Independence day challenge

I've not got around to writing a challenge post for a couple of weeks so I am doing a post spanning the past couple of weeks as I can't remember exactly what slots into where since I last posted.

1. Plant something
I have panted lots of different seeds over the last few week as many of the previously planted ones have not survived. I have planted squash- butternut and pumpkin, peas, beans, Brussels, cucumbers and a couple of varieties of tomatoes. I have also potted up some that had outgrown their previous pots I am hoping to plant them out properly in the next couple of weeks.
2. harvest something
I have harvested some rhubarb, cabbage and leeks.
3.preserve something
I have frozen 3 cabbages for later use. I have yet to do something with the leeks.
4. waste not
I have donated a lot of plastic/ cardboard waste to the school junk modelling trolley meaning it gets used again.
5. want not
I have bought a LOT of yellow labelled foods I rarely buy anything else it seems! I have also got some plant pots which were left out by another allotmenteer with a note saying they were free, I have bought some home and planted into them. As there were still a lot there nearly a fortnight after they were first placed there I have taken some more; I am planning on taking them into school as another teacher is trying to improve her outdoor area and do some planting with her class.
6. eat the food
We have been eating a lot of homemade bread as well as [reserved food out of the freezer and jam.
7. build community food systems
By taking in the plant pots for another class to use I am helping do this as the children learn about where the food comes from.
8. skill up
I have learnt to make snail/slug traps that work. A little gross to empty but there are a lot less on my cabbages now. I put some beer (left over from Christmas) into old plastic party cups and 'planted' them amongst the cabbages and they worked; lots of slugs and snails to empty out when I went down a few days later. RESULT!

Independence day challenge

I woke up to this view this morning made such a lovely start to the day

The rest of this week I have woken up to the black clouds racing across the sky and watching next doors guttering dripping. Not that I am complaining we need the rain but I do love the sunshine.

Here goes for this weeks challenge.

1. plant something I upplanted my bean plants that were growing in the kitchen, I am planning on planting them out at the allotment this weekend. I also planted some cucumber, sprouts and pumpkins
2. harvest something compost for upplanting beans and planting the other seeds.
3. preserve something nothing this week
4. waste not I planted the seeds in old egg boxes
5. want not I got some salad leaves and tomatoes for pennies at the end of the day last Sunday which have been in my lunches all week.
6. eat the food We have had the birthday cake from last week (which was finished v. quickly). I made fairy cakes for lunch boxes. We have eaten the last of the frozen kale with our dinners. The other day we had the last of the fish pies I had made and frozen from the fish given to us by my uncle. Today we made homemade pizza for tea, I had apple crumble I had made from apples off of the allotment and frozen last year.
7. build community food systems family and neighbours helped to eat the birthday cake, rather tenuous I know but sort of fits here.
8. skill up I learnt this week how to make scrummy home made pizza. We have made it for years but I have never really enjoyed it I made it with the children for them rather than the taste. However talking with a colleague she told me that rather than jut spreading tomato puree on the base as I normally would to mix some ketchup with the puree for the sauce as it makes it less sharp <insert correct description here my mind is too tired!> Whilst browsing blogs early in the week I came across a blogger who posted her recipe for the base. I find my base very doughy and not crisp enough. The other blogger, so sorry if it is you I can't remember where I read it, bakes the base blind for 10 Min's then adds the topping and finishes the cooking. We tried this along with my colleagues sauce and I must say the result is the BEST pizza I have ever made. I loved it can't wait to make it again now.

I forgot to take a picture of the whole pizza so you'll just have to look at my plate, sorry.

This is my apple crumble and squirty cream. The cream is left over from the party. YUM!

Another skill we tried this week is nail varnish making. Stephanie received a make your own kit for her birthday. We had a try tonight it was so simple and she loved it.

I can't wait to see what you have all been up to this week, leave your post in the comments, or link to your blog.

Independence day challenge

It's time for the weekly round up to see how I am doing in my journey to become self-sufficientish. I am following the posts began by The chatelaine's keys.

1. Plant something
Not a lot here this week, I planted some pea seeds.
2. Harvest something
Nothing here this week
3. preserve something
nothing here either
4. Waste not
I used some more egg cartons to plant the pea seeds into. I also used some of the ready compost down on the allotment today
5. Want not
Whilst out browsing the charity shops earlier I found some bargains for Stephanie's birthday; a couple of books and a fairy silk picture I know she will love. I made the aprons for Stephanie's birthday party using some curtain lining I was given years ago and some trimmings from my Mum's flat. I have just made Stephanie a new dress for her birthday using some buttons and fabric also from Mum's stash. Not food I know but all helps me to have less dependency on the shops.
6. Eat the food
I am still eating the birthday cake I made for my sister.
7. build community food systems
Lots of support given to my sister who has gone home and started to make her own vegetable patch in her garden after staying here and helping me.
8. Skill up
I can't think of anything for here this week I think I have mainly been practising the skills I already have ie lots of sewing this week.

