Prepping For Pandemic..... 11

[ItsNotJustTheFuckingFlu]

Thread 11.

This prepping for a pandemic pack was posted one one of the previous threads, I thought I’d post for this thread as there’s more people joining the threads. I had a quick scan through the last couple of thread to find a list that’s been posted a few times but couldn’t find it. The pack seems a bit end of days in some parts buts it’s got some useful ideas.

Pandemic Preparedness Pack

The Emotional Prep thread started by @Neome might be worth a look for those of us feeling anxious as things ramp up.

Emotional Prep Thread

Also attached a screenshot of a post on previous threads by @blackeyesusan (hope you don’t mind) with storage ideas for those of us living in smaller homes.

I've been lurking but have been building up a small safety net of essentials for about a year now - dried foods, tins, full freezer, booze, chocs, cleaning products, water etc.
I'm interested in starting some veg seeds too. I've got some flower seeds started but priorities may need to be adjusted a little. I have plenty of space for pots but not much ground that isn't already taken.
Got some bean seeds that could be started soon, and plan for some tomatoes and maybe a courgette. They are very easy. I'm up north so will probably do them in the conservatory - tomatoes failed last time I tried outdoors, even in a sheltered south facing spot.

Hi

I have question: for those of you who bake, do you use a bread maker or do it manually? I bought the ingredients for bread, but, I have not actually baked a loaf since Home Economics several -years- decades ago.

This evening I need to defrost my freezer - if I do it late it should be cold enough to pop the food outside and not worry about it defrosting.

I used to poo poo a breadmaker. I was wrong. They are fab. I tell myself I can make bread from scratch but assuming the power is on (fully expect it to be at the mo), it's a worthwhile investment.

Just visiting - I am no expert but I've been baking my own breads at home manually.
I literally google a recipe and go from there.

More coffee I'd be interested.

The only thing that put me off gardening is bloody cats from are shitting in it

Moon light

Our home made bread always seems to sense and tough, any ideas where we are going wrong?

A preppers gardening thread would be good. I experimented a lot last year. The most successful thing were runner beans in a pot.

hankyspanky A year ago (with a No Deal Bxt in mind) I started growing a few crops. I have a very small garden, facing north east which is now mainly wild life welcoming, so not much free space at ground level. I bought three raised frames, biggest only 4ft long, and narrow, but did very well in those with rocket and perpetual spinach.

I also grew radishes and cut and come again lettuce quite thickly (any excuse to avoid thinning out seedlings!) in a couple of old expanded polystyrene boxes and discovered that fresh radish leaves make a lovely crisp addition to salads and I actually preferred those to the actual radish!

I've found from past experience that any old seed from a shop bought tomato will grow successfully. I did buy Sweet Million tomato seeds last year though, and a larger variety, and in the end had sixteen(!!!) healthy plants to plant out in any spare ground. They did well although planted late. Those that didn't ripen off I froze either whole or sliced to use as fried some time.

I also grew some amazing large crisp peashoots indoors in a shallow tray with compost, from a cheap pack of 'Bigga' dried peas from Tesco, placing them about 1" apart from each other - I got about three crops from each sowing.

I read about overwintering kale, and as long as it germinates before the frosts, and it doesn't go below -5' without protection (fleece will do) it should have a head start come spring. I didn't sow mine until the first week in November, which was a month after the recommended time but now have a lot of healthy 'spare' seedlings, and 16 plants doing well and spaced out in the 4ft frame.

You can buy parsley and other herbs from supermarkets and repot and even split them further - parsley and mint and chives do well that way.

I live on my own and have a few mobility and visual problems and maybe my plans woudn't suit anyone wanting a bigger yield, but what began as an experiment has fired me to try growing other things this year in addition. I started this because I couldn't bear the thought that fresh veg might become unavailable, and had the added bonus of amazing flavours and a healthy new interest. And I learned to be more relaxed about the whole thing than I was when I began... it's very therapeutic.

For anyone who wants to experiment but thinks they lack space and experience, I'd say just go for it - there's loads of info on the internet about gardening in small and awkward spaces.

Just keep in mind that if you want your plants to feed you, you have to feed them first

I have just been looking at walnut trees but I dont think they would like our soil.

Hi! What is a good place to start?? I kind of regret us not being more prepared now. We did start a small Brexit stockpile but then as we went into the transition phase and DD came off formula and onto cows milk we mostly let that elapse and used it...we have just started to gather things again but I'm worried we are leaving it too late...

I don't even know how much stuff we would need? What is worst case scenario? There is me and DH (young and no medical issues), and toddler DC. What is the longest time we would potentially all end up stuck at home for?

Some advice if anyone is able to please.

I’ve got a shop sitting in my basket that will cover enough food for 3 (smaller than usual) meals a day (with some snacks) for 32 days should our area go into lock down in the coming days/weeks.

