tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43797158619342977702024-03-13T08:12:00.069-07:00The Green FamilyWe are a family of 5 trying to live a more "green" life. I will share our journey with you the good and the bad; our adventures and misadventures. Along the way I will share any resources that I think will help us all be better stewards.Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4379715861934297770.post-42475012503609772322011-03-25T08:46:00.000-07:002011-03-25T09:08:27.580-07:00Organic Gardening, Does it Cost too much? ( Part 3)<strong><span style="font-size: small;">How to garden organically without spending a lot of money</span></strong><br />
So You have decided to give organic gardening a try? <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Where do you start?</strong></span><br />
Start small, if you want. No matter what size yard you have, you can always start small, whether you have just a balcony or 10 acres. You have start somewhere. <a href="http://http//www.amazon.com/Lasagna-Gardening-Small-Spaces-Containers/dp/0875968864" target="_blank">container gardening</a> works very well for organic gardening. You don’t need to buy any special containers, just use what you have. Tomatoes can be grown on the patio in a <a href="http://www.topsygardening.com/" target="_blank">topsy turvy planter</a>. <br />
<a href="http://http//www.topsygardening.com/"><img align="right" alt="topsy_callout" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYoyCGvdzLI/AAAAAAAABEQ/xRxzUX25GJE/topsy_callout%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="topsy_callout" width="91" /></a><br />
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When Green daddy and I were first married we lived in a t townhouse with a small patio. This patio had a little strip of dirt about four square feet. Between containers and this little strip of land I grew enough tomatoes and basil to make my own spaghetti sauce. Yum, yum. nothing tastes better than fresh pasta sauce. <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Where do you plant?</strong></span><br />
You can begin by planting in containers or as <a href="http://frugalgranola.com/2011/03/edible-landscaping-food-in-the-flower-bed/" target="_blank">Frugal Granola</a> did plant in your existing flower beds. If you choose the later then you are following a time honored tradition of English gardens. Some people prefer to make raised beds, but you do not have to have special beds for herbs or vegetables. Green daddy’s grandma puts her tomatoes in with her zinnias and marigolds. They have a fancy name for this now, Edible Landscaping.<br />
If you want to start small try containers. They are a great way to start you can move them, keep them close to the kitchen or back door, wherever you want them.<br />
Every day items make great containers for planting in. I might have to try some of these. <br />
<a href="http://thedesignfiles.net/2010/02/melbourne-home-lucy-king/"><img alt="Lucy-garden-3" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYoyDHuzg4I/AAAAAAAABEU/xuJQxnVfxr4/Lucy-garden-3%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Lucy-garden-3" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYoyD4T8wDI/AAAAAAAABEY/JPgPFMxfhP4/s1600-h/water%20buckets%20as%20plant%20containers%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="water buckets as plant containers" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYoyE6-RxGI/AAAAAAAABEc/kp9YV4WqVsM/water%20buckets%20as%20plant%20containers_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="water buckets as plant containers" width="244" /></a><a href="http://www.roomu.net/exterior/container-gardening-apartments-or-condos.html"><img alt="container_gardening_1_0" border="0" height="165" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYoyFxA04CI/AAAAAAAABEg/O0j0qp379Z8/container_gardening_1_0%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="container_gardening_1_0" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYoyHGDj8DI/AAAAAAAABEk/xxbnvBKTqSo/s1600-h/container%20gardening%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="container gardening" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYoyJV6hQYI/AAAAAAAABEo/EToBwOJnIDA/container%20gardening_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="container gardening" width="184" /></a><br />
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<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What to Plant?</span></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;">So you ask, I am ready to plant what should I plant? In no particular order here are some of the easiest to grow, yes even from seed. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BExA3_oP730/TYo-IcsG1uI/AAAAAAAABF0/e7ppwztpAWs/s1600/220px-GarlicBasket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BExA3_oP730/TYo-IcsG1uI/AAAAAAAABF0/e7ppwztpAWs/s1600/220px-GarlicBasket.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">garlic </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iMSHw1dbcas/TYo-I-NZcaI/AAAAAAAABF4/Eg95Ytixnjg/s1600/Beets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iMSHw1dbcas/TYo-I-NZcaI/AAAAAAAABF4/Eg95Ytixnjg/s320/Beets.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beets</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7MNbvErFpLY/TYo-JsG35gI/AAAAAAAABF8/qbKdEq1a4Lg/s1600/CDC_greenbean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7MNbvErFpLY/TYo-JsG35gI/AAAAAAAABF8/qbKdEq1a4Lg/s1600/CDC_greenbean.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beans all types</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vRS5LMkCuc0/TYo-LYZw_QI/AAAAAAAABGA/AvUX3MJzTAM/s1600/Lettuce-Garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vRS5LMkCuc0/TYo-LYZw_QI/AAAAAAAABGA/AvUX3MJzTAM/s320/Lettuce-Garden.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lettuces and spinaches </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3_i6VWKsMJM/TYo-MrKFh4I/AAAAAAAABGE/CTmvtcRVCt4/s1600/planter-tomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3_i6VWKsMJM/TYo-MrKFh4I/AAAAAAAABGE/CTmvtcRVCt4/s320/planter-tomatoes.