Mystery Fruit Revealed

Since we used compost to plant our garden, we sometimes get "mystery plants." Several weeks ago, a plant started growing in our garden that we had no idea what it was going to turn out to be. We had several people guess what it was. The guesses included: watermelon, pumpkin, and acorn squash. Being the rookie gardeners that we are, it was not until the outside really started looking like a cantaloupe that we knew what it was.

We are really enjoying our garden. The compost has given us additional fun. Several times we have had to guess what was coming up. It has been great to get some FREE plants!

-Robin

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap

ALL YOU Grocery Challenge

I know that laundry detergent is not a part of the grocery challenge, but I have to mention it because the savings is amazing! My family and I made our first batch of laundry soap in October 2009. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was super easy. Even if I would have messed it up, we would have only wasted a few dollars. It was worth the try!

Before using laundry soap, I was buying store brand eco friendly laundry soap at a wholesale store. We were paying around $17 for laundry detergent every 2-3 months. The homemade laundry detergent costs only about $.05/ load. It would be even cheaper if we had an energy saver washing machine. By using homemade laundry soap, we are saving about a hundred dollars a year. So, by the time our kids graduate from high school, we will have saved around $1800 on laundry soap!

I use the Duggar's recipe (scroll down) and found all the ingredients at Publix. My family of 5 will only need to make this recipe 2 times per year.

If you are new to homemade cleaning products, you are probably wondering what you are going to do with the leftover ingredients. After all, you will probably not have to make the laundry soap very often. I use the leftover borax and washing soda in my dishwasher.

Diswasher

Pre-Wash:

1/2 tablespoon Borax

1/2 tablespoon Washing Soda

Main Wash:

1 tablespoon Borax

1 tablespoon Washing Soda

I use white vinegar for the rinse.

The eco benefits of homemade laundry soap are that it's all-natural and it cuts out having to recycle those large laundry detergent containers (not to mention the ones not being recycled).

As and added price reducer, there is usually a Borax coupon (scroll down) for $.35 off, which will double at a lot of grocery stores.

After using homemade laundry soap, I will likely never buy regular laundry detergent again... unless it's free ; )

-Robin

Composting = A Great Garden

ALL YOU Grocery Challenge

Last summer, we started composting. So, this year when we started our garden we used our compost. It was not quite ready, but my husband put it into the soil and turned the soil several times over a week long period. Then the dirt was ready for planting.

Since this is techniquely our first garden, we started out small. We planted tomatoes, summer squash, cucumbers, and okra. Most of the seeds were planted at the site of the compost soil, but we had so many plants to come up that we had to transplant a few to another part of our yard. As the plants grew, we could tell a big difference in how hearty the plants at the compost site were in comparision to the plants in other places. We were surprised to see the difference that compost soil makes in a garden. I actual had to put Miracle Grow on the plants that were not at the compost site to keep them from turning yellow.

Top Picture: No compost

Bottom Picture: Compost

We were so happy to see that the effort we put into composting has paid off for us. We have even had some volunteer tomato plants come up from the compost site. Score! Free tomato plants = FREE TOMATOES!

I hope you will be encouraged to compost. It is great for the environment, reduces trash, and makes for nutrient rich soil for your garden.

-Robin

Composting

I am working at making our house more eco-friendly. As I have said before, my favorite channel is Planet Green!

One of the best eco changes in our house is composting. We started composting last month and it has decreased our waste tremendously; therefore, decreasing the amount of methane gas that we emit into the atmosphere.

Before starting the composting process, we went to Lowe’s and bought a composter. A composter allows you to grow aerobic, as opposed to anaerobic, bacteria by letting air into the composter. We put or composter next to our house and have not been bothered by extra bugs or smells. I’ll share a few composting tips that I have learned with you.

Composting Tips

How to Compost
1. Place the Composter in the sun to accelerate the speed of composting.
2. Make sure your compost is kept moisturized.

