OT - being green
I feel pretty sure I would not like growing my own veggies. My grandparents used to have a huge garden and while I LOVED eating the stuff they grew, I did not enjoy helping out in the garden.
I think I would like to have a couple chickens and a couple goats, though. I do like taking care of animals and it would be so cool to get fresh eggs every day and fresh milk.
I think I would like to have a couple chickens and a couple goats, though. I do like taking care of animals and it would be so cool to get fresh eggs every day and fresh milk.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
We've had our garden since we've been married--45 years, my husband is now 72 and we really should start thinking of cutting back. It's a lot of hard actually, not only the garden (which is about 3/4 an acre) but we also have strawberries, blackberries, grapes, asparagus and fruit trees. Our kids help out when they can and the grandsons liked to work out there when they were young but as teenagers the thrill has worn off !! 
I really hadn't thought about it but our garden is organic--we do a LOT of hand picking of bugs and worms and set out natural traps for snails and slugs. Probably 99% of our kitchen " waste" goes right back into the garden. I do have to say over the years it has been a real blessing--we've saved a lot of money on food, it's been a good discipline for our kids, and it actually has given a lot of pleasure when we would look over it and realize we were perhaps 'following in the footsteps " of our ancestors.
But big gardens like ours are for younger people as is all the home canning I do.I can for us, my kids, my favorite sister in law and for some of our elderly neighbors. As I said to someone recently--my grandsons won't eat hardly anything canned from a store-- so even if I want to cut back--I'm a victim of my own making-LOL. I wish my daughter in law would take an interest in it but unfortunately she thinks it's "old fashioned and too much work" I guess the tradition dies with my husband and me.
I really hadn't thought about it but our garden is organic--we do a LOT of hand picking of bugs and worms and set out natural traps for snails and slugs. Probably 99% of our kitchen " waste" goes right back into the garden. I do have to say over the years it has been a real blessing--we've saved a lot of money on food, it's been a good discipline for our kids, and it actually has given a lot of pleasure when we would look over it and realize we were perhaps 'following in the footsteps " of our ancestors.
But big gardens like ours are for younger people as is all the home canning I do.I can for us, my kids, my favorite sister in law and for some of our elderly neighbors. As I said to someone recently--my grandsons won't eat hardly anything canned from a store-- so even if I want to cut back--I'm a victim of my own making-LOL. I wish my daughter in law would take an interest in it but unfortunately she thinks it's "old fashioned and too much work" I guess the tradition dies with my husband and me.
We do many of the things people have already posted.We also compost all of our green waste and use the compost on our garden (veggies and flowers). We do not use any pesticides or herbicides on our plants/yard.We use natural repellants like garlic with the roses for bugs, spray milk mixed with water on rose greenery to prevent molds, beer on a plate for slugs, hot pepper to repel some pests, etc.
We re-purpose or donate as much as possible. Clothes and toys my son has outgrown are sold at a seasonal consignment sale- what doesn't sell is donated to local childrens charities.
When I start to loose weight after surgery I plan to donate my clothes to local womens organizations- they really need professional wardrobe stuff to help get women in need job ready.
We re-purpose or donate as much as possible. Clothes and toys my son has outgrown are sold at a seasonal consignment sale- what doesn't sell is donated to local childrens charities.
When I start to loose weight after surgery I plan to donate my clothes to local womens organizations- they really need professional wardrobe stuff to help get women in need job ready.
I want to start composting. I want to do the compost bin with worms. You know what I mean? My partner is supposed to be making me a bin but hasn't done it yet. I keep bugging him about it.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
we tried to do the worm thing, butf for some reason we got ants and the ants got in the worm bin and took over....it was really gross to have oh so many ants out there just all over the worm bin....it was like a hairy bin type of thing...the worms didnt have a chance.. ha halol.... we just took it all out back and just dumped it out...left bin out there for bit..
i have thought about doing a compost pile, but with the problem with the ants....im a bit leary ya know....
and i love the laundry soap recipe you had...its great.. and much cheaper..but i do add some odor ban that i get from Sams and its great...makes laundry smell good...i have about 3 different families making their own soap now...so you have started something with the laundry soap...
my mom in wyoming is making hers too....
thanks
debby
i have thought about doing a compost pile, but with the problem with the ants....im a bit leary ya know....
and i love the laundry soap recipe you had...its great.. and much cheaper..but i do add some odor ban that i get from Sams and its great...makes laundry smell good...i have about 3 different families making their own soap now...so you have started something with the laundry soap...
my mom in wyoming is making hers too....
thanks
debby
Ew, the ants would totally gross me out too.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
Can I just say... I have this deep, pathological, debilitating phobia of earthworms. They make me shriek and cry like a terrified little girl. And this whole thread about worm composting has given me a massive case of the heebeejeebies. ::shudder::
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Check out my video blog! www.youtube.com/user/HappilyShrinking/videos
Highest weight: 269. Surgery weight: 233. Goal weight: 144, and then we'll see..
