Taking it steps further...

[ecofilly]

Holy kamoly, batman!
Never thought I'd get this response...maybe it was my sort of disclaimer or the eyerollers simply didn't post. Thank you for all your replies!

I'll respond to all best I can...

irishcream4me -will look into dairy cow or goat info...thanks! this is an area we are still in the early stages of and because the bottled milk is so darn expensive, we'd like to see what else we could do!

Amum -we sometimes revert backwards in some areas then have new-found commitment...I think that's normal when consumerism and packaging is all around us. I liked many of the tightwad gazette but found we'd already eliminated the need for a lot of the things they were replacing/saving on, etc, so many of the tips were moot. I think I do tend to be conscious of moola spent and I think everyone is happier with less stuff and less clutter, so a blog or newsletter that focused on overall reducing our need for convenience and stuff with an slant on being more conscious and connected could be in order -even as more of a journal for me to look back on!

Annikki -I too find that although dh is on board that he is a little more comfortable with what he's used to, especially re: having filler starch/bread with meals or for snacks and holding onto items he never uses. Overall he's a rockstar, so I don't mean to complain... What kind of fruit trees do you have? What do you grow in your garden?

tracy -not sure where dh bought the crab trap but I know they sell them all over...his prawn trap he bought from a little shop further out on the peninsula -guy makes them himself, and he sells locally made fishing stuff, etc. I'll ask dh for more info...

Sunnygirl -I had TW and I did love it, it didn't suite my needs anymore since we weren't buying a lot of the things I was putting in them anymore. I sold them as a lot to maximize my resell amount. I kept my four large cereal containers (one for the all-purpose anita's flour I still have, the other for the metchosin ww flour, one for slow oats, one for the homemade granola), and my two largest superovals though (for California jasmine or basmati rice and other grains)! I needed more large containers, so got a couple large glass jars, and I just use the mason jars for the stuff I still buy in in smaller amounts (baking soda, baking powder, cane sugar, coconut, chocolate chips, popcorn, wild rice blend, different dried beans -that's all I can think of off the top of my head). I never thought about the earthquake aspect, but I must admit, although we have supplies and are fairly prepared, the thought of them tumbling out of the cupboards didn't occur to me. I suppose it's the same as the breakable dishes we have in the cupboards though...maybe I should just get some of those child latches ??? Thanks for the heads up! (Psst, I got most of the mason jars free online and at the local thrift shop!)

-Shawna C. -you are too kind! Whoa! (Psst: I'm in awe at your drive! And you and your family are beautiful inside and out!) Thank you.

-otxena -We eat meat of some kind at about 3-5 meals per week, and the meat is more of an accessory to the meal, so no huge steaks or whole chicken breast, etc. Right now, I think if we bought one chunk of cow or lamb it would last us the whole year, but I'd need to look into the quantity. I'm aware of the methane, and how going veg is an option...what are the reasons you don't don't like the beef consumption? Anything I should read?

No impact man is on netflix and is an easy watch...
We made our own yogurt growing up, and I think we'll get there soonish, we're just looking into the containers we'd keep it in, etc...it's not very difficult from what I remember!
As for the milk -it's sort of like the meat for us...it's more of an accessory. No one's guzzling big glasses all day long, hee hee. With our new vitamix, I can make our own almond milk, so maybe I'll give that a try!

OnceHarmony -I think this is an area we'll continue to grow in too...I'm a bit of a snob I guess too, as I've found product I really love and don't know that I could replicate them! (The lavender scrub from Avalon Organics, the acne system from Nature's Gate, the gentle face wash from Silk Road, green tea shampoo by Aubrey Organics, and the odd other one.) We do use lemon juice on stains for bleaching but haven't found another natural method we love, so I've got a bottle of Stain Free that will last me forever and it's refillable...I know I'll have it at least a year before needing to refill. What's your hair type or what do you like in a shampoo -maybe I can suggest a more natural version of what you already use???

***If anyone has a more "feminine" scent for a natural deoderant that works, I'd love to hear it -the only one that seems to do the trick is men's stock natural dry pine from Aubrey Organics, lol!***

Olive -I thought about this a lot actually...I ended up going with Castile soap which I use in various forms and disillusion throughout the house. I reused a foam pump container, added a tiny amount in the bottle and topped with water, and voila! We do have a an ensuite bathroom with a soap dish that fits over the small sink (ikea), so whenever we get bar soaps for a gift, we do use it in there! I think I would really enjoy making soap and candles for gifts more often, and keeping the "rejects" for our use, lol! Is there a website you get your recipe/inspiration from? Is there something about the liquid Castile soap I'm missing, or is it just a preference thing?