Things You Can Compost
Leaves
Dry grass
Weeds
Garden Plants
Soft plant stems
Fruit and vegetable matter
Egg shells (crushed)
Tea bags, coffee grounds

Things You CANNOT Compost
Meat, fats, bones, fish
Dairy products
Cooking Oil

Composting is easy once you get into the habit of it. It helps to save the environment and will supply nutrient rich dirt for next year’s garden. Composting Works For Me!

-Robin

Join us tomorrow for Thrifty Thursday and share your money saving ideas!

Thrifty Thursday-Hand Push Reel Mower

We have been waiting a few years to have a yard of our own again. Recently, we moved into a house that has a small yard. My husband is the grass mower in our family and he decided to try a hand push reel mower. The mower is perfect for our yard. It takes my husband about 30 minutes to mow the entire lawn. He also gets his exercise and we will save money on his gym membership! We have also gotten to know our new neighbors . They have all came out of their houses to offer my husband to use their mowers!

Not only does the mower not need gasoline, but it cuts down on noise pollution in the neighborhood. This brand of mower has excellent reviews on-line and by my husband. It's light-weight and cuts a wide strip at 18". While still possible, accidents are less likely with this mower.

If you have a small yard, you should look into buying a hand push reel lawn mower. You will save money on the cost of the mower, the cost of gas, and you will help preserve the environment.


-Robin

Do you have a tip to share for Thrifty Thursday? You can find details here. We hope you'll join us! Put your links below!

Washable Training Pants

We are going through the process of potty training our two year old. Before we started potty training, I bought her some washable training pants to help save money and the environment. I have been very pleased with my selection on washable training pants. My daughter has mostly been using Kushies training pants. They are lined with cotton and have a plastic, waterproof exterior to help prevent leaks. One of my favorite things about the training pants is she can feel if she is wet. When using pull-ups, it seems like it is hard for the child to notice that they are wet.

Many people are afraid of cloth diapers and training pants because you have to wash them. Training pants are easy to wash. Just rinse them out when they are soiled and wash them with my next load of laundry. I put vinegar in my downy ball to help take out any odors.

If you are potty training, I hope you will find some washable training pants that work for your child!

-Robin

Do you have a tip to share for Thrifty Thursday? You can find details here. We hope you'll join us! Put your links below!

Packing A Picnic

July is National Picnic Month and one of our favorite family activites is packing a picnic and heading to our favorite, local lake. There are often boats on this lake and we love to watch them sail around. Local college students also tend to bring their instruments and give impromptu concerts right there on the grass. We also love to watch the dogs interacting and chasing the ducks!

In our continued effort to be eco-friendly, I have a few picnic tips that will help your picnic basket stay "green," too.

-Find a few plastic plates that can be washed and reused. We have found our favorites at Target and The Dollar Tree. I'm sure there are many other sources. Pack one for everyone.
-Bring the whole package! For packaged snacks, don't make a smaller portion size for each person and waste lots of plastic sandwich bags. If everyone has their own plate, you can just pass the items out once you've arrived.
-Use Tupperware. I wash and pre-cut our fruit and put it all together into a Tupperware container. We place this on our picnic blanket and everyone helps themselves. I put all the sandwiches together into one container, the desserts together, etc.
-Use cloth napkins. You can throw them back in your basket and wash them at home.
-Invest in reusable drink bottles. We make large quantites of lemonade at our home in the summer. We each fill our own drink bottle and put it into the basket. No juice boxes, bottles or cans to throw into the trash at the park where there isn't a recycling option.

For one small investment, you can have a picnic supply basket that will last you for years. After we return home and wash up, we keep all of our supplies together and are always very excited to pull the basket out and pack it up each time we are able to go.

I hope you're able to fit in a family picnic soon!

-Julie

Please join us here every Thursday for our new feature: Thrifty Thursday! Link a post on your blog sharing your best money saving ideas!

Farmer's Market

In recent months, my husband and I have tried to become more environmentally friendly by buying more local produce than store bought. We are blessed to live in location where you can go to the farmer’s market or local produce stand and pick up a variety of fruits and vegetables.

