Present suggestions for an OS

newlywed

Hi, I am after some present suggestions for someone who is OS.

They cook from scratch, have a slow cooker.
Currently planning grow bags.
Contemplating keeping chickens.

(Will probably have to post the present so need to keep that in mind too ).

What would be/have been the best OS gifts you've received?

gunsandbanjos

Do they have a BM? What about a chicken house? You could probably order it online and get it sent to their house

catznine

How about a book on any of these subjects? Most Old stylers can never have enough of this kind of book. (I love books, can you tell?;)) Play.com offer free delivery so it could be posted direct and save you some more pennies.

Catz x

newlywed

catznine wrote: »

How about a book on any of these subjects? Most Old stylers can never have enough of this kind of book. (I love books, can you tell?;)) Play.com offer free delivery so it could be posted direct and save you some more pennies.

Catz x

That's a good idea. She likes books... Anyone got any suggestions for a self-sufficiency type book that's good?

elona

Someone called John Seymour writes good ones that cover lots of topic.

I like The Tightwads Gazette or "More with Less" but the latter is a cookbook rather than self sufficiency.

catznine

This one is good, ds gave it to me for Christmas.

http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/3412077/Sufficient/Product.html

Or how about:-

http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/1020452/Thrifty-Ways-For-Modern-Days/Product.html

HelenYorkshire

If heading down the chickens / smallholding route, how about a Hugh Fearnley-wotshisface book?
I'm sure he's done a few with (veg) seasonality guides, animal rearing/husbandry guides - although maybe not all in the same book.

angelavdavis

For the house-proud OSer:

Large tea-cloth with corners tied containing:
Container of Bicarb of soda
Bottle of white vinegar
Pack of microfibre cloths
Bottle of stardrops
Bottle of essential oils
Martin's Thrift Ways... book

For the green-fingered OSer: A wormery (order online for sending to them direct)

For the keen cooking OSer: a bread tin containing bag of yeast, couple of bags of flour (small ones if you are posting), bag of poppy seeds for the top, HM bread making book (I like the big bread book which contains BM and non-BM recipes).

newlywed

angelavdavis wrote: »

For the green-fingered OSer: A wormery (order online for sending to them direct)

What's the benefit of a wormery?

angelavdavis

Link You can compost cooked stuff without worries about rats, it is a smaller scale than a large compost heap. The compost it produces is excellent for planting seeds and it also produces liquid fertiser. Fantastic thing - I have kept one for over 10 years - they even moved house with me!!!

When I bought mine, they were considered a bit avantgarde(!) and only a couple of suppliers stocked them, but there are lots of suppliers now.

I would also recommend a bokashi as a way of composting kitchen leftovers.

dannahaz

Katie Thear's "Starting with Chickens" is an excellent book for a chicken virgin.