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tomatoes</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QL1bRRmcXqw/TYo-NgrEahI/AAAAAAAABGI/yauxstV6NGw/s1600/radishes-in-season-garden-250x333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QL1bRRmcXqw/TYo-NgrEahI/AAAAAAAABGI/yauxstV6NGw/s320/radishes-in-season-garden-250x333.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">radishes </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-__m9OlTmAGQ/TYo-OI1x_GI/AAAAAAAABGM/JQ_n2xgbeII/s1600/swisschard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-__m9OlTmAGQ/TYo-OI1x_GI/AAAAAAAABGM/JQ_n2xgbeII/s1600/swisschard.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">swiss chard </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZK9kl3SjAmI/TYo-PYGTZZI/AAAAAAAABGQ/uKZFxs0WC2A/s1600/Texas+SuperSweet+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZK9kl3SjAmI/TYo-PYGTZZI/AAAAAAAABGQ/uKZFxs0WC2A/s320/Texas+SuperSweet+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">onions </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tqJxvLxZ8QI/TYo-ScrfKtI/AAAAAAAABGU/40R7_dpLpec/s1600/tomatillos.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tqJxvLxZ8QI/TYo-ScrfKtI/AAAAAAAABGU/40R7_dpLpec/s320/tomatillos.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tomatillos</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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I planted my onions, red and yellow, kale, spinach and some lettuces this past weekend in our new garden bed. We also planted some chives and cilantro. After a long absence from fruits in the garden, my 6 year old convinced me to try raspberries and blackberries. We will be adding tomatoes basil. probably sage and rosemary too. I am hoping to have a beautiful vegetable garden that fits into our front yard. I know I have 5 acres but I have decided that I like my garden close to my kitchen. <br />
More to come be sure to check out the next posting in this blog. <strong>How much do I spend a year gardening? </strong><br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYoySVT9yMI/AAAAAAAABFE/rZtFxtXbwUo/s1600-h/radishes-in-season-garden-250x333%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYoydQYuVxI/AAAAAAAABFk/tOrnxsKGGz8/s1600-h/planter-tomatoes%5B3%5D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">t</a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;"></span></strong>Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4379715861934297770.post-48386984614429607912011-03-22T14:33:00.000-07:002011-03-22T21:42:16.225-07:00Organic Gardening, does it cost too much? (part 2)How to garden organically without spending a lot of cash <br />
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Recycling your yard and kitchen waste <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYeQuLKm4xI/AAAAAAAABD4/JWMt-qrwtyk/s1600-h/IMG_3155-1%5B3%5D.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="IMG_3155-1" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYeQwZauFJI/AAAAAAAABD8/q-Jaz5J132Y/IMG_3155-1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3155-1" width="184" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my son adding to the compost bucket</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Okay, so you have collected your kitchen and yard waste and have built a good compost pile. NOW what do you do with it? Some people will buy a composting bin. I use an old trash can with holes in it, for drainage that gets dragged around the yard till full.<br />
( I have had to train the garbage men not to take my yard waste. )<br />
In the past I had my dear husband build me a compost bin. We wisely used old pallets to build it so that the air could circulate around and it.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYeQy8xhljI/AAAAAAAABEA/S-oa_KzG4yQ/s1600-h/compost-bins-made-from-pallets%5B2%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="compost-bins-made-from-pallets" border="0" height="150" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYeQ00mwrgI/AAAAAAAABEE/mU-Ymb_Vj2Y/compost-bins-made-from-pallets_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="compost-bins-made-from-pallets" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">open pallet compost bins easy to make </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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As time went on I found that turning a pile this size was not always easy, and in the fall I would outgrow the bin. For ideas on various methods of composting look <a href="http://www.howtocompost.org/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<div align="left">I soon changed to the compost pile method and I hid the pile out of view of visitors This worked for a while until I wanted to landscape a new area. So I turned that hillside into a compost pile. After about a year I moved the compost off that section onto a new section of the hillside and started filling in the newly uncovered richly amended soil. I had discovered composting in place. Each year I would move the compost pile to the next area to be landscaped. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYeQ2og77HI/AAAAAAAABEI/9BWa1GvRLjw/s1600-h/turning%20compost%20.jpg%5B2%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="turning compost .jpg" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYeQ5NqfpaI/AAAAAAAABEM/zhuYpCj-geg/turning%20compost%20.jpg_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="turning compost .jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">open compost pile in an expansion area of garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Composting in place was an efficient way for me to uti<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0875969623&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>lize the compost pile and amend the soil at the same time. . This is also called <a href="http://www.lasagnagardening.com/" target="_blank">lasagna gardening</a>. Patricia Lanza has written a great book on this gardening method. Lasagna Gardening is not designing a garden for the purpose of making lasagna. It is is in a nutshell the layering of your organic matter in a particular way to build raised beds. No you don’t need to buy fancy railroad ties to build your beds because you are not filling them in. Your will be building from the ground up. If you are thinking about starting Lasagna Gardening is a great, easy, cheap way to get started. If you already garden it is a great adjunct. No real materials are needed, just yard waste and kitchen scraps and you have those already. The best part of lasagna gardening is that you don’t have to wait for the beds to decompose. You can go ahead and plant right in the compost piles. I always have volunteers pop up in my compost piles.<br />
