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Preppers

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Prepping for a pandemic... 13

999 replies

FuckThisWind · 11/03/2020 06:09

Sorry I couldn't find a new thread. If there is one already, I'll have this deleted.

Will get links etc brought over from last thread too.

OP posts:
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16
Mum2jenny · 11/03/2020 20:27

Sprayitall chocolate? Or a decent book?

Sprayitall · 11/03/2020 20:28

I’m just thinking of all the students.. GCSE’s and uni are already stressful.. you talk about mental health of students but don’t do anything about that?? Makes me fume. I see no future in this country and no support for young minds

Sprayitall · 11/03/2020 20:28

@Mum2jenny chocolates - diabetic,. But books - yessss

VenetoResident · 11/03/2020 20:29

@Where'smymojo

None yesterday as they didn't report any. Logistical issues. I will double check and try to find the numbers.

They just announced that the prime minister is going to announce new measures tonight @ 10.40pm UK time

Currently:

Can you share any more info about the practicalities of the lockdown in Italy...?

Are you allowed to leave your home? For what? Any necessity, work, medical trip, shopping, caring duties...

Can people who are not diagnosed and with no symptoms go to the park (just as an example)? Yes. Locally. No problem at all. Keep 1m away from non household members.

Snugglepumpkin · 11/03/2020 20:31

The most failsafe things I grow are blueberries (I have half a dozen bushes now but have had fruit from them from the first year although it wasn't all that much.
We now get enough to stuff our faces, make jam etc... & freeze enough for the rest of the year as the bushes are bigger.
Very low maintenance.

Raspberries are prolific croppers as well which seem to increase year on year.

Strawberries - mine are in self watering towers (sadly quite expensive) & I move them into the unheated greenhouse for the winter.
I have strawberries cropping from around Easter this way through to Nov/Dec depending on the weather.
If you remember to poke the little shoots into the earth you will be able to at least double your plants for the next year & always have younger plants as the oldest ones ideally need replacing every few years.
It is worth getting a better variety than the ones you get in Wilko or Lidl sort of places.
Cambridge Favourite (type of strawberry) are one of my personal favourites.

Grapes seem to grow like weeds if you are in the warmer parts of the country.
I have a vine in the greenhouse because I get an earlier start & longer fruit producing season that way.
Don't know how they would fare in the midlands or above.

Don't just grow vegetables, fruit can make all the difference to a bland or monotonous diet.

Peppers - I grow mine inside on the kitchen windowsill then if I remember put them in the greenhouse in the summer.
Sometimes I just leave them in the house as they never get any bugs etc... if I do that.
You just have to remember to pollinate them if they are inside.

Courgettes - these are lunatic plants once they get going.
One day there is a giant yellow flower, couple of days later it is a courgette. You pick it then suddenly find there are more flowers.
It's like the more you pick the more grow.
We get to a point every year when I uproot the plants because we can't bear to eat any more courgette even in cake & nobody else will take them off you either.
I grow mine in pots as they seem to do much better a bit off the ground.
I say pots, I mean those cheap black buckets you buy for a pound or two in a diy/household sort of shop to wash the car etc...
I just poke holes in the bottom with a heated bradawl or drill a hole if the drill is out.

Leeks.
We still have leeks in the garden because there are only so many you can eat before people start complaining it's leeks again.
I must remember to go pull them, clean them & freeze them later.

Most salad is easy to grow so things like spring onions, come & cut again leaves etc... are a good idea too.

I grow a lot of other stuff but these have always seemed to be the lowest maintenance, easiest to grow to me.

Neome · 11/03/2020 20:32

No worries if homesteading thread not needed and apologies if unhelpful. I find these threads brilliant and wouldn’t want to split, it’s just an option for those who do have the time or inclination 🌿

lachy · 11/03/2020 20:32

@Sprayitall, you're right. COVID-19 is going to have a significant impact on our young people, especially if the government don't take sensible action (which, I think we can all agree they aren't)

Mum2jenny · 11/03/2020 20:32

Sprayitall I thought you could get chocolate suitable for diabetics, like the very dark choc with high cocoa. Bit of a bugger if you can’t though as chocolate is the best option.

VenetoResident · 11/03/2020 20:33

@Where'smymojo

None yesterday as they didn't report any. Logistical issues. I will double check and try to find the numbers.

They just announced that the prime minister is going to announce new measures tonight @ 10.40pm UK time

Currently:

Can you share any more info about the practicalities of the lockdown in Italy...?