Check out my video blog! www.youtube.com/user/HappilyShrinking/videos
Highest weight: 269. Surgery weight: 233. Goal weight: 144, and then we'll see..
Hee hee. I don't want to touch them. But having them in a compost bin would not bother me.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
Let's see ...
I need to make the switch to reuseable grocery bags for all of my shopping. IDK why I don't do it now. As of right now I keep my walmart bags for when I do shopping at Save A Lot or Aldi's b/c those stores you have to buy & bag your own stuff so I figure I might as well reuse the ones I have. They also make great garbage bags for small cans in the bathroom or bedroom. I also keep one in my car so trash doesnt just get tossed on the floor. I also used them in my daughter's diaper bag for messy diapers. I would tie the diaper up in one before tossing it to contain the smell. (yuck)
I reuse pretty much any glass or plastic container that food comes in. (My redneck tendencies come in handy on some things) I especially love the plastic containers from Chinese take out; they are perfect for lunches. The glass jars are good for salads on the go (put dressing on the bottom & pile the rest of the salad fixings on top. When you are ready to eat just shake & eat.)
Clothes that I or my daughter outgrow goes either to family w/kids just younger than Mia or they go to our local church that has a food pantry that also gives clothes & shoes to local people that need the help.
This summer I started our own small garden; I have lots of veggies & a few fruit vines going. (I used my daughter's wading pool from last summer as the garden bed)
I guess I don't do a lot of recycling (I really need to start tho; I'm calling for a recycle bin tomorrow). We do a lot of reusing things. Newspapers to fill boxes when we ship or even last minute wrapping paper, The cardboard cases from water holds a cake pan perfectly for pot lucks or to give to a neighbor, I used egg shells to start all of my plants in the house & then transplanted them into soil. I'm about to make a rug for the bathroom using old towels that I have no other use for.
I need to make the switch to reuseable grocery bags for all of my shopping. IDK why I don't do it now. As of right now I keep my walmart bags for when I do shopping at Save A Lot or Aldi's b/c those stores you have to buy & bag your own stuff so I figure I might as well reuse the ones I have. They also make great garbage bags for small cans in the bathroom or bedroom. I also keep one in my car so trash doesnt just get tossed on the floor. I also used them in my daughter's diaper bag for messy diapers. I would tie the diaper up in one before tossing it to contain the smell. (yuck)
I reuse pretty much any glass or plastic container that food comes in. (My redneck tendencies come in handy on some things) I especially love the plastic containers from Chinese take out; they are perfect for lunches. The glass jars are good for salads on the go (put dressing on the bottom & pile the rest of the salad fixings on top. When you are ready to eat just shake & eat.)
Clothes that I or my daughter outgrow goes either to family w/kids just younger than Mia or they go to our local church that has a food pantry that also gives clothes & shoes to local people that need the help.
This summer I started our own small garden; I have lots of veggies & a few fruit vines going. (I used my daughter's wading pool from last summer as the garden bed)
I guess I don't do a lot of recycling (I really need to start tho; I'm calling for a recycle bin tomorrow). We do a lot of reusing things. Newspapers to fill boxes when we ship or even last minute wrapping paper, The cardboard cases from water holds a cake pan perfectly for pot lucks or to give to a neighbor, I used egg shells to start all of my plants in the house & then transplanted them into soil. I'm about to make a rug for the bathroom using old towels that I have no other use for.
Alicia ~ HW 307 ~ SW 287 ~ GW 135
~ CW 160
Oh, using an old wading pool to plant things in is a great idea! I'm going to remember that. I was thinking of planting a few tomato plants this summer but I don't feel like digging up a garden plot in my yard. That sounds like way too much work. But pouring soil into a wading pool? That I could do.
I made some really neat cloth shopping bags for my grocery shopping out of old tee shirts. What you do it, you sew the bottom of the shirts shut and that becomes the bottom of the bag. Then you cut off the sleeves, which become the handles, and you cut around the neckline to make it bigger, which is the opening of your bag. The bags are about the same shape of those plastic grocery bags. It only takes a short time to sew them, and you don't need to hem the sleeves/handles or the neckline/opening of the bag; if you use tee shirts, the material will not unravel. I used some old tee shirts I had at home and then I bought some for 99 cents each at the thrift store to make into shopping bags. I have all kinds of pretty colors and designs.
I made some really neat cloth shopping bags for my grocery shopping out of old tee shirts. What you do it, you sew the bottom of the shirts shut and that becomes the bottom of the bag. Then you cut off the sleeves, which become the handles, and you cut around the neckline to make it bigger, which is the opening of your bag. The bags are about the same shape of those plastic grocery bags. It only takes a short time to sew them, and you don't need to hem the sleeves/handles or the neckline/opening of the bag; if you use tee shirts, the material will not unravel. I used some old tee shirts I had at home and then I bought some for 99 cents each at the thrift store to make into shopping bags. I have all kinds of pretty colors and designs.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
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