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I am participating in The Family Blog Hop over at Family Friendly Frugality<br />
<a href="http://www.familyfriendlyfrugality.com/2011/03/family-blog-hop-march-22-2011/">Family Friendly Frugality </a>Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4379715861934297770.post-73388606177337563002011-03-20T19:44:00.000-07:002011-03-22T06:07:04.685-07:00Organic Gardening, Does it cost too much?<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0009JDIL0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
How to garden organically without spending a lot of cash. <br />
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This is the first in a series of posts on Frugal Organic Gardening<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYa3wAm_VlI/AAAAAAAABDg/A74Q_HztAQg/s1600-h/images%20%282%29%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="images (2)" border="0" height="229" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYa3xZVDN1I/AAAAAAAABDk/7Lbq0-JlFaA/images%20%282%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="images (2)" width="229" /></a><br />
I have just spent most of our Spring Break working on our garden beds. Cleaning out perennial beds turning one garden from an ornamental garden into a “pretty”, we hope vegetable and herb garden. Need I say that I believe in organic gardening? Earlier I was discussing with some acquaintances that I was putting in an organic garden. Responses varied from I couldn’t do that the dogs would dig it up. to doesn’t that cost a lot to do? <br />
It occurs to me that my view of organic gardening is different from some others out there. For me organic gardening is not that expensive in terms of resources. I suppose if you purchase your basic supplies, but in my mind that is not in the spirit of being green. Remember<strong><em> <span style="color: green;">Reduce, Reuse Recycle </span></em></strong><span style="color: black;"><strong><em>?</em></strong> For me organic gardening starts in the kitchen. What you ask? I compost, so therefore for me I garden while I am cooking, while I am cleaning out the fridge. Huh? Well, let me explain as I was telling my kids compost is an organic gardener’s best friend, well at least mine. For me in starts here. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Plow-Hearth-Ceramic-Compost-Crock/dp/B0009JDIL0?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Ceramic Compost Crock" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0009JDIL0&tag=widgetsamazon-20" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">kitchen composting crock</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black;">I have one of these sitting on the kitchen counter. It is called a kitchen composting crock. I simply save my kitchen scraps each day, minus any meat and bones. When the crock is full it the next step is to take it here. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYa31Rt1RTI/AAAAAAAABDw/puKwsXoPdsY/s1600-h/images%20%283%29%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="images (3)" border="0" height="135" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYa32o77DlI/AAAAAAAABD0/hgkX__JhJXE/images%20%283%29_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="images (3)" width="201" /></a> My compost pile. This is where I put the kitchen scraps. ashes from the fireplace, coffee grounds, tea bags, paper, cardboard boxes (broken down), dust from the vacuum cleaner, debris from the garden, yes even the lint from the dryer. All this costs me next to nothing. I did purchase the crock but until this year I used a bowl or a plastic pitcher. I figure this not only is being a good steward by recycling my waste but it saves me money int hat I don't have to buy any organic material to amend my soil.<br />
<span style="color: black;"></span>Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4379715861934297770.post-22980310047839080922011-03-17T20:05:00.000-07:002011-04-04T20:29:44.496-07:00My New Solar Dryer<div align="left">Here at the Green Family we like to keep things easy while being green. Some of our green activities this spring have included hanging up laundry to dry. I usually drag my feet each spring getting back out to do this but once I get in the habit of hanging up the laundry outside. I was lucky enough to inherit a clothesline with my house. </div><div align="left"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYLpxaQKHMI/AAAAAAAABCw/jiylPGA8Wac/s1600-h/IMG_3145-1%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3145-1" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYLpygTNzsI/AAAAAAAABC0/GX-wQh2noD0/IMG_3145-1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3145-1" width="244" /></a><br clear="all" />And oh what a clothes line it is. It has four lines to it. When weather conditions are right I can dry clothes faster out here than in the dryer. We all know that a washing machine finishes a load faster than the dryer. Given that fact, I can have two loads of laundry out on the clothes line dry faster than I can have one load of laundry in the washing machine. As a matter of point. today I had some of the clothes on the line dry faster than I could get the next load out there. We expanded our clothes line last year from the two lines you see to four and since then I have never been able to completely fill the line, as the clothes dry faster than I can wash four loads. </div><div align="left">I could go on about the joys and benefits of line drying but instead I will highlight only a handful</div><ul><li> <div align="left">Line drying saves you energy = cost savings. The dryer is one of the top three energy users in your home. You can figure your cost to run an electric dryer <a href="http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/dryers.html" target="_blank">here</a>. In my case it costs me about $206 a year to run my electric dryer. I happen to live where energy costs are low but I do more above average laundry. Go figure 3 active kids, live on a farm. (I just don’t know where the dirty clothes come from –hehe).</div></li>
