Does it ever confuse you why green living can be so complicated? Some practices are almost a deterrent from incorporating this into our lifestyles. I have found that I desire to use green practices, but not at the cost of sacrificing my simple life practices. But there is one good thing that keeps me from feeling guilty, simple living often incorporates green living by its essence. Having less, means less garbage, less waste, less cleaning products to care for stuff, less time to care for stuff, less stuff to replace, etc. But how can you do more when you are already struggling to incorporate my simple living practices into your life?
Be thoughtful before you purchase an item. Do you need it? How will it affect the environment and now and in the future? Will there be continuing resources to purchase with using the product? Is there an environmentally friendly way to do this? Some products are now environmentally friendly due to companies making it easy for you. Refillable items, sold in recycled easily disposable items that are poured into a permanently re-usable dispenser are a great example of this. Technology companies often offer an easy method to recycle items such as ink cartridges and batteries by including prepaid envelopes to send the old and empty containers back to them in.
Wash your clothes in cold water only. This completely eliminates the heating of water. I have not found any significant difference in the cleanliness or stain removal of our clothing. I have not used warm or hot water for years. Once you get into this practice, if you have to purchase a new washer, you can often save money by purchasing a model that has fewer options. Additionally, with cold water I have noticed that I can use significantly less detergent to clean a load of laundry.
If at all possible, try carpooling for different activities. Even if you can’t use this practice every day, try finding ways to incorporate carpooling one or two days per week. You will save money, and be able save the environment at the same time. When you can’t carpool, consider sharing errands with a friend or neighbor. If you and a friend both have a designated errand day, that fall on different days, call each other the night before to ask if the other needs anything. This will help eliminate the need for you to make an extra trip out for some forgotten, but needed item for you AND your friend. This saves, time, gas, and emissions!
There are lots of ways to being incorporating green practices into your life style in a simple way. As with other simple living practices, don’t wait, and get started today, with just one idea that you can change this month!
These are my thoughts.
Leslie Valeska
~Contributing Writer~
Leslie Valeska is the lucky wife of Thomas.With children ranging in ages from 4-16, she has had a lot of time to learn and experience much of the fine art of homemaking.
For FREE daily tips and a FREE E-zine on simple and frugal living visither blog Journey to Simplicity. Need a source of encouragement, inspiration, and support on your journey to Godly womanhood? Visit Simple Journey Ministries (she has a FREE E-zine too!) Of course, don’t forget to visit the Simple Journey Bookstore!
Hello all! I apologize (again) for being so scarce here lately. I have many a post written in my head to share with you but can't seem find the time or energy to get it into the computer. Ah, such is life.
Chas asked me the other day how I made Apple Cider Vinegar since she has been blessed recently with an abundance. Apple Cider Vinegar is very simple and can be made with the leftover peels and cores from other apple-making projects.
I've written these very simple Apple Cider Vinegar making instruction here. So go ahead and try it. This vinegar is not as strong as true cider vinegar made from cider (i.e. apple juice) but it does the trick and costs a lot less than the vinegars at the grocery store! Enjoy!
Kristin Hoffman homesteads with her family in the hills of East Tennessee and blogs about alternative energy, family farming, and home schooling with her husband at www.solarfamilyfarm.com. She can also be found cooking in the kitchen with her homemade apple cider vinegar.
Little House and the Big Garden posted these great pictures of their new greenhouse, go check it out! They did a good job, and I know it will be a blessing to their family. I am definitely showing this post to my own husband for a little "inspiration" . The greenhouse that a friend "donated to my cause" was in such bad repair that it wasn't worth salvaging, which was very disappointing. Perhaps we just might find room for one of these somewhere in our new yard.
There is a link in the post to the book they got the plans from for my fellow book-lovers, too!
'Tis the season for falling leaves; so it's a great time to build a compost bin if you don't have one (or more) already. Here is a great website with plans for several different versions.
Hope you are enjoying the cooler weather and having a wonderful Autumn gardening season!
I actually have 2 gardens right now . The Spring/Summer garden still has peppers producing, tomatoes making a comeback, and 3 Eden's Gem melons that are getting bigger every day .