Are you allowed to leave your home? For what? Any necessity, work, medical trip, shopping, caring duties...

Can people who are not diagnosed and with no symptoms go to the park (just as an example)? Yes. Locally. No problem at all. Keep 1m away from non household members.

@FuckThisWind 😭😭😰

sideorderofchips · 11/03/2020 20:33

Second case now in jersey.

lexloofah · 11/03/2020 20:35

yours radish, spring onions, lettuce, parsley all easy to grow in pots, shallow grow sacks or small raised bed. You can get plug plant lettuce now which gives a head start then sow some seeds to be ready later on

We had great success with potatoes in sacks last year, get seed potatoes now but dont plant yet, chit them first, lots of you tube vids on this

We have got in more bags of compost, always seem to need way more than we think we will filling pots and topping up the beds and don't have enough homemade yet

TipseyTorvey · 11/03/2020 20:37

@Neomi honestly I am loving the homestead stuff as well so all good together on one thread. Planning a trip to the garden centre tomorrow to at least stock up on all the herbs if not a few bergonias to cheer me up if we're locked down.

MrsWhites · 11/03/2020 20:40

Good thinking by whoever mentioned books! Definitely going to pick up a couple of new reads next time I’m out!

A parent at my daughters school has been referred for testing this evening. My daughter was with the child today so fingers crossed it’s a negative result!

VenetoResident · 11/03/2020 20:41

@Wheresmymojo - look here

twitter.com/viralrna/status/1237815006646992896?s=21

Snugglepumpkin · 11/03/2020 20:42

@Neome
What subject matter supposed to be on the Homesteading thread?

Readyme · 11/03/2020 20:43

@Snugglepumpkin oh thank you for the reminder about Blueberries and raspberry bushes. I totally forgot to order mine despite clearning a space for them! There was a few ornamental bushes I wanted but right now I feel all resources should be put towards more useful plants.

Sprayitall · 11/03/2020 20:49

Where do you all order your gardening things online or should I pop in to B&Q for this?

Blueberryham · 11/03/2020 20:50

Has anyone considered buying an oxygen concentrator? Are these something a lay person could manage to operate? Considering for asthmatics

KimonoKim · 11/03/2020 20:51

I honestly thought today would be the turning point to make the government kick into action. I live 350 miles away from family, some of whom are classed as vulnerable if when they catch the virus.

Feeling angry, useless and very anxious

I've decided to go and have a walk on the beach tomorrow to clear my head and calm my mind.... with my waterproofs on obvs

Mum2jenny · 11/03/2020 20:52

How do oxygen concentrators work? Do you need anything else for them like tubes, consumables etc

AmelieTaylor · 11/03/2020 20:53

@BlackeyedSusan*

soap works on skin it will work on lots of other surfaces.

I disagree with this- my understanding is..

Soap and water works in your skin because it loosens the oils & dirt & old skin etc which the CV is attached to, then the water washes it off along with the oils & debris. Lots of running water. You can’t have a lot of water washing it away on surfaces and other things around the house.

If you can’t wash something under running water, you need to use a chemical that will destroy the virus. The 4 products Dettol have advised, Miltons & IPA/high alcohol based cleaners.

It is also better for paintwork than antibac. Antibac works as a very slow paint stripper bubbling the paint.

They’re not all ‘anti bac’ products and frankly, even if they were it’s the very least of my worries right now.

I have ‘underlying health issues’ as many of my family & friends do. As do many
people on here - & the general public. As far as the Govt are concerned right now. The narrative of ‘old people with underlying issues’ are the ones dying, it suits their narrative - it makes people do the ‘oh not me then’ - no need to take it seriously 🤷🏻‍♀️

Not getting at you, I just don’t think it’s right & would hate peoples to think they’re protecting themselves when they’re not.

I’m also happy to be corrected too.

Sprayitall · 11/03/2020 20:53

The editor in chief of lancet’s tweet - twitter.com/richardhorton1/status/1237282270685380613?s=21

VenetoResident · 11/03/2020 20:53

Local hospital maternity department - fathers are not allowed in the hospital at all: to drop off wives, attend the birth or be with mother and baby after the birth.

Not great if you're over here with the military and don't speak the language. 😢 A lot of the American families live close together and don't mix much with the local community picking up the language as they go. Imagine being in for several days for an induction or c/s.

Aessedaioftarvalon · 11/03/2020 20:56

Would appear our school trust is preparing for online learning. Pupils being asked if they access to PC's and WiFi/broadband.

It's the first time there has been even the vague notion that schools may close. Maybe they have heard something?