</ul><div align="left"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYLp0e5vV4I/AAAAAAAABC4/UvWmWrOob7Q/s1600-h/IMG_3153%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3153" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYLp1pxsHTI/AAAAAAAABC8/mmVUlMQl0gc/IMG_3153_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3153" width="184" /></a></div><ul><li>Line drying saves your clothes. Clothes that are line dried last longer. Did you ever stop to think about what lint really is or where it comes from? It is from your clothes. The dryer is causing wear and tear on your clothes. </li>
<li>Hanging up your clothes is an excuse to go outside a couple of times a day, and when the weather is nice we need all the reasons we can get to go outside</li>
<li>Even if you only use your clothesline when the seasons and weather permit, you will save significantly, we figure we have prolonged the life of our dryer but letting it sit idle most of each summer. ( In order to keep up with laundry I need to wash at least one load a day, therefore on inclement weather days I will use the dryer to keep my sanity.)</li>
<li>When you line dry your clothes, they smell great. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYLp3yxDEhI/AAAAAAAABDA/L9pxq_g2zDA/s1600-h/IMG_3148%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3148" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYLp5A14oAI/AAAAAAAABDE/cADqbA0pmN0/IMG_3148_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3148" width="244" /></a></li>
<li>Line drying your whites is a great alternative to bleaching them. If you clothesline gets a lot of sun the sun will bleach your clothes for you. No more using liquid bleach! Whoo Hoo! Alternatively if you have dark clothing that you do not want the sun to bleach dry them on a line in the shade, turning them inside out works well also. </li>
<li>If you iron your clothes line drying will eliminate or reduce your need to iron. Drying your button down shirts buttoned up and upside down will leave them mostly wrinkle free. As for pants hang them folded at the crease and from the bottom for dress slacks. I have found that this does not increase the drying time significantly and one does not have a folded crease across the legs. </li>
<li>Folding laundry is so much easier when you are taking it down off a line versus pulling it out of a dryer. <strong><em>No stooping. </em></strong></li>
<li>There is no need to buy dryer sheets = another money $avings If you find the clothes a bit stiff to your liking simply add about a half cup of white vinegar to your washing machine. <strong><em>Bonus – </em></strong>The vinegar will disinfect and remove some of the lingering odors <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYLp64DiWFI/AAAAAAAABDI/4YZOHagq9Bc/s1600-h/glaubig-familyjpg-0bf9f534ac7b2939_large%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="glaubig-familyjpg-0bf9f534ac7b2939_large" border="0" height="181" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYLp75aSAzI/AAAAAAAABDM/skaeEBV1pSI/glaubig-familyjpg-0bf9f534ac7b2939_large_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="glaubig-familyjpg-0bf9f534ac7b2939_large" width="244" /></a></li>
<li><strong><em></em></strong>You just might be able to get the kids to help. At least my kids think hanging the laundry up to dry is infinitely more interesting than putting it in the dryer. If they do it on their own it might end up looking like this </li>
</ul><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYLp9GtsHWI/AAAAAAAABDQ/6hmDCyQmM8w/s1600-h/Laundry-106-300x225%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="Laundry-106-300x225" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TYLp-I1RE2I/AAAAAAAABDU/MDcLRlw80Eo/Laundry-106-300x225_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Laundry-106-300x225" width="244" /></a><br />
<ul><li>IMHO line drying does not take up any more time than using a dryer, as previously stated I can dry more loads quicker than in my dryer. If you were to total the complete amount of time line drying takes versus machine drying and added in the time it takes to walk outside hang up laundry and take down laundry, line drying comes out ahead. Yes there is a convenience factor in using the dryer but it takes less than 5 minutes for me to get the laundry out of the washing machine and hang it up. If I have another load out on the line I take down one hang up one. Use two baskets or your dry clothes will end up damp again. </li>
</ul>Happy secher au vent season as we like to call it here.Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4379715861934297770.post-48951692217498609272011-02-11T18:47:00.001-08:002011-03-23T09:31:50.898-07:00Real Food For Real People <br />
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I have <b> always </b>been a proponent of what I call <b>REAL FOOD for Real People</b>. I am not a a fan of prepackaged , processed food. In my opinion real food, cooked by real people should be eaten by real people. No one should have to settle for so called cheap food just because it is convenient. Convenience foods are neither cheap in the long run, or really that convenient. Studies have shown that people who eat a diet high in refined carbs and processed food have a higher BMI, suffer from high blood pressure, and diabetes just to name a few. <br />
But what does real food have to do with being a Green Family? Well, considering that food is a big part of our carbon footprint we can do a lot about that. <br />