So there you have my bid towards independence this week. If you are inspired to do the same please leave a comment below with your list, or a link to your post.

Independence day challenge #8

I have had a week off work, with various family members having stayed with us. Here's what I have been doing garden wise this week;

1. Plant something
This week I have planted dwarf beans, and peas. I have also planted my seed potatoes in at the allotment.

2. Harvest something
We harvested lots of compost from the compost bins, some curly kale for dinner the other day.

3. Preserve something
I froze some prawns I bought reduced in the supermarket

4.Waste not
I have planted seeds in empty eggs trays now I have removed the potatoes that were chitin in them.

5. Want not
I can't think of anything in this section for this week, am sure there must be something though.

6. Eat the food
I made a birthday cake for my sister this week which we have all been enjoying all week. We also ate some of the vegetables I froze from the allotment.

7. Build community food systems
This week I have taken my sister and one of my nephews with me to the allotment to share the little knowledge that I have learnt in my short growing history. I have also given my nephew some of my seed potatoes and other seeds that he would like to grow to get the vegetable garden they are now planning on starting going.

8. Skill up
I have learnt this week that it is not slugs that are devastating my cabbages but PIGEONS. I was taught this by the man on the allotment plot next to mine, he has taught me a lot over the past year. So today, at his suggestion the children and I hung old Cd's around the cabbages to try and scare them away.

Independence day challenge #7

Here's the 7th(!) time is flying, Independence days challenge.

1. plant something
this week I have planted just a few seeds
-a few pea seeds in jars with cotton wool so that when I go back to work after the Easter break I will have some roots etc to show the children as many of the class were very interested in the the just-about-to-shoot peas in the digging area.
-coriander
-basil
- butterfly lower mix- this is a children's seed packet intending to attract butterflies Stephanie chose in the garden centre
- I also up-potted some garden plants

2. harvest something
hopefully very soon I will be able to add an entry here

3. preserve something
I froze some milk as I had more than we can use, I have never done this before so hope it is OK.

4. waste not
see above
watering the garden with rain water collected in the water butt over the winter
planted seeds etc using our compost from the compost bin in the garden

5. want not
I have bought home some milk again as they were going to throw it out

6. eat the food
We have been eating the curly kale and savoy cabbage I harvested last month and froze as well as lots of the yellow label goodies I have picked up on trips to the shops.
I have made a birthday cake for my sister who is coming to stay for a few days starting tomorrow, it is a practise run for Stephanie's birthday. Thankfully it has gone very well and Stephanie took one look and asked for one like it for her birthday :-)

7. build community food systems
I gave my very grateful neighbour some milk as I am not sure I can use as much as I was donated.
When making the cake for my sister I had some left over, I got the children to share it with the neighbours children they were out playing with this evening, and every evening this week. I love listening to them all out playing and laughing together. My house has been the chosen clubhouse this week :-)

8. skill up
I learnt how to make a shaped birthday cake- this will be revealed in it's own  blog post once my sister has seen it.

So there you have it my striving for more independence ( I don't see that I could ever be totally independent) post for this week, how have you been getting on?

Independence day challenge #6

The weeks seem to be flying by, have a look at what I have been doing this week;

1. plant something
this week I have planted
cauliflower
broccoli
peas
sweetcorn

2. harvest something
compost from the garden to plant in

3. preserve something
nothing preserved this week

4. waste not
the seeds are planted in empty food containers which would have otherwise gone in the bin.
I have been watering my plants using water collected in the water butt over the winter.

5. want not
I have bought yellow stickered items- bread, veg, books as birthday presents for Stephanie's friends, items for Stephanie's up coming birthday

6. eat the food
we have been very unfrugal this week and have eaten out twice. We had a family meal out on Sunday as it was mother's day and then last night we had an impromptu bowling trip for my nephews birthday so we ate out.
Today Stephanie asked for pizza hut, we made home pizza hut;

complete with pizza, salad and nachos.

