[craggy]

Has anyone thought of trying to use only there own fruit and veg?

[Nikkithefoot]

Yes, that the whole point to all this growing..............isn't it?.

Own fruit and veg, own pickles, chutneys and jams from own produce, own eggs, if only I had enough room for a pig too.

[craggy]

Yes, that the whole point to all this growing..............isn't it?.

Own fruit and veg, own pickles, chutneys and jams from own produce, own eggs, if only I had enough room for a pig too.

Yes,but does anyone use ONLY there own?

[DD.]

Sadly there will never be enough space for all the peas.

[peapod]

Of course this could be possible, but not for everyone.  I have a large allotment for my family of five, but am still not self sufficient in everything I would like to be, such as spuds.

Part of it is a learning curve, such as how many to plants to grow to feed my hungry lot, but other factors are enough space and, indeed, time available.

I think most of us would like to be self-sufficient in an ideal world, but many love to grow veg as a hobby, and do not aim to be self sufficient, but just to enjoy the world of GYO

[craggy]

Of course this could be possible, but not for everyone.  I have a large allotment for my family of five, but am still not self sufficient in everything I would like to be, such as spuds.

Part of it is a learning curve, such as how many to plants to grow to feed my hungry lot, but other factors are enough space and, indeed, time available.

I think most of us would like to be self-sufficient in an ideal world, but many love to grow veg as a hobby, and do not aim to be self sufficient, but just to enjoy the world of GYO

But has anyone tried it?

[peapod]

Of course they have! This is an allotment site, with all kinds of shapes and sizes of families and growing areas.

Sorry craggy, I thought that would be rather obvious 

[craggy]

Of course they have! This is an allotment site, with all kinds of shapes and sizes of families and growing areas.

Sorry craggy, I thought that would be rather obvious 

Who has done it for a year?

[BostonInbred]

You need a smallholding, not an allotment, if you want to be totally self sufficient.

[mumofstig]

As Peapod says we all try  .....we eat well in the summer and freeze any excess as well as making jam and chutneys! But when you run out..........you run out to the shops

Can't do any more can you really ..or else starve

[peapod]

I disagree there Boston, in veg and fruit, it is possible to be self sufficient on an a good sized allotment - of course dependant on the choice of fruit and veg, and the size of the family.

 There's plenty of couples on our site who manage to grow enough for their own needs throughout the year in 'normal' fruit and veg

[digalotty]

nice idea but im sure everyone buys certain things, would be nice to know what products people are sufficiant in though

[peapod]

Off the top of my head, one couple are self in apples, plums, onions, spuds, cabbages, leeks, toms, chillies and others that I can;t think of right now.  They grow and store what they enjoy eating, and even have a couple of chooks for eggs.

I wish I could be that way, but Im way off getting rid of my kids. Then I would try (and fail) to be self sufficient in peas 

[DD.]

Seriously, I can do the whole year except peas, but including spuds. Peas would take up hell of a lot of room for what we would get through as fresh veg.

Soft fruit also no problem.

[peapod]

You donate a lot too Dave remember