Selfsufficientish Day - 13th August 2006

[Andy Hamilton]

Was having a chat with my brother Dave and as it is both of our birthdays on the 13th August we thought perhaps we could make it an international selfsufficientish day. But what could this mean?

Maybe on mass everyone has a go at making something, or planting. Perhaps getting youth groups, derby and joan, rotary clubs and the like to join in. Could it be pulled of? With everyones help and a bit of careful planning I guess it could. Any thoughts?

[gunners71uk]

its mine on the 20 th aug

[Chickenlady]

What a great idea, Andy! How about sending lots of press releases out nearer the time and maybe getting some publicity for the idea.

I think making a list of small things that could be done would be good, and challenging people to do just one or a few of them. How about:

1) Dig a vegetable patch in your garden, or make a herb window box.
2) Contact your local council to see if there are allotments available - you could share one with a friend to begin with.
3) Make a compost heap in your garden, and keep a small container in the kitchen to collect raw fruit and vegetable waste to put on it.
4) Get down to the market and buy loads of veg, then whip up some soup in bulk and store it in the freezer. Much nicer than the tinned stuff.
5) Brew your own beer or wine. Start with a kit to build your confidence.

These are just a few off the top of my head, but I am sure the wise beings on this site could think of loads more!

[Wombat]

Sounds like a great idea, mate!

Nev

[ina]

Good idea, but I would start a little bit smaller, maybe with a national selfsufficiency day first... That's big enough, I think! Although of course all those nationalities on this forum could join in, without having to go to massive publicity efforts internationally.

(By the way - are you two twins, or is it just by chance the same day?)

Ina

[Andy Hamilton]

oh yes we are Twins have a look at the photo on the front page, 5 mins apart. In fact my mother did not know that we were until I was born. It was the days before ultrasound.

I thought international as this forum is very much an international place, of course I would mostly be promoting it in the UK as that is what I know. Nothing to say that we can't contact some of the overseas publications though.

[Shirley]

I think it's a great idea - you could also promote it via the Eco Schools scheme.

I think chickenlady's ideas are great and perhaps we could have an email with these and other ideas on that we can forward to our friends/family/other boards that we post on.

Am very excited about this now - can't wait for it to be official so I can tell my friends.

Happy to help with whatever I can.

Shirley

[Tigerhair]

For info it's National Allotment's week 14-20 August!!! Pretty good timing on the birthday's boys! Info on http://www.nsalg.org.uk/ I'm wondering if it could be combined in some way??? Too tired to think now... off to an early bed..