Oh ya, the supplements -I think if you eat well, you don't need them, but I agree with a few authors who have written something to the effect of "be like someone who would take supplements but then save you money." Generally those who take supplements are more educated about their health and make healthier choices all around. I don't believe in the fashion in which many of the supplements are derived, and I think whole foods work better for delivering nutrients than isolated versions. kwim? I've been reading about fish liver oils versus fish oils (and their link largely to farmed fish) and am weighing in shortly on that... The short is that we get outdoors and we eat a full rainbow of foods. (PS All those years of essay writing must have paid off a bit...if I'm getting complimented on my writing when I'm barely trying to string thoughts together and without editing to boot, lol!)

MizJennaKH -thank you, lol!

Peter and M -you guys are a huge source of inspiration for us and have been unbelievably kind in offering up so many resources and ideas over the years! I will check out the blog and books you've mentioned. I remember M suggesting the "Make the Bread, Buy the Butter" book but I forgot about it until now -eek! Thanks for the reminder! Sounds like it would be ideal for where we're at!
Maybe by the time you're on your next order, we'll take you up on joining...
Have bought the dry grain jug for the vitamix, but am not sure if we'll keep it, or where we're going with the grains...reading a lot about traditional grains, and trying to figure out which ones we'll continue eating and in what form, etc. Right now we've just been buying bulk slow oat flakes, barley flakes, millet, some amaranth, some puffed quinoa, etc for our granola. We eat barley with our wild rice too but need to recommit to trying quinoa again I think...we weren't huge fans of the recipes we tried once upon a time, ha ha!
Ooo, I have a few friends interested in the sweet potato slips -I'll have to keep on alert on used vic for that!
I'm just buying cold-pressed organic extra virgin olive oil at the moment but am investigating others too...don't know that we'll plan to press our own, but that would be amazing! Good for you guys for your effort there!!
It seems like we only use our vitamix, kitchen aid stand mixer and air popper for electricity, "small" appliance-wise.
We'll have to look into bees and butchering in the future too...
Then I'll think about candle making if it's logical to sacrifice some of our own bee's handywork!
So much more to go, eh?!
Thanks again for all the ideas and resources!!

chanterelle -Thanks! I'll check out those books too -thank you, again!!

kruk -thanks!!

this beautiful bliss -It's never ending thing it seems to get re-motivated and keep taking steps forward...though we revert back or slack every once in a while. I've said it before -I'm no purist!!
One of the things I really am keen on learning about is wild eatables! There are things all around us we could be harvesting! We went to the mushroom festival in cowichan last year, and that was cool...though I'm still nervous about accidentally poisoning us!
Thank you!

Will consider blogging, journaling or the like...I'll be sure to update y'all on any thing else we discover!
You kind words are all very inspiring and help enormously! I am sincerely grateful for your responses!

Cheers,
Sarah

[Annikki]

Annikki -I too find that although dh is on board that he is a little more comfortable with what he's used to, especially re: having filler starch/bread with meals or for snacks and holding onto items he never uses. Overall he's a rockstar, so I don't mean to complain... What kind of fruit trees do you have? What do you grow in your garden?

We have a pear tree which produces a lot of pears. We dry a large lot of them in our dehyrator.

We have a plum tree and often make jelly and jam out of them along with eating them. the plum tree is hit and miss, we get a good batch ever second year.

We also planted a cherry tree a few years ago and right now only produce enough to snack on.

We have a grape vine and mostly just eat them....they can be left on the vine for a long time into the fall.

Garden Plans:

Variety of lettuce and Kale....we a lot of salad in the summer.
Tomatos
Potatos
Peas and Beans
Carrots
Green Onions and Onions
Pumpkin
Zucchini
Cucumber

We do not spray or fruit trees nore treat anything in our yard with chemicals.

Have you tried the Rock Salt deordants.....this has been a tough one for me too...It's hard to find ones that work...this one seems to be the most successful so far.....I do find myself having to pull out the secret once and awhile.

