What Preps are you doing this week

[jansman]

My nan used to do this(she didn't have a freezer)They need a good soaking before use she tells me.We will see.

[Brambling01]

I am also going to try SALTING runner beans rather than freezing.Let you know how that works.

That takes me back! My mum used to salt down beans. They were known as summer in a jar in our house.
I did some a couple years ago. Not sure whether it's Rose tinted Specs syndrome, but they didn't taste anywhere near as nice as my Mums!

[Ogre]

Putting in a 4m x 3m potting shed for the missus. This involves dropping the garden at one end of the shed by over 2ft. Not used to this.....

[preppingsu]

Just made 16 paper logs (with a log maker we've had for a couple of years). Used up two black bin liners full of shredded paper that OH acquired from somewhere.
I shall try one out when they are dry and if they work well then OH will be 'acquiring' some more shredded paper so I can make lots more for the winter.

[jansman]

Just made 16 paper logs (with a log maker we've had for a couple of years). Used up two black bin liners full of shredded paper that OH acquired from somewhere.
I shall try one out when they are dry and if they work well then OH will be 'acquiring' some more shredded paper so I can make lots more for the winter.

How easy are those logmakers to use?

[preppingsu]

Just made 16 paper logs (with a log maker we've had for a couple of years). Used up two black bin liners full of shredded paper that OH acquired from somewhere.
I shall try one out when they are dry and if they work well then OH will be 'acquiring' some more shredded paper so I can make lots more for the winter.

How easy are those logmakers to use?

Just need some brute strength. Shredded paper soaked in water, placed into metal frame, handles push down squeeezing the water out so you end up with a solid block which just needs being left to dry.
We did try with newspaper as they suggest but it didn't work so well, the shredded paper so far looks OK. Will be interesting to see how long they burn.
By the end of doing 16 my hands were hurting and I started to use a broom handle across the metal handles to push down.

[pseudonym]

After being defeated at B&Q's, popped into B&M and got some cracklelogs and some foil pouched potato/ham and onion for LTS.

[diamond lil]

Su, we tried them many years ago and it was more bother than its worth really..

[jansman]

Your description is vivid!It sounds like hard work.

[bic1]

Your description is vivid!It sounds like hard work.

It is hard work! I make about 150 to 180 a year,we save all the papers threw the winter then around May I spend a few hours a day making logs,in good weather they take five or six weeks to dry, then we store them in the shed for the winter.

Over the years I have worked out a good system and so long as you don't over do it and bore yourself to death and you can also save a few bob.

Paper logs don't burn like coal or wood but they are good for keeping the fire going threw the night with the dampers closed, then you will go down to a nice warm room on a cold winters morning.