I feel I lost it before I could even start out......

[Berti]

long time no see...........I was hiding in shame although I cannot help the situation that I am in.
With all the nice plans and ideas I had to start a little bit growing of veggies in the back of my house, before I could even start I got health problems.
Knee disc problems to be more exact and have been stuck on the sofa since august.........when it finally started to improve, there was not enough light left to grow stuff and let alone for me to move the heavy slabs that need to make way in order to set up a mini veggie patch.

SO I got all the books, J.J Berry's, and John Seymours bible, read through them and now I am waiting for things to improve, it is kind of driving me crazy.
Last week had knee arthroscopy and diagnosis was retropatella chondropathy (meaning, back of knee disc was way too soft) and there is not much to be done about it.
It may heal by itself, with time and they weren't able to tell me how long.

While sitting on the sofa had lots of time to think things over, and I realised that I had almost forgotten how enthusiast I was this summer.
Somewhere that enthusiasm is still going but not as strong, because I feel physically limited right now and the unsure future is not helping.

Can someone please come and kick my butt, and tell me that there are still ways to be selfsufficientish and point me in the right direction again?
Maybe I can start sowing indoors for early stuff and try again in spring?

Geez never thought it was gonna be like this.
And I am a positive kind of person so there is no giving up but I just don't see HOW for the moment.

Berti

[Annpan]

Berti, I am so sorry to hear of all the troubles you have been having don't push yourself too far, please take care of that knee.

There are loads of ways to be more self sufficient when you are less mobile, and in the winter months too.

Have you thought about spinning, knitting, sewing, weaving, basketry, making soap, making cleaning products, I am sure there is loads more.

I don't know what your climate is like there but it is probably only a few months before you can start sowing indoors for planting outdoors later in spring. What about spinnach and lettuce, aren't they perpeptual?

You could make paper pots for seeds to be sown in, you could prepare your greenhouse or potting shed for when you will be too busy to organise things and you can do your research and decide on your plan of attack when things get going.

Listen to me, harping on... as if I do any of this stuff (Actually I am crocheting a kingsize bedspread as we speak - maybe I'm not so bad )

Above all look after that knee and take it easy, you'll be no good to anyone if you just end up injuring yourself more.

Good luck, let us know how you get on

[red]

oo knee trouble - not nice - poor you!


Ann is right.. there is lots to do that can be done without using your knee.. - take it as an opportunity to learn something new?

hope you heal soon

[Chickenlady]

These wise people are right. You could take some very small steps (literally, with that knee) and sprout some beans in a jam jar maybe, or learn to knit - how about a rag rug? (Says she who hasn't had time to do any for weeks and has left it gathering dust). I bet there is loads you can do. How about being an optimist and putting a seed order in for next year?

Take care. Hope your knee gets better soon.

Jane

[Berti]

oh yeah, I DO knit, spin, and dye when I get the chance........and I make quilts and usually bake my own (sourdough)bread but haven't in a little while.

that isn't it...but thanks for the kind thoughts.
I'd like to grow some veg/ fruit next year and I am still willing to give it a go once the light in the garden returns and hopefully I am more mobile.
it is only a bit of 1,5 by 1,5 metre, so not much room but if I try I will at least get some tomatoes and berry fruits plus some veggies going don't you think?

"the good life" series is what has always inspired me, and don't we all dream of that kind of life?
my 13 year old thinks it would be cool to have chickens but with only 35 square metres there is not much room when you have only good and plenty light at that afore mentioned patch.

giving up is not my thing so I surely will keep trying but I hate it when knee interferes with these nice dreams.
the question of course is if I will still be able to go WWOOFing next year, something I would like to do together with my daughter.
ah well.
one step at a time huh? :)

have a nice weekend
berti

[Millymollymandy]

Poor Berti, how I know the feeling! I too was stuck on the sofa August through September with a broken foot. I'm still not terribly mobile now but what I am doing to go round my flower beds to edge the lawn and weed (not done for many months) is sit on a box/stool thingy. It's actually designed to hold tools inside and has a top so it turns into a stool. I don't know if you can sit on something like that to work in the garden with your knee problems? It actually saves on backache as well!

