What do you do with your favorite clothes when they get too ratty to pass down? You know the ones – the sweatshirt with the dingy cuffs, the shirt with the ketchup stain on the front, the jeans with gaping holes where the knees used to be.

Sure, you can turn them into rags. But how many rags can you use in a year? And besides, a lot of that fabric is still perfectly good. It seems a shame to throw it away.
Women have been solving the very problem you face by turning old clothes and quilts into scraps for generations. Why not you?

Starting Your Recycled Quilt

All you need to make a quilt besides your fabric is a pair of scissors, needle and thread and some imagination. The simplest quilts are simply large squares of different fabrics sewn together. The squares can be any size, but the bigger they are the less sewing you’ll have to do. Or you can sew smaller pieces together to make larger squares.

Figure out in advance how many squares you’ll need to make the size quilt you want. Make sure you cut your squares 1/4” larger on each side for seam allowance. Then sew them together with a simple running stitch. The easiest way is to sew a bunch of squares together end to end until you’ve completed a row. Then sew another strip, and sew the two rows together. Make sure you pin the strips before sewing so the seams come out even. Continue until your quilt top is done.

Layering and Finishing Your Recycled Quilt

You can buy batting, but if you want to be frugal and recycle, use an old blanket or comforter. You can also use a blanket for the back, or piece together the back just like you did the front. Sandwich the layers together – it helps to tape the backing to the floor at this point – and pin them together. Now you’re ready to quilt them together.

You can use a wide running stitch to sew the layers together. But if this is your first quilt I’d recommend tying it, which is much quicker and gives it a homey touch. Just take some yarn, start at the top and take one stitch through all the layers. Come back through the top and cut it so both ends are about 3” long. Finish it off with a square knot. Tie your quilt every 6” or so, hem or bind the edges and you’re done!
Congratulations! You now have a cheery recycled quilt you can keep or give to a friend – and you’ve given new life to a load of old clothes!

Wheeeee!

Remember sledding when you were a kid? That hill back of the school, or behind the barn, or at the end of your street? The long trudge up and the thrilling reward when you finally reached the top and pushed off, speeding down that hill so fast the wind whipped tears from your eyes?

Where’s that old sled now? Gathering cobwebs in your shed? Well, if you live where there’s snow it’s time to dust it off and polish up the runners. Because I have good news for you. Sledding isn’t just for kids. In fact, if you want to save gas and your back, your old Flexible Flyer could turn into one of your most useful wintertime homestead tools.

How many times have you fired up the four wheeler in order to carry a load that was just a little too heavy or awkward to haul around in your arms? A sled lets you pull a surprisingly large load with little effort, without the use of fossil fuel. It’s great for bales of hay and straw, hauling firewood, and of course for that little spruce tree you cut for Christmas, or for hauling home that prize buck.

Nearly any kind of sled will work. Runner sleds are great for hauling along packed roads or trails. The plastic toboggan type is better for bushwhacking or deep snow. Look in sporting goods stores for heavy-duty ones made for carrying a load.

Of course, once you have your sled, it never hurts to indulge your inner child. No one’s looking. I dare you. Go to the top of that hill behind the barn and push off hard.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…

Swing. Thwak! Swing. Thwak! Swing. Thwak!

Chopping wood is time-honored tradition on many homesteads. You’d think there would be more complaining about the intense work involved. But if you ask seasoned wood choppers, most will shrug, and smile a little as they admit, “I like to chop wood.”

Take a few minutes to watch one of these masters at work. There’s a ritual involved that’s as inspiring in its way as watching a martial artist bow onto the mat and perform his routine.

He selects a log, placing it almost reverently upon the block. Then, hefting his axe in both hands, he takes a deep breath in and in one fluid motion hoists it up over his head and down upon the very center of the log. Steel hits wood, and the two halves fall neatly apart to hit the dirt with a satisfying thud.

Not every log is so easy to split. Sometimes a knot in the wood, or a particularly tough or fibrous piece, puts up resistance. But by now your master has entered the zone. Using wedges and a sledge, he patiently works away until the wood, almost sighing, submits to his will.

Time seems to stand still. After a while all that matters is sweat, breath, the wood and the steel. The rhythm of placing, chopping, stacking. An entire morning or afternoon falls away as effortlessly as the pieces of split wood tumbling from the block.

At the end of his wood chopping session the master leans on his axe and smiles with satisfaction at his newly-stacked pile of sweet-smelling firewood. A job well done.

Could he have chopped more wood in half the time with a diesel-powered hydraulic wood splitter? Sure. But that’s not the point. There’s a time and a place for technology. But not today. Sometimes speed needs to take a back seat to spirit. Today, losing himself in the rhythm of the axe, our wood chopper touched upon infinity. And smiled.

