Maple Grove Farm

How We Cut Down on Garbage

We have much less garbage than many people and until the disposable diapers, we burned almost all of our garbage.  The first thing I did was stop using paper towel.  We now use inexpensive white cotton wash cloths.  I get packs of 25 at K-Mart for $2.99.  We use them in the kitchen and wash them with whites.  When they start to get dingy I move them to the rag drawer to be used to wipe up bathrooms or clean up floors. 

The next change we made was to stop using paper napkins.  I bought inexpensive cloth napkins and we use them for 3-4 days and then they are changed.  Since we have assigned seats at the table, people are using the same one for several days which doesn't bother us.  If they get reall dirty we change them out.

After that change we stopped buying kleenex.  One of my friends thought this was gross, but we began using hankerchiefs.  I got 100% cotton hankerchiefs in 12 packs from K-Mart for just a few dollars.  Three packs serves our family of 8.  We wash them in hot water with borax to disinfect and then iron them.  They are folded and stored in a decorative dispenser that use to hold boxes of tissues. 

I wrote in my previous post about cutting back on diapers and disposable wipes.  The other change that I am currently working on is cutting back on the use of sandwich bags to pack lunches.  I have made several investments in disposable containers for sandwiches and other items that get packed in lunches.  I seem to be having trouble with them always getting back home and in to the cupboard.  I usually start out with all items in containers (3) and then slowly work my way backward until I am using all plastic bags again.  I have tried re-using plastic bags and it just does not work for me.

I do not categorize myself as an environmentalist but I do know that our pre-packaged lifestyle here in America is impacting the amounts of trash we put into landfills.  We need to keep our land pure and our soil clean so that we can continue to nourish our families from it.

Diapering Babies

I have three children in diapers ages 6 months, 20 months, and 30 months.  We refer to these three children as the Littles.  When the Littles first came to live with us I knew that I wanted to use cloth diapers, but felt overwhelmed with all that diapering and getting up to speed in a short period of time.  I stocked up on disposables and couldn't believe how many diapers we went through.  We never even had garbage service until I had to start throwing out all those diapers.   

After a month I couldn't take it anymore.  We are now using cloth diapers at home as much as possible and only disposables when I take the children to care during the day.  I am having a few challenges in finding rubber pants for the 6 month old, but I bought a cloth system to use as coverings so at least we have something.  I tried making some of those cute flannel diapers with velcro that people talk about online, but my sewing machine was having fits.  In the end I sewed some velcro on some prefold cloth diapers and it is working just fine.  We are getting there.

Today we make the switch to cloth diaper wipes.  I disolved a bar of homemade soap in 1 quart of hot water.  After it cools it will be poured on to some cotton washcloths I bought.  I bought colored ones to help hide the stains and to differentiate between the white wash cloths we use for cleaning.  I will just put these cloths in the diaper pail and wash them altogether.  My only concern is that they will not be soft enough on the their little bottoms, but the other wipes are drying my hands out horribly so it can't be good for them.

Happy homesteading  . . .

Sewing Away the Winter

I have managed to incorporate some sewing tasks into my evening routine this week.  I have finished cutting out a dress for me and have the bodice sewed.  I will probably put the skirt together tonight.  I also mended the girls' dresses I finished on the weekend since they ripped out seams already.  Finally, I was able to finish cutting out another jumper for dd9.

My goal is to finish 7 jumpers for each dd9 and dd7 as well as 2 culottes each before June.  I also need to finish about the same amount of dresses for myself.  I don't allow myself to sew or do needle projects (knitting and crocheting) in the summer during gardening and canning seasons.  Everything in it's own time or I won't get it all done.  I always have trouble getting started with winter projects though and it feels like spring before I am even in the swing of things.

Getting my garden planned and the seeds ordered is a critical project that is not yet completed.  I need to finish that by the first of February.  I have a few tincture extractions that need to be bottled also and herbs cleaned up that are drying in the canning kitchen.  That is truly a naptime project.

I have begun to bake again.  I made muffins last night to have with breakfast this morning.  I have been buying most of our bread these past several weeks, but I really need to begin fulfilling our bread needs myself.  The challenge is not only the limited time but the increased amount of baking needs that we have.

This is also the time of year when I try to get stocked up on canned beans, stock, and soups.  With a good supply of these items on hand, I can prepare meals quicker during the summer when I would rather be working on different projects.  We still need to get the pigs butchered, but I am not sure when the weather and our schedules will cooperate to get that done.  I would rather wait until we have the time to do it properly.