Hi from '1940s' Cornwall

[MeganW]

Hi everyone,

My name is Megan and I'm a freelance writer/Jack of all trades living in Cornwall. For a few years I've been growing a selection of vegetables in my back garden but recently I've become more and more interested in the idea of being Selfsufficientish as part of a book I'm writing on the 1940s home front. As part of this I'm exploring some of the realities of living with rationing, Dig for Victory and Make do and Mend. So much was unavailable that I've started thinking of lots of new ways of doing things, which is where this website is coming in very useful. Going back in time has been a bit of a learning curve but I'm getting into the swing of it now (I've just started month four of the year!)

So if anyone has any tips on traditional ways of doing things, I'd be very glad to hear them!

Megan

[Green Aura]

Hi Megan, welcome to Ish

Hope you're not suggesting we're a bunch of old fogeys! (Well with the exception of MKG and oldjerry of course!)

Good luck with the research - sounds like fun. I'm sure you'll find lots on here to help - and if you're selling any black market pork keep me in mind

[Milims]

Hi there and welcome

[MeganW]

Haha, no I'm not suggesting that you're all fogeys - just that lots of the principles of self-sufficiency also suit the wartime way of life.

Black market pork would be very welcome at the moment! Ah, never mind.

Hi Megan, welcome to Ish

Hope you're not suggesting we're a bunch of old fogeys! (Well with the exception of MKG and oldjerry of course!)

Good luck with the research - sounds like fun. I'm sure you'll find lots on here to help - and if you're selling any black market pork keep me in mind

[becks77]

Hello and welcome

[StripyPixieSocks]

Hello welcome to ish :)

[indy]

sounds wonderful, I look forward to hearing all about it

[bonniethomas06]

Hello and welcome

Sounds fascinating, I am quite jealous of your 1940's pursuits. I was an eccentric child, and went through phases of living like a child from various historical eras. Even when my fellow classmates mocked me for coming in with a specially made victorian pinnafore and ringlets, I persisted (this was about the time 'Five Children and It' was on TV).

One time I became a bit obsessed with WW2 and put myself on rations for a couple of weeks (to my mums delight. Not). I don't remember much except I pretty much lived on picallili sandwiches and to even smell the unctious yellow sludge now turns my stomach. I still love bread and butter pudding though!

The dandilion root coffee however, was not so good. Nor were my parents amused when I insisted all tea bags were to be used at least twice and hung up on a mini washing line in the kitchen, with those little pegs you buy at WHSmith. But hey, I could have been on the street corner sniffing glue!

Good luck and I hope we hear all about it.

Bonnie x

[Lilyfae]

Wow! Welcome, I love your writing concept (especially as a history teacher)

Marguerite patten did a series of books that were cribbed from original publications- I got it from the imperial war museum & I use bits out of it when we do WWII.
It's called the Wartime Kitchen & well worth a read!

Good luck, hope you find what you need here

[MeganW]

I've got the 'Victory Cookbook' and 'We'll Eat Again' but haven't seen the Marguerite Patten one you mention. I'll have a look out for it - thanks for the tip. It'll be nice to try some different recipes too! Some of the wartime food is delicious but some is a little less than appetising... I've been taking rationing in stages, so that it is introduced gradually (as it was in wartime), and am about to face up to losing 99% of my cheese, eggs and milk. So any inspiration will be very welcome.

[bonniethomas06]

Is there any way you can keep chickens? I heard plenty did in the war - once you have lived without eggs for a while?

[Thomzo]

How fascinating. My mum often tells stories of her childhood during the war. Chickens in the back garden, pigs in the area behind the outside loo, dresses made of parachute silk. It all sounds so wonderfully romantic now but I bet it wasn't.

Zoe

[MKG]

Hi Megan.

Your book sounds fascinating. But do beware - what happened in WW2 was FAR from traditional. Inspirational, admirable, inventive - but not traditional.

Mike

[MeganW]

The rose-tinted spectacles are definitely off for me now that I'm living by the wartime restrictions. But then I can appreciate that things must have been far, far harder for people living during the actual war. However, there are things that have come out of the experience that are definitely for the better. I'm learning lots of new skills and trying things I would never normally have tried.

I could keep chickens, and in many ways would like to, but I have a bird phobia (have done ever since I was a very small child). On paper, it's a very good idea and would make good sense but I don't think I could face it in reality. Such a shame. My in-laws have chickens though, and are experiencing a glut at the moment so I get lots of free eggs!

[MuddyWitch]

Welcome to ISH

If you can make yourself an anderson (sp?) shelter it'll make a brilliant garden shed afterwards, as was the tradition!

MW