Hello All

[penelope]

Hi, I have just found your site and LOVE it!! We (me, the partner, the dog and the cat) live in North Notts just on the edge of town. We have limited garden space, but started this year to try our hand at growing veg - succeeded with potatoes (wow they were good), runner beans (just won't stop growing and freezer filling up fast) and herbs (coriander, oregano, basil) - failed miserably with carrots and no idea what to do with the beetroots

This year we want to take it a bit further so more lawn being dug up to make way for veg (dog only pees on it anyway) and want to investigate electricity sources, water sources and locate a woodburning aga/stove into the kitchen to heat our water and cook our food.

We have located a sawmill that does loads of wood for £15/ skip load and use this to heat the house...

Anyone have any ideas how we can use rainwater to feed into the house and generators/batteries to power the house and how to hook up the aga to the central heating and turn off the gas too....

There has to be a way for us urbanites (would move to the country if I could afford a run down barn) to live the 'good life' and as the 'ishers' say, keep a few little luxuries

Look forward to hearing any ideas!! Also what to do with my beetroot??

Take care

[Penny Lane]

Welcome Penelope!

Can't help with the central heating/gas issues but someone will be along soon to give you some ideas.

With regards to the beetroots, I presume you're looking for ideas of what to do with the glut you have on your hands?

Make soup & freeze?
Pickle, pickle, pickle!
Boil, slice and freeze?
Beetroot wine!
Beetroot chutney!

If your beetroots failed like your carrots I can't help you there but say try, try again

[penelope]

Hi Penny,

Thanks for your reply - yes I have a glut of beetroot on my hands...Beetroot Wine?? Is there really such a thing? Tell me it doesn't taste of beetroot...

Will look up some recipes for pickling I guess if all else fails!!

Take care,

Jane (Penelope only my user name... long story)

[Jackie]

Welcome Jane!

I have such a woodburning stove. But I think a baking oven is better solution if you want to use it for house heating. In this picture you can see both.

Beetroot - I shred and puree them and feed them to the dogs (together with raw meat). There are also very nice salads with beetroot.

[hedgewitch]

[Green Aura]

Hi and welcome.

[penelope]

Thanks so much for making me feel so welcome... good to know there are many like minded people out there!!

And I would NEVER of thought of feeding shredded beetroot to the dog - do they like it (well obviously they do or they wouldn't eat it) LOL - might give it a try.

Will let you all know how I get on with the water / electricity project.

Cheers,

Jane

[Rosendula]

Hello there

[sleepyowl]

Hello

[Cassiepod]

Welcome too!

As for beetroot I have a lovely recipe for beetroot risotto, just be prepared for pink pee in the morning - it gave my OH the fright of his life

[penelope]

Beetroot risotto!! Sounds great - please can I have the recipe and I'll give it a go and let you know how I get on - pink pee and all