7. build community food systems
Nothing this week

8. skill up
This week I made myself a new item of clothing using an existing item as the basis for my template, I'm not going to tell you anymore now- all will my revealed in the spring fair.

Independence day challeneg #5

This week I have been poorly so I have a feeling this weeks post will be slightly on the lean side.

1. Plant something
I planted lots at the weekend;
tomato- yellow stuffer
spinach beet
carrot- early nantes
onion
cucumber
pea
lettuce
sweetpea- old fashioned mix
pea- meteor
lobelia- crystal palace
cauliflower- all year round
sweetcron
brocolli- autumn
parsnip- hollow crown
beetroot- boltardy
early pea- kelvedon wonder
flax- scarlet

2. harvest something
nothing this week

3. preserve something
nothing this week

4. waste not
I used compost out of the home compost bin and empty pots that would have gone in the recycling to plant the seeds.

5. want not
I have been given some bananas and milk from a colleague as they would go to waste over the weekend

6. eat the food
we had an apple pie I had made from last years apples and frozen for pudding. Not much cooking happened this week as I wasn't feeling up to it I have came home from work and collapsed everyday except today.

7. build community food systems
I am planning on sharing the milk and bananas I was given with family as I won't be able to use it all.

8. skill up
Erm can't think of anything I have learnt this week. Will have to see if I can manage to find something for next time.


On waste news, I had no rubbish to put out this week. Our council runs waste collection on the system that general household waste is collected weekly, recycling on fortnight A and garden/food waste wheeliebin on fortnight B. this week was fortnight B, and as there is barely anythign in the wheelie bin I didn't put it out. I had no general waste at all again  <<smug feeling emoticon>>.

independence day challlenge #4

OK Here goes for this weeks round up!

1. plant something
This week my greenhouse was blown over, so I need to re plant some of the seeds planted last time. I have already re-planted;
sweetcorn
parsnips
cauliflower
beetroot
sweetpea
tomato
lobelia
broccoli
pea
brussel sprouts

2. harvest something
nothing this week

3. preserve something
I froze some meat I bought from the supermarket reduced aisles.

4. waste not
I re-used some compost from my spud bags used last year to plant the seeds. I also re-used some empty food containers (yoghurt pots, fruit pots etc) to plant the seeds in

5.want not
I bought lots of food etc in the supermarket reduced section. These have formed the basis of all meals this week

6. eat the food
We have used up the reduced bargains I bought in the week
I made biscuits and cheese straws with the children at school for us to have at snack time

7. build community food systems
nothing this week

8. skill up
I watched a TV program in the week that showed how to clean a cooker with just a bicarb and water paste- I tried and it worked!! Most impressed my cooker is shiny and squeaky clean.


In other news I am feeling very boastful- I had no non recyclable waste this week :-)


My inspiration for the independence days challenge comes from Angela and was originally started by The Chatelaine's Keys. If you are inspired then leave a comment below and pop over to their blogs to check out what they are doing for this weeks challenge.

Independence day challenge #3

Ok so it's Friday already so time to see how I have managed this weeks Independence days challenge.

1. Plant something- we have begun our spring planting, planting; peas, sweetcorn, aubergine, leek, pepper, tomato, beginia,sweetpeas, parsnip, cauliflower, lobelia, broccoli, french bean. I plan on planting a few seeds every week to make a  successional harvest.

2. Harvest something. we have harvested red cabbage, curly kale, savoy cabbage, bay and rosemary.

3.Preserve something. I froze some reduced items from the supermarket.

4. Waste not We used compost from the compost heap to plant the seeds, and toilet roll/wrapping paper tubes as seed pots.

5. want not I bought some reduced price meat for freezing, some reduced price cereal and wafers because of their damaged boxes ( 50p for a box of rice krispies and 20p per box of ice cream wafers). Also some stickers for 5p a box I used to decorate around my house.

I also gave these to my allotment neighbour

6. Eat the food I cooked a roast chicken on Sunday which made dinners for Monday and Tuesday as well, and 2 jars of stock. I also had apple and rhubarb I froze from the allotment last summer with some custard for dessert.

7. Build community food systems

I took the bay and rosemary to school as well as some cabbage and kale for the children in my class to chop and use in the role play corner.

8. Skill up

I have learnt to join a new ball of wall to my crochet, ok so I need to ind a ball of wall to match the colour my mum started it in, of the 2 bin liners full of yarn I inherited from her none of them match!

Ok so I seem to have acheived more than last week.

Thia post was inspired by Angela over at The high desert chronicles The Independence day challenge originally came from the Chatelaine's Keys. If you are inspired to do the same then leave a comment below linking to your post.