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<h2>How can you make an impact on your Carbon Foot Print with Food?</h2><h1>Gardening </h1><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TVXrQVjTQYI/AAAAAAAAA9U/rsBAsh0BLRo/gardening%20with%20kids%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800"><img alt="gardening with kids" border="0" height="161" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TVXrmj7REnI/AAAAAAAAA9k/zF-qyjkZk0k/gardening%20with%20kids_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="gardening with kids" width="240" /></a><br />
Perhaps the biggest way you can make an impact and be more green with your food is to grow and cook your own. I know that everyone does not have access to acres and acres of land that where they can farm sustainably, but you can always find a window sill and and plant some greens, or if you have a little more room plant herbs and lettuces, spinaches and the like in containers. <br />
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<h1>Composting</h1>is a great way to not only reduce your carbon footprint to put it to good use. I like to use a container like this one on my kitchen counter to hold the kitchen scraps. I empty it as needed, usually once a day, sometimes more, sometimes less. <br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TVXrzflkFhI/AAAAAAAAA9o/AqNfNEfBlts/s1600-h/kids%20cooking%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="kids cooking" border="0" height="171" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TVXsDf48tnI/AAAAAAAAA9s/gw443bjR6n8/kids%20cooking_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="kids cooking" width="171" /></a><br />
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<h1>Farmers Markets </h1><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TVXtZmeAdMI/AAAAAAAAA9w/lNkNoMERxYk/famers%20market%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800"><img alt="famers market" border="0" height="138" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TVX0qRspFJI/AAAAAAAAA90/xq7gdTIcTEk/famers%20market_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="famers market" width="244" /></a><br />
Supporting your local famers at your area farmer’s market, is a great way to go green. Produce is fresher, the nutrition is a better quality and you are helping the local economy. Not only that you lower your carbon footprint by not having to transport food over hundreds of miles. <br />
<h1>Cooking Your Own Food</h1>I can think of no better way to have an impact on your food and become more <span style="color: #004000;">green </span><span style="color: #333333;">than to cook your own food at home. Compared to eating at a restaurant you don’t have to drive there; you don’t have any styrofoam take-out containers to bring home, and you get to choose exactly what ingredients you want to go into your food ie, organic, gluten-free, vegan – whatever you choose. Perhaps the best part of cooking at home is that you are truly sharing a meal with your family. Invite the kids in to cook. You will make <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TVX0rQB1lII/AAAAAAAAA94/XqAtvErskKc/s1600-h/cooking%20with%20kids%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="cooking with kids" border="0" height="166" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TVX0sywyKKI/AAAAAAAAA98/2Fsd7fVl088/cooking%20with%20kids_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="cooking with kids" width="234" /></a></span><br />
many memories and pass on more than good recipes to your children. I would love to see <strong><em>your </em></strong>favorite green recipes.Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4379715861934297770.post-12521581396371499172010-11-08T19:50:00.000-08:002010-11-08T19:50:32.416-08:00Quinoa and Kale with Cannelli BeansThree Stars (based on 5) --5 being the number in my family, 3 being how many liked/loved this dish. <br />
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A recent addition to our recipe files. Here is a dish I served up last night. This was my second time cooking with both of the main ingredients and I think it went well. I decided to combine both of these great superfoods - Kale and Quinoa. The tumeric and ginger which you all know I have plenty of, both add thier great anti-inflamatory properties to this dish. This was so good that my husband and 10 year old went back for more. <br />
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Super easy recipe.<br />
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Ingredients.<br />
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One box of Veg Broth<br />
One clove of Garlic, I used some from farmers market- much better!<br />
One can of organic white beans<br />
One bunch of Kale<br />
A shake of tumeric<br />
A shake or two of powdered Ginger<br />
A shake of Lemon Grass<br />
A shake of allspice<br />
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( I simply shake the powdered spices over the broth, while heating it)<br />
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Saute garlic in olive oil.<br />
Add broth and spices ---bring to boil<br />
Add 1 cup of quinoa cook until done -it will absorb all the broth when done. <br />
Remove from heat and add one bunch of Kale well chopped, mix in and recover pot. The heat will "cook " the kale<br />
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Enjoy as a main course or side dish.Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4379715861934297770.post-51001756729993043012010-10-22T12:29:00.000-07:002010-10-22T12:29:39.333-07:00Paperwork Clutter part twoHaving conquered the family message center the other day. I have started to tackle other areas of paper clutter. How much paper clutter do you have in your house? It seems to multiply here. Bills, coupons, <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">important </span></em></strong>papers from school and those magazines and books you picked up just meaning to read. I have been spending most of this week tackling and being tackled by paper clutter. I have to admit PK (that is pre-kid) I was uber organized. Made sure everything was filed away everyday. But really how much of it do we really need? Paperwork is like laundry there are many ways to manage it. I find daily is best. Everyone has their own way to organize paperwork. Personally I find it works best for me to keep financial and tax documents separate from other papers like photos and kids memorabilia. There are plenty of organizing blogs and websites out there to help you organize your paperwork and house. I am not going to recreate the wheel here. Just make you pause and think. How much of this do I really need? I will recommend disposing of financial and medical documents in a secure manner.Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4379715861934297770.post-75680200680618662932010-10-15T17:54:00.000-07:002010-10-15T17:54:56.152-07:00Combating paperwork clutter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TLjsuUjzh5I/AAAAAAAAABg/jyNZJXfxRKo/s1600/IMG_1674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TLjsuUjzh5I/AAAAAAAAABg/jyNZJXfxRKo/s320/IMG_1674.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my command central</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This is a difficult one for me to face. BK - in otherwords before kids, I was uber organized, in many areas, especially in the paper department. Lately though it has been getting away from me. Today I started small and decided to handle our family command center. This has been bothering me for a while now. It was full of calendars, coupons, schedules and event notices and important papers I don't want to lose. Now I am a big believer in the family calendar. I can never seem to find one that has big enough blocks for everything. The activities the events, the bill schedules, menu planning. This calendar, a freebie, has been my go to for a couple of years now. It has BIG 1" blocks. But still not quite big enough. Hence the need for the other schedules. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We have Church schedules, game schedules, school schedules, for the kids and husband. It is ALL too much. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>So it ALL came down. To my - well maybe not - suprise, most of the coupons were expired and some of the calendars and schedules were out of date. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TLjs3AopgnI/AAAAAAAAABk/i24GMCm5j3Y/s1600/IMG_1675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TLjs3AopgnI/AAAAAAAAABk/i24GMCm5j3Y/s320/IMG_1675.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">full of schedules and multiple calendars</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TLjz_h0Ji5I/AAAAAAAAABw/xDkCtx4OsUk/s1600/IMG_1680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TLjz_h0Ji5I/AAAAAAAAABw/xDkCtx4OsUk/s320/IMG_1680.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steam lined schedules all together with the phone lists </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TLj0By0O5EI/AAAAAAAAAB0/SY2MTdlYPVY/s1600/IMG_1681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TLj0By0O5EI/AAAAAAAAAB0/SY2MTdlYPVY/s320/IMG_1681.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">calendar with essential information for NEXT year only NO more last year</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> I know that some people prefer electronic calendars but for me keeping track of everyone's schedule it is not official unless is on the master calendar. I have been sooo inspired I think I will tackled the rest of the paper clutter. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4379715861934297770.post-60321930630115159182010-10-13T19:12:00.000-07:002010-10-13T19:12:00.186-07:00How to dispose of belongings in a Green WaySo have you decided to join my challenge? Are you reducing your belongings by 20%. Now it is time to talk about how we dispose of those belongings in a green way.<br />
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What exactly does that mean?<br />
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It does not mean throwing it all away in the trash. <br />
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So you have an assortment of things to leave your house. What are you going to do now?<br />
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Let's go back to Bob the Builder. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em>REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>REDUCE</em></span> </strong></span><br />
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We are working on reducing by buying consciously. By really focusing on "do we need this?"; "will it make my life better, easier?"<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em>REUSE</em></strong></span><br />
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Since I am trying to get things OUT of my house, at this point in time I am NOT focusing on the REUSE portion, at least personally. However at times that REUSE is simply passing an item on to someone else in the family. Reusing our items is a frequent occurrence at our house. Often my kids are just as excited by the box that came as they are the contents of the box brought by our friendly UPS man. Ask yourself "How can I reuse this object?" Sheets can be re purposed many ways, they make great tablecloths, curtains, drop clothes while painting, or curtain. You can use a sheet to recover a chair or build a tent for the kids. Try looking at things from a new point of view. Some of my favorite bud vases are Mason jars or ordinary jars that have not quite made it to the recycle bin yet. <br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em>RECYCLE</em></strong></span><br />
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Okay, you are following along with my 20% less challenge. You have a carload of things to recycle. BUT WAIT. What is the best way to recycle all this stuff? One of my favorites is to donate to a worthy cause. Two of my favorites don't sell the items but rather give them out to clients. I like to look for a woman's shelter or an organization that helps people get back on their feet. Our local Catholic Charities helps people with clothes, toys for Christmas, furniture as well as food. I realize that this is probably one of the easier ways to recycle your belongings. Okay so what do you do if you have cleaned out Grandpa's barn, or the just your storage shed in the back yard? Some cities, will have collection days where they will take anything including batteries, and paint. Some cities will even come pick up the big stuff at your house. Check with your local cities on this one. <br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><strong><em>What are some of the more creative ways you have reduced, reused or recycled your belongings?</em></strong></span><br />