It will leave me with no disposable income for the next week-10 days, literally nothing.

Would you do it?

(Also is it even enough really?)

JustVisiting9 I have a bread maker (had it for years, not a prepping buy) and it is so easy to use. Put the ingredients in (in the correct order) and press the buttons. The best brand to buy is Panasonic.

What is the longest time we would potentially all end up stuck at home for?

I don't think anyone knows this. But in China there are still restrictions weeks later. That doesn''t however mean that you need 2 months of food and essential supplies. I'd start with a 2 week supply of essentials. At this stage unfortunately lots of people are panic buying.

@PinkyU

No I wouldn't. It isn't sensible to leave yourself with no money. Reduce the amount you have in the basket. You really only need essentials.

@HasaDigaEebowai I’ve had my basket sitting since the start of the week and rejigged it to within an inch of its life but I guess I could be missing non essentials, I’ll have another look through, thank you.

Please factor in (apologies if you have already thought of this) if you are stuck at home it might be because you are ill and then you won't want to much if anything to eat. You will need lots of fluid so think about squash, disolvable vitamin tablets, herbal tea etc.

On the breadmaker question, we had one for years and used it at weekends loads, then it broke and I wasn't bothered because I'm perfectly capable of making my own from scratch. However, we bought a new one last week because DH pointed out that, if we get ill we're not going to be up for kneading and waiting etc so we bought a new one. Funnily enough when I went in to get it (from argos, cheapest source), the store was totally empty and the three women serving all exclaimed "what is it with the breadmakers at the moment that's the 4th this morning?". I was a bit embarrassed but said "it's probably the corona thing". They seemed shocked. Anyway, seems like a few people have been planning ahead.

I think some people might say gardening suits it’s own thread but I think it suits the vibe of their all encompassing, calming thread if not taking it over.

I find this thread really useful as a one stop shop for info which isn’t out of hand and still calm.

Jumpingintotheabyss - The only thing that put me off gardening is bloody cats from are shitting in it

Ahem! I didn't see your post until mine was up shortly after, but should mention after 20yrs of cat free neighbours there are now TWO young cats living next door who think my garden is far more interesting than their own... I worked out that 2 cats shitting in mine once a day would probably yield 730 little piles, though hopefully they'll discover sites further afield as they get older (only about 6mos old I think so far!) or I might drown in the stuff.

I've also had the distressing problem of having to remove all blackbird and other nesting sites by taking out my 30yr old jasmine which was growing next to the house wall, and the ivy on the shed... last year I had at least three broods of blackbirds using the garden as a safe nursery for months, and I couldn't bear to see it otherwise.

I've also had to work out ways of defending my vegetable areas from decimation...

However, I am working on it and have trained the cats so well that I only have to appear at a window and they run for the fence, where they do a kind of reverse abseil and then perch innocently on the top; I walk up the path and just silently stare them out until they decide they're better off their own side - and that's a game I always win! Won't stop them coming in when I'm not there though, which is why I've had to be pro-active in defending my realm.

I used to have cats myself in the past so maybe Karma is paying me a visit

SO many typos!

@PinkyU you don't need 32 days' of stuff though and you don't need snacks

Most people will have enough for a couple of weeks.

Just received a smear test result and I have to go for laser treatment in 3 weeks.
It's not serious cell changes but it's been there for 3 years now and they want to remove it.
I dread to think of the situation in 3 weeks time.

I almost went shopping again today, but decided to check my stocks first. I'm almost out of teabags (we're a coffee house, so it's really only for guests) and have used a few tins of peas and sweetcorn, but really, we're okay. I am stopping here, with maybe the ocassional top up of things we've used. I'm glad I don't now feel I have to go out and be part of any panic buying that's going on.

We have a couple of raised beds in the garden, but our cat uses them as her litter trays, so we only usually grow flowers in them. I'm not very green fingered. Can anyone suggest any cat proof veggies that are really hard to kill?

@lexloofah and others doing gardening - Dh is not into gardening very much but I’m the one who does a little bit at home every spring. This time I wanted to create a veg patch but because of certain conditions (ear balance issues I can’t bend and lift my head or shift quickly as it makes me dizzy) I can do only raised planters. I have a north facing garden and I also have a medium sized front garden which is on the south. (We have couple of fruit trees to the side) but what I’ wondering is will it look awkward if I grow my veg in the front garden as it gets more sunlight than the back garden.. it’s cul de sac but I’m worrying that people shouldn’t think I am mad to plant the veggies in front garden as it will be highly visible and can also be taken away. What y’all think? Or just have them in plant pots and move them around the sunlight? Also doing a click and collect at the garden centre to minimise exposure so dh can go pick it up (thought I can go but dd wants to tag along which isn’t a good idea I think)

Sorry to hear that, ofwarren. It cannot be easy to have weigh decisions about treatment for existing conditions against the risk of exposure from that treatment.