2009 the big Selfsufficientish Year - one month challenge

[prison break fan]

Quite excited about this, can definitely manage levels 1 and 2. pbf

[Flo]

I'm going to go away and think about this one. At the moment the dry stores cupboard is overflowing so I'm just buying fresh oddments such as bread and vegetables to supplement what I have so it's a new angle on shopping so it's a matter to consider.

It would certainly tie in well with the rubbish reduction regime that is in progress for the year here and encourage me to ensure that I do actually have crops running on the allotment for most of the year. I'm thinking of longer term here with slight variations.

If I can keep a stock of pulses for protein as dry stores, I would be very close to be self sufficient in food for a lot of the year as I could make herbal tea (am a drinker of fruit teas anyway at home and coffee hates me with a vengeance).

Am going to go consider this - it's easier for me being virtually vegan. Watch this space.

[invisiblepiper]

Yes Andy - the levels thing is a great idea - could certainly come on board for that one. Actually, I have not done a shopping since before Christmas - only buying bread, milk and some veg. Not too bad a start!
Mind you, I am cheating cos the teenagers are away.

[i_am_a_pirate]

I'd love to have a go at this but I dont know how I can do it as I have recently moved, dont know anyone here and dont have a huge garden or any hens. Hmmm, I shall think on this

Arrrrr!

[the.fee.fairy]

I'll give it a go, but i'm going to minimise my buying because i don't know enough people here to swap with and my attempts at growing vegetables have so far mounted to potatoes, strawberries, 4 broad beans and 3 peppers...

[kiwirach]

i shall definately think about this Andy....i reckon i could get about 1/2way up the scale. certainly keen to give it a go

[theabsinthefairy]

I think levels are a good way to go - or even one level but different timescales?

But - yeah - I'm in - just need to convince the hubby!

[pureportugal]

I'll be joining you in a cheaty stylee - coffee, flour and vinegar being way beyond us at present!

oh vinegar's easy! we've got a whole barrel full of it.
trouble is, it was supposed to be wine

[LBR]

All the best to those of you who can do this.

2009 is an "ish" year for me.

[sleepyowl]

If anyone wants to be an area coordinator you could reach a greater target audience by contacting the local press & the like so you can set up a group of people to share with. Plus those who don't have much of a garden you can go forage for free foods such as blacberries

[purplekat]

Anyone tried growing amaranth or quinoa? both should grow in UK and would be good for protein. I've got some seeds coming this year to try them both

[GreenEnergy]

I'm in starting it today. Monday 02/02/08

and will try and get as many co-workers as possible to join the Challenge.

[Peggy Sue]

I think I wouldn't worry about milk, coffee or tea- but bread & cheese
no way!
I make my own bread and the flour is grown locally ( 5 miles away) and sold on the local farmers market....but I can't see them bartering for my mis-shapen brussels off the lottie!
Is it possible to make some sort of coarse bread from wheat you've ground up yourself? (Still have to cheat with the sugar & yeast I fear).

I know I can barter for eggs, prbably for rabbit and pheasant if I'm lucky, grow spuds and general veg (British summer/rabbit action pending).
For drink I ahve sloe gin and Rhubarb shnapps- but I did have to buy the sugar & gin/vodka so does that count?
Jam I made- but with bought sugar- its' harder than you think to be completely SS without the ish.

Since having the allotment I cook so much more and the shopping now consists of 'basics'- flour, sugar, marg mainly but these really are hard to substitute. I know you can use local honey- but not for jam making/sloe gin making. I've been using the leftover goose fat from Christmas instead of most fat (even in bread) but I did have to buy the bird.

Be nice to think it could be done, maybe we need a recipe spot?

[Moonwaves]

I participated in this challenge for a couple of years. Missed last year's as I was moving at the time and just saw that they hosted it somewhere else last year. But you could still check there for the various things that people did. At it's basic level the aim was to eat one local meal each week. Lots of people did more than that though and essentially everyone set their own rules, which they announced at the beginning of the challenge. So, some people decided not to buy coffee, to eat one local meal every day, to eat something local in every meal, to have one day a week where everything was local. Most people had a few exceptions that they were allowing themselves, which tended to be coffee/tea, sugar, olive oil, spices. Having a look at some of what people did might give you some ideas for determining your levels.

[Peggy Sue]

I really want to do this, but having just been invaded by rabbits I can see I may be starving!!