My Off-grid and need to be frugal diary

AnimalTribe

Teapot2 & Liselle thanks. I remember the case well, though not the location.

DH had to go into town today to pick up some DIY stuff so he did the grocery shopping too. He is getting really good at sticking to the list these days, although he did buy a couple of small cakes.

As well as some screws he needed for one of his projects, he picked up an auto retractable hose reel which will make watering the garden so much less of a hassle. The currant and gooseberry bushes look like I'll get a good crop this year, and there is loads of rocket. I wish the beans were doing as well, but they don't seem to be putting on any height.

AnimalTribe

It's been a lovely sunny day so lots of electricity has been generated. I'm trying to increase my fitness so this morning I went on a long walk.

This afternoon I did a bit of weeding. Unfortunately, something has eaten my pumpkin and courgette plants so I'll sow some more salad leaves to fill the gaps in the soil. DH planted a full-sized pear tree and apple tree for me so that's a positive.

DH went to a car boot sale and bought a lot of empty tins. I've swiped some for storing craft bits in, and he will sell the rest on eBay. We've found in the past that decorative, empty tins sell well, especially before Christmas.

On the frugal front I've defrosted some of last year’s raspberries to have with yoghurt for dessert over the next few days. Tonight, I'm watching a DVD and drinking some home-made apple wine. The wine's a couple of years old so it's lost its tart edge and has turned into a very dry wine.

AnimalTribe

It’s been a weird sort of day. Sunshine and wind this morning so lots of electricity generated and a load of laundry done and dried. This afternoon it was freezing and there was a short burst of hail and then torrential rain.

DH ordered some special screws for one of his hobbies but the courier tracking shows they have been delivered to some unknown address miles away. On the plus side though, DH has re-wired the bathroom fan and light to operate independently – it’s a job that’s been on the ‘to do’ list for ages.

This evening someone knocked on the door to ask if we’d lost a dog as they’d found one wandering the moor. It wasn’t our dog but fortunately, a farmer a few miles away recognised it and it’s now back with its owner. It was so heartening to see someone trying to do the right thing – it made my evening.

AnimalTribe

I ordered some Jerusalem artichokes from eBay a couple of days ago and they arrived today. Unfortunately, it’s rained for most of the day so I haven’t been able to plant them. The planting season is about 3 or 4 weeks behind the South here, so I’ll be planting them now instead of the recommended April.

I’m trying to grow edible wild plants that will look after themselves year after year. They have to be quite hardy to survive here. I’ve ordered some lady’s smock seeds. I’ve noticed they grow well at the edges of the moor so I hope they will also do well at some of the boundaries of my garden. They are edible, although I’ve never tried them before. Two years ago, I sowed garlic mustard which is now coming into flower.

Rhyddid2026

Wild garlic and perennial cabbage like Daubenton / Taunton Deane do well in my wet and windy garden. I also have loads of comfrey, which I don't eat but the bees absolutely love it and I use it for compost greens and plant teas. The ladybirds love my wild fennel that just appeared in my garden one year.

AnimalTribe

Rhyddid2026 thanks for the Taunton Deane & Daubenton idea I’ve added them to my wish list. I already have the others, but the more variety I can grow the better the chance that something survives the weather and the wild life.

I’ve been trying to grow soapwort for years to use on delicate fabrics. Every plant I bought failed, last year I tried again and I now have two large clumps of it. I’m so pleased.

The weather has been pretty good today, not sunny enough or windy enough to top up the batteries, so the generator has switched on, but great gardening weather. I’ve done some weeding and planted the Jerusalem artichokes.

Dinner tonight was just sandwiches as neither DH or I were hungry. Dessert was more of last years frozen raspberries. Of all the things that I grow, rhubarb, raspberries and currants are far the best croppers. They give me enough soft fruit to last the whole year.

I’ve spent this evening making some memory wire bracelets and for the rest of the evening I’m going to read a book and watch a DVD.

Rhyddid2026

Once you have them you can take cuttings super easy. I do eat them myself occasionally but the birds eat them too when they're still growing through winter.

Well done on your soapwort success!

AnimalTribe

Rhyddid2026 I’m glad I’ll be able to take cuttings as, despite my buying more seeds, I’m trying to cut down on the amount of money I spend on the garden.

DH and I went to town early this morning, as I had a physio appointment for my broken wrist. The appointment was great – I was seen quickly, got some exercises to do, was reassured that I will regain full function, and got a follow-up appointment booked. We did a big grocery shop, filled up with petrol, went to the recycling centre, posted two eBay sales and found a café for breakfast. We always try to do multiple tasks when we have to drive a longish distance. We were back home by 12 noon.

It was windy this morning so the wind turbine has topped up the battery bank. Unfortunately, there has been torrential rain all afternoon so that limited any outside work. This afternoon I’ve just done a general tidy up and updated my grocery stock list.

AnimalTribe

The weather here today has been weird – very windy, rainy and sunny in erratic cycles, making it hard to plan what to do. I did manage to get a couple of walks in and stay dry. DH got soaked on a dog walk though.

I just realised I haven’t had any bluebells this year and I think they were probably eaten by sheep which is very frustrating as they gave a lovely display in a wild part of the garden. On the plus side though I have the first flower on one of my cucumber plants.

I need to buy some new shoes as one of my decent pairs is starting to show significant wear. I absolutely loathe shoe shopping, so I think I’ll have to find something online.

Tonight DH and I are just watching a film.

AnimalTribe

DH and I went into the village today as we were very short on fresh veg.

We stopped in one charity shop I bought 5 DVDs for £1 and a fleece for £3. DH bought a couple of shirts for £2.50 each. In the second charity shop I bought 2 DVDs for £1.

We went for a late lunch to a small café and on the way out I stopped to buy a cheese scone to take away. As we were the final customers of the day the owner said I could have the scone for free, as she throws them away each night. However, DH asked if he could buy the remaining 5 scones and he got all of them for £5, which I think is a very good deal.

A trip to the village Co-op netted 2 lettuces, tomatoes and cucumber. They had reduced priced mushrooms, stir fry and pak choi. I also bought some grapes and I already have pears, apples, bananas and melon in the house. I also bought milk and yoghurt. I didn’t need any bread but they had so much reduced priced bread that it was too good a deal to pass up – sliced wholemeal loaf, pitta bread, poppy seed rolls, 2 packs of mini stotties and 2 packs of buns.

From tomorrow I’m back to eating from stores as the panty and the freezer is full and stuff is beginning to come through in the garden. Tonight, I enjoyed a glass of homemade lilac wine. It’s very rich, almost like a port. Unfortunately, it’s not a wine I’ll be able to make again as I don’t have access to lilac trees anymore.