What preps are you doing this week? Part 3.

[Djorn]

Hi Preppers,

Been doing some work around the gardens this weekend, very nice weather in Scotland for a change. Amazing the amount of winter damage that needed clearing up. Anyways the Greenhouse is prepped and many of the younglings are beginning to sprout and as Scottish growing seasons are about 3-4 weeks behind the rest of the UK I was happy to see them. Due to my location I am blessed with loads of havestable kelp, I have found a few uses for it.

1, Boil it gently for about 5-10 mins or until tender, slice up into strips and add to rice, beans and some onions.

2, Add the chilled boiled kelp to smoothies for an extra healthy kick, just don't add to much as it reacts like a geling agent.

3, Take a big bag full and dry it out in front of your fire (like making jerky) the scent of the loch is amazing. when dried out I break it up and pop it into my coffee grinder. Put the powered kelp into an empty milk container and fill with Water. Give a good shake and feed your plants. I have two test subjet Tomato plants, hopefully it will yeild increased results.

The other method is to just chop up the kelp in fork it directly into the soil.

We have managed to feed to the fire pretty much over the winter with drift wood, plan to start storing drift wood for next winter season.

Well thats me, thanks for reading.

Dj

[Arzosah]

Djom, thanks for that! The nearest source of seaweed for me is the English channel, and I don't think I'd use anything from there to eat, though forking it into the soil would be great.

As well as continuing to declutter to store preps more efficiently, as well as make myself more mobile, I'm also now using supplements to try to improve my health, mainly a simple vitamin boost for Vitamin D.

Trying to finish off the long-lost rocket stove, but I need my tinsnips - decluttering hasn't spread to this area, and I can't find them I have some stay at home holiday later this month, and I'll definitely be using it to sort out some tech and DIY stuff.

And just to set things in perspective ... I'm in the middle of trying to arrange a visit to a hospice later this week, to say goodbye to a friend. Sh*t happens in all sorts of ways.

[Djorn]

Sorry to hear about your friend Arzosah.

I use a whole fruit juicer for my added vits, Spinach, rocket, pear, carrot and beetroot. Throw in a handful of pepper for a wee kick and knock it back, great way to get the 5 a day into your system. The added bonus is the pulp can again be forked directly into the ground.

Peace favour your days.

Dj

[Decaff]

Sorry for your news Arzosah, I hope you get to say your goodbyes to your friend.

[Briggs 2.0]

This weekend it's do or die, quite literally, for my IBC aquaponics testbed as I'm planning on introducing the first of my fish stock. My broccoli seedlings are coming along quite nicely and they will be my trial vegetable. Other than that, I've not been prepping much at all, I seem to have lost the enthusiasm for it. I need a good kick up the a*se.

[Decaff]

This weekend it's do or die, quite literally, for my IBC aquaponics testbed as I'm planning on introducing the first of my fish stock. My broccoli seedlings are coming along quite nicely and they will be my trial vegetable. Other than that, I've not been prepping much at all, I seem to have lost the enthusiasm for it. I need a good kick up the a*se.

I will put my size 3 boots on and give you a good kick it will only smart for a minute or two due to the small size but hey, glad to help you out

[Arzosah]

Thank Djorn, thanks Decaff. The visit is proving as complicated as I thought it would be, and I may not get to see her after all, I just have a hunch. I've been known to be too pessimistic tho

[Briggs 2.0]

This weekend it's do or die, quite literally, for my IBC aquaponics testbed as I'm planning on introducing the first of my fish stock. My broccoli seedlings are coming along quite nicely and they will be my trial vegetable. Other than that, I've not been prepping much at all, I seem to have lost the enthusiasm for it. I need a good kick up the a*se.

I will put my size 3 boots on and give you a good kick it will only smart for a minute or two due to the small size but hey, glad to help you out

Preparing for the worst, I've changed my avatar.

I've been holding off adding the fish because I'm not 100% sure it's ready and the collective knowledge of the intertube leaves me confused and none the wiser. My system is working mechanically with water pumping and siphoning but at the moment it's inert, just plain old rainwater going round and around through a clay pebble grow bed. I'm looking for the right product to add which will kick-start the bacteria necessary to break down the fish waste into plant nutrients. Chicken or egg first? Do I add plants first and feed them with seaweed extract plant food then add the fish, or do I add the fish and wait for bacteria to grow in my grow bed so that the plants can grow and prosper. I've been twisting my melon trying to get the answer and while I've been typing this I think the only way forward is trial and error. So, here's the plan: Add seaweed extract plant food to the lower tank. Let that circulate. Check the water quality. Add a few fish. Add a few plants. check water quality. Repeat.

What's the worst that can happen, it's not like it can catch fire, is it? If it all goes boobs up I'll let you all know.

[Deeps]

This weekend it's do or die, quite literally, for my IBC aquaponics testbed as I'm planning on introducing the first of my fish stock. My broccoli seedlings are coming along quite nicely and they will be my trial vegetable. Other than that, I've not been prepping much at all, I seem to have lost the enthusiasm for it. I need a good kick up the a*se.

I will put my size 3 boots on and give you a good kick it will only smart for a minute or two due to the small size but hey, glad to help you out

Preparing for the worst, I've changed my avatar.

I've been holding off adding the fish because I'm not 100% sure it's ready and the collective knowledge of the intertube leaves me confused and none the wiser. My system is working mechanically with water pumping and siphoning but at the moment it's inert, just plain old rainwater going round and around through a clay pebble grow bed. I'm looking for the right product to add which will kick-start the bacteria necessary to break down the fish waste into plant nutrients. Chicken or egg first? Do I add plants first and feed them with seaweed extract plant food then add the fish, or do I add the fish and wait for bacteria to grow in my grow bed so that the plants can grow and prosper. I've been twisting my melon trying to get the answer and while I've been typing this I think the only way forward is trial and error. So, here's the plan: Add seaweed extract plant food to the lower tank. Let that circulate. Check the water quality. Add a few fish. Add a few plants. check water quality. Repeat.

What's the worst that can happen, it's not like it can catch fire, is it? If it all goes boobs up I'll let you all know.

Pretty impressive though mate, it sounds like some set up. I'm curious to know how it goes, not that I'll be trying it but I'm a bit fascinated by it all.

[Catweazle]

Perhaps you could look at the methods used to start a tropical fish tank. It's a long time ago, but I remember letting the water circulate for a while to allow a start for algae, then adding the plants and some plant food, and finally adding fish some months later. It worked well, and I was giving away guppies as fast at I could until I got some silver sharks to eat the excess fry.