Whilst becoming self-sufficient and growing our own will inevitably result in healthier, fresher food, a large part of it is about saving money. Yes, yes, we have spent an awful lot on the polytunnel, but it will, in time pay for itself. It will.
We are now able to produce a large part of what we require as a family and if we become vegetarian we will be able to wholly sustain ourselves. We can even produce enough compost and manure, thanks chickens! I had read somewhere that it was impossible for the average household to produce enough compost to sustain the average garden and veg plot. I beg to differ. Using solely the leaves, grass cuttings, waste compost from pots and veg peelings we have managed to create a lot of quality compost. It will be filling our raised veg beds and feeding our plants.
A large part of living a frugal life is being organised.
You need to sow seeds at the right time. You need to store food at the right time. Meal planning helps. All require organisation.
Don’t get me wrong, we use ‘economy 10’ electricity, cheap electricity for 10 hours a day. I need to be organised (to an extent) and put the laundry and dishwasher on at the correct times. We turn off lights when we leave a room. We don’t have a tumble drier. – All the usual cost cutting techniques.
To truly be able to feed our family all year round we will need to know how to store our fruit and veg properly. Being able to produce for an extended period each year will help us. In previous years we have prepped and frozen or cooked and frozen veg, but I need to explore other methods on order to not have a freezer full but also to produce other products for us to use; jams, pickles etc. I need to establish an appropriate storage place. Our sheds get too warm and humid (I believe) to use them for storage, also they are not mouse-safe!
It’s all about being organised! Wish me luck.
Hayley X
chicory, chickens and children 