We planted the Fall/Winter garden at our "new" house, (which we still haven't gotten to move into), a few weeks ago. It's doing great thus far; we have squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, brocolli, cauliflower, carrots, spinach, chard, mustard, beets, onions, all flourishing in the cooler days of Fall here in Texas. We got the pathways lined with newspaper and a layer of hay last weekend, and I hope to spread some mulch in the planting beds this weekend, too. It still has a temporary fence, which is quite a sight; but so far, it has deterred the deer.
OK, that's a brief update from here. How are your gardens growing? Anyone here grow things in a greenhouse during the colder months?
Hello Dear Friends of the Front Porch. I just want you to know what a GREAT group of people we have here on Homesteadblogger. Really, you are super. Lot's of great fellowship goes on here everyday.
But... there is a problem. Someone/or more than one wants to destroy the 'safe' place that has been created here. They want to fill it full of filth and obscenity. Sadly it is not enough for some to destroy their own lives with these things, they want to corrupt others.
So I am asking for your help. We all know that sitting in front of the computer ALL day, every day is not an option! *I* can't do it... *You* can't do it! BUT... we are all on here at different times. If you spy something that is NOT acceptable around here, PLEASE contact me right away! I will contact our wonderful tech guy and we will get it done away with.
I am so sorry for what happened this weekend. It is sad to know that there are those out there wanting to do such things.
I believe Homesteadblogger to be a wonderful safe haven. Two of my children blog here. My children have friends with blogs here.
By working together we can keep these predators at bay. Thank you so much for contacting me this weekend. I appreciate you all!
From My Homestead to Yours,
~Chas~
Chasity L. Burrell
Senior Editor Homesteadblogger Heritage Acres Farm
Hello to all our faithful readers... Well, I asked and you supplied. Here is a gathering of all the Christmas Gift Giving Ideas you shared with me... as more come in, I will try and add to this post.
Rhonda suggested:
Someone on this blog mentioned having a homemade Christmas. I took this idea and presented it to my mom and much to my surprise, she loved it. She is now busy making Christmas presents, she is ahead of me in this. This should be fun and interesting. My dd who is 9 is making catnip mice for her grandma who has many cats.
Rhonda
Jesusbemylight offered her thoughts:
It's really hard when you have a big family (10 for me) to do a handmade gift for everyone and expect everyone else to do the same. So, what we've found works the best for gift giving is that our family participates in a 'game' called Kris Kringle: At the beginning of Advent (4 weeks before Christmas) we all draw each others names out of a hat (pick again if it's your name). For the next 4 weeks until Christmas we have to keep our Kris Kringle a secret while at the same time being particularly nice to 'our person'. It's so much fun when you walk into your bedroom and see your bed made or your clothes hung up and you realize: "ahh, my Kris Kringle's been here." :-) Then, at Christmas we have to make (or buy) a gift for our Kris Kringle and that's when we reveal ourselves to each other. Usually, you have pretty much figured out everyone's Kris Kringles by Christmas day (especially in a big family with lots of little ones :-P). But it's never taken the fun away and there's still usually a few surprises to be had.
I enjoy making handmade gifts A LOT though, so I usually make more than just my Kris Kringle. I try to make something useful, that they'll really like, and frugal/cheep at the same time. Tough! By now I've pretty much figured out what each kid likes. I have one brother who will take anything Spider-man, (the only hard part is making/getting him something Spidy that he doesn't already have!). Another brother likes any camouflage, guns, or movie-making related. One sister loves purple and horses while another prefers pink and loves to write. One sibling is those easy kind that will LOVE me for anything I make for him with my own hands (a fun one for sure!). The youngest two still like toys and play things so they are the most fun to make things for and yet definitely the most challenging. So, once you can categorize everybody like that, handmade gift giving becomes much easier. Though, I'm behind if I'm going to make everyone something again this year. Last year I started in July! I might stick to just my Kris Kringle this year and do more in my community (with the little kids) as far as homemade gift giving goes. The younger kids just love that!
Homesteadinthemaking said:
Right now I am canning all the muscadines and pears that I can. I will give neighbors and friends a jar of jelly and a fresh baked loaf of bread.
Deutschmum
This year I am making several things for people in our family as well as friends and neighbors. For starters, I have made and canned blueberry jam and blackberry jam (with un-treated berries picked by me and our children!); fig preserves (with un-treated figs picked by a wonderful set of grandparents we have recently "discovered"!) and I have been making lots of soap and other toiletry items since I am testing items to start my own business. I've handed out samples of all of these things to family members and so far the reaction is GREAT! I am so excited!
