May 29th, 2007 by bornfamous
I’m a list-making fool tonight. For one thing, I’ve narrowed down the veggies I want to grow on the balcony — the list needs more pruning. [Pruning! Get it? Me so funny.]
GROW LIST:
- beets
- sweet potatoes
- potatoes
- carrots
- beans
- tomatoes
- onions
- arugula
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- lettuce
- dandelions
- sunflowers
- collard greens
- chard
- kale
- spinach
- winter squash
- melons
- berries
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Then I decided I’d better write down all these goals and dreams that have been swimming around in my head, you know, so I don’t forget anything.
SHORT-TERM GOALS — things I can do now:
- go vegetarian [again] - CHECK!
- stop eating processed foods - half-check
- start balcony herb/salad garden - half-check
- set up self-watering containers
- stop watching tv - CHECK! [except for Ellen]
- turn off computer when not in use
- limit computer use to set number of hours [this is the hardest one!]
- unplug appliances [or turn off power strip] when not in use - half-check
- replace incandescent bulbs w/flourescent - half-check
- better yet, get LED lights [too expensive right now, though]
- daily walk/yoga/meditation
- read lots of books - CHECK!
- declutter/recycle unneeded stuff
- use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without! - half-check
- bank all the money I save - not even close
- learn one new skill per week [per day if possible]
- eat/buy mostly local
- sew/knit/make gifts - CHECK!
- hang laundry - CHECK!
- return rented dryer
- build, cook with solar oven
- rig up solar water heater for dishes
bake bread go gluten-free- switch from toothpaste to baking soda - CHECK!
- sew cloth replacements for paper towels/napkins/tissues - CHECK!
- carry cloths for use in public instead of paper napkins, etc. - CHECK!
- use cloth instead of paper/plastic grocery bags - CHECK!
- re-use plastic produce bags [transition to home-made cloth bags] - CHECK!
- stop using toilet paper [??? this will require some thought]
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LONG-TERM GOALS — things that have to wait until I move:
- move to pine valley
- rent or buy house [dream big! not a big one, though, just a small one.]
- walk 3 miles/day
- become self-sufficient
- grow most of own veggies/fruit
- start worm compost bin
- preserve food: can, dehydrate, pickle
- get chickens for eggs
- heck, get a goat or two for milk
- and a sheep for wool — kidding!
- cut energy, water use, trash, consumption by 90%
- live off-grid [water too] as much as possible
- get bike generator for small appliances/computer
- get, convert chest freezer to ultra-low power fridge
- get composting toilet
- save rainwater, greywater
- build bathtub greywater wetlands system [pdf]
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Hooboy, this ought to keep me out of trouble! Any more ideas?
Posted in 90 percent | 5 Comments
A few of your ideas really struck me and I just had to comment:
1) t.p. in most third world countries no one uses toilet paper, its just nasty anyway, maybe you could figure out how to make a bidet, we saw one recently and I really wanted to try it but I think the mister was a little put off.
2) worms; you can do this in an ice chest, one year at Earth Day one of my kids “won” some worms, unfortunatley, I had no garden and gave mine to the dance teacher.
Good Luck!
1. yeah, i’ve been reading and thinking a lot about the fact that 75% of the world’s people don’t use toilet paper. re: bidets — how does one dry off after rinsing? a cloth? that makes sense, though frankly, #2 is an issue for me. ;o]
2. i was going to start worm composting on the balcony but i hear it’s a smelly proposition. thought i’d better wait until the big move next winter. meanwhile, the rabbit [another smelly proposition!] gets veggie scraps.
I dont know…depending on the water pressure it could be a good thing…HAHAHAHAHA
Ohhh!!1 I had soul food yesterday! Call me when the collards come in!
i guess i have to plant them now…
btw… it took me this long to get your water pressure joke. duh!