So my response was to spend money. On more fruit trees :-) *Shrug* What can you do, LOL? I bought another avocado (Reed) to replace the pollinator I lost to root rot a few months ago, two tropical low-chill pears, a table olive (because we love olives on our homemade pizzas) and a thornless youngberry. All the trees will be grown in bonsai bags inside pots, although don't ask me exactly where they are going to go! Where there's a will there's way, as they say, LOL.
In other news, I've given up on my sourdough starter for the moment. It got manky smelling so I tossed it and have reverted to the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) method of breadmaking - Farmgirl Fare's Beer Bread (in umpteen different cheese and herb variations - yum!):
and the ever-popular No Knead bread (although it's getting cold and finding somewhere warm enough to let it rise is becoming a challenge! I will be trying to top of the fridge this weekend). I also use beer to make my now-traditional Saturday night pizza dough, so guess what I am asking for for Mother's Day next month?! A beer making kit :-) Surely I can't stuff it up badly enough that it's no good for cooking with? LOL. I think you can also use it for making apple cider (and hence, apple cider vinegar), so that has to be a good thing too, although I doubt I'll ever grow enough apples on my dwarf bushes to provide anything more than eating quantities.
Anyway, it should be fun to muck around with the kit, if nothing else we can drown our post-PO worries a bit more cheaply ;-)
8 comments:
Hubby's a keen home brewer (to the extent of going in beer shows and trying to set up commercially) so if you need any advice, just yell! He gets his stuff at Mark's Home Brew in Islington - Mark's great for advice as well.
It also makes good ginger ale!
My husband also likes tro brew his own. Zymurgy is a great avocation.
Don't get down about Peak Oil. You have skills that many others do not and theses skills will help more than you know when the tough times arrive. Just keep doing what you are doing. I feel privileged to be able to read your blog and learn things that help me in my journey towards a sustainable lifestyle. Keep up the great work.
Gavin
Hi,
Deep breaths being taken over here as well.
Unless your sourdough culture was actively growing green stuff I doubt it was problem. If you are more confident in other techniques its good to stick with them as long as you can get ingredients.
You have successfully made a starter now so you know what you need to do in the future if required.
Kind Regards
Belinda
Yum - apple cider! I wish! I'm planting lots of apple seeds at the moment, but it will be many years before they produce enough apples for cider.
Gavin's the smart one though. Don't get down on Peak Oil (says me!). We need our Useful People - and you certainly qualify! :-)
I'm trying to get over my grief and my fear, and my worry and pain of what might be, and instead get active and fight for everything I believe in. It's far more effective than tears.
Sigh all right! I also have been out and spending money - solar shower, waterproof matches, more herbs and winter vege seedlings. Oh for the days of being frivolous... There was a newspaper article here yesterday about the 30% food price hike in the past year...sure is starting to look REALLY bleak and the rest of the world is finally starting to realise too.
It is difficult to not worry about the future, but being useful and thoughtful will always be valuable, and you are both Julie.
I have many concerns too; thinking about the future has made me realise why women married centuries ago; to be protected or to be with someone who had another set of skills. Which goes agin all my beliefs ;) But I can see how very vulnerable my children and I could be in a PO world. It remains for us to continue what we already do, which is to build a "village" around us in our neighbours and friends.
I'm glad you're back, I don't always comment, but usually check in for some inspiration, information and just to see how you're going. Love to hear how your cider goes, yum :)
Hi Kez, oooh thanks for the tip :-) You'll be the first person I email if I blow something up, LOL.
Hi Tameson, hey thanks, I've learnt a new word to impress the other kindy mums with :-D
Hey Gavin, thanks :-) Yeah, I know being down in the dumps doesn't help things, but at least now with all this media attention my husband has a better idea about why I feel that getting our plan underway is so urgent. Just have to step up the pace a bit.
Hi Belinda, hmmm really? It smelt *really* bad, but as you say, I figured I'd already started one without too much trouble so I should be able to again, so I tossed it. I think sourdough/ artisan breads are something I might pursue when the kids are all in school and I have a bit more time - I do love a good sourdough loaf!
Hi Leanne, yeah you're right, being down doesn't help things, does it? We just have to knuckle down and work a bit harder :-) At least we are both doing *something* about it.
Hey Nikki, ooh a solar shower, that's on my list too, but some time off yet. Next is a wind-up lantern - we have two portable wind-up torches but I now want a big table lantern (and that beer kit ;-)
Hi Em, thanks mate :-) You are so right about building a "village" around yourselves. Single or not, I feel that it's the only way we are all going to get through the coming period of change and adjustment.
Cheers, Julie
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