I hate the fact that we don't have a compost heap/bokashi bin/wormery (no un-paved/gravelled outside space for compost, and don't fancy the thought of moving a wormery or bokashi bin if we move next year), and always feel ridiculously guilty for the peelings and veg scraps that go in the bin and out with our normal household rubbish. Seems such a shame to throw something that could be useful away.
So I was inordinately pleased with myself for finding a way to at least use the veg scraps before they go in the bin. I saved these in a tupperware box in the freezer over the course of the week:
- A couple of dozen broad bean pods
- Several onion skins
- A few garlic skins
- Potato peelings from a couple of meals worth of potatoes
- Some carrot peelings
- The sad and wilting ends of a lettuce, two carrots and a couple of the new potatoes from the garden, all good for nothing but the bin in normal circumstances.
At the end of the week, I bunged them in the pot with half a lemon (if you google, apparently this is essential), a small handful of green lentils (apparently also slightly essential), a few herbs (I had some lemon thyme and rosemary, but I think pretty much anything fresh or dried will do), a couple of bay leaves and some salt (not much) and pepper. Et voila!
So although it's not quite as self sufficient as having a compost bin, at least it's a nod in the direction of self sufficiency until we can improve on it, which I feel is nicely in the spirit of being efficient sufficient. It also marks the end of this week's Monday Challenge, which I have concluded was a success. I didn't save as much as I would have liked, but definitely a lot more than normal, and I'll keep saving the bits for Ebay packaging and vegetable stock, as well as keeping an eye out for anything else I can put to good use!
So I was inordinately pleased with myself for finding a way to at least use the veg scraps before they go in the bin. I saved these in a tupperware box in the freezer over the course of the week:
- A couple of dozen broad bean pods
- Several onion skins
- A few garlic skins
- Potato peelings from a couple of meals worth of potatoes
- Some carrot peelings
- The sad and wilting ends of a lettuce, two carrots and a couple of the new potatoes from the garden, all good for nothing but the bin in normal circumstances.
At the end of the week, I bunged them in the pot with half a lemon (if you google, apparently this is essential), a small handful of green lentils (apparently also slightly essential), a few herbs (I had some lemon thyme and rosemary, but I think pretty much anything fresh or dried will do), a couple of bay leaves and some salt (not much) and pepper. Et voila!
No, not the least appetising soup you've ever come across, but vegetable stock. Not completely free, but since we're growing herbs, the only thing that was paid for was the lemon half and the lentils (neither of which are bank breakers). Not bad for a couple of pints of stock - definitely less than buying organic stock cubes. I strained it through a butter muslin (everyone should have one - basically like a baby muslin but with tighter weave so fewer bits get through).
So although it's not quite as self sufficient as having a compost bin, at least it's a nod in the direction of self sufficiency until we can improve on it, which I feel is nicely in the spirit of being efficient sufficient. It also marks the end of this week's Monday Challenge, which I have concluded was a success. I didn't save as much as I would have liked, but definitely a lot more than normal, and I'll keep saving the bits for Ebay packaging and vegetable stock, as well as keeping an eye out for anything else I can put to good use!
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