I have made ornaments and will also be tackling making some small quilts for my parents, brother/wife, and sister/family (which I need to start ASAP!). There are lots of things I WANT to make for the holidays, but I know it will be best to stick with a few and actually get them done! :)
canadianroxieg9:
We are a large family and I have made homemade Christmas gifts all my life Not every single gift I give has been homemeade but lots have. Everything from crocheted afghans to flannel pj'sto handsewn dollies to western shirts of various sizes little dresses dolly clothes stuffed toys handknitted mitties and socks baked goods beadworkquilts the lists just goes on and on. I have a friend that does silk scarf dying and am hoping to get her to make some for me or teach me how to do that They are lovely. Well everyone have fun with your Christmas gift making. Flannel or fleece sleep pants are a big hit for our numerous fellows.
Abmiller:
I've put up more canning this year than last with gift giving in mind. I think in this day and age of hurriedness homemade food is really appreciated. So I've canned & plan to give:
~strawberry jam
~Dilly beans (pickled green beans)
~blueberry pie filling
~apple butter
~zucchini relish
(I also plan on making some applesauce & apple pie filling.)
I like the idea above of giving homemade jam & a loaf of homemade bread. Doesn't get any better than that, yum!
Anonymous :
I like to prepare for the holidays with this web site. You can print all kinds of free stuff to make a Christmas section for your household notebook--and they have great crafts and gift tags:
http://organizedchristmas.com
Amy Jo:
I am making aprons and potholders for several of the woman folk. The children are getting character pillowcases that I will sew filled with goodies. I am making some Christmas stocking from my late father's tie collection for both of my brothers. And of course making honey butter, cracnberry honey, assorted breads, cookies, etc. to give as gifts as well.
Our family is going to try to do as much homemade as possible this year. I know hubby's family will think is is great, but my family is a different story. LOL
TammyLynn:
I like doing gift baskets. I have been making extra salsa this year since we had such a wonderful supply of tomatoes from our garden. I have found a fun soup mix recipe the Sis and I will be putting into jars and decorating. I have been keeping my eye out for inexpensive or even better FREE baskets. I will add other little things and before you know it your basket is full.
Now you've got me all EXCITED!!!!
Blueeyedgirl:
In the past few years I've been making tea and coffee mixes, cookie and brownie mixes in jars, and lots of candy. You can do so much with the packaging to make the gifts really cute. My family members like gettng baskets filled with butter caramels, pralines. chocolate covered pretzels . . . Oh my goodness!! I can't wait for Christmas! I also like to make ornaments. When I was about 14 or so I got a pattern for a set of cross-stitched victorian ornaments and I think I've made a set every year since then. Of course they're always given away, but that's the fun part! This is my first visit to the front porch and I'm so glad I dropped by! My wheels are turning . . . gotta go make something!
Keep the great ideas coming everyone!
From My Homestead to Yours,
~Chas~
Chasity L. Burrell
Senior Editor Homesteadblogger Heritage Acres Farm
Horizon Herbs has a huge listing of herb seeds and plants for sale. So many it just about boggles my little mind. It definitely makes me grab the wish list to add just a few more things to the ever growing list of new plants to grow.
"Good Simple Food"
100% Certified Organic Vegetable Seeds
Germ-tested, fat and viable
Open-Pollinated (seed saver friendly)
Vacuum packed to last at least 3 years (store in fridge)
Easy to grow.
If I hadn't already done my Fall planting, I would order this one!
Herbs from A to Z, they have them all. My birthday is ever so quickly approaching...guess what I'll be requesting this year! Seeds, seeds, and more herb seeds.....
Plant bulbs for a springtime surprise! Kids love to do this, so buy a few inexpensive packages of bulbs, and let them have fun planting them. If you get "little things" like Crocus and Grape Hyacinth, they can be sprinkled throughout the lawn for a pretty carpet of color in the early Spring. Rain Lilies are fun to plant for a little burst of color after a shower.
On a more practical note, Fall is the time to plant garlic. Though perhaps not quite as pretty as some of the other bulbs, they certainly do add flavor in the kitchen!
One last thought on bulbs- plan ahead now for some bulbs you'd like to "force" to bloom indoors. Those Amaryllis or Paperwhites will be a welcome sight in the dreary days of winter.
The countdown is ON friends! We are now only 113 days away!
