Episode 11 (the should I pay off one) Your Views

Nile

Tracey_Smith wrote: »

That was interesting! lolol...

I was the 'Eco-Cash Saver' lady....and I thought my plants looked great!

We covered SOOO many green tips during filming, I only wish there had been more time to cover them in the film, but it was good fun and I hope more people think about leaning towards the green and saving money.

TS

Well done Tracey.:T Your food looked tasty too.

MARTINS_DOLL

Tracey_Smith wrote: »

That was interesting! lolol...

I was the 'Eco-Cash Saver' lady....and I thought my plants looked great!

I meant to say that they did look great!
I noticed Corriander and Basil, and I think it was Parsley. What were the other ones? I've got the three above, but would love to grow the others. What were they? Do you grow them from seed?

Thank you Tracey xxx

MSE_Martin

Yes well done tracey, good inspiring stuff, hope you enjoyed it

Tracey_Smith

Hi - what a lovely green buzz going on here! lolol...

Thanks for your very kind compliments.

The device to keep a good eye on all your electricity consumption is called an Efergy (an abbreviation of Efficient and Energy)...you can get them at loads of the usual eco shops - here's a link to their site to see it in action and find out more about it.

http://www.efergy.com/en/

I realise that anybody can look at their consumer unit and monitor what the electricity is costing, but the reality is, you are far more LIKELY to monitor it and keep and eye on what whacks it up, if you have a remote unit in front of you! We keeps ours in the kitchen and it's really made the kids aware of the fact that when you switch something on, there's a consequence....it COSTS YOU MONEY!

lolol...

And we've taught them that if we have to spend money, that means Ray and I have to work more, which generally takes us away from the house....therefore, spend less money, have more time with the ones we love....that seems to work well for them!

Dinner that night was simple pizza - I made the dough, proved it on top of the stove (our fire in the front room) and when the kids came home from school, they all help make it. The boys chop and grate and Dolly and I do the bases etc.....it's a great giggle and they just love it. Cooking from fresh, particularly with kids, should be made fun....usually mucky fun, it's even better that way.....at least I know, when they eventually fly the nest, they'll be able to do more than beans on toast!

And as for land, it might have looked big, but it was only a small back garden! We've only a little semi with a dinky garden and I do most stuff in my shelved mini-greenhouse thingie (not a glass one, just a freestanding thing) that has a plastic see through cover on it.....works well!

Also, we have a wormerie and composter, so get all the compost to do the seeds and stuff. Easy....and it keeps the bin to a minimum.

This year, I'm doing hanging baskets with cherry tomatoes and basil!!! lolol....that way, every time I pass them, I can have a nibble!!

:rotfl:

TS

Tracey_Smith

Hi Martin,

Thanks for your note! And I loved it! You have a lovely camera crew and it was a smashing day. They really crammed so many tips into the shoot - I bet it was a nightmare to crop it all down!

Thank you for giving the sustainable living money saving tips a good airing - very much appreciated.

All the best and the show is brilliant - you're doing a great service guiding so many people towards a simpler, happier life.

TS

Tracey_Smith

You were spot on!

Basil, coriander, parsley and chives! Those were given to me by a chum who's been busy in her greenhouse!.....mine are just in the covered shelf unit and are coming along slowly but surely.

Mine are all done from seed and I have dill whizzing up like you wouldn't believe!

Once we stop getting these frosty/snowy/sleety days, I'll get them out in pots. But a good tip if you're going to keep any veg/fruit/herbs in pots is to stick some bubble wrap around the inside of the pot first, ensuring you make sufficient holes for the water to drain of course....but it works well.

I'm really no green fingered chick - but I'll give anything a go....and if it's got a seed, I reckon it's worth a punt to dry it out and stick in a pot to see what happens

TS

CarolynH

MSE_Martin wrote: »

You can't actually cancel paying a standard loan though as its through the payroll - luckily

Only post 98 starters - us oldies are still on DD!

MARTINS_DOLL

Tracey_Smith wrote: »

You were spot on!

Basil, coriander, parsley and chives! Those were given to me by a chum who's been busy in her greenhouse!.....mine are just in the covered shelf unit and are coming along slowly but surely.

Mine are all done from seed and I have dill whizzing up like you wouldn't believe!

Once we stop getting these frosty/snowy/sleety days, I'll get them out in pots. But a good tip if you're going to keep any veg/fruit/herbs in pots is to stick some bubble wrap around the inside of the pot first, ensuring you make sufficient holes for the water to drain of course....but it works well.

I'm really no green fingered chick - but I'll give anything a go....and if it's got a seed, I reckon it's worth a punt to dry it out and stick in a pot to see what happens

TS

Thank you xxx

I've got mine in the Kitchen ATM... don't want to lose them with the night frosts!

I do try to grow them from seed, like you I'll give them a go if I have some seeds!!! Have been fairly lucky so far... keeping fingers crossed!

Have you tried growing Chillies? I've had some success with those too.

Tracey_Smith

Ohhhh yes! Am big on chillies here....great for growing, fab for eating and they (along with bananas) help you release serotonin (happy juice in the brain), that makes you all, well, happy! :rotfl:

I'm doing some from a few long, sweet red peppers (that have just started shooting) and I found a nice packet of seeds for patio pot versions of the sweet dumpy red ones (usually stuffed with soft cheese) and they are ALL shooting, so I'm incredibly hopeful that they'll come good.

You can never have too many chillies....

But they do like a bit of heat and sunshine, so position them as well as you can for best effect.

TS

Rabbit

Hiya Peeps,

Tracey Smith is an amazing woman, she has inspired me and my family to tread the Downshifting Path, if you want to know more about this brilliant lady, please have a look at her web-site-

http://www.downshiftingweek.com/

This will tell you oodles more and I hope it helps you as much as it's helped us.

Well Done Tracey, keep up the good work! :T :T :T