Frugal
Actions
Related
To
Sustainability
F.A.R.T.S are small quiet actions (silent, but effective. One might say deadly...) you can take toward a smaller footprint on our lovely earth, but don't cost you an arm and/or a leg to achieve. Previous F.A.R.T.S can be found here and here.
This month's F.A.R.T.S can tie in well to New Years resolutions if you make them. I don't, but I do like to set goals for myself. So, here is my new challenge for you this month: learn a new household skill that can help you on a path to being more self-sufficient.
That's it.
You get to define what that skill is. It doesn't have to be something crazy hard like "spin wool", "grow all my own wheat", or "rewire all the circuits in my house to solar panels". We're making baby steps here - not giant leaps. If there is anything I've learned, the more balls to the wall I go, the harder I crash.
And the more my balls hurt.
Last year, I wanted to improve my sewing skills. I didn't say "I will be on Project Runway by December 2012", I just said "improve". And you know what? I have! I've made lots of fun and useful projects for friends, family, and myself. I do it because it gives me decorating options, and feeds a sense of creativity that makes me happy.
Except this piece of crap Kindle case I made for my friend Anne for Christmas. It was so awful that I sent it to her anyway to give her a laugh. It was that horrible. It looked like something Jack made at preschool.
So, you in? Remember the directions? Learn a new useful skill that also brings you joy. Simple.
For me, my goal this year is to learn to make soap. I'm going to do it my friends - just you wait!
A few ideas for you, if you're interested:
- Garden. You don't have to go big - maybe a few herbs this year if you're overwhelmed
- Make your own cleaners. I've got lots of recipes under my "hippy shit" tab at the top of the page
- Baking bread. Remedial course. A bit more advanced
- Sewing
- Knitting
What are your ideas?
Oh, my word! That acronym made me laugh so loud, I startled my dog! ;-) -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though, great tips on making realistic changes!
I love the idea of learning a new skill that will improve sustainability and BRING YOU JOY! I am determined to improve my knitting, crocheting and sewing skills. As it stands I can only do straight lines in any of those....
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!!!-I'm going to make lip balms, moisturisers and soap.
ReplyDeleteMy Mom told me she has an extra sewing machine in her basement. What? So, I am determined to learn how to use it and make those fabric gift bags you blogged about. We'll see what happens. I may end up sewing my hand to the table, but I'm willing to try!
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas! I just learned how to loom knit - I made a scarf and hat for my niece for Christmas and she loved them! I am determined to learn to do a cable stitch and make an afghan for my teenage son.
ReplyDeleteGo for it! I just learnt how to make soap last year and I was amazed that my friend had not tried to bluff me into it; It was really as easy as she said it was going to be. My family got soap for their Christmas gifts and everybody has been raving about how lovely/not irritating skin it is. So I would say that it is a really useful and lovely thing to learn.
ReplyDeleteOh, please share your recipe with me!
DeleteThis is so nice to read in print. I tell people this all the time. I will admit I have been blog stalking you for a while, and unlike many other blogs, after a month, I get bored and walk away. Not here!! I will be using that acronym now, and I am so glad to hear that there is another woman out there with a set o'brass balls that clink together when she walks across a room. But I digress....
ReplyDeleteIn the interest of practicing what you preach, I am going to feed my lip balm addiction and make my own. I have made soap and I love it. If you can, use herbs from your garden. Really makes a difference over just oils.
And with your permission I am going to do a review of your blog on my own blog. Hope that is okay with you, my sister in proverbial male organs. ;) Keep at it! This is great!
Well, welcome to the the world of known blog stalkers! ;-D Glad you and your balls have stuck around and are commenting.
DeleteCan you please share your soap recipe with me? Currently I only have roses, rosemary, and lavender in my garden. I'm planning to do better with herbs next year!
I cheat so much. I go to my local craft store and buy blocks of melt and pour soap, melt it down. Then I add a handful of lavender, and some oil depending on how strong you want it. I have had the best luck with the goats milk soap. The lavender also acts as an exfoliant but I would not use in the nether regions or you will have to explain lavender in your hoohah to your waxer or gynecologist. I made a great one with Tea tree oil and dried rosemary that is wonderful to shower with after a long hot and sweaty day in the garden. Same process but I used a glycerin melt and pour soap. You can get as creative as you want just keep in mind the "type" of soap you want. Moisturizing or uber-cleansing or sensitive, etc. Chamomile is the easiest to grow (at least here in NYS)but don't put it anywhere you don't want it to free seed....because it will...EVERYWHERE. I grew it in a pot on my deck and it free seeded into my blueberry bushes below...
DeleteI grow rugosa roses myself, these being the ones that commercial growers use for rose hips. My mother always grew them and I do too. I make a Victorian-era jelly from the petals that is lovely with a mild cheese. I think that if you were to dry the hips, and combine with orange zest (or grapefruit or any citrus) and added the same essential oil that it would make a great mid-winter pick me up soap.
