Are you making any plans for the Snow?

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shaggystu

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 10, 2003
4,345
33
Derbyshire
Just got back from a lovely little 4 mile jaunt over the hills; waist deep drifts, whiteout conditions (briefly), genuinely quite chilly at times, awesome!

Stay safe and enjoy it whilst it lasts is my advice.

Cheers,

Stuart.
 
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daveO

Native
Jun 22, 2009
1,453
513
South Wales
Well this really is more the kind of weather for something mulled or a nice warming malt rather than a nice cold G&T.
 

daveO

Native
Jun 22, 2009
1,453
513
South Wales
This snowbound state has woken some kind of inner squirrel in my brain and I'm feeling the urge to check all my stored food and get using it. Right now I'm cracking my way through a big sack of hazels ready for some apple crumble tomorrow. The mice have been at the apples again but in this cold I won't grudge them a belly full or 2. Job list for next year: make a mouse proof cage for my apple stack.
 
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Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,937
4,570
S. Lanarkshire
I squirrelled again nearly three weeks ago, making comments like, "I don't think Winter's quite done with us yet!". And my menfolks laughed at me :rolleyes: and complained they couldn't get into the pantry :rolleyes: and that there were supermarkets nearby.

They're not laughing now though :D and the supermarkets were closed, and there have been no milk deliveries for three days.....guess who bought dried milk and carnation ? and soya too and fresh ground almonds ? and whose husband is enjoying evap milk in his coffee :)

I'm not a prepper, but I do like a well stuffed pantry :oops:

M
 

daveO

Native
Jun 22, 2009
1,453
513
South Wales
I squirrelled again nearly three weeks ago, making comments like, "I don't think Winter's quite done with us yet!". And my menfolks laughed at me :rolleyes: and complained they couldn't get into the pantry :rolleyes: and that there were supermarkets nearby.

They're not laughing now though :D and the supermarkets were closed, and there have been no milk deliveries for three days.....guess who bought dried milk and carnation ? and soya too and fresh ground almonds ? and whose husband is enjoying evap milk in his coffee :)

I'm not a prepper, but I do like a well stuffed pantry :oops:

M

I've watched neighbours all day walking down to the shop a mile away and down several steep hills through 4' deep snow drifts and trudging back looking close to death clutching flimsy carrier bags stuffed with supplies. Does no one keep milk and bread in the freezer? Why don't any of them own a rucksack? Convenience is ruining people.

I think we could be snowed in for another week and we would still have ample food. Maybe I'll hide a jar of dried apples from the wife just in case we are. :cautious:
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,937
4,570
S. Lanarkshire
Dried apples are very good food. Sweet, tangy, tasty :)
We pack the big 5ltr jars with them when there's a glut in Autumn, and I make apple spread too. I also make kilner jars full of apple pie filling, though we're down to the last two of those. I made spiced streudel filling too, but those are long gone. Still got apple mincemeat though.

I don't keep bread in the freezer, but I do keep enough good flour on hand to bake whatever we need.

I hear people say they can't afford to buy extra food to make a store cupboard. I don't see how folks can't just do a little at a time, every week and every season. It soon builds up. Even just an extra tin, jar or packet a week. Something you'll use so that it keeps in date and quality. Special offer of bogof can be an excellent way to build up too.

Find the gluts, like tangerines after Christmas, and process them. Wonderful jams, jellies, puddings, cake ingredients, etc., and the boxes were being sold off for 50p.

I don't want folks to think I'm rubbing their noses in this, but I would like to encourage them to consider that it's all very possible to do, and both fun and satisfying.

M
 
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daveO

Native
Jun 22, 2009
1,453
513
South Wales
It's really worth people having a look at what you can freeze as some of it is quite surprising. I end up with a ton of herbs frozen though the year from the garden and the supermarket reduced items trolley. Great for soup and tatws scones.

You do have to be able to do something with it all though. I'm fairly useless at that which is why I'm lucky my wife is the organised and chefy one. Any other wife would probably beat me for coming home with some of the 'bargains' I've found. As it is I get some weird and wonderful home cooked stuff handed to me and all I have to do is agree to never take anything out of the freezer without it being ticked off The List. Ever :wideyed:
 

Robson Valley

Full Member
Nov 24, 2014
9,959
2,664
McBride, BC
Buy a freezer. Every agricultural economist knows they save ther price in a couple of years.
AND, grow a lot of one thing and you can barter for things you didn't grow.

I'll never see more than a couple hundred lbs of grapes in one crop.
But that all turns over as boxes and boxes of good vegetables for me.
 

Tengu

Full Member
Jan 10, 2006
12,780
1,517
51
Wiltshire
I wish I had a freezer!

(its bucketing down with rain here...snow almost all melted and so has my pipes...no leaks thankfully)
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,937
4,570
S. Lanarkshire
I shortened a pair of goretex over trousers for a fellow who does a fair bit of beating. The barter netted my husband six bags of venison; two each from three different deer.
I won on that deal :)

Tengu ? can you store stuff in kilner jars ? It's a brilliant way to preserve food. From stocks and soups to stews, fruits to veggies, full meals and puddings too.

M
 

Nomad64

Full Member
Nov 21, 2015
1,072
593
UK
I wish I had a freezer!

(its bucketing down with rain here...snow almost all melted and so has my pipes...no leaks thankfully)

Freecycle is your friend for things like freezers - I moderate my local group and they come up quite regularly. :)
 

Tengu

Full Member
Jan 10, 2006
12,780
1,517
51
Wiltshire
Ah.

I live in a nesting box these days, not a house any more.

(But as you know, I am very happy)
 

daveO

Native
Jun 22, 2009
1,453
513
South Wales
Also if there was ever a better advert for washable nappies this is it. No danger of running out here as long as we still have a water supply.
 

Nice65

Brilliant!
Apr 16, 2009
6,438
2,859
W.Sussex
Freecycle is your friend for things like freezers - I moderate my local group and they come up quite regularly. :)

So is Gumtree, though not free. I was looking for a cheap but decent second fridge freezer for the garage and ended up with this.

D45_D9_C07-98_AB-4_F5_E-_A6_B8-_B94_AB53_B7422.jpg


£220 for both. :)

Today here, everything is melting, but there's still plenty about.
 
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