Life-change to-do lists
In: 90 percent
29
May
2007
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?