My Off-grid and need to be frugal diary

AnimalTribe

Foxgloves yes unfortunately. However, I know a woodland spot where I can forage some gooseberries so hopefully I'll still be able to get some. I'll go for a walk there with DH next week.

It’s been so hot today I could only go out for a short time, before coming in to cool off. Still, I’ve managed to weed some raised beds, tied up beans, chillis, tomatoes, and some baby fruit trees. Harvested and dehydrated loads of coriander and picked chive flower heads so I can separate the seeds. The garden has been given a good soaking too.

 I’ve even managed to finish off a cross-stitch. Of course, I’ve done all my catch-up phone calls today too.

AnimalTribe

It’s been a busy couple of days. Yesterday was extra hot, so DH and I did a lot of gardening with cooling off breaks in between. We have a rough patch of ground that we are trying to tame, but we are taking it slowly and doing bits as and when we can. DH mowed the area yesterday, but unfortunately, he broke the mower blade, which he now has to fix. The way the mower is constructed doesn’t make for an easy fix so he’s pondering how to proceed. I managed lots of clothes washing yesterday too.

Today my Approved Food order finally arrived and I also had a massive food shop from Tesco delivered. I rarely go the delivery root, but my order had lots of heavy, bulky items (including lots of sugar for chutney and jam) so it was worth it.

I write the use by date; on the top of tins, on the side of packets, etc, so that it is easier to make sure I use the oldest first. That took longer than I expected today with such a large order.

All the laundry has been put away and I’ve mended two socks and t-shirt.

The sink was blocked but DH easily unblocked it with a plunger.

Tonight, I’m going to watch a film and munch a packet of crisps – I lead an exciting life  

Ordinary_Yet_Unique

What a busy day! How much land do you have?

AnimalTribe

Ordinary_Yet_Unique about 1/3 of an acre, so it's not huge, but parts of it are difficult with large stones in some parts and a million rabbit holes in others. The garden often takes second place to house repairs, but I'll get there eventually. It's a good garden for wildlife though.

It's been heavy rain most of today so I haven't done anything outside. I haven't done much inside either, just sorting through some paperwork and having a clear out. 

foxgloves

How lovely to have had some rain where you are. Nothing here except a meagre few drops of drizzle. Garden so needs a prolonged drink. We do water it, esp the veg plot, but try to balance this with sustainability in these long dry spells. I think a week of rain would just about put us right here.
F

AnimalTribe

Foxgloves the rain was very welcome, even though it stopped me gardening.

Today has been very windy - good for generating electricity and for drying a wash load. DH has mowed some more grass and fixed an old petrol mower that had a seized lever. He still has to figure out how to fix the battery-operated mower though. 

I've re-potted plants in the greenhouse, picked lavender for drying and finally found a good explanation of how to make a ginger beer plant. Ginger beer is the only fizzy drink I like. I drink it very rarely, but would love to make my own. I've also dug out my recipe for radish chutney, as the radishes are growing so large, they will be woody, if I don't use them soon.

When I made the Tesco order I bought 3 different kinds of chilli. DH loves chillies, but I bought them so I can dry the seeds to grow next year. DH gets his chillies and I get cheaper seeds - a win all around. 

AnimalTribe

High winds tonight, not exactly gale force, but close, so lots of energy being generated, as the wind’s blowing from the right direction.

I did another load of washing and dried it this morning, when there was a lighter wind.

I’ve harvested the last of the radishes (1kg) so they’ve been turned into radish chutney. The recipe I found wasn’t the one I used last time. This one is much sweeter and took ages to reduce.

DH and I had sweetcorn for dinner, but I cut a slice off to dry to see if the seeds will grow next year. I also, saved some sweet pepper seeds.

DH has picked a bowl full of black currants, which I’ll cook with a very small amount of sugar and use in yoghurt for the next couple of day. There are still so many currants left to pick.

rachmac3

I've just put a jug full of blackcurrants in my freezer. I still have a few left to pick for fresh eating, and a bit of last years homemade Vimto jam left to use. I'm hoping to be inspired to do something with them a bit later in the year when I don't have any fresh berries to eat.

weenancyinAmerica

was just reading back over my notes from somewhere else, and they suggested coffee grounds to keep away the slugs. Don't know if it works on caterpillars though. The chickens would have been a help with the caterpillars. Do you know anyone who would loan you some for a day or two?

AnimalTribe

rachmac3 I hope you enjoy your blackcurrants. They are such an easy crop. I will eat some with yoghurt and try some in muffins. Any picked after that will be dehydrated (I've never done blackcurrants before) or made into jam, and possibly syrup. Ooh! blackcurrant syrup over vanilla icecream.

weenancyinAmerica chickens would have been ideal and slugs make great chicken (or duck) food. Unfortunately, no-one I know keeps chickens. I will try good old rhubarb water and see if that will work. Although there really aren't enough leaves left on the plant to protect. It’s interesting about the coffee grounds I will look into that as slugs are a problem in other parts of the garden.

Today has been windy again so another load of washing dried for free outside, and plenty of power generated. I've cleaned some more windows and sorted out a small chest of drawers - so a reasonable day.

I promised myself I wouldn't buy anymore seeds but I read an article on mangelwurzels and that led me to a seed seller and that led me to buy 8 packets of seeds and a mulberry bush. Very naughty as I have so many different kinds of seeds already.