard are usually on my list.

Courgettes (despite what redo says as I prefer them homegrown and I have the space), tomatoes, and cucumbers. I probably shouldn't bother with peppers, aubergines, and chillies. But I say that every year!

fionaandphil

I find lettuces are a good thing to grow at home, always fresh and can cut and come again all summer. I usually buy a living lettuce box from the supermarket and it keeps us going for ages. Herbs also good as you can split a growing one from supermarket and keep it going. We have lots growing and have a greenhouse but find our best things are the fruit we mostly neglect! Rhubarb is good from February and people usually willing to share/split. We have 2 small blackberry bushes which were shared and we've grown along our driveway, they produce several kgs every year, some used fresh but most are frozen flat and used all winter. We also have 3 blackcurrants, can never use them all so share with neighbours, make jam from some and the birds have loads

Elisheba

missymoo81 said:

I’ve been reading the frugal thread and I’m going to try and be more frugal in my every day. Make do and mending etc. I do find joy in such things, I would like to try and grow maybe just a few things in pots in the garden next year. Maybe potatoes in sacks and peas and Broad beans and maybe courgettes, things that are easy to grow. If anyone has any advice or tips? 

I always find that thread quite inspiring as well.  The problem always comes when I start implementing things and find they can be very hard work, which isn't what I need in an already very busy life 

missymoo81

Hi @elisheba, it’s great to be inspired but I know what you mean! I do need to pop over to your diary it’s been ages since I’ve caught up! Loving the sound of all your fruit trees etc @fionaandphil I used to have an abundance of raspberries in my old house. My try those again. @greenbee lettuce would be good and maybe spinach as we eat a lot of them. I really do think I might try and come up with a plan for next year, even if it’s in a couple of pots etc.

jwil

Sorry things are tough at the moment, hope they improve soon.