Yo from York

[Abi]

Hallo! I'm Abi (perhaps obviously), I'm from York (again...) and I'd really like to become more self-sufficient. I live in a little terraced house with a fairly tiny yard, so this could be interesting, particularly as I have no money. But I'm making myself some plant pots out of cardboard boxes lined with carrier bags and I've acquired some vegetable and herb seeds, so that's exciting. I'm planning to make a compost heap out of another cardboard box (I know it'll only last a season but there's a high chance I'll be moving then, and if not... well, I can make another!).

So yes, excited to have found Selfsufficientish and gaining knowledge.

[Flo]

Hi Abi! Good to see you.

You can do other things than gardening to be self sufficient you know. Make your own clothes from second hand material, make your own proggy mats, make all sorts of things round the house from "stuff" that you can adjust, brew your own beer (or whatever takes you in the way of drinks) from foraged fruits. Even around York you can forage if you learn how to do it.

[ina]

Hiya Abi - you seem to have made a good start! Yeah, you can do quite a few things without spending money. Look out for folk throwing away wooden pallets - they are great for making compost bins or raised beds.

[doofaloofa]

Yo

[Green Aura]

Hi Abi, welcome to Ish.

There's loads on here about doing things with a limited budget and if you click on "The urban guide to becoming self sufficient'ish" on the banner above, the blog site has loads of articles too.

[contadina]

Hi Abi and welcome to the forum.

[harðfiskur]

Hi Abi, welcome ! I have grown something from seeds in a wicker basket lined in thin plastic and it worked fantastically well, so I have no doubts that your seeds will grow too. You have the main "ingredient" which is : enthusiasm.

[Abi]

Thank you all!

Flo, I'm sure I'm being terribly dense, but what in the world is a 'proggy mat'?

I am learning sewing and want to learn dressmaking, but I haven't a sewing machine and can't afford to buy one right now, so that, sadly, might have to wait. I'm doing a bit of upcycling though.

[ina]

Have you tried freecycle for the sewing machine?

[Flo]

This is about proggy mats Abi and here is a uTube guide on doing them.

Freecycle is a good place to ask about a sewing machine and maybe you have gumtree works near you - there are free and cheap offers on there too.

[harðfiskur]

I love the concept of Freecycle and I would love to get some free stuff from people, but I am just too embarrassed to do it. It is a mix of shyness and getting things free. SILLY ME SILLY ME!

[Abi]

Well, I've now posted on Freecycle asking for a sewing machine so fingers crossed... (I too would probably feel embarrassed, but I've offered quite a few things including an item for someone else who was asking for something, so it kind of feels ok)

Flo, thank you for the explanation of proggy mats!

Yesterday I made my first batch of vegetable stock from peelings and trimmings of veg - the only whole thing I put in was some dried sea kelp for a bit of umami. I've also got meat bones and scraps in the freezer for a meat stock.

[doofaloofa]

GO ABI!

Sewing machines are magic