One of our favorite Saturday activities is going to the farmer’s market. We take the kids and spend the morning buying local produce, looking at crafts, and taste testing samples of local goodies. The farmer’s market that we go to has live music and vendors that serve breakfast and lunch. It’s fun for the whole family. The prices are reasonable, admission is free, and it’s entertaining. What more could you ask for on Saturday morning?

To support local farmers and businesses, help preserve the environment, and have a good time, visit a farmer’s market in your town.

-Robin

Waste Reduction Tips

Our family produces very little trash. We have this roll-out container provided by the waste removal company and it is standard for our neighborhood, but ours rarely has much in it. We, as a family of four, have no more than two kitchen size bags of trash per week. Here's how we do it:

- Check into your area's recycling program. Learn what they recycle. If you've never watched The Story of Stuff, I would urge you to do so. My children attend a "green" school, so they are very aware of what can be recycled as well. We recycle all glass containers, most plastics (even the smallest containers are rinsed and put in the recycle bin, look for the symbol on everything before you throw it out), cardboard, paper and aluminum cans. It doesn't take much longer to put it into the recycling area instead of the trash.
- Sort your mail right over your recycle area. Most of our mail ends up there. Call any company that sends you catalogs and ask to be removed from the list. Most can be viewed online. If not, you can call when you need to order something and receive one catalog at that time. Sign up to receive your bank statements and bills via email if you pay them online. Zero waste and you can print a copy if you need it for tax purposes.
- Consider whether you need the newspaper everyday. Most can be viewed online now. We do receive the paper, but it ALWAYS goes into the recycle pile.
- Check with your local school. Ours has a paper recycling program that is a fundraising opportunity as well. We take all of our paper there when our bin fills up. Once a year, they also collect plastic grocery bags to be recycled (and many grocery stores have areas for this as well). They also accept printer cartridges that they exchanged for new ones at the office store. See if there is a local organization you can help out!
- Bring your own bags. We don't take bags from stores. Period. You will be amazed how much waste this eliminates from your home. If you take them, reuse and recycle them.
- Buy in bulk. If the price is close, we buy the larger size package. Less packaging equals less waste. We also don't buy many individually packaged items. Be conscious of packaging choices and try to make the eco-friendly one.
- Donate items that can be used by others. We give lots of books, toys and clothes to neighbors. What they can't use, we take to our local Goodwill.
- Yard waste and food scraps can be composted. We are not able to do that where we live right now, but we hope to in the future.
- Reuse everyday items. We make arts and crafts from cardboard boxes and egg cartons. We make musical instruments from toilet paper tubes. Think beyond the original use and see what you can come up with!

Do you have other great waste reduction tips you want to Talk About? Share them in the comments!

-Julie

Home-Grown Organic Tomatoes

My family loves tomatoes. A few years ago, I picked up a tomato plant at Costco and tested to see if I had a green thumb. My husband doubted that I would get my money back in tomatoes, but I was hopeful to prove him wrong. I had my own doubts about my green thumb, but soon my tomato plant started growing. It kept growing and growing until I had to get a bigger pot and tie it up to our fence. Soon, we had many tomatoes, so many that I began giving them away to neighbors and trading them for other vegetables. At the time, we didn’t know our neighbors very well, so this was a great way to get to know everyone.

I love home-grown tomatoes. There is nothing like picking a warm tomato off the vine and eating it. When I was a little girl, my mom used to have a garden, and we had many tomato plants. She used to can tomatoes to make soup and tomato dumplings the next winter. Growing tomatoes is easy. Just keep the plant watered, trim the branches that do not have a bloom, and tie the tomato plant up when it gets so big it starts to fall over.

The best thing about growing your own tomatoes is that you know the tomatoes really are organic. Organic tomatoes are expensive in the store but easy to grow. We definitely got our money back and saved a lot of money too. We moved this year, so we were not able to have a tomato plant. But, I am looking forward to trying my green thumb out again next year.

