our simple life

I am one happy gal today! After four days missing, calls to neighbors and the dog warden, walks through the woods and feeling sad, Shadow returned home this morning! He didn't act hungry, just tired. With no idea where he was, we are simply rejoicing in the fact that he is back.

The beans are soaking for tomorrow's pot of chili, the recycling bin has been emptied and sorted, my housework caught up and now Coop is out mowing the lawn for the first time this spring.

Rhonda Jean at Down to Earth has asked her readers to blog about how they live. Since I have time, here we go. I know I've blogged about our life more than once, that is pretty much what this blog is about, but if this post is repetitive on certain subjects, please forgive. :)

My husband and I made a choice a few years ago to give up what I call the hamster race . We were living to work rather than working to live, running in circles like hamsters on a wheel, getting nowhere really. We would occasionally reflect back on simpler times when we had less materially, but were happier.

Funny, but neither one of us was getting any younger either and I really did not want to leave my children to have to deal with settling our estate and financial situation when we left this earthly plane. We had a business, a home and too many debts. Finally, we chose to get back to basics. After looking at our options and figuring out how we wanted to spend our lives, or perhaps better said, how we didn't want to spend our lives, we closed the business, liquidating everything we could to pay off as much as we could. After a very long attempt at selling that failed, we let the bank have the house. This was probably the hardest thing we’ve ever done. Until you’ve done so, letting go of your old way of life, your stuff and your home can be very difficult even when it’s your choice to do so.

Our preferred way of life did not happen immediately even then. We moved around for a few years, but finally settled where we are now, where it feels like home, living a much simpler, much happier and much more self sustaining lifestyle. We still work hard, but the difference is, we are not working for a paycheck now, we are working to live the life of our choosing.

Coop’s retirement income is $941 per month. This is the amount we live on with the only exception being the occasional etsy or ebay sale. According to U.S. Federal guidelines, our income is more than $2000 below the poverty level. I guess by American standards we’re poor folk now, but I know that "poor" is more a state of mind than income. I have a saying I keep posted on my refrigerator that reads, “The happiest people don’t own the best of everything but make the best of everything.” That would describe us quite well.

According to our standards we live well, eat well (in fact much better than when we had more to spend) and sleep well. So, how exactly do we live? The answer is this; simply, frugally, creatively and sustainably. Our objective is to be as self sustaining and debt free as we can be, according to our ability and means, and to live naturally and organically, doing as little harm to the environment as possible.

This comprises raising our own organic plants and produce each summer. Eggs and milk are purchased from nearby Amish folk. We are planning to raise our own chickens in the near future. We do our primary shopping once per month, making our rounds to find reduced priced goods and purchasing in bulk when we can get a significant savings. Coop is always eager to bargain for a better price and you’d be surprised how often he gets it. Recently we came home with over twenty pounds of organic beef for just $2.25 a pound. (yes, we still eat meat...I know, I know) We purchase staple items (flour, sugar, oats, etc.) from our locally owned bulk food store which very fortunately is within a few miles of our home.

I love my life at home. A day in the kitchen may be work to some, but I spend the time with a happy heart. I stew bones for soup broth rather than purchasing it, and save dried bread and crackers to make my own bread crumbs. Purchasing convenience foods is not an option for two reasons; they are more expensive and are often full of all kinds of unnecessary and less than beneficial ingredients. Since I do my own preserving there is rarely a need to purchase canned vegetables, relishes, pasta sauces, etc. There is always food on hand so meals are planned around what we have on hand and there’s no need for more frequent trips to the store.

Very seldom do we venture away from home unless it is necessary, except for the occasional trip to see our kids. When we do go out, we plan ahead and combine errands to avoid unnecessary trips. We freecycle, recycle, reuse and barter when we can. Most of our clothing and household items come second hand from local thrift stores. We maintain what we have so we don't have to replace items any more than is necessary. We still own the same old vehicles we did over a decade ago. We still use the same lawn and garden tools we have for more years than I can recall.

