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Here are 10 positive things to do during this very unusual time. We are talking about active, satisfying, family bonding, activities, instead of sitting in front of the TV and watching reruns or trash TV.
Perhaps getting the whole family involved where the activity starts with ‘I don’t wanna do that’, but ends with ‘Let’s do it again tomorrow’.
No. 1 Cook.
Learning to cook, or honing skills for Masterchef! Having time at home is a great opportunity to cook delicious meals, get more confident, and enthused, to share the cooking with the whole family.
Technology means we can now watch video recipes instead of troll through stodgy cook books. A video allows you to see the end product and stop and start the video as you progress. Please try BigBarn’s KIS (Keep it Simple) Cookery video channel. You can type in what ingredients you have and get a recipe to match. Or even make, and add, a video recipe to the site and be discovered as the next famous chef
When we get back to work perhaps the whole family will be enthused to cook regularly?
No. 2 Become friendly with your local producers/retailers
This might be difficult in lockdown although we will all need food. Chickens won’t stop laying eggs, cows produce milk, or veg stop growing, so potentially, plenty of local food. Please use our Local Food Map to find yours here. We are helping many with online shops and local delivery so please register for your local updates here.
Unfortunately EU cheap food policy over the last 40 years has caused most farmers to grow commodities instead of food . A politician recently stated: ‘We don’t need farmers, we can get cheap food from abroad, or factories’. We hope your demand and this mess will change policy.
No. 3 Grow Food and Crop for the Shop
We humans have been growing food for thousands of years and it is within our souls to get satisfaction from producing a bountiful crop. We would all feel a lot more secure if we grew and shared food locally. Our Crop for the Shop initiative is designed for this and we have seen some amazing results when schools have joined in to get kids growing and cooking food and selling to local shops. More with a video here
This is also very effective with local pubs and restaurants where, after lockdown, you can trade home grown produce for a drink.
No. 4 Fermenting food or drink
Fermenting food was very popular, and essential, in the past, both to preserve food for shortages and add flavour to meals. Fermented foods are also very healthy as they contain many essential gut bacteria to help increase immunity.
They are also extremely easy to make and could even develop in to a nice home business. To find out more I highly recommend this radio 4 Food Programme podcast with Sandor Katz. Or search online and You Tube videos.
No. 5 Bake bread
Healthier, satisfying, self sufficient, and saving money, should be enough reasons for this activity. For our blog about real bread v factory produced click here. You could even start a business supplying your community. There are hundreds of videos on bread making and sourdough on You Tube so all you need is great flour, you can buy online here from one of our many artisan suppliers
No. 6 Clear out the freezer and food cupboard
This could be difficult if you have crammed recent purchases on top of old foods. This is a great time to get organised. Eat the old food first and list everything you have to see how long you could last in a lockdown. I wouldn’t be surprised if some people have enough food to last months!
No. 7 Forage
If we are allowed to walk our dogs there could be lots of opportunities to pick up free and tasty foods. Elderflowers will soon be available as well as wild garlic and sorrel. You could even download an APP.
No. 8 Join your community
We have lived in communities for thousands of years to help us share hardship as well as good times. Surely this is a great time to rebuild local communities. Sharing food, seeds and seedlings, odd jobs. You should get out what you put in. In this wonderful age of technology this can now all be done online, and a safe distance from a local cough.
No. 9 Exercise
We must stay fit and active to fight off bugs. If the gym is closed there is no reason why we can’t exercise at home, or try the the ultimate, yoga. Experts say that if we all spent 5 minutes a day doing the Sun Salutation the NHS would save millions in back pain treatment. Again, lots of videos available online.
No. 10 Build, repair, or invent something
This could be really satisfying. Get the family together for a brainstorm and become the next Dyson.
There must be something in the house that needs fixing. Set the challenge and earn a reward! Perhaps your family can invent a new recipe and become famous.
If you think of more activities, or comments on the above please add them below.