Hi - I'm Tracy. I live with my husband Richard and our two children in an ancient farm house which we rent. The farm that it sits on is still a working farm. We live in the sticks just outside of Eye in Suffolk.
Rich and I both work full time. We have gradually found ourselves drifting down a self sufficient route - the thrill of being able to get something for nothing (other than our hard work) and to walk away from what appears to be consumerism gone mad is probably what drives us. We also decided sitting in front of the TV at night watching utter rubbish was a real waste of life. We have recently decided that rather than just drift along we should be a bit more structured and purposeful about what we are doing so hence my appearance here - trying to find like-minded people who I can learn from and share with. Our efforts and primary interests to date include:
- food and drink from the hedgerow
- growing vegetables, I have a small experimental vegetable patch which has gone well this year, so will expand this over winter
- Rich is fascinated by trying to develop alternative sources of power and heating etc - he's a bit of a boffin. This is a challenge for us as our house is old and timber framed (translate "drafty") and we have no central heating.
- Related to above - wood scavenging for our two open fires (coal is so expensive!!)
- We are making masses of alcohol at the moment which we hope to use throughout the coming year - including cider, hedgerow wines etc. I've ordered a couple of hop plants to experiment with beer making
- pickle, chutney and jam making
Useful resources we have are:
- Orchard at front of house
- Reasonable sized garden
- Full size pantry
- Aga
- Pond at side of house (although this needs dredging)
That's a quick overview of us. I'm on the site a lot at the moment as I'm at home recuperating from a small op on my foot - so I can't drive to work (which is in Norwich).
I look forward to sharing ideas and picking your collective brains.
Regards
Trace
Hello 🙂
My name is Nick, from Stroud in Gloucestershire originally but now in Sheffield. I still pine for the west country but seem to be trapped in a job I hate in the north at the mo! Found this site while looking for Sloe Gin recipes and love it. Have made greengage jam and last night some of the chutney with Tarmarind in which is currently a bit evil... Hoping it might settle down a bit! This evening I will mostly be pricking sloes as collected thousands at the weekend from somewhere between Stroud and Cirencester... Good times!
I have been good at growing salad leaves and tomatoes but my veg plot has been a bit naff. I intend to apply vast amounts of manure to it over winter so fingers crossed for next year.
🙂
Hello, my name is Tracey. I am currently living in Japan and have for the past several years. I have no experience with food preservation or gardening other than what my parents forced on me as a youth. They did always have a large garden and set food aside every year. Perhaps because I was just a worker drone this ability did not follow me into adulthood so I am trying to make up for that now. I have the curiosity and love reading this blog but can't say I have had any success.
From this site I just set up some of the no-cook apple chutney. While I am living in Japan I am trying to learn as much as I can and actually produced some miso paste this past week. Guess we will see if I was successful in 3 months, either way it's been a good experience.
Looking forward to getting to know you all a bit better.
Tracey
I just wanted to thank everybody who shared a tiny bit of their lives on this thread. It was, and is, very enjoyable reading. The first few weeks of this forum were slightly nervous for Fiona and myself and it was really heartwarming to see old friends and new ones joining in the spirit of things.
Whether you want to tag your introductory bio on here or open a new thread does not matter one iota. We just enjoy learning a little about each contributor.
Thanks, all.
Never knowingly underfed
My name is Denise, 47, originally from Walsall now livng in south Essex. I found my way to this site about a year ago via aother blog on the siimple living theme. Since leaving my job ouside the home a couple of years ago I've been trying to live a simpler, more frugal lifestyle, growing my own fruit and veg, making my own soaps etc. I love it. I come here to drool over the recipes and be inspired.
Welcome ,Bring back the good old days when things were simple enjoy the site.
my name is Barbara, extownie ?- I grew up in London, infact lived there til 6 yrs ago when we finally escaped to the country, now in Wiltshire. Live here with my husband, two sons and my mother, fish frogs toads.....bliss. Only downside still have to work.
Found this site like many people 'cos I was looking for a recipe. I tell lots of friends about it.
Great to have you on board, DeeJay, and thank you very much. I think you have a head start on many of us by the sounds of it. Looking forward to learning how you do what you do. Good stuff.
Hey, extownie, about time you revealed a bit about yourself! Delighted to make your acquaintance at last, and welcome to the site. Thanks for your contributions.
Mutley - I think you are right. There is much that was good about the olden days, although I think we are better off materially and health-wise nowadays. But the old times had a better spirit about them. I think people were generally happier.
Never knowingly underfed
Hi everyone
My name is Mary - I was born and brought up in Scotland but have lived in Lincolnshire since the 80's - I am married to Bill who is from USA - have 2 sons and 2 daughters (all married) and 8 grandchildren and a chocolate labrador called Dilbert - Bill has just retired and I have been at home for the past 5 years looking after my Mum who for the last 2 years has suffered with dementure (so sad) she has now gone into a carehome as I was finding it very difficult to cope as she used to get up 5 or 6 times a night - so sleep was in very short supply in our house.
Some years ago my mother-in-law (a fantastic lady) taught me to make soap - I have played around with it for a long long time just making it for friends and family - I am now in the process of turning it into a small business that I can worjk from home - oh my Goats Milk soap is to die for
We live in a small village and have a very large garden - it is my intention to grown as much as possible to keep us going all the year round. I have been watching in on your site for a few weeks now and think what you have put together is just great - lots of good stuff - have just made my first every rosehip syrup and it turned out just wonderful
Mary
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