Show me your brexit stockpiles cont...

[SparklySneakers]

A thread for sharing details of our stashes: what we have, what we need, good hiding places and all sorts of hints and tips to help prepare for shortages in the event of a no deal brexit.

I know someone who contacted the Idahoan potato people and no, only mash now in the UK. Not the lovely gratins which we have been enjoying.

That's what I thought. I'd developed a taste for the lovely bakes. They were perfect with a layer of kale and raw broccoli, add milk/water/butter and bake for an instant tea! I think I have one or two packs left - pretty sure they are slightly past the BBE date but no worries. They won't survive until Brexit anyway!

I have about 3 left. We've been having them with a piece of salmon or trout (whatever is on offer). I'm going to try to save them because they are freeze dried and vacuum sealed. But dh loves them.

The weather has really affected growing this year. Loads of us on an allotment Facebook group have struggled with germination and then slow-growing. Plenty of people are also having issues with their runner beans flowers not then 'setting' a bean. I've not paid much attention to mine (I spend too long training the damn things up the poles to then check out what's going on, bean-wise).

Carrots are my problem veg this year as something keeps eating the bloody things.

Sometimes it's easier to accept that it's going to be a poor year and move on. Maybe see what you can still plant to get crops later on (carrots, potatoes, runner beans, parsnip, beetroot etc). You'll be able to grow something, once you have the energy.

@NoWordForFluffy , I agree. I'm trying to focus on what I can make a success of this year.

Interestingly, my previously sceptical dh - he was sceptical until about a year ago - has actually initiated conversations about restocking the buffer of food we have.

Thanks.

Ds Has been tricky and my body is having a go slow. This week is going to be another busy week. Sports day, three performances and two parties.

This time of year and Christmas are insanely busy if you've primary-aged kids.

I hope you feel better soon @BlackeyedGruesome.

Ain't that true Fluffy - I need to be in school Tuesday afternoon , Tuesday evening, Wednesday morning, Wednesday evening and Thursday morning this week, luckily I have very understanding employer!

Might as well just move in, Dontlick!

DD seems to have moved into school. She has spent more time in school than at home these past three days, three days in school longer than 12 hours. 53 hours in school/ school trip this week. And she has missed 2.5 days of lessons...

I came on to say I am still keeping things stocked up... Currently jeans from the charity shop in the next size, and a Christmas present for ds.

Hi, can I intrude on your thread please and ask for help.

I'm thinking of getting a mini stockpile together. I've made a list of first aid items which are low, so will top that up. Grocery wise, I thought I'd double up on a few items a week, this week washing up liquid, packet coucous, nuts. A bit nearer doublecheck on how much pasta, rice, tinned tomatoes and pulses I've got as I can cunjure up anything with those for a meal and we use a lot anyway.

I guess I'd be stockpiling so I've got things in when others are panic buying and so I don't run out of things that are likely to come from abroad. Any advice? Which items might be limited coming into this country? What might I overlook?

Does anyone think pet food might be an issue? My two eat produced manufactured in the UK, but I don't know where ingredients come from. They'll be hell to play if I can't buy normal requirements for my fussy pair!

Just focus on having a buffer of what you like to eat or can tolerate that is shelf stable. Or freezable if you have the room. Same with pet food. If your pet has a particular preference for something (I know that they can be capricious little beggars) , get a bit extra.
No one has infinite space or infinite money.
Think about treats to cheer everyone up. As it's heading to Christmas (sorry) , maybe think about that.

What is it that you need to function daily?

I need coffee with milk at breakfast... Stocked up on milk powder and coffee.

Ds is partial to shreddies and Kellogg's cornflakes... Stash of those.

There will be a stash of soya milk for DD. Just using up the old first.

Ds will eat his tea at breakfast so managing without fresh milk sometimes is ok.

Think what your must haves are,
what will make meals taste nice, ( herbs spices, sauces, garlic... Anchovies, capers... Etc)
What are your work arounds for lack of a specific fresh ingredient.
If you need a specific shake of purple hair dye or only one brand of deodorant does not give you a migraine etc... prioritise those.

My runner beans have simply not 'run' at all! Three varieties and all stubbornly still less than a foot tall. I am not impressed with them, and usually runners are easy to grow here. Tomatoes are coming on really well, have a bumper crop of raspberries (dry spell is suiting them) and the potatoes and sweet potatoes are all doing well. Carrots I planted late so still no sign, cucamelons (first time for those) seem to be settling in well. Everything's in pots of various sizes on the patio (apart from berries) so I'm not going to have vast quantities but hopefully some nice nibbles and fresh salad stuff. I'm also trying Tiger nuts for the first time (should produce loads of tiny tubers in autumn).

@CrunchyCarrot, beans are causing real issues this year, apparently. Mine are mostly OK (though no actual beans other than broad yet), but loads of people are struggling.

Have you used any feed? It might perk them up!

Fluffy There are some of those food fertiliser thingies in the compost so that ought to have done the job. Really I think I'm going to evict them and plant a new variety of broad beans that are autumn fruiting, am just waiting on the seeds to arrive.

I guess it can't be a good season for everything all at once! At least far fewer slugs, normally we are heaving with them.

I’m sorry to hear about the beans but relieved too. My vegetable plot has been dire this year but I blamed the poor soil and bad light. I have lots of red flowers on my runner beans but so far no beans.

My total crop this year has been 2 mangetout pods, 5 baby courgettes and some herbs.

My veg plot has also been dire.

We've had an excellent crop of peas, and the tomatoes are looking good. But our dwarf french beans are being really slow this year - not sure we're going to get much of a harvest from them.

DD managed to grow 1 pea. We are going to plant the seed.

That is one pod with one seed.

Just harvested a load of raspberries from a fairly untamed raspberry corner of my tiny garden - also where the red currants are for a dollop of jelly on the Christmas table. Only real success this year (other factors in play which messed up my gardening plans).
I am going to dehydrate the raspberries to put on cereal when it gets colder. If they survive my tasting session, that is. .
Also have a handful of strawberries that I didn't expect and some spuds for tea. Again bad timing for a bad year but hey ho, that's gardening. Still have some dehydrated spinach and kale from last year for winter soups.

Does dehydration retain the vitamins?