Part-time Self Sufficiency

I love masterchef.... but was really annoyed recently when a young Polish woman said that she loved London as she could get what she wanted all year round as in Poland you could only buy what was in season.
We should be more like Poland!
I haven't eaten a fresh tomato for some time.... can't wait to pick the first one.

I am SS in tomatoes. When fresh isn't available I will only eat the frozen ones. The same for beans - dried if fresh isn't available.
Garlic - I use elephant garlic mostly as that is what I can grow.
I will only eat the herbs that I can grow - rosemary in the winter, chives and onions in pots. Mints now.
I won't buy kale or chard. Same as PP really. I will go without and eat something I do have.... or pick elsewhere. Had some lovely wild garlic this month.
Blackcurrants - spares are made into jam or frozen. I wouldn't buy them.
I can never grow enough lettuce - I need some tips from Bren.
I would love to be able to grow enough beetroot for the whole year but hardly managed to get any due to rodent issue.

Glad you mentioned Elephant garlic Scarlet. I have been building up stock from the original, incredibaly expensive three cloves I bought about three years ago. By keeping half for eating and half for planting each year, I now have enough growing that should make me self sufficient once its harvested. I love it's mild flavour and actually prefer it to traditional garlic, of which I have loads.

I prefer it to to the traditional stuff too.

Oooo I am self sufficient in courgettes, beans and rhubarb (as I refuse to buy them even if I haven't grown them). Does that count or am I cheating

I forgot Elephant garlic too - and the Babington leeks. I have clumps of both scattered throughout the garden - always there when I need an allium fix.

Oooo I am self sufficient in courgettes, beans and rhubarb (as I refuse to buy them even if I haven't grown them). Does that count or am I cheating

That 100% counts. 
It looks like all of us eat seasonally from our gardens and won't buy the things out of season that we grow in season..............if that makes sense? 

I forgot about the Kintsai celery leaves I grow. Its a short lived perennial (second year now) and even a few leaves can impart that celery flavour to soups and stews. Much easier to grow than all the other celery varients and looks after itself!

Oooo I am self sufficient in courgettes, beans and rhubarb (as I refuse to buy them even if I haven't grown them). Does that count or am I cheating

That 100% counts. 
It looks like all of us eat seasonally from our gardens and won't buy the things out of season that we grow in season..............if that makes sense? 

Yes, it does. I think people who grow food are not so fussy on the ingredients they think they need to make a meal either? Happy to use an alternative as that's what they have in their " kitchen garden"

SS in apples, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries. Chard/spinach, winter squash, beans, beetroot, sweetcorn, onions, garlic and hopefully in the coming year MT.
I do buy tomatoes and cucs when I've not got any though and the very occasional courgette.

Oooo I am self sufficient in courgettes, beans and rhubarb (as I refuse to buy them even if I haven't grown them). Does that count or am I cheating

That 100% counts. 
It looks like all of us eat seasonally from our gardens and won't buy the things out of season that we grow in season..............if that makes sense? 

Yes, it does. I think people who grow food are not so fussy on the ingredients they think they need to make a meal either? Happy to use an alternative as that's what they have in their " kitchen garden"

That made me chuckle Scarlet   . Because I’ve been known to substitute ingredients with things that are merely a similar shape or  same colour     . 
my best substitute to date was cumin seeds instead of fennel seeds.   . It actually worked really well.  More recently finally chopped french beans instead of peas. Actually I do that quite often. 

when I was writing my list I thought I sounded quite unhealthy by not buying vegetables. Turns out we all sound unhealthy and or tight as a ducks bottom     . But what we actually are is eco warrior, gardening gods and that’s  awesome. I’m very proud to be a part of it    .

I agree, SC. If a recipe needs an onion - you can use a leek, elephant garlic, spring onion and so on.
If its says cabbage, use kale, cauli leaves, broccoli etc.
Any fruit can be substituted for another one.
Any bean or pea or pod for another..
Any salad leaf will do in a sandwich or on the side of plate.

I agree, SC. If a recipe needs an onion - you can use a leek, elephant garlic, spring onion and so on.
If its says cabbage, use kale, cauli leaves, broccoli etc.
Any fruit can be substituted for another one.
Any bean or pea or pod for another..
Any salad leaf will do in a sandwich or on the side of plate.

This... this is what blows Jay's mind. Not that he follows recipes (he doesn't need recipes for beans on toast), but it blows his mind that I chuck in a bit of this, and a bit of that.