[ecofilly]

Have you tried the Rock Salt deordants.....this has been a tough one for me too...It's hard to find ones that work...this one seems to be the most successful so far.....I do find myself having to pull out the secret once and awhile.

I've tried it in the past, but will give it another try...since having my second child (he's almost 5!), I stink so easily! So, yes, every once in a while, I have to break out the manly pine one, or a chemically lady speed stick in the name of vanity, errr to keep my friends, lol!

We have two tiny pear trees (we got 4 last year, lol!), 5 apple trees, a cherry tree, and two young Italian prune plums that have yet to produce anything. I'd like to get a hazelnut and/or a fig!

Your garden sounds great! You might try some raised strawberry beds -they're pretty hassle-free! Blueberry shrubs are also super easy and produce well! We just added our raspberries a few days ago so I hope they do well!
Oooo...can't wait for strawberries!! We just ran out of our reserves a couple weeks ago and bought some frozen ones from Dan's yesterday when we couldn't wait any longer, ha ha!

Happy gardening!

[Olives]

Oh ya, the supplements -I think if you eat well, you don't need them, but I agree with a few authors who have written something to the effect of "be like someone who would take supplements but then save you money."

I think most people take supplements (myself included) because we don't absorb them through food for various reasons. I would love to "save my money" if I could. I just want to point out that many people have the wrong impression about why people take them.

[PandaBaby]

otxena -We eat meat of some kind at about 3-5 meals per week, and the meat is more of an accessory to the meal, so no huge steaks or whole chicken breast, etc. Right now, I think if we bought one chunk of cow or lamb it would last us the whole year, but I'd need to look into the quantity. I'm aware of the methane, and how going veg is an option...what are the reasons you don't don't like the beef consumption? Anything I should read?

According to Kathy Freston (The Veganist) and Michael Pollen (Omnivore's Dilemma), poultry (raised in battery cages and closed barns) is actually more problematic than beef cattle if you start looking at how they're raised, etc. For some people that's splitting hairs. But most cattle spend at least part of their lives grazing on the range before they're finished on feed lots. Most chickens spend their entire, short lives in light/climate controlled barns. For people who are interested in leaning into a vegan/veg lifestyle, Freston actually recommends cutting back on poultry first. Personally, I have a really hard time eating super market pork due to the way it's raised. If we do buy pork or ham, we try to support local farmers with smaller scale operations.

I realize this isn't purely environmental, but I often feel the two areas go hand in hand.

[ecofilly]

Oh ya, the supplements -I think if you eat well, you don't need them, but I agree with a few authors who have written something to the effect of "be like someone who would take supplements but then save you money."

I think most people take supplements (myself included) because we don't absorb them through food for various reasons. I would love to "save my money" if I could. I just want to point out that many people have the wrong impression about why people take them.

Sorry -I'm sure there are many folks who take them for issues related to absorption...I didn't intend to come across flippant. I don't know much about the medical details, as I'm blessed to be able to eat any food without issue. I imagine it would be a frustrating situation to struggle to get what you need.

I do personally know many people who take supplements because they fear their diet is incomplete, or because they want to be healthier, or because they want to ward off illness, etc.

Kindly,
S

[ecofilly]

According to Kathy Freston (The Veganist) and Michael Pollen (Omnivore's Dilemma), poultry (raised in battery cages and closed barns) is actually more problematic than beef cattle if you start looking at how they're raised, etc. For some people that's splitting hairs. But most cattle spend at least part of their lives grazing on the range before they're finished on feed lots. Most chickens spend their entire, short lives in light/climate controlled barns. For people who are interested in leaning into a vegan/veg lifestyle, Freston actually recommends cutting back on poultry first. Personally, I have a really hard time eating super market pork due to the way it's raised. If we do buy pork or ham, we try to support local farmers with smaller scale operations.

I realize this isn't purely environmental, but I often feel the two areas go hand in hand.

I haven't read Freston -will check it out, thanks!

We may have raise our own meat birds soon, but in the meantime we've cut back hard and will be supporting a local farm we've bought at lots before: Phil's Farm on Oldfield Rd. The chicken are actually pasture fed, even though they are much better at tolerating grains than cow.