-Robin

Planet Green

Planet Green is my new favorite television network! I happened upon it one night while channel surfing. Launched in 2008, it is the first and only 24-hour eco-lifestyle television network. The network’s primary goal is to take an active role in motivating all of us to take action when it comes to improving the environmental status of our planet.

My favorite shows on Planet Green are:

Living with Ed- This is a reality show about the life of Ed Begley, Jr., the actor, who is a renowned environmentalist. Ed is a diehard activist who uses solar power in his home and drives an electric car, among many other things, to decrease his effect on the environment. He gives many easy tips to help us learn how to be more eco-friendly.

Wa$ted- This show takes ordinary people, monitors their waste, and helps them make simple habit changes to decrease their eco footprint. They use an eco footprint calculator to tabulate their effect on the environment. The people are monitored for a few weeks, and then they recalculate the footprint. The show gives back the amount of money saved because of the decrease in the eco footprint. It is amazing how much money you can save by decreasing your eco footprint.

World’s Greenest Homes- This is a show featuring homes that are very pleasing to the eye, environmentally friendly, and easy to maintain. Many of the homes featured are made from recycled materials and use solar power or wind turbines for electricity. If you watch this show, you will definitely want a green house!

Planet Green is my favorite channel of all time. I enjoy learning how we can make a better environment for ourselves and our children. Many of the eco-friendly tips given on this network can be easily done at our homes with very little lifestyle change. I have learned a lot by watching this channel and hope that you are inspired to check it out. It may prompt you to start decreasing your eco footprint. If this network does not come with your cable package, check it out at
www.planetgreen.discovery.com . I will be sharing some of the cool things that I have learned in my upcoming posts!

Thanks for joining us for Talk About It Tuesday!

-Robin

Microfiber Mops

For WFMW, I wanted to discuss one of my favorite cleaning supplies. I don't like to use a lot of chemicals in our home, so we have relied on microfiber mops for years.

I like to use microfiber mops for several reasons. They do a fantastic job on our wood and tile floors. They can be reused over and over. They only need hot water to do their job well. They can also be thrown right into the washing machine (but they should not go thru the dryer -which is why I often have mine hanging from the bar in my laundry room to air dry).

Have you used microfiber mops? What works for you for floors?

-Julie

Tips for Buying Used Clothes for Kids

Even before my first child was born 2 ½ years ago, I went to a used clothes sale to pick her up a few things. This was hard because we never find out the sex of the baby until the baby is born and the doctor says, “It’s a…girl!” We have 2 girls, 16 months apart. Having children of the same sex has saved us a lot of shopping!

I have shopped at many kid’s used clothes sales and usually find great deals. The last sale I went to I loaded up on smocked dresses for the girls. Smocked dresses can run anywhere from $45 - $75 or maybe more (but we don’t shop in those stores) and are usually church and special occasion dresses, so they are not worn much by the previous children.

I have a few tips for buying used clothes for children.

- Check the clothes over thoroughly for missing buttons, snaps, stains, and broken zippers before purchasing.
- Know the brands and retail prices of the clothes you want to buy. Many times I have seen used clothes sold at retail prices – that is NOT a deal.
- Get to the sale early, before it is picked over, so you can get items you need. If you need strollers….you will have to get there early!
- If you are on the fence about buying an item, put the item back and chance getting it at the ½ price sale on the last day.
- Take a basket on wheels, so that you will have free hands to look through the clothes.
- Try to leave the kids at home, so you can concentrate on getting a deal!

We have found many great deals for our girls at used clothes sales. Many churches and organizations hold sales in the spring and fall. Sales are usually advertised in the paper.

Good luck! I hope you find some good deals!

-Robin

Win at Auctions!

SOLD!

As an auctioneer’s daughter, I have attended many auctions. When I was a kid, my parents got us up on many Saturday mornings to help with auctions. Now, my husband and I love to frequent auctions to find things to buy and resell! We have found some really good deals! Also, we buy things for our home instead of buying new. This not only saves money, but is environmentally friendly! Before you attend an auction, here are a few tips to help you get a good deal.