Looking for a special, budget-busting way to introduce a little holiday cheer?  Try making your own holiday wreaths!

Nearly every homestead has abundant raw material to create striking and unique holiday decorations. Of course the old standbys of evergreen boughs and grapevine spring to mind, but if those are scare at your place don’t despair.  Just look around.  Twigs and small branches, straw and dead weeds all make great wreath-making material.  Or use your imagination and raid your junk pile for inspiration.  Have fun! How about a wreath crafted from scraps of electrical wire and decorated with spark plugs to grace your machine shop door?

Start your wreath with several lengths of sturdy material like grapevine or twigs.  Twist them together, then bend into a circle and secure with binding wire.  Use this as a frame to attach other material like pine branches or weeds.  Weave them in securely or use more binding wire to attach.

Top it all off with decorative elements gleaned from your homestead.  Try pine cones, bittersweet or holly berries or crab apples.  Use wire or needle and thread to secure them onto the wreath.  Or raid the sewing bench for ribbons, bows and notions.  Long strips of brightly-colored calico make delightful use of scraps that might otherwise go to waste.

Once you’re done making one or a few for yourself, you might find the process addicting.  Home made wreaths make great gifts, or sell them at holiday craft fairs or bazaars for a little extra Christmas money.

And while you’re at it, don’t forget to include your holiday spirit.  Make it a family project with the kids, or invite friends and neighbors for a pot-luck wreath-making party.  You might just find you’ve started a new holiday tradition!

When it comes to winter food storage without using up lots of electricity or other fuel, root vegetables are king.   After all, their whole purpose is to last until spring!  Storing your root vegetables doesn’t have to be complicated.  Just keep these few rules in mind·

• Keep them some place cool, but don’t let them freeze.  A root cellar or cool basement is ideal.  If your winters are mild, you can even leave them in the ground all winter.  Just cover with a thick layer of mulch to keep out the frost, and be sure to use them before it warms up and the plants start to sprout.
• Most root vegetables like high humidity.  Pack them in damp sand, newspaper or peat.
• Don’t wash your veggies before storing.  You want to handle them gently to avoid small nicks and bruises that could lead to rot.
• You know the saying, “One bad apple spoils the bunch.”  It goes for root veggies, too.  Be vigilant against rot.  Use any damaged roots as soon as possible after harvest.  Check every week or so and promptly remove any veggie showing any sign of going bad.
• Potatoes take slightly different handling.  Keep them dry, and don’t expose them to light.  Light will trigger the formation of toxic compounds.  Do not eat potato sprouts or any part of the potato that has turned green.

With proper handling, you should be able to store your root vegetables all the way through ‘till spring – if you don’t eat them all up first!

In cities we spend huge amounts of human and fossil energy raking, blowing and carting them off – not to mention the thousands of plastic bags used to hold them.

In the country we tend to simply let them fall and ignore them.

But the millions of leaves that fall from our broadleaf trees each year represent a bounteous harvest far too few people ever realize.  How about you?

Dead Leaves for Feed and Bedding

Do you have sheep, goats or small animals?  Do you pay good money for hay and bedding material?  And do you have hardwood trees on your property?  If so, you may have overlooked a plentiful and inexpensive source of bedding and winter feed.

Aspen and other leaves have been used to bed down animals for centuries.  While not as absorbent as straw or shavings, the price is right and collection is usually a snap.  The leaves are also easily composted along with manure for a highly nutritious additive to your garden soil.

Dry leaves can also be used like hay as a winter staple for certain animals, such as sheep and rabbits.  Just be sure to exercise proper caution:  certain species, like black walnut and cherry, contain toxins in their leaves.  Be sure to check with a veterinarian to be sure your tree species are compatible with your animals.

Digging Dry Leaves

Dead leaves are also great for your garden.  Dig them into the soil in fall or spring to enrich your garden and make your soil loose and friable.  And a layer of leaves (shredded or whole) makes great mulch.  Again, be careful of the species you use, especially walnut or anything aromatic.   For a good lazy man’s mulch for garden beds, just blow the leaves off your yard and onto the beds.

You can also use dry leaves as a carbon-rich element in your compost pile.  They’re especially great for urban gardeners to layer in with kitchen scraps.  And if you’re into worm composting, shredded leaves make excellent bedding for the wriggly little critters!  If you also have grass clippings, mix them in with the leaves for a nitrogen boost.

Next time you’re faced with the prospect of raking up a bunch of leaves, don’t just sigh and resign yourself to the work.  Think of it as a bonus, and enjoy the harvest!

