Selfsufficientish.com

Best before dates are just guidelines and mean exactly that. The food is best before that date but still fine afterwards. I happily feed the family with food past its best before. Use by dates are more important. If something has a use by date there is a risk with using the food past that date (food...

I had never heard of a toothbrush rag rug - I had to google it. Sounds like a great idea. Going by the weight of rag rugs I would imagine it uses a lot of rags to make one rug. Please post the results, I would love to see.

JuzaMum

Hi Mango

Greetings from a fellow Dorset resident. Welcome to ish. It sounds a very interesting and fulfilling job you have.

JuzaMum

Good for you. I am sure it will all go well. I took redundancy 3 years ago and I now wonder how I managed to fit a job into my life although I do have small children to keep me busy. I dread the day I have to get another job and will put it off as long as I can. Enjoy your very active retirement Juz...

They look great, my outdoor strawbs are looking rather sad in comparison. Lets hope for a lot more sunshine and strawberries.

JuzaMum

I know it's a little late but I have now got the hang of posting images.... I didn't want to give my smallest children (nearly 2 and 4.5) chocolate eggs for Easter. I bought to card eggs and made toys to go in them. A dolly for my little girl and my youngest son is loves monsters so a lovable monste...

Hi Pumpkin and Piglet Yes it is old clothes cut into strips about 1/2 - 3/4" wide but varies as it is just done by eye. I cut the hem off the T-shirt or vest and cut a continuous strip going round the shirt (almost spiral like) until I reached the arm holes. The strips don't really bend round, ...

Hi Skippy

No offense taken. If it rains it gets wet and then it dries out. I have been using it a while and it is not problem. It is knitted with cottons and is washable. I'm a practical girl

JuzaMum

Mmmmm... Come and share it with me please. I love rhubarb but the rest of my family think I am weird. It also is sooo expensive in the shops.

JuzaMum

Hello I bought these http://www.jparkers.co.uk/plant-1001011-cc-1/midget-fruit-tree-collection/ for my small garden which seemed well priced. Unfortunately they did not fruit last year but this is due to monster slugs and snails tucking into the flowers. They have grown despite me taking my time (we...

Thanks for the positive responses.
I popped into Hobbycraft a few days ago and I noticed they sell knitting yarn that looks like strips of fabric so you can get that recycled look without the effort!

JuzaMum

Hello again

I have posted a pic of my recycled kids clothes bag. If anyone would like to see it I have put it in the Looks like we made it section

JuzaMum

Hi all I have made a handbag by knitting strips of old kids clothes (t-shirts and vests etc). The strips of rag knit up quite quickly which was good for me as beginner knitter. I lost heart during the project but decided to finish what I started. I lined it with an old hideous duvet cover that had b...

Sounds great but what is wrong with leftover curry/pizza/chinese?
Seriously I might try making it for hubbys breakfast if he is good.

JuzaMum

Yes - nothing wrong with compromise. I really admire those who can do the self sufficient lifestyle but I do like my mod cons (well some of them). Enjoy life - it sounds like it is good now :)

best wishes

JuzaMum