I love Christmas, I love the decorations, the lights, the kindness shown, the miracle of the birth of Jesus... it puts me in a peaceful state, a tranquil attitude where I just soak it all in.
I make many of my own gifts for Christmas. I love the gesture of handmade items. Yes, it is more frugal for me... but to me it says, I love you so much that I took the time to think of you and make this item especially for you!
So my question to all of you today is....
What are you doing to get ready for Christmas?
What are you going to be making? What are your ideas for handmade gifts? Please share. If we have enough to participate I will compile a list and make a new post with everyones ideas.
Have a great day.
From my Homestead to yours,
~Chas~
Chasity L. Burrell
Senior Editor Homesteadblogger Heritage Acres Farm
Alright my friends, I am going to attempt my first EVER sewing tutorial! I told you that I was taught how to make a granny square while I was on my Ladies Retreat. It was so much easier for me to learn from the ladies teaching than it was for me to look at a book and try. The picture quality is not wonderful, I just saw some of the pictures I took last night, but hopefully you will get the hang of it as easily as I did and you will be turning out some beautiful squares as well!
If you are a Newbie to Crochet HERE is a site to help you with basic stitches, you will see me refer to several in this tutorial... Chain, Slip Stitch, Double Crochet.
Step 1: Chain 5 Cool, you got that! Alrighty we are on our way!
Step 2: You want to turn that chain into a round so you will go to the first chain and slip stitch... Now we have our center, we will build on from there! Woohoo!
Step 3: Chain 3 Here we are building out from the center and we will begin making a larger circle to build on from here
Step 4: Two(2) Double Crochets and chain 1 Alright, here we are in process of making our circle, so what we are going to do is we are going to double crochet 2 times and then chain 1. The chain will make the space we need to help us along in future steps...
Step 5: 3 Double Crochets and chain 1 (3 more times) slip stitch to complete the circle Now we have a circle!! Yippee... but wait I told you we were making Granny Squares right? Ok, bear with me we will get to the square in a minute.
So to make sure we are cool to this point, counting the first 3 chains as one DC (double crochet) you will have 4 sets of 3 double crochets with one chain in between.... clear as mud??
Step 6: Chain 3 and then double crochet 2, chain 1, double crochet 3 and chain 1 in the same hole If you will look at your round you will see 3 double crochets and then a hole/space in between each set of 3. This space is where you will go into to make your next layer or sets of 3. Does this make sense... I am trying!
What you are doing now is building your edges... we can't make this granny square stay a circle any longer, we are going to put some corners on it!
Step 7: Look for next hole, double crochet 3 and chain 1~ 2 times in each hole. (You will do this in each hole till you meet back up with your first set. This will form your first square. Slip Stitch to complete the square and now you are ready to build on.
Step 8: Chain 3, double crochet 2, chain 1 You will notice that there is now a hole between each of the four edges, you are going to do almost the same thing in each hole... meaning you don't want an edge you just want a set of 3 dc's to fill the hole.
So dc three times and chain one and move to your edge.
Step 9: Double Crochet 3 times, chain 1, Double Crochet 3 times, chain 1 in corner hole. Again, you are making corners for this square, you should be catching on to a pattern if I have successfully portrayed this to you. So in each of the corners you are making 3 dc's, chain 1, 3 dc's, chain 1. Simple!
Step 10: Slip stitch to join the square together
Step 11: Finish out your next layer of the square the same way as in Steps 8 and 9, the only difference is you will find 2 holes in the in between each edge this time... no big deal just dc 3 times and chain one in each.
***REMEMBER, your first chain of 3 counts as your first dc in your first set.***
Step 12: All the way baby... go all around just as I told you, come together again, slip stitch and tie off your end. The lady who taught me only does 4 layers, but of course you can do more if you like.
Now you want a bunch of these... so get to it! I don't have nearly as many as I would like to have had done by now, but remember I am teaching myself to hold the crochet needle/hook in the proper way, so I am SLOW JOE right now. Once you get several made you can do all kinds of things with them...
Make them into an afghan by stitching them together, make potholders out of them by putting several layers together on top of each other and stitching, use them as coasters, make a pillow cover, make your dd a doll blanket out of a few... whatever you like.
I hope you enjoyed and understood my attempt of spreading the knowledge that I received this past weekend. If you see a mistake, feel free to email me or message me and I will change it, and now go get your yarn and your hook and go for it! If I can do it YOU can do it!
