Calling Urban / Home Farmers

[CarolineW]

I think that there are several of us on this forum, from things that have been said.

Anyway, there's a guy on a UK home farmer site who was asking a question about how to mill your own flour, and how others do it.  I've posted about the thermomix, and that I use it to mill.  My husband and I have said for a while that it's a shame the home farmer community don't know about the thermomix, as it could have been designed for the the things that we do!  I wondered if any of the other urban / home farmers on this forum would like to share with the home farmer community how they use their thermomix, so that they can get more of an idea as to how it helps?

If there's enough interest on the HF forum, I'll suggest to the magazine editors that I write an article on thermomix in home farming for them.  My DH has been telling me to do that for a long time, as it makes such a difference in all the processing, jam & chutney making, etc, etc.  It does seem a shame to not spread the news a bit, but - if I'm completely honest - I can't be bothered to expend the effort unless people are interested.

Anyway, if nothing else our input may well help this one person, and the others following the thread.

You'll find the thread here http://forum.homefarmer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=1004&p=6037#p6037

[brazen20au]

good luck caroline!

[stacelee]

Hi Caroline,

I'm interested but only just getting started with my thermomix.  I have a few hydroponic systems that are suffering with neglect that I am hoping to get fully productive again this spring.  I lost interest to a certain extent because we ran out of time and incentive and people to give the produce to.  Now that I have the thermomix I'm hoping to process more of my own produce into storable usable product (if anyone has a recipe for passionfruit cordial I would love it).  I have noticed that we are using far more of our chicken's eggs now and I am giving far less away.

Have a great day
Stacey

[Hannah]

Passionfruit cordial here:

http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=1178.msg7665#msg7665

[Intrepidtrier]

Hi Caroline. Here is another recipe for passionfruit cordial.  pulp of 12 passionfruit; 2 tsp citric acid; 2 cups sugar.Combine ingredients in a bowl and pour 2 1/2 cups of boiling water over them. When cold, strain and bottle. To drink, mix a small amount with water. That`s it. You don`t have to use the TMX for this one.

[Thermomixer]

Just had a look Caroline and I think he is too touchy feely, wants to get back to his roots and would rather either do it by hand or with a yoke of oxen.

If his wife and the outlaws haven't heard about Thermomix then it can't be good.

[spanner]

I would not necessarily say he is too 'touchy feely' .... just after a different experience and process.

I have been on two different forums where home farmers / home schoolers / new mothers and the like all love their thermomix.

Actually it was www.aussieslivingsimply.com.au that helped me to make the decision to jump.

Check out this thread  http://www.aussieslivingsimply.com.au/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=8&thread_id=16118&pid=224183#post_224183  .  it will also have a link to another thread in the same forum.

Also the joyous birth forum is really hot on thermomixes as well.



I am a past president of the Permaculture group here in townsville and I am sure they will like what they see and I am sure a few of them will be interested but in general not a great deal is known in Nth QLD ..... YET.   The consultants up this way have been doing a tremendous job and the word is getting out.

[Thermomixer]

Sorry spanner - hopefully haven't offended you too much.

"touchy feely" might not have been the right words, but with his lines -

"Never heard of the Thermomix - and nor has Serena (my wife) who's family have 40 years experience in the commercial catering equipment industry.

The making of food (be it bread or anything else )is actually as important in the therapy of making as it is in the end product - so I'm not sure if it would be something for us

Personally I was looking for info a bit more 'on topic'  ..."   in response to Caroline's post explaining how useful the Thermomix would be to Home farmers, makes me think maybe he could have at least clicked on the links.

I believe that the Thermomix is perfect for those interested in sustainable living.  It really has so many uses that fit with a "greener" way of living - you just have to follow Dani's blog.

Could have started by saying Never heard of Permaculture and Bill Mollison, but I was a child of the seventies.

[spanner]

I never take offence unless it becomes persoanal.

 

[CarolineW]

Have got to agree with both of you.  Once the person who began the thread came back into it, he was definitely feeling a bit edgy about the thermomix and wanting everything to stay traditional and hand made in answer to his question.  At the same time, as we know, thermomix would appeal to a large percentage of the urban / home farmer / permaculture community.

I think if there are enough of us here who have practical experience as to how it helps - or once we have enough, as many of us who are from this area are new to our thermomixes - then I'll start a dedicated thread to it on the Home Farmer forum, then I won't tread on anyone's toes 

I feel fairly strongly about it.  Although I'm sure that no-one here has realised, I'm fairly enthusiastic about thermomix and its benefits    And I really, quite passionately want a) to help people, which thermomix does  and b) encourage people to precycle (ie make things yourself so it doesn't ever produce the packaging and waste products which would need to be recycled if you buy the things), which thermomix does.  Is the term precycle used internationally, by the way?  Or is it a UK thing?

So - even though it WOULDN'T be a good idea for us to visit the thread I listed initially as we want to respect the gentleman's feelings, please could we keep this thread active, and post here how the thermomix has helped us in our urban / home farming activities?  If nothing else, we can inspire each other    And hopefully we'll come up with enough material that I can approach the forum with it / write an article.

[mama_bel]

I dabble in the whole 'farm' thing...  Ways the thermomix helps me include:

making yoghurt, then cheeses from raw milk
making preserves when it's harvest time
cooking and pureeing pumpkin during the glut, to freeze for later use
processing dried herbs to store in jars for when they die in the wet season here
making lots of custard to use up eggs and milk (and fill up the kids)
baking for drop-in visitors, which we get a lot of

Then all the normal things it helps me with as a busy mother of six, of course!

[CreamPuff63]

[
baking for drop-in visitors, which we get a lot of

Then all the normal things it helps me with as a busy mother of six, of course!
[/quote]

(Aah...really have to tip my cap, cos just only having 3x kids you just have to double the stresses of raising a family. Must say that of all the families that I have ever come across with 4+ the kids have been A1 quality and I would give four star rating. (Isn't that how things go nowadays) There is something about big litters).

[CarolineW]

I dabble in the whole 'farm' thing...  Ways the thermomix helps me include:

making yoghurt, then cheeses from raw milk
making preserves when it's harvest time
cooking and pureeing pumpkin during the glut, to freeze for later use
processing dried herbs to store in jars for when they die in the wet season here
making lots of custard to use up eggs and milk (and fill up the kids)
baking for drop-in visitors, which we get a lot of

Then all the normal things it helps me with as a busy mother of six, of course!

Thanks for posting how it's useful to you, mama_bel.   I'm trying to get up the courage to make cheese at the moment, funnily enough.  Would you mind sharing how you use the thermomix for cheese making, please?  I make yogurt and cottage cheese, but 'proper' cheese will be a whole new world for me.

[mama_bel]

Well, Caroline, I've only made cheese from yoghurt so far - quark and ricotta style cheeses.  But our cow arrives this weekend so with even more milk to use up than I've had in the past I will be having a go at other cheeses.  And I'll let you all know how the TMX helps me!

Thank you CreamPuff.