For those that don't know, there are a number of small farms around that offer nicely raised meats of all kinds -the VI farm fresh guide has most of them listed...the new one should be out anytime now or check out their webpage.

[Peter]

I haven't read Freston -will check it out, thanks!

We may have raise our own meat birds soon, but in the meantime we've cut back hard and will be supporting a local farm we've bought at lots before: Phil's Farm on Oldfield Rd. The chicken are actually pasture fed, even though they are much better at tolerating grains than cow.

For those that don't know, there are a number of small farms around that offer nicely raised meats of all kinds -the VI farm fresh guide has most of them listed...the new one should be out anytime now or check out their webpage.

[/quote]
This is a great post ecofilly.

Phil's Farm birds aren't only pasture fed. M asked to see their feed bags. We don't buy there.

Olives makes a good point about supplements and absorption. We believe diet is the best source but we've seen that it's not always enough. A major diet shift in our society would no doubt reduce a lot of health problems.

Here's a couple of blogs M thought you might like, www.commonsensehome.com and www.foodinjars.com

We have 10 small blueberry bushes in pots and got quite a few blueberries last year but not enough for the year. We still do a bulk order from Ruby Red Farms.

We use a couple of large Tupperware containers for storage but replaced the rest with large glass. We did think about earthquakes but we're more concerned about plastic. We have some Tupperware for sale though if anyone else wants some. There is always something new to worry about like plastics or lead in dishes, teenagers make up, garden hoses or Christmas lights. We just buy less and less.

[Annikki]

Naturally Fresh with Aloe is the deoderant I use. It's mineral salt and aloe.

[lyn]

ecofilly, may I purpose an idea? How about some trades with your friends. I'm thinking eggs, prawns and crab for hugs and high fives?

[Creedation Wear]

My hat is off to you ecofilly.
One thing I did years ago was raise our own rabbits, they are high in protein and low in cholesteral. I did give the children each their own "pet" which we never ate, so when they were looking after their pet, they also brought out "friends" for them to free range in our small city yard. It made chores easier and more fun for them.
I did learn to hunt and fish and loved having the pantry filled with my home canned, smoked, dried,and frozen.
I read all the frugal and pioneer books and put into practice as much as I could.
I learned to sew, knit, bake and can and any other skills I could learn.
Then I got tired of being the "freak", the "nut" and fell into doing what everyone else was doing just to save all the flack(I was the only one committed to this lifestyle in the family and among my friends) but inside it still felt wrong for me.
Then a few years ago I started getting back to my norm,starting out slowly as not to upset the apple cart.....
I guess that's why, like others have suggested, I think you should start a blog locally, where those of us with like minds and hearts, can feel we're not the only ones trying to make a difference and where ones just starting on that road can get some suggestions, even when we live in the city dwellings. Where we can encourage one another and give suggestions...even little ones, like darning socks....so our life style is our style of life.

[Peter]

Auntie90times, "freak" skills are the best skills to have in a bad economy. I don't think you're a freak though. It's healthier and makes sense.

[organic momma]

Sar, we have been simply too busy with life to be "on track" but a few recent events in life have recommitted us as a family to have the farm food connection.

We have increased our poultry by adding quail and ducks as well as more layers or hope is to soon stomach meat birds including duck quail and chickens.

We are increasing our yard food production (not the easiest to do when you live on wisteria lane)

Planting more fruit (sadly no matter what we plant we will never have any make it into the house with the kids around)

Starting our seeds rather than plants (goal is to learn how to save our own seeds)

We have been exposed to natural fermentation and will learn more about this as it is such a tasty healthy way to store cheap bulk veggies

We buy bulk ethically raised beef birds and salmon

This summer we plan on looking into beekeeping and hope to set up a aquaponics system in our garage for fish and fresh veggies all winter long.

Hopefully G will buy a large boat, we have the traps and will crab again this summer.

Where we suck is on the natural products as we have been to busy to wrap our heads around it but maybe someone I know can give me a list of things to buy and come over and show me what to do

I may never be able to give up my Kate Spade shoe addiction anytime soon but am loving all the ideas presented and feeling inspired

[Barbie]

I think you a truly amazing!!! A blog would be awesome!!

[Elisitas Photography]

we have tried to do crabbing but have not actually managed to catch any! Are there good areas to go? We area also looking into fishing, but need the appropriate boat for something like that.