It's maybe a thought, and perhaps think about that square foot gardening, so you can just do a little bit at a time and work in a small space without having to move too much.

Don't get chickens for god's sake, they are a lot of work and you can't look after them properly unless you are mobile (ask my husband who had to get up early in the morning to let them out for 3 months - he hates mornings.... ). I'm back to doing it now and oh how I miss my lie-ins with coffee brought to me in bed.

[Silver Ether]

Berti have you thought about raised beds ? I am sure you could find some one help out with the structures and then you would not have to bend for the back or crawl about for the knee. Even sturdy table so you could grow salads/corggettes and stuff in tubs. What about Toms/ strawbs in hanging baskets.

I hope the pain eases soon and you gain a more comfortable mobility.

oooh just had an idea ... what about a horticulter student to hlp out ... ok I know its a far fetched idea but could work or a healthy young body that would help out for a little pocket money or some produce ... ok I know another silly idea

[Thomzo]

oooh just had an idea ... what about a horticulter student to hlp out ... ok I know its a far fetched idea but could work or a healthy young body that would help out for a little pocket money or some produce ... ok I know another silly idea

Can't you bribe your 13 year old?

Sorry to hear about the knee. I hope it clears up but do look after it. It is important to let it heal properly.

Good luck
Zoe

[Berti]

well, this is not gonna heal, but I am still able to walk (just back from one hour walk).......the only problem is that I have missed out this season completely to try anything and then life got involved and everything got on a backburner.
I won't be able maybe to kneel but I do know about square foot gardening as I tried this years ago already, and about raised beds.

meanwhile I will keep reading this forum and my books and do lots of daydreaming and visualise that next year there will be at least SOME produce growing here.
jamie oliver's new book is also gonna be of some help and inspiration (I think it is GREAT that a chef wrote such a book!! very inspiring), I will be one of those city gardeners with only a few sqare foot to spare ;) just a 5 sq f plus some hanging stuff/ pots maybe.

as we are only with two here, my youngest 13 and me, I suppose this will be plenty to keep things easy going?

if people on this forum are willing to take my daughter and me as woofer kind of helpers next year, we will be happy to travel to england/ ireland or europe mainland.

berti

[the.fee.fairy]

At least with all this reading, you'll have it firmly in our head what you've got to do!! I went into sowing veg blindly hoping that things would grow - i wish i'd spent some time reading up properly...

I second the motion for raised beds, and trellises might be good for you (i'm imagining u shaped beds all round the 3 sides of the garden not attached to the house).

[Millymollymandy]

if people on this forum are willing to take my daughter and me as woofer kind of helpers next year, we will be happy to travel to england/ ireland or europe mainland.

berti

How about house sitting? I don't have any specific plans for a holiday for next year, but in order to go away I'd need someone reliable to look after the chooks and ducks and the cat, and water the plants. Plus as long as you have a car to get out and sightsee you get a free holiday in Brittany!

[Berti]

hmmm that sounds nice, of course except that I don't drive a car....
wouldn't it be a good idea to create a nook in this forum so we could do kind of that, use forum members who want to kind of WWOOF in a country they would love to bits?
we could also post : want to wwoof in ...... with writing down the stuff we would love to do and the experience we have.

I for myself, would love to learn and could do some weeding, watering or picking and feed cats/ dogs, and we could come to terms on other things maybe. if in ireland it would be lovely if there would be some irish music options close by.
use of bikes would be nice.

things like that :)

berti

[Millymollymandy]

That's a shame - I have bikes but everything from here is a long way away....

I did think about starting a similar thread on the house sitting theme! Trouble is so many of you are so green you don't drive!

[Berti]

well I wish I could..........can't afford a car

[Stonehead]

if people on this forum are willing to take my daughter and me as woofer kind of helpers next year, we will be happy to travel to england/ ireland or europe mainland.

Something might be possible, but we have had people express an interest before and then not carry through so we're a bit wary. Having said that, Mr and Mrs Wombat may be visiting next year if their plans work out, while Camillitech has camped out in his Land Rover and Baldowrie in her caravan.

We only have the one spare room though, with a double air bed.

PM me if you're interested so I can show the Other Half a few details and have a chat with her.