Why Tin Lizzie Food

How to survive when you have nothing.

My previous post was about a difficult period I went through some time ago forcing me to make drastic decisions and changes.

I will begin with smaller changes. Let me start with my apartment:
- Removing plugs from the wall socket every time I'm done with an appliance
- Switching off the light each time I leave a room
- Goodbye geyser
- No more filled-up kettles when I make coffee or tea (or better yet, use a flask)
- Sweeping instead of vacuuming
- No more late-night TV
- Instead of air fresheners, open the windows
- Add a different air purifying plant to each room

Garden changes:
~ Grow lavender
~ Grow mint
~ Grow sweet potato leaves
~ Grow spekboom
~ Grow a lemon tree

Healthy changes:
• Less tea & coffee
• Drinking more water
• Less Meat
• Much less sugar
• Growing sprouts indoors
• Growing herbs in a sunny windowsill
• Herbal teas - from the garden

General changes:
√ Repair your clothes
√ Repair your shoes where possible
√ Knit or crochet blankets, shawls, etc.
√ Make your own clothes if you can
√ Use herbs to let your home smell good
√ Use natural home cleaning products
√ Reduce the use of plastic
√ Save our natural resources

Unfortunately, my apartment is on the ground floor, on the dark side of a two-story building with tall buildings behind as well as next to me, and doesn't get a lot of sun - a few hours a day in summer and during winter none. Which means I am unable to plant vegetables.

Obviously, wild edible leafy plants thrive in my garden and this is the reason I called my blog "Tin Lizzie Food".

Because of my financial constraints, I was for some time not able to buy adequate fruit and vegetables. The only way I had to get my daily dose of vitamins and minerals, or some part of it, was to turn to the wild edible plants in my garden. IMPORTANT: Never eat anything from the wild until you've done thorough research on it or consulted someone with experience in this array.

The greatest challenge for me was to learn and adapt to the least I could live with.

This journey created a new awareness in me. I appreciate more, I thank more, my faith grew deeper and I count my blessings every morning and every night.

It made me realize that whatever happens - there is a fighter within me that will not stop until I have conquered life again.


What you can do if you have full sun for 6 hours or longer: grow a vegetable and/or herb garden.
~ Grow chilies & green peppers.
~ Use seeds and off-cuts from the kitchen to grow veg, fruits, herbs & spices. WARNING: The roots of large trees such as avocado can cause damage to paving and walls.
~ Do not remove the common weeds in your garden. Rather separate them from your vegetable or herb garden. Remember: Wild edible plants (weeds) are free sources of herbs and spices.

Note: Doesn't matter what you grow; wild leafy plants or vegetables or herbs, tend to your garden. Make mulch from small sticks, leaves, grass, and bark. Make compost with kitchen scraps.
Tip: Place a banana peel in a container and cover with water. Leave for 2 days. This is a quick and easy fertilizer for indoor as well as outdoor plants.
Tip: Use grey water for outdoor gardens.