What Preps are you doing this week

[nickdutch]

Made another 8 firebricks from papier mache, added more water and kneeded the mix more to get a better much and to the most part got a better result. Now i just got to be patient for weeks on end for the things to dry out.

[Arzosah]

Bought a few bits:
- American land cress seeds on ebay.
- 20 litres of seed compost.
- one-off buttons, for the design work that will help me set up another income stream (selling cards on various online sites).

[preppingsu]

Seedlings going well in kitchen, about to be repotted into greenhouse as not trusting weather so don't want to plant out too soon.
Taking down a large wooden swing/slide set in the garden. Was keeping it for grandchildren (forward thinking and all that) but the space will now be used to put a polytunnel on. I felt it was better to be able to feed the grandchildren as they will always be plenty of play opportunities (rope swing from a tree etc).
2 cold frames made from what was left of the old playhouse and some old windows that were replaced last year. Only cost was 20p for some hinges. Will be growing my salad stuff in them.
Work wise- all my hard work over the last few months has paid off and from September I will have a permanent contract! This is great as we can financially prep with regular money coming in.
Need to start prepping in case mother and stepfather sell their house. They will need temporary accommodation and storage. I need to start thinking how we will work that....

[jansman]

Su, that is real world permaculture in action! You will not regret that polytunnel.
Today I am in mine planting tomatoes. Also I am building shelving in my workshop to house the copious amounts of homebrewed beer I am making. Hell of a problem that!

[Arzosah]

2 cold frames made from what was left of the old playhouse and some old windows that were replaced last year. Only cost was 20p for some hinges. Will be growing my salad stuff in them.

Some great points in your post, Su, but I'd *love* it if you'd expand this ... I have very similar remnants sitting in my garden - a really old shed that collapsed last winter but one, and 3 windows and their frames, I had some leaky double glazing replaced last month. Could you write a bit about how you set it all up, the order of the jobs, that sort of thing?

[Brambles]

Finally managed to get the Tarps down on half the allotment to kill off the weeds.
Starting to replace some of the staple goods I used a while ago. 20lbs of flour goes nowhere when you bake from scratch, and I need to add a LOT more oil.

[preppingsu]

2 cold frames made from what was left of the old playhouse and some old windows that were replaced last year. Only cost was 20p for some hinges. Will be growing my salad stuff in them.

Some great points in your post, Su, but I'd *love* it if you'd expand this ... I have very similar remnants sitting in my garden - a really old shed that collapsed last winter but one, and 3 windows and their frames, I had some leaky double glazing replaced last month. Could you write a bit about how you set it all up, the order of the jobs, that sort of thing?

Made a new thread
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=7267

Hope that helps

[Le Mouse]

I've been packing this week and getting rid of stuff to the charity shop in preparation for moving in two weeks. Still a long way to go, but slowly, slowly, catchy monkey.

Today I've been doing more financial planning for life without a job. Also preliminary menu planning using the Cheap Family Recipes website which so far looks promising - the quantities are for four people, so I can make lots to freeze since there's only me to feed. As much as being unemployed is quite worrying, leaving here where I share a tiny kitchen in which I can't do any decent cooking in favour of my own place with my own kitchen is really really exciting

[jansman]

Le Mouse,that is a smashing link. Thankyou. Good luck with your move, and try not to worry. I had a massive income crash earlier this year, and my Wife is facing redundancy now. We have made adjustments, cut costs and I am working hard on my smallholding. You need less than you think to get by.

[Le Mouse]

You need less than you think to get by.

I agree. Ever since the company got sold the first of two times 3 years ago, I could see what was coming a mile off and so I paid debts off asap and started saving. I've got enough saved to keep me in rent and food for about a year. That figure though isn't even half of my annual wage which frankly ain't that high! So, when I do go job hunting again (I'm giving myself a break till the end of May) I know I can afford to take work that is paid far lower than I've been used to. I could work part time and still afford rent. This was a massive realisation. The quality of my life will hopefully dramatically improve from having more time. I will be able to work towards building other income streams.

That's the plan anyway. I hope I'm not living too much in Fairyland thinking that this might work out...