Hello from North Notts

[Teresa]

I am a returnee to Notts after years living in London. I was brought up in the old-fashioned country ways in North Notts by my grandparents and extended family and I want my children to learn about this stuff too. I've never given up foraging but I want to try and recall all the great stuff passed down to me so I can pass it on as well, and maybe learn some new stuff too.

I love foraging for berries and free food. I'm trying to get the confidence to go out mushrooming again because I haven't done it since about 1980 and then I had an expert (my granddad) with me. I was brought up in a way that when you came home there was always a present on your backdoor step - some excess fruit or veg, mushrooms, a rabbit, flowers or whatever was going spare. Everyone shared what they had.

We're renovating a rambling old house which is fun but keeps us poor! We've started growing things in our garden and we have a bit of overgrown woodland at the end of it that we're trying to clear of ivy without harming all the stuff that lives down there. Not sure yet how I'm going to make it productive but have thought about growing some hops as I've acquired some plants from a neighbour. Maybe put some elderberry bushes down the end and might try and seed some mushrooms down there. It supports a lot of wildlife so whatever we do we don't want to harm them.

I want to start brewing this summer - ginger beer to start with and then beer hopefully. I shall certainly be making jams and maybe some pickles. I'm a great baker and cook from scratch. My old friends in London think I've gone slightly mad but I don't care because this is what makes me happy. When I make something, grow something or find something I feel so much better than when I buy it.

My main aim in brewing is to stop paying tax to the govt and to have something of value I can swap with my neighbours.

We have two children and we want them to learn that carrots come out of the ground not from Asda, and the value of being part of a community that shares. When we go berrying I tell them they are following in the footsteps of their hunter gatherer ancestors. They learn that food involves effort but also great joy. My husband is a biologist but not a gardener.... So he's more interested in the bugs and the fungus than the cauliflowers... and that's about it I think!

[Gert]

Welcome aboard

[red]

welcome

[becks77]

Hi There and welcome from an ex Southwellian!

[thesunflowergal]

We have two children and we want them to learn that carrots come out of the ground not from Asda,

Hello

Thats just how I feel too. Good luck to you!!

Nikki

[Millymollymandy]

Hello and welcome!

[Green Aura]

Hi there, welcome

[gunners71uk]

welcome from someone who lived in horsham/haywards heath and moved to nort notts too !!!

[CyberPaddy66]

Hi.