[Samantha]

Hi there

My name is Samantha and I am a mother of two adorable? kids Emma 11 and James 8. At present I am in the process of clearing out my rather large gardens which seems to be something akin to battling an ancient war against the god of thistles and brambles. It's slow progress but progress none the less the plan is to set up raised beds, I have planted a few fruit trees last year and next year hopefully a polytunnel. I have 3 dogs, 2 cats, 2 ferrets and 2 horses and most of my friends refer to me as Mrs Noah lol.

I love to make things and do all sorts of crafts, embroidery, sewing, basket weaving... the list goes on lol. Cooking is also a passion of mine and I love being in the kitchen particularly at the end of summer when I start making all the pickles and preserves that never last us as long as I think they will.

I look forward to chatting with you all and perhaps picking up some ideas and tips

Sam

[Fleecewife]

Hi Sam and welcome from South Lanarkshire in drizzly Scotland.  Maybe one day you will add spinning to your list of crafts.  Yesterday I was spinning at our local agricultural show in Biggar - it's amazing how many children don't have a clue how cloth is made, or where the raw materials come from, but they are fascinated.
Preserves time up here too - just started with blackcurrant jam.

[Hilarysmum]

hello, from a non gardening not very good cook. 

[carrie]

Hello, sounds like you have a lot of lovely work to do. we have raised beds, they so much easier. we have chickens instead of ferrets. That does'nt sound right!

[Fergie]

Hello & welcome from North Lanarkshire - also drizzly.

Yes, the fruit is ripening & we're enjoying last week's blackcurrent jam.  If it lasts too long, then it wasn't tasty enough!  Good food should never last as long as you thought it would.

John

[Samantha]

Very true words there John

I have never tried spinning although I took my children over to wales a couple of years ago where they could see it being done .. they had a go with hand spinners .. none of us were very good at it LOL I think I managed to make a lovely matted piece of string looking thing, but it was great fun. I think it's important for kids to know where things come from and how it's made.

The kids are very much looking forward to growing things (ok I actaully think they are looking forward to the eating part more) but they are keen to give it a go 

I have kept chickens in the past but unfortunately Mr Fox <enter explitif> got in so this time I am not underestimating the security and Mr Fox will need an angle grinder and blowtorch to get in .. and quite frankly if he turns up with them he deserves the chickens lol. I am looking to have not just layers this time but table birds also... I am going for warrens as the layers, I had them previously and they were very productive all year round. Not quite sure what to go for on the table bird front as I am looking at rearing these from hatchling eggs.. perhaps I should post in the poultry section and ask for suggestions

Sam

I did have an image of something I made in this post but I have removed it and put it in a post under the crafts section

[Rosemary]

Hi and welcome from sunny Alloa!

[woodlandproductsfife]

hi n welcome Sam

[Daisys Mum]

Hello and welcome from the Scottish borders 

[ballingall]

Hello and welcome,

Beth

[piggy]

Hi and welcome from Suffolk.

[plumseverywhere]

Hi Sam
welcome from drizzly worcestershire.
we grow some veggies here and my 4 children love it - they have their own plots and spend hours, they love eating their own produce too and will try stuff that they might have turned their nose up to if it ws from the shops.
we grow plums mainly    we are just starting our main harvest so its chaos!! hubby makes country wine from it (17% proof) and a local vintner has asked him to make 200 L so we are aiming for 500L this year and I will jam or chutney the last few plums.
also make soap from our goats milk 
Lisa x 

[Cinderhills]

Hi and welcome from a currently sunny North Yorkshire. 

[Samantha]

Thanks everyone for the lovely warm welcomes.. I must admit I have felt like I have found my home in cyberspace everything I love all in one place with the most helpful and friendly people anyone could wish to find.

Lisa ~ plum wine .. /checks map .. realises your not very far from me hehe... I have also started brewing this year my first batch of mead is sat fermenting.. and my neighbour and I have made stout and cider from kits to get us started. I have a bilberry wine kit also which I hope to make this week or next. But our end goal is to be making everything from scratch.

Sam

[Sharondp]

Hello from Ross-on Wye, Herefordshire. Originally from Gloucester and used to work in Bristol 
Chickens, shepp, veggies and children here!