tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49650939991424346632009-12-23T06:56:51.769+10:00A co-operative of bloggers writing about how they live simple, green, frugal lives. There is a lot of helpful information here to help readers live well on less.Rhonda Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175785349529109084rhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.auBlogger388125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-75257092599535897552009-12-22T09:00:00.015+10:002009-12-22T20:02:41.653+10:002009-12-22T20:02:41.653+10:00

posted by Chiot's Run"Oh look, yet another Christmas TV special! How touching to have the meaning of Christmas brought to us by cola, fast food, and beer.... Who'd have ever guessed that product consumption, popular entertainment, and spirituality would mix so harmoniously?" ~Bill Watterson, Calvin & HobbesThere are a lot of influences in our lives that try to tell us how to live, what to buy,

Chiot's Runhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086153621579437021noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-68035553790800428502009-12-21T12:00:00.007+10:002009-12-22T00:10:09.532+10:002009-12-22T00:10:09.532+10:00

By Thomas from A Growing TraditionHomemade Seed Mats (Radishes)Have you ever come across an idea that sounded a bit silly or even crazy at first, but then the more you thought about it, the more you realized how absolutely brilliant it is? In this case, it took me about 5 seconds to see the light of day. And I have to thank none other than Gran from Annie's Kitchen Garden for enlightening me.This

Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303344546714641616noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-88076174858821171992009-12-20T20:59:00.005+10:002009-12-20T22:10:01.985+10:002009-12-20T22:10:01.985+10:00

by EilleenConsumption RebellionHello everyone!What wonderful posts we've been having on this blog! To the other writers here, a big thank you from me.Readers of my personal blog will know that I'm a bit of a bah-humbugger when it comes to Christmas. The commercialism and over-consumerism of this time of the year has, to date, elicited at least one bah-humbug post from me every year since I

Eilleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234465657790552289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-24363622454530030632009-12-19T00:01:00.001+10:002009-12-19T01:41:55.469+10:002009-12-19T01:41:55.469+10:00

by Throwback at Trapper CreekI posted on my regular blog about my memories of eating Cracker Jack popcorn as child. Not really liking the taste of the commercial version as an adult, I started tweaking recipes for caramel corn until I finally came up with a tastier version. Commonly molasses is used, along with high fructose corn syrup. I was looking for a different flavor and definitely a way to

Throwback at Trapper Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418370592659531735noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-90599154547226923662009-12-18T19:56:00.000+10:002009-12-18T21:14:40.087+10:002009-12-18T21:14:40.087+10:00

Posted by BelFrom Spiral GardenHopefully by now you have everything sorted for next week, and you're reading this for ideas for Christmas 2010...Without wanting to give too much away (in case my gift recipients read this before the 25th), here are a few idea of some simple gifts I’m giving this festive season…Angels by Chrissy ButlerCalendarsCookiesGarden Tools and SeedsHand CreamVouchers – for

Belhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15269898358066713252noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-12321885263341526172009-12-17T22:14:00.008+10:002009-12-17T23:22:29.800+10:002009-12-17T23:22:29.800+10:00

By Notes From The Frugal TrenchesI'm currently in a season of unemployment which means apart from job hunting I have a lot more time on my hands. The only problem with having more time, is that human desire to fill it, which I'm certainly trying to remain on top of. Practically, this is a very good season in my life to spend time with friends who live farther afield and friends it can be

Notes From The Frugal Trencheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047687598677272569noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-24011758014518346412009-12-16T06:00:00.000+10:002009-12-16T06:00:02.157+10:002009-12-16T06:00:02.157+10:00

by BadhumanI'm a picky eater and I married a picky eater which makes meal planning a bit harder. Try to add in fresh veggies and it seems impossible! But, much to our parents shock there are two vegetable recipes that my husband and I both love.One is braised kale and the other is roasted brussels sprouts (when roasted they are more addictive then potato chips or popcorn!) Braised Brasilian Kale

Bad Human?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02284375929637711798noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-25266514752785515932009-12-15T05:41:00.000+10:002009-12-15T05:41:58.439+10:002009-12-15T05:41:58.439+10:00

by Gavin from The Greening of Gavin Someone asked me the other day how I keep motivated about being green, or in other words, how and why do I keep striving towards a sustainable lifestyle.  I couldn't really answer them without going into why I started living like this in the first place and what the benefits of the lifestyle was.  I sounded like a walking advertisement for Mother Earth or

Gavinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08995214671079288985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-85528235260235101832009-12-14T09:31:00.006+10:002009-12-14T09:35:42.595+10:002009-12-14T09:35:42.595+10:00

From Amy at ProgressivePioneer.comHere's a repost from my blog, but perfect for the season, I think! You could start making a few of these this year, adding some each year and eventually phasing out disposable, expensive paper wrapping altogether! It's an easy, satisfying project; have fun!I'd been meaning to make reusable cloth bags to put Christmas presents in, but it took a girlfriend

Amy of Progressive Pioneerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04889061477690157608noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-22146690510455409722009-12-14T04:14:00.003+10:002009-12-14T21:46:46.560+10:002009-12-14T21:46:46.560+10:00

by FrancescaFuoriBorgoI bought our first artificial Christmas tree five years ago. It wasn’t an impromptu purchase: I’d already decided on it 11 months before, when, as had happened every year, our Christmas tree once again died before I could transplant it. I’d always bought trees with a root ball, planning to transplant them after the holidays, but I only succeeded once, and even that lone

Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01316361078052416731noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-60584410578516336172009-12-13T14:05:00.000+10:002009-12-13T14:05:00.651+10:002009-12-13T14:05:00.651+10:00

by Lynn of Viggies VeggiesThe road to self-sufficiency is littered with failures. I know that not because I'm looking back from the vantage point of my vast experience. But because I'm at the beginning of the road where everything is new and easy to get wrong.Like this morning when the sun came out and I went to clear the thick layer of snow and rain (now ice) that had accumulated on the cold

Viggie's Veggieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16551557977257919705viggie@viggiesveggies.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-71351613795962264422009-12-11T10:01:00.011+10:002009-12-11T11:49:47.048+10:002009-12-11T11:49:47.048+10:00

by Sadge, at Firesign FarmI was introduced to the art of dish arranging at an extremely young age. My mom started me washing the dinner dishes when I needed to stand on a kitchen chair backed up to the sink. I'd wash, she'd rinse, and I'd watch as she'd put each item into the dish drainer to drip-dry. As I stepped down to a mere stool, I took over the rinsing and stacking while my younger sister

Sadgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01953324909028095434noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-41851196903864770822009-12-10T06:00:00.001+10:002009-12-10T06:00:02.794+10:002009-12-10T06:00:02.794+10:00

by KateLiving the Frugal LifeI was taken unaware by the Christmas spirit this past weekend when we got a 6" snowfall, a bit early for this part of the world. We threw on our lined jeans and layered up to go cut our tree at a nearby tree farm while the snow fell. To carry on with that holiday theme once we were back inside, I decided to bake a few chocolate crinkle cookies. After posting the

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-2042502583891890432009-12-09T06:30:00.000+10:002009-12-09T12:31:42.863+10:002009-12-09T12:31:42.863+10:00

by Melinda Briana Epler, One Green GenerationI strive to be sustainable, because I don't think it's worth it to my self, my family, my culture, nor my world to be anything less. Sometimes the moment strikes and overpowers my senses and I want to forget my values, but at those moments I think of the past, the present, and the future.As beings on this planet we have a role, and that role is not to

Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11208873906357613465noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-56878597829578787782009-12-09T06:00:00.006+10:002009-12-09T06:00:02.572+10:002009-12-09T06:00:02.572+10:00

by Chiot's RunHere at Chiot's Run we strive to keep our utility bills in check through various methods. We collect rain water to help reduce water usage. We keep our house cool in the winter and warm in the summer to reduce gas/electric usage for heating and cooling. We keep electronics plugged in to power strips that get turned off. We have some appliances in the house that aren't efficient

Chiot's Runhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086153621579437021noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-30662132709816870772009-12-08T03:26:00.008+10:002009-12-09T00:09:52.379+10:002009-12-09T00:09:52.379+10:00

by Chiot's RunWith my family we celebrate a "homemade" Christmas. All gifts must be homemade with ingredients/supplies costing less than $20 per family. Used items can be used or purchased as gifts as well. It's so much fun to figure out what to make for each person. Last year I made cloth shopping bags for all of the women in my family. I used scrap fabric and free old curtains for the main

Chiot's Runhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086153621579437021noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-51061264676181877072009-12-07T11:58:00.002+10:002009-12-07T23:52:55.928+10:002009-12-07T23:52:55.928+10:00

Posted by Thomas, from A Growing Tradition Blog.A Harvest of winter carrots.Eat local, organic, in-season foods - that's a mantra that may be difficult to follow year round, especially if you live in an area located within climate zones 1 through 7. Where I live, in zone 6 northern Massachusetts, our winters often prove long and frigid. Those wishing to buy organic locally grown produce in

Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303344546714641616noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-36393464180007192252009-12-05T00:01:00.001+10:002009-12-05T00:26:19.982+10:002009-12-05T00:26:19.982+10:00

by Throwback at Trapper CreekI don't normally grow pumpkins, saving my space for more productive winter squash is more up my gardening alley - but if I do happen to plant pumpkins, I don't pass up a chance to make pumpkin pickles. An oddity for sure, but a fond childhood memory from my gardening mentors. After Halloween, the few pumpkins they did grow became pickles for their holiday meals. I

Throwback at Trapper Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418370592659531735noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-46578706117581557922009-12-04T20:08:00.006+10:002009-12-04T20:35:38.581+10:002009-12-04T20:35:38.581+10:00

Posted by BelFrom Spiral Garden We always seem to have a lull in the garden in Spring, which is our dry season (and often hotter than our Summer). But now it has begun to rain, so we're finishing off preparations for planting our warm season crops.Firstly I prune, weed and cull the last of the winter plants. Some go directly into the beds to be mulched over, a lot go to the chickens and ducks,

Belhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15269898358066713252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-13028474173052627152009-12-03T23:49:00.005+10:002009-12-04T00:13:43.529+10:002009-12-04T00:13:43.529+10:00

By Notes From The Frugal Trenches I blogged today on my personal blog about friends making poor financial choices and basically purchasing big ticket items (cars, house) without adequate finances. This made me really think about what are realistic expectations for life? I've blogged before on this site that life for me is a journey, I began downshifting, getting rid of debt and living a frugal

Notes From The Frugal Trencheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047687598677272569noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-29178249956164613772009-12-01T21:18:00.000+10:002009-12-01T21:18:59.936+10:002009-12-01T21:18:59.936+10:00

written by Gavin from The Greening of Gavin Wouldn't it be really cool if you didn't have to buy vegetable seeds ever again?  Well, you can, with a little bit of knowledge and practice.  Seed saving for the crop next season is fun and very cheap, and the beauty of it is that you can begin to adapt plant varieties to become conditioned to your climate. I have tried seed saving with mixed success

Gavinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08995214671079288985noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-44140270978922960262009-11-30T07:09:00.008+10:002009-11-30T16:51:26.411+10:002009-11-30T16:51:26.411+10:00

by FrancescaFuoriBorgoEarly in October I harvested our one pumpkin. I chronicled the strange case of the heirloom pumpkin in my blog, explaining how we unexpectedly happened to grow it. Since then, I’ve learned from a reader that our large pumpkin is a Heirloom Neck Pumpkin.This was one of the most effortless crops I’ve ever grown. I transplanted it in early July, watered it, and then just let it

Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01316361078052416731noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-36612737264638555662009-11-29T12:29:00.005+10:002009-11-29T13:04:20.865+10:002009-11-29T13:04:20.865+10:00

by Lynn of Viggies VeggiesSeed catalogs are rolling in for next season and I face the daunting task of planning a full sized garden with 54 varieties for the first time. Since I had no idea how much I needed to plant with the goal of supplying all of my produce in mind, I started out by reading The Backyard Homestead. They have a nice chart of suggested vegetables and how much to plant to feed

Viggie's Veggieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16551557977257919705viggie@viggiesveggies.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-35045063255756662072009-11-29T08:43:00.001+10:002009-11-29T08:46:32.613+10:002009-11-29T08:46:32.613+10:00

by Amy of ProgressivePioneer.comMy mother-in-law, who eats nearly a 100% raw diet, showed me how to make almond milk when they were visiting us in Maine. It turns out to be quite a simple process. I make it once or twice a week now. It's so much richer and creamier than the stuff you buy at the store, and of course, still has all its good enzymes because it's raw. And somehow, things you make

Amy of Progressive Pioneerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04889061477690157608noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-11278093303388750832009-11-27T09:52:00.001+10:002009-11-28T06:46:45.574+10:002009-11-28T06:46:45.574+10:00

by Sadge, at Firesign FarmIt's cold and flu season here. I usually stay pretty healthy, but one of my first warnings that I might have picked up a virus is getting a cold sore. Monday afternoon, while I was out working in the garden (too much sun can also be a trigger), I could feel the beginnings of a tender spot just inside my lip. I don't have time to be sick (does anyone? stress can also be a

Sadgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01953324909028095434noreply@blogger.com11