self sufficency

Teabag · « **on:** June 17, 2008, 19:23 »

My plot is approx 8yards wide by about 60yards long,i have cleared about ten yards into it so far and planted runners,sprouts ,savoys and purple sprouting just to get things started,i wondered if a plot of this size would be able to keep two of us in veg and some fruit all year round.At this time most of it is covered in brambles ,but i think i have been lucky to get a plot of this size,still pondering on whether to cut all the bramles down now or wait to pick the blackberries from it .

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2008, 19:29 »

That's a big plot Teabag. I think you should be able to grow enough not to need to buy anything. Have you got a big freezer ?

Teabag · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2008, 19:34 »

will have to get one aunt sally,and thinking about it it must be nearer 100yards long !

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2008, 19:51 »

mine's 30ft x 45ft. and I buy no veg from June till Christmas (slight exaggeration there

)

Not much room for fruit though.

poultrygeist · « **Reply #4 on:** June 17, 2008, 19:54 »

Have you considered just living off the blackberries ?

I hear they're nice with dumplings and gravy :roll:

Wasn't there a WW2 directive that suggested an area per person ?

Rob

camster_factor · « **Reply #5 on:** June 17, 2008, 20:14 »

There are some PDFs of the WWII Dig For Victory literature linked on this page:

http://www.earthlypursuits.com/allotguide/allotguide.htm

Not sure if there's something in there that suggests optimum plot sizes for self-sufficiency (but even if not, they make for a great read! :~)

gobs · « **Reply #6 on:** June 17, 2008, 20:25 »

Quote from: "Aunt Sally"

I think you should be able to grow enough not to need to buy anything. Have you got a big freezer ?

Very much so, a bit of planning only.

compostqueen · « **Reply #7 on:** June 17, 2008, 23:34 »

save some brambles and replant in a more convenient place at the edge of the plot. I think they taste far better than the ones out the gardening catalogues. I paid a tenner for a posh blackberry and the fruit tastes awful

GreenOwl · « **Reply #8 on:** June 18, 2008, 14:10 »

Quote from: "Teabag"

...still pondering on whether to cut all the bramles down now or wait to pick the blackberries from it .

Are they fruiting brambles? Mine never seem to be.

I'd be tempted to get clearing and go pick blackberries elsewhere. The sooner you clear it the sooner you can grow other stuff and blackberries can usually be found easily enough.

poultrygeist · « **Reply #9 on:** June 18, 2008, 19:19 »

Do brambles fruit on last year's wood ?

ie. You have to let it grow for a 2nd year to reap the rewards, meanwhile it's taken over half your plot !!

Rob :roll:

DD. · « **Reply #10 on:** June 18, 2008, 20:21 »

My mother has one. I have to cut the damn thing back every Autumn and then go to A & E.

It certainly fruits on the same year's growth.

self sufficency

poultrygeist

poultrygeist