Independence days challenge #2

OK so this week has gone flying past! I'm not sure that I have done much towards the challenge- shall I blame this on going back to work?

Plant something: I have put my main crop potatoes to chit, this is the closest I have come to planting this week.

Harvest something: Nothing harvested this week.


Preserve something: Linked to above- no harvest so not preserving.


Waste not: Food has gone to compost so no food wasted. I am feeling smug as we only have only had 1 small carrier bag of waste to go out to the main rubbish collection each week recently. I know no waste at all would be better, but that is something to work towards.


Want Not: When I used a jarred curry sauce in the week I have saved the jar ready for preserving/ storing food.

Eat the Food: Still working our way through the jam I made.


Build community food systems: I haven't given away any food- mostly as I have not harvested.

And a new one: Skill up: This week Dylan taught me how to change the inner tubes on my bike. I am feeling very proud of myself as he showed me the front one, and I managed the back one all by myself. I am planning on getting better at using my bike and being less reliant on the car.



I got the idea for the Independence days challenge from Angela over at The high desert chronicles  The Independence day challenge originally came from the Chatelaine's Keys

If you are inspired to join in leave a comment below linking to your blog.

The Independence days challenge

I have been following the Angela over at The high desert chronicles for a while. I am in very interested and somewhat jealous of her homesteading. Anyway I have been inspired to join in the Friday independence day challenge. Rather than retype in my own words I have taken this from Angela's blog- she says it all way better than I could. The Independence day challenge originally came from the Chatelaine's Keys

Independence Challenge is all about:

“The whole idea is to get the positive sense of your accomplishments – it is easy to think we haven’t done anything to move forward, but in fact, we all do, almost every day. We just think of accomplishment as a big thing – a whole day spent putting up applesauce or a hundred tomato plants. The Independence Day project makes us count our little accomplishments and see that we are moving forward. So for each week, tell us what you have done in the following categories:

Plant something: A lot of us were trained to think of planting as done once a year, but if you start seeds, do season extension and succession plant, you’ll get much, much more out of your garden, so I try and plant something every day from February into September.

Harvest something: Everything counts – from the milk and eggs you get from your animals to the first dandelions from your yard to 50 bushels of tomatoes – it all counts.

Preserve something: Again, I find preserving is most productive if I try and do a little every day that there is anything, from the first dried raspberry leaves and jarred rhubarb to the last squashes at the end of the season.

Waste not: Reducing food waste, composting everything or feeding it to animals, reducing your use of disposables and creation of garbage, reusing things that would otherwise go to waste, making sure your preserved and stored foods are kept in good shape – all of these count.

Want Not: Adding to your food storage or stash of goods for emergencies, building up resources that will be useful in the long term.

Eat the Food: Making full and good use of what you have, making sure that you are getting everything you can from your food, trying new recipes and new cooking ideas, eating out of your storage!

Build community food systems: What have you done to help other people have better food access or to make your local food system more resilient?

And a new one: Skill up: What did you learn this week that will help you in the future – could be as simple as fixing the faucet or as hard as building a shed, as simple as a new way of keeping records or as complicated as making shoes. Whatever you are learning, you get a merit badge for it – this is important stuff.

OK, you can sign up in comments, publicise on your blog and tell the world – let’s see what we can get done!

Happy Independence Days!”



So here is my first entry for a Friday Independence day.

1.Plant something I have put my potatoes around to chit, ahead of planting them. Also planted some tomato seeds, pea seeds and mixed lettuce seeds they are in the kitchen window pots, will plant them out in a while when it stops being so cold.

2. Harvest something I haven;t harvested anything this week, mostly because I haven't been to the allotment, am hoping to get there this weekend.

3.Preserve something I have dried and stored some bay leaves and rosemary from the allotment. See picture at top of page.

4.Waste not I have covered some old shoe boxes to make pretty storage boxes for Stephanie

5.Want not erm can't think of anything to fit in this category- perhaps next week!

6. Eat the food

I have been trying to ensure that I have breakfast, with my porridge each morning I have been eating Jam I made last summer from foraged blackberries and apples from the allotment.

7.Build community food systems I haven't given anything away this weekend- does it count that I gave my aunt bay and rosemary the other week?

8.Skill up something learnt this week? Where some amazing fabric shops are ahead of the sewing list Stephanie has given me.


This challenge has helped me to really consider what I am doing as the week goes by. Hopefully there will be more to fill each section up as get better at considering what I do.