Virtually nothing is spent on entertainment. We have a TV which is generallyfam turned on in the evenings for Coop’s benefit. I read, browse the internet, crochet or partake in some other type of creative endeavor. In the summer months we often find ourselves outside star gazing. We tend to be homebodies, so we don’t do a lot of socializing outside of family. However, evening card games with the neighbors are commonplace in the summer. Summer also brings family and friends together around a fire now and then, sharing food, friendship and roasted marshmallows. : )

Our days here in the country are made of numerous small acts that define who we are. The steps we take to live as we do are what matter most because those steps are what allow us to live as we do. I have learned through the years that living close to and in accord with the natural world is essential for my sense of well being. I need to feel the earth and the countryside is where I thrive…away from the noise, glare and congestion of city living.

I guess all in all our simple life is about living the best life we can according to our vision, not the ideals of others. It’s about being less dependent on the outside world and more responsible for ourselves. It’s about taking back our lives, living in the now instead of striving towards some unsustainable, unrealistic or fictional future.

In the end, I guess one could say that to “live well, laugh often and love much” is our motto. This is what brings us contentment and satisfaction at the end of each day.

Thanksgiving 07

Being Green and Thrifty

I’m committed to the best of my ability to lightening my steps on the planet and living as simply and naturally as possible. In regard to the environment I believe what I or others do really does make a difference. I guess you could me an environmental optimist? Of course if one doesn’t believe it matters, then they likely feel there is less reason to make the effort. But for me it’s just part a part of life, so I decided to make note here of the steps I take to conserve and live simply and frugally with less environmental impact. I thought it might actually help me to see where I might make some additional changes and it might even inspire others.

Keep indoor light use to a minimum and use low energy fluorescent bulbs. Lights out completely at bedtime.

Appliances and electronic devices such as microwave, computer, tv are shut down or unplugged at night to halt electric usage.

Keep toilet flushes to a minimum. Flushing causes the water pump to run (electric) and flushing often uses unnecessary amounts of water. We also keep the toilet lid down to lower bathroom humidity levels in the summer especially.

We try to wear our clothes until they actually need washed. That means a pair of jeans can be worn several days or more depending on use. Wash clothes (only full loads) in cold water. When weather permits we dry them by hanging them on the clothes line. In winter I will hang lighter weight items on hangers and hang from hooks above the heat registers in the living area. We use environmentally responsible and natural products to wash and treat stains with. No fabric softeners. Most of our clothes are cotton so softener/anti static is not necessary. I do occasionally toss a lavender sachet bag into the drier.

Keep a compost bowl in the kitchen for vegetable scraps, peelings, etc. This gets set out for the ducks to munch from daily. What they don’t eat gets tossed into the compost bin. Other scraps when available are given to Shadow and Mr. G.

Keep a recycle bin in the kitchen into which all recyclable items go. This is taken to the garage when full and sorted accordingly. By purchasing consciously and recycling we keep our trash to a maximum of one bag or less per week. When bins are full, we drop at local recycling center, combining that trip with other necessary errands to save fuel.

Keep our trips in the car to a minimum to conserve gas, emissions and an affordable way of life. When fueling the vehicle, we try to do so when air is cooler to prevent evaporation.

Use hand cultivator in the garden when we can rather than use gas powered rototiller.

Avoid the use of pesticides or herbicides in our garden and yard.

Raise plants from organic seed, grow a garden and preserve as much as possible. This means eating fresh, nutritious whole foods as well as spending far less on food throughout the summer and winter.

Buy organic and purchase items from local small retailers and farmers as much as possible. We purchase milk, eggs and butter from our neighboring Amish.

Use energy efficient appliances.

Avoid doctors and prescription medicine as much as possible.

Make my own herbal teas.

Make my own natural deodorant.

Shower 2-3 times per week as opposed to daily and sponge bath in between.

Use our bath towels more than once before tossing in the hamper.

Cook from scratch.

Use dry beans instead of canned beans for soups, chili, etc. Much, much cheaper!

Mend our clothing.

Care for what we have.

Avoid buying plastic food bags, but save food safe plastic bags of all kinds (bread wrappers, baggies, etc.) and reuse. Wash large baggies for reuse rather than throwing them out unnecessarily.

Save and reuse glass jars and plastic containers

Use canvas bags when shopping.

Save buttons, fabric, old jeans to mend with, makes patches or recycle into other items.

Although we do have area rugs, we don’t have carpet in our home. This keeps dust, dirt and the need to vacuum to a minimum. I shake out throw rugs and use a dust mop or broom elsewhere and vacuum the big rugs when necessary.