With Love From My Homestead to Yours,
~Chas~
Chasity L. Burrell
Senior Editor Homesteadblogger Heritage Acres Farm
chives, length of jar height or 1" lengths
1 lemon peel, 1" square
4 peppercorns
3 mustard seeds
white vinegar, to fill
Fill pint jar loosely with chives. Add lemon peel, peppercorns and mustard seeds.
Fill with vinegar. Cover.
Let stand in cool place for 4 weeks. Strain into pretty bottle. Two or three
lengths of chives can be left in botle for looks.
----------------------------------------
Herb Vinegar
2 cups white cider or wine vinegar
1/2 cup chopped fresh herbs, basil, rosemary or tarragon thyme or oregano
3 to 4 whole garlic cloves, optional
1 fresh herb sprig per bottle, optional
1 whole red or green chili per bottle, optional
Place the vinegar in a non-aluminum saucepan and bring to a boil. Place the
chopped herbs in a clean, hot glass jar. Add the garlic. Pour the hot vinegar
over, cover and place in a cool, dark place for 5 days, stirring once a day.
Strain. Add the sprigs of fresh herbs and chili for a zestier taste and garnish.
Store in a cool, dark place for up to 2 months. Refrigerate for longer storage.
Makes: 2 cups
---------------------------------------
Italian Vinegar
I happend upon this really neat photo index for herbs this morning, while attempting to identify a lovely little plant that popped up after our much needed rains.
NaturesHerbal has some links to other "herby" things, too. I found a Poison Ivy Relief kit that my dear friend Debbie needs right this minute!
Speaking of Poison Ivy relief....I am searching, without much success, for Jewelweed seeds. I found a source for plants, but would prefer seeds if possible. If any of you are fortunate enough to have Jewelweed growing wild on your homestead, I would be so very thankful if you would share some seed with me. I will gladly pay for the seeds and the postage if you would be kind enough to send them my way!
Join us on the Front Porch to talk about anything and everything that has to do with homesteading! Catch up on the latest news at HomesteadBlogger. Chat with our Front Porch Team as they blog about their favorite topics. The Front Porch is the heart of our community. Make yourself right at home!
Leslie Valeska is the lucky wife of Thomas. With children ranging in ages from 4-16, she has had a lot of time to learn and experience much of the fine art of homemaking. 
. The greenhouse that a friend "donated to my cause" was in such bad repair that it wasn't worth salvaging, which was very disappointing. Perhaps we just might find room for one of these somewhere in our new yard. 
. The Spring/Summer garden still has peppers producing, tomatoes making a comeback, and 3 Eden's Gem melons that are getting bigger every day 
.
Hello to all our faithful readers... Well, I asked and you supplied. Here is a gathering of all the Christmas Gift Giving Ideas you shared with me... as more come in, I will try and add to this post.
I told you that I was taught how to make a granny square while I was on my Ladies Retreat. It was so much easier for me to learn from the ladies teaching than it was for me to look at a book and try. The picture quality is not wonderful, I just saw some of the pictures I took last night, but hopefully you will get the hang of it as easily as I did and you will be turning out some beautiful squares as well!
Cool, you got that! Alrighty we are on our way! 
Now we have our center, we will build on from there! Woohoo! 
Here we are building out from the center and we will begin making a larger circle to build on from here
Alright, here we are in process of making our circle, so what we are going to do is we are going to double crochet 2 times and then chain 1. The chain will make the space we need to help us along in future steps...
Now we have a circle!! Yippee... but wait I told you we were making Granny Squares right? Ok, bear with me we will get to the square in a minute.
If you will look at your round you will see 3 double crochets and then a hole/space in between each set of 3. This space is where you will go into to make your next layer or sets of 3. Does this make sense... I am trying! 
You will notice that there is now a hole between each of the four edges, you are going to do almost the same thing in each hole... meaning you don't want an edge you just want a set of 3 dc's to fill the hole.
Again, you are making corners for this square, you should be catching on to a pattern if I have successfully portrayed this to you. So in each of the corners you are making 3 dc's, chain 1, 3 dc's, chain 1. Simple!
The lady who taught me only does 4 layers, but of course you can do more if you like. 
I don't have nearly as many as I would like to have had done by now, but remember I am teaching myself to hold the crochet needle/hook in the proper way, so I am SLOW JOE right now. 
Once you get several made you can do all kinds of things with them... 