Auction Tips:

- Get to the auction early to preview the merchandise before the sale starts.
- Stand in a place where the ground crew (the workers helping the auctioneer take bids) can see you and your number.
- Let others bid in between your bids, so that you don’t raise the price on yourself.
- Don’t be intimidated by other bidders.
- Set a top price and stick with it - - it is easy to get caught up in the action.
- Be careful when fanning or adjusting your hat. The auctioneer and ground crew look for sudden motions and may accidentally take your fanning for a bid.
- Never talk to the clerk - - they are keeping track of what is being sold.
- Bring a big enough vehicle to haul your items home.
- Have fun! Auctions are a great time!

I love going to auctions every chance I get. I would encourage all of you to attend an auction. You will not only find great deals, but your whole family will be entertained. And who knows, you might have the winning bid!

-Robin

Geocaching

It has been a few years now since my family was introduced to geocaching. I believe it was an article in the newspaper that first alerted me to this wonderful family hobby. We like to call it "treasure hunting" and it is one of our favorite activities to do together.

For WFMW, I thought I would share this great hobby with you so that you might add it to your summer arsenal of "things to do."

The official website for the hobby can be found at http://www.geocaching.com/ and their explanation is as follows: Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

Our explantion: it is good, healthy family fun! Here are some hints as to how to get started:

- You will need a GPS receiver. This is the model we use. You will want one that works well under heavy tree cover. We began with one that turned out to not be strong enough. I would recommend reading reviews of models you are considering to see if other geocachers have had success with it. You can often find these used on Ebay or other sources. Our model is just over $100 new, but it is a one time investment for many hours of fun. We gave this to ourselves as a family holiday gift one year.

- You will need to register at the website. Then, you can enter your zip code and find the caches available in your area. We have been shocked to see how many are near us. Many were in our favorite parks, right under our noses! They can be hidden in containers as small as a film canister, so you never know where they are lurking! Also, consider printing out some logs for hunts you can do along the route of a family vacation. We are planning to do this on our next long drive. It will provide some much needed time to get out and stretch our legs a bit and will break up a long trip.

- Print your coordinates and hints and head out for some fun! The website will give you a map to get you close to your destination. After that, you need to head out on foot with the coordinates logged into your GPS receiver. Once you get close, you need to search around for the hidden treasure!

- Many caches have logbooks for you to record your name and the date of your discovery. We try to let the kids find as many as possible. Sometimes they are in an area that isn't safe for them, so be sure to look at the difficulty level from the site.

- We also have a small bag we carry for our treasure hunting adventures. In it we have hand wipes, a small flashlight, a pen, sunscreen, bug spray, little treasures (i.e. bouncy balls, plastic beads, etc. that they kids can exchange in the larger caches), a notebook, a small plastic bag and a camera. I have kept a scrapbook of our finds and it is such a fun reminder of the adventures we've had!

- Realize that you may not find every cache on your first try. We have had to go back to the website and ask for hints from other users. There is no shame in that because some of these are super tricky!

- Be cautious while you are hunting. The goal is to not alert others in the area to your mission. The reason is that someone who doesn't realize that others will be coming looking at these coordinates might move the cache. As a side benefit, the kids feel like super secret spies! We have had some great laughs trying to remain quiet in a very public space!

- Another benefit of this hobby is that geocachers have been asked to pick up litter that they might find when performing a hunt. We use the small plastic bag we carry to gather up anything we might find and perform a favor for the environment.

If you have any questions, please feel free to post them in the comments. I love to share this hobby with others and hope that you consider it for some good, quality family time. You are outside, soaking up some sunshine, getting some exercise and having adventures with the ones you love. I can't think of anything better . . .

-Julie

My Favorite Uses For Vinegar

I never thought I would say this but one of my favorite products is vinegar. I remember my mom cleaning windows with vinegar as a little girl. I used to think the smell was awful. Now, years later, I clean my own house and I have to be sure I am using the safest products around my children.

