Reindeer Food - do people really buy it?

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

We have a Christmas Fair next week at our community centre and looking for fundraising ideas. Is this just a 'London thing' or does the whole glittery oats thing make any money?

And do you have to have a poem?

Our lot are doing it too. Seems like a bloody stupid idea to me. Particularly as we are a rural school, if you sprinkle it around you will get rats.

my brother got some last year for my children

someone forgot to go out and sweep it all up. cue ds1 wailing all morning because the reindeer hadn't eaten the bloody food

Can I post?

Sorry, was just testing as my post on the pedlars thread isn't working. I don't know but I think it's quite sweet (a little pile in the fireplace isn't going to attract rats is it?)

We buy it. Our local social club makes it. All proceeds go to the local hospice in honour of a much loved member of the club who died of cancer when she was very young.

Ladybiscuit - you've clearly never seen Cotswold rats, they will scale your house just to get down the chimney to the food

Besides don't you feel sorry for Father Christmas having to clear up all that glittery shit?

wmmc - I think the seagulls here probably eat the rats before they have a chance :(

Reindeer food?

Do people not just put out a few carrots?

I don't buy it i make it

Ladybiscuit - does that mean when the gulls poo on you, it's festive ?

I was concerned about eco credentials too - I mean, is glitter bio-degradable?

Carrots here too.

It's always nibbled in the morning. [indigestion emoticon]

Santa's Bailey's is always polished off though.

Glitter tends to be made of zinc which is of course natural and yet is not meant to be chucked about willy nilly. And is not ideal to be inhaled either.

I think I'll stick to chutney... Reindeer usually eat carrots at our house too. I remain convinced that REindeer Food is a 'MN Thing' not a RL thing.

My DC don't even believe in FC - they are 4 and 2. I think they were born cynical actually.

At work last yr we had little sachets that could be bought, suggested donations to a charity i think? Look out for them in shops and post offices etc on the counter....?

Yep, sells like hotcakes, bag of oats and a bit of glitter t'is all it is

Mine are 4 and 2 and the older one believes, taking as his reference work: Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs. DD is just a bit bewildered...

We have sprinkled it out in the back garden that last few years - if you wanted to be a bit more environmentally friendly you could use sugar sprinkles (you can get glittery ones) instead of glitter - safer for the birds anyway! We also leave a carrot for them

load of wank imo

I make them

I have a poem, but it's not posting for some reason, I will keep trying

On Christmas Eve, before you sleep,
Step outside and take a peek.
Can you see them? Are they near?
If you don't think so ... have no fear!
Out on the lawn do this simple deed:
Sprinkle this packet of special feed.
The glow of the stardust,
The smell of the oats,
Will draw to your house
Those special folks.
They can't miss you now,
There's nothing to fear.
This mixture will draw Santa
And his famous reindeer.

I don't make mine with glitter. Get some sugar and put some food colouring in it. Then mix with oats. Every year I get asked by the school to make some. I put it in celophane bags with nice ribbon. Think they sell it for 50p each or something - so good return on investment. I do a red batch and a green batch and put them in big baskets, and the kids go round the hall selling it.

Oh course we buy it Rhinestone, but we have a real live reindeer to feed

I think I prefer the dyed sugar idea TeeBee. Some good (reindeer) food for thought, thanks all