But I digress. ;)
I started making all our lotion. We both have sensitive skin, and the lotions we can use, and actually like are incredibly expensive. Actually, I think the recipe I use came from your blog! Last year I started baking all our breads, and this year I want to make plenty of jelly/jams, and can more veggies from our garden. Like Big Red, mentioned, lip balm...I think I could keep Burt's Bees in business. I made some for Christmas gifts, now I'll be making my own (saving my old BB's tubes) and my own herbal neosporin. If I could make shower gel, I would be doing that too! But one thing at a time :)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. Let's see. My one big goal for this year is to learn to can. I have started making my own condiments (homemade mayo is amazing!) and I would like to be able to can the ones I can (ketchup, BBQ sauce, etc.).
ReplyDeleteI think I might also try to do small monthly goals as well. We already make our own shampoo and such, but I like the idea of lip balm and lotion. Might have to add them to our monthly goal board.
Thanks!
Do you have any old relatives who you could turn to to learn? They're the best resource! If not, I have a lot of step by step canning recipes you can check out.
Delete"Making Soap", eh? Fight Club style?
ReplyDelete(And yes I just said "eh"... and Yes, I do live in Minnesota. How'd you guess?)
Bob has bitch tits. HA!
DeleteSpinning wool. Not quite as hard as wiring your house! They have been doing it with sticks and rocks for oh, about 34 thousand years... its children's work in most countries.
ReplyDeletePerhaps I should have my 3 year old teach me then! ;-D
DeleteKeep in mind what is easy to one person may not be easy to another.
Currently making homemade ricotta for the first time! Surfing the web while I wait for the milk to get up to temp.
ReplyDeleteYou said to start small, so... I'm learning how to cook this year! I can bake pretty well, I love baking, but cooking is such a different matter. I just ordered a crock-pot so this will make my life easier I guess.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to you and your family!
Yes, this is great news! Check out my recipe index because most things are SUPER easy to make. Pay attention to the "Lazy Lady" ones; simple and fast.
DeleteI'd like to learn to crochet. It's winter and I already have the needles and yarn, so it's the perfect time to start. But first I need to get past this weekend and some Brownie Girl Scout stuff looming over my head. Such is the life of a working mom who's also girl scout leader.
ReplyDeleteI love the FARTS. I have been following you for a while. I already make my soap but have decided to make my own laundry detergent and get better on my composting. I want to garden in empty plastic containers also. I am working on the 3 R's on my junk mail also. So like you I have ideas.
ReplyDeleteWill you share your soap recipe with me?
DeleteI'm another one of the silent stalkers. Your white bread recipe has changed my life, I always make a plain loaf and a cinnamon raisin loaf for breakfasts. You also inspired me to can this summer (I currently have some apple sauce cooling in the canning pot right now). So I'm off to a pretty good start.
ReplyDeleteMy goals for this year (I might expand on them as they are accomplished) are:
1. Try out water kefir (my grains are rehydrating at this very moment, I'm gonna go with grape juice to start, and a nice guy on Kijiji will sell me some Grolsch bottles)
2. Join a CSA (now this one seems kinds tricky with the upfront cost of $550, I might opt for the biweekly option first to see if I actually use all the goods, is it worth it?)
3. Can my little heart out with stuff from my garden and the farmer's market/CSA
4. Work on my sewing, you've inspired me to try my hand at making a quilt and those fancy reusable snack bags. My sewing machine is very temperamental, but I am WAY more stubborn. I have my mind set on a houndstooth quilt that will probably drive me insane, but it's so pretty!
I'm sure you'll add to my list as we go too with your fab updates
I too have recently plunged into soapmaking. However, some may say I did it the "easy way?" Idfk, but I didn't do the whole lye thing...
ReplyDeleteSo what sort of recipe are you looking for? Melt and Pour? Cold Process?
I bought a giant block(s) of white and clear glycerin, along with a few different essential oils and special coloring (not food), oatmeal, cocoa butter, loofahs (sp?). I then melted the block 1 lb at a time, then poured it into my handy-dandy self-made molds with loofahs and without. Squirted some fragrance, then color (one drop at a time because you can't go back!)
Let it sit for a bit and voila! But I can't help you with the other types. Haven't gone there yet. I'll wait to see how you make out :0
My mini-goals include gardening, knitting, and I may at some point try the no poo. Good enough for the moment! Happy goaling!
I am going to try my hand at making two different quilts using only the fabric I have on hand. I have already started one and plan to start the second one soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm working on making bread. So far, the first few loaves have been edible (although, certainly not perfect!) :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm doing more personal care stuff homemade, knitting, and lacto-fermentation!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see a pic of your kindle case! It sounds delightful.