It seems like, in the past 5 years, there has been an extreme push for safe and eco friendly cleaning products. We are all becoming more knowledgeable about our health, the health of our family, and the health of our environment. I am glad that safe and eco friendly information is available to me at a time when I am raising my family.
I have started using a lot of vinegar to clean our house. It might smell, but it does clean and I feel it is a safe product to use. My favorite uses for vinegar are:

Cleaning the humidifier
Washing windows
Using it in the washing machine on the rinse cycle to take out odors
Cleaning the coffee maker
Deodorizing the kitchen drain

I like to look at The Vinegar Institute website for more ideas on how to use vinegar. http://www.versatilevinegar.org/ I haven’t tried all of their ideas, but check it out and see if any of them are helpful to you.

My favorite thing about vinegar is that it is cheap!

See what everyone else is talking about at Works For Me Wednesday!

- Robin

Healthy, Waste-Free Lunches

I have chosen to pack my children's lunches because I find it to be healthier than what the school offers.One of my major goals last year was to eliminate waste in their lunchbox. Now, we do not purchase any individually packaged snacks and I do not use plastic bags when packing for their day.

I found the answer to my search here:
Laptop Lunches

I am not connected to this company at all, but I would highly recommend their system. We purchased two complete systems and one extra set each of the interior containers. Now, I can have one set in the dishwasher and the second in the box. I hand wash the box as necessary.

Pictured in the lunch above is a natural peanut butter sandwich, baby carrots, grapes and strawberries, and baked cheese crackers. As you can see, my kids can eat their lunch and then they have no waste to toss as they leave the cafeteria. I also pack a washcloth in their bag to wipe up any messes. And, they carry a safe, plastic water bottle that we refill each morning.

Green, healthy and frugal. The best of everything I'm aiming for.

Have you found a healthy, eco-friendly way to handle your lunches?

Yard Sale Tips

Yard Sale Season is here! We have seen signs all over and recently participated ourselves. I thought I would share some of our best tips to help make your sale successful as well for our Talk About It Tuesday post.

- Join in with neighbors if you can. Larger sales draw larger crowds.

- Find out which days are most successful in your area. Here, it happens to be Thursday. Other areas it might be Friday or Saturday.

- Start collecting your items. We began right after Christmas by pulling aside decor we didn't use this season and then went thru our home room by room. If you have an area where you can temporarily store your items, pool them in one space.

- Give yourself plenty of time for pricing. Price low, but leave yourself a little negotiating room. I've found that all yard sale shoppers are eager to find a bargain and they love to have your price reduced.

- Gather tables from friends and neighbors and showcase your treasures. We have a few tables of our own and we borrowed two from a friend. We also created one additional table by using sawhorses and placing a sheet of lumber on top. This worked especially well for items that were too heavy for a card table, such as dishes.

- Get change before your day begins. I like to have $100 in a variety of bills. And, as I gather more cash from sales, I take larger bills inside for safekeeping.

- Gather any unsold items and take them to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army. What better way to recycle? Don't bring unwanted items back into your home.

If you have additional yard sale hints, we would love to hear them. If you have an upcoming sale, we wish you the best of luck!

- Julie

Family Friday - Staying Local

We have recently been working on adding a little color to the exterior of our home now that our snow is gone (finally!). I requested flowers for the pots we use outside for Mother's Day and we went together to a local nursery to choose them.

We have found many advantages to staying local with our greenhouse choices, as opposed to heading to a chain or big box store. We found the prices on the plants to be lower and the quality to be higher. Local stores seem to take much more pride in their work with and knowledge of the plants. And, you are ensured to get plants that will work well for your region. In our continued efforts to be green, we want plants that don't need that much water and will handle the temperature variations here (and we added mulch to this pot when we were finished to help retain moisture).


If you're looking to fill your flowerbeds or a few pots, I would urge you to check your local nursery first. And, don't forget to get the kids involved in picking out their favorite plants, getting their hands dirty, teach them to use some garden tools and how to care for your new plants.

-Julie