Make my own items for gift giving.

Purchase clothing and household items second hand whenever possible.

Use cloth rags and natural products for cleaning rather than paper towels and commercial products.

Don’t own an air conditioner. Close windows and use blinds to keep heat out in summer.

Open blinds and use passive solar heat in cool weather and adjust thermostat to allow furnace to ignite less often but run longer when it does. Dress warmly, too!

Don’t use cosmetics, perfumes, air deodorizers (other than all natural ones I make) and other unnecessary and toxic items. (Witch hazel is a great and inexpensive facial toner and aftershave splash.)

We use an answering machine in place of extra phone company features like call waiting and caller ID.

Save our change. Once I had saved change for several years and when I finally got around to sorting and rolling it up to take to the bank I had over $400. That was a real nice chunk of spare change!

Rather than going out for coffee or stopping on the way for coffee, we make our own and carry a cup or even a thermos when out and about.

Dine out rarely and if we dine out we usually cut the bill by using coupons and ordering water.

Use scrap paper and the backs of used paper and junk mail and used envelopes for notes and lists.

Buy in bulk when it’s a deal we can’t pass up and we know we’ll use it. (I have 8 lbs. of pasta in my freezer!)

Freecycle…need I say more?

Other General Money Saving Tips

If you must borrow from your savings, consider it a loan and pay it back immediately.

When you get to the bottom of the shampoo bottle, rinse it out. The same applies to dish soap, cream rinse, laundry soap. You’ll be surprised how much is still in there.

Cancel your newspaper. Read the news online. The same applies to magazine subscriptions. Tap the wealth of info online.

Share and borrow when you can if it’s an item you need to use or loan only once in awhile.

Eliminate satellite or cable tv or opt for the economy package. Or, consider an online movie rental subscription like Netflix as an alternative to more costly cable or satellite.

If you take family vacations, gear them towards spending quality time together as opposed to spending lots of money (and energy). Keep it simple and you’re more apt to feel you’ve really had a vacation.

Avoid shopping altogether unless you have a specific need…not a specific desire, but a specific need.

Bring new life to old garments by embellishing and accessorizing.

Borrow books and movies from the library.

Never make spur of the minute purchases.

When it comes to gifts, tell others what you really want.

If you get a raise or income increase, act as if you didn’t and manage without it if possible. Put it away into your savings.

greens in the ground & ducks running round

Coop (my hubby) got the garden space looking so nice. Tonight I planted 7 rows of greens and radishes to start with. The tomato and pepper plants I started from seed are doing well and growing hearty. They have about a month to go before planting. I have enough going I will likely have to sell if not give the extras away. I've started three organic varieties; Beefsteak, Brandywine and San Marzano plum style for sauces and salsas.

Now that the weather has warmed and Spring has really sprung, I am getting so anxious for fresh veggies. I could practically live off tomatoes in the summer time. Yum! Not to mention summer squash, green beans, etc. Looking forward to a productive garden and lots of canned goods to put away for the winter.

The ducks (from left to right, Bruce Almighty, Thelma and Louise) are so much fun now that they are free ranging. We'll direct them to the creek tomorrow so they know where the fun is. These three are Muscovy ducks from South America. They're totally unrelated to the North American ducks and different in many ways. They fly, which is what gives them their meaty large breasts, they have talons and can climb fences and perch. They love to perch. They have the weird red flesh around their faces, especially prominent in the males.

When we got them we kept them penned for a couple weeks. We just used an old dog house for their shelter and fenced in a small pen around that. Since they can fly and climb, it was necessary to put some netting of some sort over the top of their pen. We just used some old plastic snow fencing we had on hand and that worked great. We tarped one end so they would have a shady place to sit and added a roost for them by running a narrow board through the holes of two cement blocks, one on each end. They were hesitant to leave their space the first day we opened the gate. Finally Coop shooed them out. They require little if any feed when free ranging because they will eat plants, bugs, etc. Which reminds me, we better get that fencing for the garden by the time to greens come up!

We decided on this breed (and got them free, love that freecycle!) because they are virtually maintenance free, smart and supposed to be the best ducks for eating you can find. Ok, so I'm not going to eat these three, but when the hens start laying we do plan on raising a few for the table freezer. They are very low in fat and have a lot of white meat. I've read that they taste like veal, so we shall see.