Comments on: The Simple Life

By: silver account

silver account — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 01:24:29 +0000

An alternative to aerobic composting is the use of plastic garbage bags as mini-anaerobic digesters. The bags are easy to handle and require minimal maintenance. To break down garden wastes using this method, 30-40 gallon plastic bags should be alternately filled with plant wastes, fertilizer, and lime. About one tablespoon of a garden fertilizer with a high nitrogen content should be used per bag. Lime (one cup per bag) helps counteract the extra acidity caused by anaerobic digestion. After filling, add about 1-2 quarts of water. Dry material may require more than this quantity of water. Close tightly. You may want to double-bag these digesters to keep them as airtight as possible. Set the bag aside for six months to a year. Bags can be set in a basement or heated garage for better decomposition during winter months. Using garbage bags requires no turning or additional water after closing. The main advantage of this system is that it requires little maintenance; however, because oxygen is limited, the process is slower.

By: boxcarkids

boxcarkids — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 17:54:02 +0000

Exactly! And much cheaper than the ones at the feed store that cost between $5 and $15 depending on size and material.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 00:04:48 +0000

Just saw the coolest idea for turning old milk jugs into scoops. I have to believe you’ll have plenty of uses for cheap scoops when you get the animals.

By: boxcarkids

boxcarkids — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:37:17 +0000

Thanks Celeste – I checked it out – very impressive organization! I’ll speak to our PTO association about it and see if there is any interest.

By: Celeste

Celeste — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:04:20 +0000

My daughter’s teacher is running a school project I had never heard of. They are recycling through TerraCycle. The company pays for them to ship the items in, and the school gets money from it. Last year the school got $1300 doing this. We were given a list of the things they were willing to take, and we’ll send in something every week to keep the load from getting too big. The teacher used to have her family help her sort and pack boxes once a week, but now she is switching to having some kids who can stay after school do it with her. TerraCycle proceeds can only be donated to a school or charity, not to individuals unfortunately. This is a good fit for our semi-rural school, where not everybody has access to recycling service. I wonder if it’s something you can introduce to your school, to help with the school’s finances as well as to help families like yourself not have to pay to dispose of as much trash.

By: michelle howell

michelle howell — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:26:35 +0000

We have used those cheap paper plates for years and can usually get by with using only one at a time. We have the wicker- type underplate. I’ve found them at garage sales for as little as 10 cents each! Bummer on the water restrictions- not fun. Hopefully the rains will start again with fall coming on. Oh and instead of the freezer to oven bread – you can make really good breadsticks from left-over hot dog buns. Just open and spread butter/garlic and toast tops lightly. Many blessings!

By: Kimber B

Kimber B — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 02:30:17 +0000

Milk jugs are my favorite – I keep refilling mine w/ rain water and have used it for the garden and chickens for 3 weeks w/o having to use water from the hose The bottoms also make great dishes for the scraps we give to the chickens (they are incredible composters!) and the tops are used to protect sprouting seedlings from the garden pests who want to nibble them to the ground.
Have been SO frustrated for 3 years to be in the 2nd state that doesn’t do curbside recycling! It’s so hard to rinse it well enough to not smell (wasting water the whole time) to then have to store it somewhere and then have to take it to a recycling center (using gas to get there). So I commend you for your efforts, I know they aren’t easy.

By: MSW

MSW — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 00:28:13 +0000

If you’re not already on Pinterest, I highly recommend it. Lots of very creative ideas for reusing everyday items, and it’s also a good place to cross-promote your Etsy shop. Anyhow, I thought of some ideas for re-using those milk jugs that I had seen. Maybe you could make these scoops to use for spreading compost, scooping animal feed, etc.:

http://pinterest.com/pin/25051341648133908/

http://pinterest.com/pin/143481938098966818/

By: Becky R

Becky R — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 23:15:42 +0000

This post read like poetry.

I try to save stuff to reuse but it just piles up and in my tiny house their is no where to put stuff.

So I try to buy stuff with less packaging to begin with. I also compost.

The weird thing is my trash has been reduced greatly but my recycables are still more than I would like. But even to make from scratch I still have to get things in cans and jars. I use vinegar to cook and clean and go through 1-3 gallons a month.

I do use all cloth in my house, to save trees and trash, but with water restrictions that would be hard.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 21:21:26 +0000

Having moved from 2 high recycling areas to one where people barely make an effort, I have to remind myself that my contributions do help the earth because I do often feel like I’m the only one trying at all. It just amazes me at work that people throw their water bottles into the trash, along with newspapers and a ton of other things that can be recycled, without a second thought that the items could be recycled. There are recycle boxes in the coffee centers for bottles, cans and cups, and recycle bins all over for paper; it would just take them a few extra steps.

So good job, whatever the reason for the new shopping and trash habits.