Do you think growing your own or forraging will become more popular now energy prices have risen so much?

[kirstyalslap]

It seems like the natural next step to me but want others thoughts on it? Forraging is completely free and things like nettles, dandelions, cleavers (sticky weed) and obviously blackberries, apples, plums, damsons, elderflower, elder Berry are all edible and easily identifiable.
Not to mention salad leaves can be grown all year round on a windowsill or kitchen side.
What does everyone think?

Only posting as several people (not connected) have spoken about being interested in it.

yabu - you personally are not interested in either
Yanbu - you personally are interested

@Ted27

''I haven’t bought a bay leaf in decades''

I don't think people facing real issues with increases in taxes, fuel costs, food prices etc are worrying about how they can afford bay leaves

Fruit trees can take several years to fruit.

Keeping chickens really isn't practical for most people and to protect them from foxes there will be costs of setting up a run/hen house

@ComtesseDeSpair sums it up really well.

'I haven't bought a bay leaf in decades' is the catchphrase of the oblivious privileged and right up there with Jacob Rees-Mogg level 'Pay with their other money'.

Jack Munroe would be proud.

I’ve had loads of success growing potatoes in containers, I do this every year and the yield I have is amazing. Same with courgettes

I haven’t bought a bay leaf in decades 😂😂

Brilliant.

Ted is right, hens aren’t an option for most people in poverty. Keeping chickens is an expensive business - layers eat a LOT, and layers pellets are going up. That’s aside from any housing, run materials, netting (DEFRA rules, they have to be enclosed because of bird flu), drinkers, cleaning supplies etc.

It’s only a money maker on a medium scale. 2 hens in a garden aren’t going to pay for themselves. I know full well my hens are pets with added bonus of eggs.

I haven’t bought a bay leaf in decades
😂😂😂😂😂😂

Truthfully, I'd I had time to forage I would try to use the time to get a few extra hours paid work instead, as it would give me greater return on my efforts.

Big "let them eat nettles and dandelions" energy to this thread.

@SpiderVersed

They must know we are talking about them. I met this one on my way to M&S today

I do grow stuff, but the sort of things you never see in shops such as spaghetti squash .
I tend to shop in Lidl where veg is very cheap anyway.

@5128gap

Truthfully, I'd I had time to forage I would try to use the time to get a few extra hours paid work instead, as it would give me greater return on my efforts.

Gonna take your kids to work with you? And to interviews? Also how are you getting to work? Bus? car? bike? walk? any jobs going? do they do flexi work for the school run? no? Oh it's it's easy! But picking blackberries and apples from the local park is so difficult. as is watering the 40p herb pot on the windowsill every few days.

Nobody said you can be self sufficient on foraging and growing your own alone (although you can and you're alive today because your ancestors could, at least long enough to breed)
The question was Do you think it will become more popular now energy prices and FOOD PRICES are increasing.
Food banks rely on donations. which won't be receiving donations from people who are chosing between eating and heating (by the way food wins)
People are relying on food banks. Its not too far a stretch. and its only a question

for some people working is not an option. But you work to pay for things including food.

@Bosephine

Big "let them eat nettles and dandelions" energy to this thread.

Maybe tell your local Councillor that youre worried people are scared that they won't be able to feed their families. AND they are scared food banks won't get enough donations for the increasing demand that they are trying to forage and grow their own supplement their diet.

@Tanith

Growing your own is hard work, often with disappointing results. Last year, the tomato plants were badly affected by blight in a lot of gardens. Slugs and snails will kill off young vegetables, carrot flies and caterpillars will account for a good proportion of the crop, too.

It's all very well saying "Grow your own", but it requires time and commitment that a lot of people nowadays simply don't have, even if they have gardens they can use and experience they can draw on.

It's like telling people to cook from scratch, or make their own clothes because it's cheaper. First of all, you need to buy the materials, ingredients, plants and seeds, compost to do it.

In reality, it can be much more expensive, especially if you don't know what you're doing. Not everyone has that money to waste in getting established.

Pretty much the main points, unless you enjoy the activities, trying to convince a large population of the advantagss, will require a massive public relations campaign.

The question was Do you think it will become more popular now energy prices and FOOD PRICES are increasing

No I don't.

@kirstyalslap

It seems like the natural next step to me but want others thoughts on it? Forraging is completely free and things like nettles, dandelions, cleavers (sticky weed) and obviously blackberries, apples, plums, damsons, elderflower, elder Berry are all edible and easily identifiable. Not to mention salad leaves can be grown all year round on a windowsill or kitchen side. What does everyone think?

Only posting as several people (not connected) have spoken about being interested in it.

yabu - you personally are not interested in either
Yanbu - you personally are interested

I understand your perspectives and question, yes a small percentage of the population may be convinced to give it a try, but most people would either be busy with various duties, then their are people who health would prevent them gardening, and lastly a large majority that would rather be interested in other activities than growing vegetables or gathering ect.

I just can’t be bothered. It’s a lot of effort for food I’m not that interested in eating.

Please remember when you are out 'foraging' that just because you are on a right of way it doesn't mean anything in that field/ wood is up for grabs.

I'm a farmer and we have some areas that we try to carefully manage to improve habitat for birds and other animals. We don't (currently - who knows what will happen under ELMS in the future) get paid to do it, we do it because its important to us personally as the current custodians of the land.

We deliberately plant and encourage particular fruiting bushes (not all appealing to humans but many are) around the farm as they are vital food sources for some species. We never minded small levels of 'foraging' by locals passing through but over the last 5 years its just become ridiculous and its really having an impact.

We also have 50 acres of woodland that we use to graze native cattle in, its got a footpath that runs through a very short section of it and a (previously?) thriving red squirrel population. Last autumn it got to the point where I was almost having to patrol the wood to stop people trampling/ trespassing throughout it stealing pine cones and holly for Christmas decorations and disturbing the cattle and the squirrels.

I drew the line at being polite at one couple after seeing them 3 days in a row trawling for pine cones with bin bags. I suggested that they tipped them out and put them back for the squirrels. They did but I saw them again skulking about a few days later so assume they just came back for them when they thought no one was around.

People just don't think beyond their own wants often do they?

Haha. I was being tongue in cheek when I said I haven’t bought a bay leaf in decades! I was trying to make the point that it’s pretty impossible to be self-sufficient.
My advice is get down to Lidl ans but one of their £1.50 boxes of fruit and veg rather than try to grow your own.

My sense of humour doesn’t translate on this site. Definitely not privileged as some people have assumed I am…

@Mamamwmwma

Haha. I was being tongue in cheek when I said I haven’t bought a bay leaf in decades! I was trying to make the point that it’s pretty impossible to be self-sufficient. My advice is get down to Lidl ans but one of their £1.50 boxes of fruit and veg rather than try to grow your own.

Don't worry mamawama it feels like I'm being accused of not knowing what it's like to be poor too. Probably from the people who I think are rich tossers!

Hello. Popping in to let you know that we're doing a Q&A with fuel poverty charity National Energy Action about these energy price hikes on Wednesday 23rd Feb at 12 noon. The thread is now open for questions here.

I like gardening, have a lot of things to do it, and the time to do it. Even then I don't grow enough for our family.