Hi from Rose Hill

[lnovo]

Hi,

It was great to find this website. I have been trying to be self-sufficient at least in breadmaking and herbs/tomatoes growing categories for the last three months... The bread is fine. It keeps me fit and tastes much better than the supermarket one... Growing herbs and tomatoes have been a bit more difficult, although very rewarding. My partner and I live in a flat and have two balconies. I am a 'first time' gardner and have been making some mistakes. The last one was sowing 340 lettuce plants without thinking of the spatial consequences in our flat!! It is great to see them growing, even though that means we cannot use one of the balconies anymore...
We don't have a car by choice and cycle everywhere... the feeling of independency is great!
I hope that says a bit about our attempts to become more and more self sufficient although we still have a long long way to go...
Laura

[Thomzo]

Hi Laura - just down the road from you in Swindon.

Welcome to the site. You will certainly find some good ideas here.

Zoe

[mithril]

Hi. It's nice to know I'm not the only one trying to do my bit! Gotta ask, are you planning to eat 300 & odd lettuces??
mithril.

[Andy Hamilton]

340 lettuces does seem like a lot. Do you REALLY like lettuce then? Are they cut and come again? Well we all do these things now and then, I still have two rows of beat spinach from last year and that stuff just keeps coming.

Well welcome to the forum it sounds like you will fit right in.

[red]

hi an welcome

i was in Oxford the other weekend for the folk festival - I said then to himself no wonder everyone cycles here - its flat!!

but then Devon is very lumpy - seem you are either pushing up hill or freewheeling down - dont seem to need gears...

as for those 340 lettuces - you dont have to let them all get to full size - you could eat some as baby leaf..

and Andy is 2 rows of beet spinach bad? dang i just planted 2 rows,,,

[lnovo]

I am planning to eat the lettuces as soon as they grow a bit more... they are still pre-baby... I have to make room for loads of sage, tomatoes, basil etc (made the same mistake as the lettuces)... I really had no idea they would all come in 'lots' and how big they would become. Only after sowing them I started to get a clue about sizes and numbers... first time gardner!!! but I am not very worried... that just means I'll be cooking more and more, which is good... and that my balcony garden might remind me of the Amazon forest which is also good because it makes me feel near home!
I fogot to add on my introduction that I have also been knitting since last year and the past two xmas have been 'knitted presents' to everyone... but i am very beginner and would like to know if there is someone in Oxford who knows of a kitting course going on.
L.

[the.fee.fairy]

I'm a beginner knitter too. i'm proud of making a scarf and an ipod cosy at the moment! You've got about 2 years on me though, so share some tips!

At least your balcony jungle will smell fantastic! Basil smalls so so so good!

[red]

you can swap plants with other gardeners too - thats what i do with spares

[Millymollymandy]

Hi and welcome!