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<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000U3URF0&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span>Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4379715861934297770.post-7658668946375288892010-10-12T19:51:00.000-07:002010-10-12T19:51:18.659-07:00A thought to ponderToday this quote came to mind - <br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>The more you have, the more you are occupied. The less you have, the more </em></strong></span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>free you are.”</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">- Mother Theresa of Calcutta</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">As I am downsizing our possessions I am trying to decide what to do with them. Sell them at a yard sale, on ebay, craiglist or just give them away. This has been occupying a lot of my time. Too much time it seems. As I try to take pictures and list things on the various sites. I am thinking there may be a yardsale in my future. </span></span><br />
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</strong>Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4379715861934297770.post-63833505203008107232010-10-11T12:19:00.000-07:002010-10-11T12:19:46.190-07:00A morning's work - 20% Less continued<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1440302634&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span>Today I went through the winter coats with the kids. Turns out they have more than enough. So we applied the 20% rule. I asked my daughters to reduce thier coats by 20%. This was no easy task, as one daughter LOVED all the jackets and coats she had. I am happy to report that we have reduced the coats in my house by 20% and a donation will be made to <a href="http://www.catholiccharitiestulsa.org/">http://www.catholiccharitiestulsa.org/</a> Coats for Kids annual drive.<br />
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I also tackled the freezer. I LOVE grocery shopping at home. We founds some great chorizo that made a delicous lunch when mixed with brown rice corn, black beans and peppers and onions. I was able to plan dinner for 4 more nights from my stockpile in the freezer. Mind you I do not have a big stand alone freezer. We are simply talking the one on the fridge. I am also talking about "real" food. These are not frozen packaged foods. <br />
Not bad for a morning's work.Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4379715861934297770.post-68628183949362802022010-10-07T18:14:00.000-07:002010-10-07T20:37:23.740-07:00Clutter makes me Sick<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000CQG87Q&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0767903595&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<div>Since I am so busy today with School and coaching my son with soccer. I would wirte about why I am decluttering and reducing our belongins. Although I am selling some of the treasurers we no longer need It is not to earn money myself, but to simplify my life. For me "Less is more" has been a personal motto for a while now. I have always been a fan of the pure lines the Shaker and Arts and Craft style, the simplicity of it and the cleanliness of it. Back when I was pregnant with #1 we bought our lovely farm house and moved in. I took that as an opportunity to reduce the clutter. Well by the time #3 had come along we acqired a whole diferent sort of clutter. It doesn't seem to matter where it comes from it just to multiplies, like those dust bunnies. At times the clutter overwhelms me , not that is not the right word, it overcomes me. I can feel ill from too much stuff. It may not seem cluttered to some but to me it is too much. You see I like my flat surfaces clear, I am not much for trinkets and tchotkies. No coffee table books on my coffee table suits me fine. <br />
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Clutter begets clutter begets chaos. You just can't organize clutter. You have to let go of it. Why do we hold on to some things. How many of us have desk drawers or purses full of receipts and slips of paper that once ment something but no have long ago lost thier meaning? We all have our reasons for holding on to things. Sometimes it is because it make us feel better, or holds special memories or we think having something will make us into a better person. A wise person once said you should possess your possesions not let them possess you. So why do we persist. in keeping things that weigh us down? <br />
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I have decided it is time to let go of those things that weigh my family down, to make room for more in our lives. When we have sooo many things they become a burden a hinderence and we spend out time caring for our possessions instead of living life. We work to afford them. We work to take care of them. Ask yourself this question: "Do I take my self worth from the value of what I own? Do I measure myself by my possesions?" If the answer is yes then you may want to join in my adventure in reducing possesions by 20%.</div>Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4379715861934297770.post-55900801031236191982010-10-04T06:54:00.000-07:002010-10-04T07:50:30.165-07:00<div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TKnkFB5OhYI/AAAAAAAAAAw/BPBUY5XAkEg/s1600/IMG_1600.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524197193005565314" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TKnkFB5OhYI/AAAAAAAAAAw/BPBUY5XAkEg/s320/IMG_1600.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Today I decided to attack the spice cupboard. Baking season will soon be upon us and I want to be prepared. Let's face it, it is no fun to be wrist deep in flour or dough and need a certain spice. Especially when you live where I live and have to plan trips to the store a day ahead. (takes that long to get <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TKnkFU8AIiI/AAAAAAAAAA4/Yx3jO4OU1v0/s1600/IMG_1598.