Great Rural MoneySaving Hunt

Lotus-eater

Hello wrote: »

I don't suppose your watering can is anywhere near West Devon?? Giving away stuff and no takers???? They are the ones that are all mad!

Tis true, nuts they all are, I have since found a very few local, like minded souls and we tend to swap a bit.
Now I just need to find some ladies who will give me some good lurvin in exchange for beetroot

No where near West Devon, sorry.

Frugaldom

Hi guys, got to agree, it's mad trying to give stuff away and getting no takers, although our local freecycle has turned into a 'want' fest. I have never seen anyone offer surplus fruit or veg but, similarly, I have never seen anyone else other than friend and I out foraging. I reckon we have enough jars of jams & jellies to last until next year's crop and I'll continue making it (got apple & blackberry jelly on at the moment) whilst the going is good. Trading via LETS means not having to worry about ever having too much of the stuff, I'm hoping to barter for some venison soon. Makes me laugh that the less I spend on food, the better we eat and drink here, especially when you consider the elderflower champagne we made a few weeks ago is now coming into play.

shykins

a friend and i first got together cos she was offereing her surplus on freecycle and i did with my windfall apples, we swopped and been swopping ever since lol

as i said i also ask on freecycle and have often got peoples excess, i can only assume they dont think to offer it.. i think (or is that hope) that people are getting a bit more enlightened

yumm eldrflower champers, shall have to add that to the list for next year

sorry lotus not that fond of beetroot, got anything else u can barter lol

Lotus-eater

shykins wrote: »

sorry lotus not that fond of beetroot, got anything else u can barter lol

Well at least you like the general idea

Fraid not, about all out of gluts atm, you can have a punnet of cherry toms for a flash of your ankles if you like

shykins

naaah got loads of tomatoes and my ankles are worth far more than that i will have u know <sniff>

TravellingAbuela

harryhound wrote: »

What do you do with Rowan (Mountain Ash) berries?

They make a delicious Rowenberry Jelly to serve with poultry.

zarazara

I made some rowan berry jelly a couple of years ago. its a beautiful colour,but very tarty--a sort of very very dry tart taste. it also needs a lot of berries for a small amount of jelly. i dont make it anymore, berries best left for the birds,i think.

TravellingAbuela

I do it half and half with apples and it makes it less dry/tart. I have recently come across an old recipe for Hedgerow Jam which includes rowanberries, as well as lots of other berries, hips and haws. I won't recommend it yet until I have tried it but it sounds interesting!

Filey

nykmedia wrote: »

bargains.

Re the Landrover exchange, well done! I was amazed when I found out that there are new cars on the road that pay NO ROAD TAX because their emissions are so low. It was even more interesting that some are getting around 100 miles per gallon of petrol. We're going to start saving for one as soon as possible, but it'll need some boot space so I can fit in a bulk grocery shop

____________________________________________

Just reading through the thread so a bit late on the reply.

A Smart car, one of those tiny ones with no rear seats, can actually fit a tumbler drier in the boot so would certainly take a bulk grocery shop. You can't get much more economical than that.

And if you need rear seats then several car makers are bringing out really economical models. See Toyota IQ, Daewoo Matiz, etc.
Certainly on my list of ones to check out when present vehicle dies.

Having said that, which is greener, using older but sound vehicle until it dies, or scrapping and getting a more economical younger car.

DdraigGoch

I have a strong suspicion that going down the secondhand road is far more ecofriendly than scrapping and buying new .... no evidence, just a gut feeling. I'd appreciate if anyone could confirm or deny this thought. A car is essential in rural life, buses, if they appear, are no use for shopping!