“Green” seals of approval are slapped on dishwashers, heat pumps, light bulbs and entire buildings. So why not the outdoors?

As of Thursday, even open-air spaces — from parks and parking lots to corporate and college campuses — will have their own environmental rating system.

“The recognition of the need to address climate change and sustainability is going up and up,” says Nancy Somerville, CEO of the American Society of Landscape Architects, who worked with the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C., and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas-Austin to create the first national rating system for sustainable landscapes.

Until now, the most comprehensive guidelines and sought-after environmental ratings were for buildings. A Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council can qualify builders and cities for tax credits. Now that the nation is embracing all things green to save money and natural resources, a LEED rating also brings marketing cachet to a project.

This seems like an idea whose time has come.  Maybe all those fertilizer-slurping green lawns will be a thing of the past.  Read more in the full article.

Caring for the environment doesn’t always cost money. Your concern for the environment can actually bring you cash. There are ways to earn money by going green without leaving your home.

Going green can refer to engaging in any activity that helps protect the environment. By engaging in green activities, you will not only be able to reduce pollution and the pressure on Mother Earth, but you will also be able to save up on your monthly bills and earn money as well.

You could start by carpooling. This will not only reduce your energy consumption, but will also help you save on gas. If you take the public transportation instead of driving your own car, you can save on maintenance and fuel costs while reducing the carbon dioxide being emitted in the atmosphere (your carbon footprint).

Here are some additional ways you can help the environment and earn money in the process.

Opt for green energy

Instead of relying on the non-sustainable energy from the power company, why not make use of wind or solar energy to power your household? There are people who save up to 80% on their energy bill by using green energy. Some even sell back the excess electricity and earn income in the process. Consult with your local power company to see which renewable energy source you can opt for.

Segregate your garbage

Don’t put all your garbage in one bin. Put your vegetable peels and other waste that can be composted into a different bin, so you can create compost for a natural soil conditioner and fertilizer. Recyclable waste like bottles and plastics should be placed in different bins to be sold to recycling companies later on. In addition to your county recycking program, there are small businesses that buy different types of waste for recycling purposes. Check them out if you want to earn and turn green at the same time.

Sell your old batteries

Some batteries are very toxic. You should never throw them into the trash. If you no longer have a use for them, look for shops that buy old batteries. If your car batteries are no longer working, there are recycling stores that buy old batteries or get them in exchange for a rebate for new batteries.

Energy Rebates

The government often has rebate programs that will pay you to add insulation to your house or convert to wind or solar energy. These programs allow you to earn money over and above the energy savings you will earn in future months.

These are only a few of the many ways you can help protect the environment by reducing waste and consumption and earn some income or benefit in the process. You can be creative and think of other ways you can be green and enterprising. The next time you start making important decision that will require you to use energy or consumer products, ask yourself if there is a way to do this without harming the environment.

Some rednecks still throw their beer cans out the window. Many of us still live our lives without caring how we affect the environment. Generations ago concern about the environment seemed non-existent. Cavemen hunted for food only for survival, but never in excess. They used the trees and other natural resources, but only for shelter and basic needs.

Modern consumer society is more voracious, and many of us consume in excess of what we really need. We have placed nature at a disadvantage with our extravagant lifestyles. This has given rise to concerns about our carbon footprint and how it is affecting the earth and its sustainability.

Consumption of energy

Cars and other energy-guzzling devices can now be found throughout the world. Cars run on gasoline, a non-renewable resource. As we use more energy than necessary we emit excess carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

Carbon footprint refers to the amount of carbon dioxide emission released to the atmosphere. Most of us leave a carbon footprint on a daily basis. The moment you use energy to power your homes, or you drive from your home to anywhere else, you are already leaving behind a carbon footprint.

So what’s your carbon footprint?

We can’t avoid using energy and leaving carbon footprints as we live our daily lives. We’ve come a long way from living in caves, and we have become accustomed to living in comfort, thanks to cheap, abundant energy. We can certainly use energy efficiently to lessen our carbon footprint. A good way to start is to measure your carbon footprint by going to one of the internet sites that make use of a calculator to measure your energy use. Your total energy consumption, less the efforts you exert to recycle, reduce waste and save on energy is equivalent to your carbon footprint.

Some factors to consider when calculating your carbon footprint:

• Vehicle you use and your gas mileage
• Your energy bill
• The total number of miles you drive annually
• Frequency of your vehicle maintenance
• The flights you take and the distance you travel
• Home devices that uses energy

While you can’t help using energy and consuming products that add to your carbon footprint, you can find ways to lessen your energy and product consumption. If you a are regular energy user because of the nature of your work or business, then it may be time to switch to a more energy-friendly fuel source for your vehicle and solar or wind energy for your home.