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524197198117478946" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TKnkFU8AIiI/AAAAAAAAAA4/Yx3jO4OU1v0/s320/IMG_1598.JPG" /></a>there). So attack I did. Some how the spice cupboard ends up being the location for those things no one else knows where to put. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Like salt shakers. Seriously how many salt shaker<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TKnkFhlm-qI/AAAAAAAAABA/pWrYCVe64sM/s1600/IMG_1601.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524197201513216674" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5asSgqecOMY/TKnkFhlm-qI/AAAAAAAAABA/pWrYCVe64sM/s320/IMG_1601.JPG" /></a>s do we need for a family of 5? </div><div> </div><div> I can't tell you how many times I have been at the store and bought a spice and find out 2 months latter that I have 3 containers for pumpkin pie spice. We only make pumpkin pie twice a year. How much pumpkin pie spice does a family need? As I was cleaning out the spice cupboard I was taking inventory of what I might night for holiday cooking. Turns out I have enough ginger to make gingerbread cookies for an army. </div><div> All those other holiday spices are in good order. I will have to get some Bell's Poultry Seasoning for Thanksgiving. But we are in good shape - if anything a little over stocked. Better start baking </div></div></div>Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4379715861934297770.post-36085550020134963822010-10-01T19:59:00.000-07:002010-10-01T20:36:14.628-07:0020% less in the desk = a laptop<span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>So we begin our quest. Not much work was done today, but I did get a head start on things yesterday. I tackled my desk. Yes the dreaded desk. I did not get it all cleaned but I made a start. I cleaned out the desk drawers. Good lord. Really did I need software for printers I no longer own. Don't think so. So they are going to the donation box. It was fun to find <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">cd's</span> with <span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-size:180%;">lots</span> <span style="color:#000000;">of pictures of my kiddos on them. To my daughter's <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">surprise</span>, I uncovered an older laptop on the seldom used desk and it works. I think she is vying for it!. I just need to figure out how to get my files off of it and get it a software update. Well I am off to post some things on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">ebay</span> to sell. </span></span></em></span>Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4379715861934297770.post-16768066948604955912010-09-27T22:00:00.000-07:002010-09-28T20:12:45.974-07:0080/20 Rule or Less is MoreRecently I was reading about the 80/20 rule. How we only use 20% of our things 80% of the time. Now I have always believed this to be true about clothes and I have at least one child who I know it is true for. They seem to wear the same jeans/shorts every day to school. This particular article implied that this rule fits our entire lives and houses. It seems that we only use 20% of our belongings 80% of the time. Most of us live in houses filled to the gills with things we are not using. Grandma Pebble's china handed down to us, the ruby red Depression glassware collected by our mother and our one vice, books, books, books.
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<br />After reading this article I came to a decsion. I have decided to reduce our belongings and acquisitions by 20% in the upcoming month. I hope you will follow me on this journey, and if you feel drawn too, to join me on this journey. I will be selling and donating "excess inventory" as I go along. As an interesting observation I have decided to weigh and track the total that I reduce by. For me reducing the bulk of the items in our house wil be the easy part. I always seem to have a bag going for donations. The challenge will be to purchase less to bring into the house. I am not a big shopper but never the less, the odd thing seems to make it into my carriage at the store. So for October I will try to delay purchasing these so called non neccesities. Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4379715861934297770.post-7610704103877844752010-08-23T10:55:00.000-07:002010-08-23T15:32:38.798-07:00Monday Morning CleaningMonday mornings are my cleaning day here. But no harsh chemicals for this house. We like to use vinegar and baking soda, essential oils such as tea tree oil, lemon and lavender. Not only is it green but it is economical. Green in my wallet. I love finding new uses for these green products too. Recently I found out that baking soda and Borax may be used safely and effectively in the pool to adjust and maintain ph levels. <br /><br />What do I have in my cleaning bucket? Microfiber clothes, definately more green than paper towels, refillable spray bottles, filled with a mix of 1/2 water and 1/2 white distilled vinegar 10 drops of tea tree oil and 10 drops of essential oil for fragrance if desired; a squeegie, Oxygen cleaner, for those stubborn spots. And a little bit of elbow grease. Cleaning green is not much different than conventional cleaning. I have been using green cleaning methods around the house for over 15 years.Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4379715861934297770.post-56607023101710542502010-08-22T18:53:00.000-07:002010-08-22T19:00:35.553-07:00Welcome to my blog. We are a family of 5 trying to live a greener life. We are hoping to share this journey with you. Some experiences will be successful, some will probally be laughable. We hope to learn something on this journey and we will share it with you. So join us as we make small changes that we hope will add up to big changes in our lives and our childrens' lives.Lisa - the Granola Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09020431743182581746noreply@blogger.com0