What are you selfsufficient in?

[ina]

wow ina thats quite a deal! i wonder if i could find something simular

Might be a bit difficult in London - check whether there are any local organic producers who might consider giving a job to a volunteer, in exchange for leftover stuff... To be honest, it costs me quite a bit in fuel to get there, but it also keeps me sane in my unemployment - so well worth it!

[ajs88]

oh yes i can see how that could be a bit of a lifeline

[ina]

I've also just realised I'm selfsufficient in slugs and snails. They are having a love fest out there tonight - so the future generations are guaranteed, too!

[the.fee.fairy]

Haircuts
soap

That's about it...oh...except for strawberries :)

oooh...deodorant! I made some fab deodorant...

I want to learn how to make toothpaste soap - apparently, its better for your teeth to use a soap because it doesn't contain stuff in toothpaste. On etsy, there's a seller selling toothpaste soap...i reckon i could make my own with copious amounts of EO...need to research it a but more

Rosey: what do you use for toothpaste?

[DeneciePie]

So far we are self sufficient in:
peas,
beans,
beets,
greens,
Artichokes,
squash,
peppers,
tomatoes,
rhubarb,
melons,
onions,
cucumbers,
and by summers end:
all veg other than potatoes and garlic
(maybe next year).
If the birds leave them alone we may get a bumper crop of sunflower seeds! (or not)
we also put in Cherries, apricots and figs, but we have to wait and see how they pan out.

Not too bad for a first year.

DeneciePie
We also planted some peanuts and edamame but I think they are more experimental.

[ina]

edamame

Had to look that one up - never heard of it! Interesting the stuff they grow in other countries...

[Rosendula]

I want to learn how to make toothpaste soap - apparently, its better for your teeth to use a soap because it doesn't contain stuff in toothpaste. On etsy, there's a seller selling toothpaste soap...i reckon i could make my own with copious amounts of EO...need to research it a but more

Rosey: what do you use for toothpaste?

Nothing quite as nice-sounding. It's a recipe from "Herbal Remedies" by Christopher Hedley and Non Shaw.
1 teaspoon fresh sage, ground
6 teaspoons salt, ground to a powder
1 teaspoon bicarb
1/4 teaspoon crushed cloves, ground to a powder (optional)
Mix it all together

It's disgusting. That's probably why I stopped using it after only making it once a few years ago and went back to 'normal' toothpaste. Then, a couple of months ago or so, my gums started bleeding really easily. Not just when I was brushing them, but even if I just kind of sucked at my teeth to get some food from between them, IYSWIM (sorry, that's isn't it). Brushing more often and carefully didn't help, so I went back to this concoction and it stopped within a couple of days. I do miss the minty fresh taste though. Salty isn't very refreshing.

[ina]

Then, a couple of months ago or so, my gums started bleeding really easily.

I find Weleda Rhatania (spell.???) toothpaste great for bleeding gums... Sorry about the plug - I don't get paid by them, honest! But I've had no problems since I started using that particular toothpaste.

[clare]

Although I now feel very inadequate compared to stonehead my selfsufficient list is:
all year lettuce
all year herbs
all year runnerbeans and peas thanks to the freezer
6 months carrots
6 months parsnips
6 months potatoes
hopefully 6 months brassicas this year.
tomatoes fresh and for pasta sauce and ketchup
courgettes fresh and freeze
cucumbers 20-30
peppers 10
chillis 20ish which I dried last year
pumpkin/butternut squash soups and halloween!
apples pears plums only 3 years old but harvest looks good.
strawberries 2 kilos plus 6 jars of jam
blackcurrants 2 kilos made 4 frozen cheesecakes yum!
cooking apples loads of jars of jam and chutneys which I also sell to pay for flour etc.
Blackberries and wild plums for jam to sell
Elderflower for cordial/wine
30 gallons of wine ready blackberry/apple/plum
rhubarb frozen for crumbles and 10 jars of jam
mint sauce
25 garlics made some dipping oil/dressing and marinaded feta cheese and use in cooking
make bread,cakes biscuits and pizzas,all desserts.
Eggs 12 chickens and sell to cover upkeep.
make soap 2 batches a year.
knit dishcloths last forever.
cut all families hair.
all our own diy
fix mower.(not good enough for car though)
2 woodburners, wood from local roof company and hubby's building work bought no logs last year at all.
made some clothes for children.
getting there but a long way to go!

[MuddyWitch]

Due to our immanant (please, Goddess) move, the only thing I've been self-sufficient in this year has been dust. In fact I have quite a glut; if any one needs any just pm me & I'll send you some. It grows best under beds, dressers & on the mantle shelf you just wiped if you have anyone coming!

MW

[clare]

oops!forgot:
1 year leeks and onions.
6 months beetroot!