Composting!
One major benefit is keeping material out of the landfill. Another is providing good cheaper fertilizer for plants. Still having so much to learn, I am not sure our compost pile is as productive as it should be, but we are only 5-6 months into the whole process. Besides basic food scraps and yard clippings, there are so many things you can keep out of the landfills and this article is a good list. It is informative and creative... I have a whole bag of dryer lint to take out there today.
Also, I am pretty sure I am going to cover my compost "bin" with another pallet to see if it keeps the heat in better in order to accelerate the process. Suggestions?
75 Things You Can Compost, But Thought You Couldn't : Planet Green
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Saturday, May 8, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Updates: My To Do List
My original list is as follows:
I want to
1. get active more, preferably outside.
~I have been running and cross training. 3 5k's so far this season with the goal of a half marathon in the fall. Unfortunately, I am not so into running outside yet. I just find it easier on the treadmill. Not so sustainable, but at least I am getting healthy and giving towards good causes for races.
2. plant a late summer garden.
~This didn't happen last year, but the garden is up. I harvested my first few leaves of Bibb lettuce today, and removed some worm things from the Cauliflower. I have big plans for the back fence with Blueberry, Raspberry, and grapes. I am already thinking of my fall garden crops.
3. start a compost pile.
~Pictures coming soon! We have this up in the back. I turned it today, but haven't seen the progress I would like. I am thinking I need to get some worms?!?!
4. install a rainwater barrel. (engineered out of used materials)
~After a long time of falling short looking for non-plastic re-purposed rain barrels, I have redirected my efforts to reclaiming some food grade drums from good manufacturers.
5. reduce the amount of plastic in my household.
~One way we did this is by making our own laundry detergent. We are still in the beginning stages (I finished the recipe today), so I hope it goes well.
6. reduce our meat consumption by half.
~We do Meatless Monday's, especially in the summer. This is a hard one for my hubs (and myself) because I have been trained my whole life that even spaghetti needs meat to be a meal.
7. change the water heater to a tank-less or geothermal model.
~The only thing hold us back from this is $. Hopefully, the solar panel co I met with last week will be the right avenue for this goal.
8. insulate attic with denim insulation.
~Ditto above, $.
9. install low flow water fixtures.
10.plant some trees on the property. (magnolia and dogwood)
~I have changed my mind and decided to get peach, pear and possibly Apple. I would prefer to get a twig to be rooted than purchasing a plant, and just learned how to make my own root hormone. Thanks Kate!
Working, homemaking, tending to my 3 lovely pups and wonderful husband has made progress on becoming sustainably self sufficient a slow process. Don't forget cash flow. These projects take money or time to hit people up on freecycle.org (which doesn't always pan out). I hope over the late spring and summer to keep planting, harvesting, and coming up with new ideas to reduce our energy consumption.
Other things I would like to look into include:
1. clothes line - it must be where my neighbors can't see it as they are strictly prohibited in our subdivision.
2. baking my own bread
Stay tuned as the list will continue to grow.
I want to
1. get active more, preferably outside.
~I have been running and cross training. 3 5k's so far this season with the goal of a half marathon in the fall. Unfortunately, I am not so into running outside yet. I just find it easier on the treadmill. Not so sustainable, but at least I am getting healthy and giving towards good causes for races.
2. plant a late summer garden.
~This didn't happen last year, but the garden is up. I harvested my first few leaves of Bibb lettuce today, and removed some worm things from the Cauliflower. I have big plans for the back fence with Blueberry, Raspberry, and grapes. I am already thinking of my fall garden crops.
3. start a compost pile.
~Pictures coming soon! We have this up in the back. I turned it today, but haven't seen the progress I would like. I am thinking I need to get some worms?!?!
4. install a rainwater barrel. (engineered out of used materials)
~After a long time of falling short looking for non-plastic re-purposed rain barrels, I have redirected my efforts to reclaiming some food grade drums from good manufacturers.
5. reduce the amount of plastic in my household.
~One way we did this is by making our own laundry detergent. We are still in the beginning stages (I finished the recipe today), so I hope it goes well.
6. reduce our meat consumption by half.
~We do Meatless Monday's, especially in the summer. This is a hard one for my hubs (and myself) because I have been trained my whole life that even spaghetti needs meat to be a meal.
7. change the water heater to a tank-less or geothermal model.
~The only thing hold us back from this is $. Hopefully, the solar panel co I met with last week will be the right avenue for this goal.
8. insulate attic with denim insulation.
~Ditto above, $.
9. install low flow water fixtures.
10.plant some trees on the property. (magnolia and dogwood)
~I have changed my mind and decided to get peach, pear and possibly Apple. I would prefer to get a twig to be rooted than purchasing a plant, and just learned how to make my own root hormone. Thanks Kate!
Working, homemaking, tending to my 3 lovely pups and wonderful husband has made progress on becoming sustainably self sufficient a slow process. Don't forget cash flow. These projects take money or time to hit people up on freecycle.org (which doesn't always pan out). I hope over the late spring and summer to keep planting, harvesting, and coming up with new ideas to reduce our energy consumption.
Other things I would like to look into include:
1. clothes line - it must be where my neighbors can't see it as they are strictly prohibited in our subdivision.
2. baking my own bread
Stay tuned as the list will continue to grow.
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