Posted on 07/24/2009 3:37:21 AM PDT by nw_arizona_granny
Weekly Roundup - Living On Nothing Edition Category: Roundups | Comments(15)
Did you hear about the guy that lives on nothing? No seriously, he lives on zero dollars a day. Meet Daniel Suelo, who lives in a cave outside Moab, Utah. Suelo has no mortgage, no car payment, no debt of any kind. He also has no home, no car, no television, and absolutely no “creature comforts.” But he does have a lot of creatures, as in the mice and bugs that scurry about the cave floor he’s called home for the last three years.
To us, Suelo probably sounds a little extreme. Actually, he probably sounds very extreme. After all, I suspect most of you reading this are doing so under the protection of some sort of man-made shelter, and with some amount of money on your person, and probably a few needs for money, too. And who doesn’t need money unless they have completely unplugged from the grid? Still, it’s an amusing story about a guy who rejects all forms of consumerism as we know it.
The Frugal Roundup
How to Brew Your Own Beer and Maybe Save Some Money. A fantastic introduction to home brewing, something I’ve never done myself, but always been interested in trying. (@Generation X Finance)
Contentment: A Great Financial Principle. If I had to name one required emotion for living a frugal lifestyle it would be contentment. Once you are content with your belongings and your lot in life you can ignore forces attempting to separate you from your money. (@Personal Finance by the Book)
Use Energy Star Appliances to Save On Utility Costs. I enjoyed this post because it included actual numbers, and actual total savings, from someone who upgraded to new, energy star appliances. (@The Digerati Life)
Over-Saving for Retirement? Is it possible to “over-save” for retirement? Yes, I think so. At some point I like the idea of putting some money aside in taxable investments outside of retirement funds, to be accessed prior to traditional retirement age. (@The Simple Dollar)
40 Things to Teach My Kids Before They Leave Home. A great list of both practical and philosophical lessons to teach your kids before they reach the age where they know everything. I think that now happens around 13 years-old. (@My Supercharged Life)
Index Fund Investing Overview. If you are looking for a place to invest with high diversification and relatively low fees (for broader index funds with low turnover), index funds are a great place to start. (@Money Smart Life)
5 Reasons To Line Dry Your Laundry. My wife and I may soon be installing a clothesline in our backyard. In many neighborhoods they are frowned upon - one of the reasons I don’t like living in a neighborhood. I digress. One of our neighbors recently put up a clothesline, and we might just follow his lead. (@Simple Mom)
A Few Others I Enjoyed
* 4 Quick Tips for Getting Out of a Rut * Young and Cash Rich * Embracing Simple Style * First Trading Experience With OptionsHouse * The Exponential Power of Delayed Consumption * How Much Emergency Fund is Enough? * 50 Questions that Will Free Your Mind * Save Money On Car Insurance
I'm going to need some of those lids, and soon. What's your source? I made the mistake of leaving about 20 cases of brand new jars out on one of the decks, covered of course, but dangit if half of them didn't get rusty during the Spring thaw somehow. Not sure I want to risk using the lids since the went through the freeze/thaw and came out rusty on the outside... the inner seals and all look fine, but there is a big doubt in my mind as to their viability.
I see you are using that landscapers matting for weed control. These are new to me (last garden many moons ago), so when I furrowed, I kept them on two foot centers, the matting I've looked at is 3 to 4 foot wide. NEXT SEASON! Using some 6mil plastic cut to fit for now...
Plants up here in Northern zone 4 grow like they would in Alaska... Quickly and BIG! Learned I better be more judicious in the thinning department!
Thankfully, I foresaw the critter problems before they decided to help themselves to the plants! Put up no climb and a layer of 7 foot deer netting on that... keeps the "waboose" (Chippewa for Rabbit!) out as well. No bear problems ...yet..., I think the 458 mag would be my only answer if THAT were to present itself!
Been fabricating a drip/soak trellis system for the beans/cukes/peas. Did something similar to what Red devil has done, but with 1" pvc for the base and 1/2"-3/4" for the trellis itself. Not really a "drip" system, more of a controlled leak! LOL! It does wash the dust off the plants when I turn on the valves at night, plus the b/c/p's love the trellis!
>>>I’m going to need some of those lids, and soon. What’s your source?<<<
I first used them in the late 70’s - metal lids were almost impossible to get - used them for about 5 years but left them with family when I moved back to Delaware. Couldn’t find anything on them till the issue before last of Backwoods Home - Jackie Clay had an article on them.
I ordered 21 dozen for starters (since they are about three times the regular lid price) from http://reusablecanninglids.com/
Since each year is different, I do a whole bunch of canning of a vegetable and if the next years crop isn’t that good, I have plenty still on hand. Actually, some years I just skip planting some if previous year was really good and I am overstocked. Once canned, they last for years and years, and with the BPA free plastic, no rust ever.
I started about 6 years ago, experimenting with the ground cover. I got a roll of 10’ X 100’, and liked it so much that I bought a 15’ X 300’. So now I have a 55 X 100 that only needs very minimal weeding, heats up the soil much earlier. I rotate my tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, cucumbers, cabbage, watermelon, cantaloupe and butternut squash around on that area. Oh, and I have a section of my strawberries on it too. I will probably put down some more since it works well, and as I get older it is easier.
I don’t try to use it for beans, corn, beets, etc. - leaving all the row items for older traditional treatment.
The original 6 year old cover is still in great shape, and I don’t try to take it up, just leave it out all year long. Then I use a combination of compost tea and regular fertilizer, spread it and water - it goes right through and into the soil. I’m not a big fan of the solid plastics - you don’t get the air to the roots and water just runs off, unless you put your drip irrigation under the plastic.
LOL, fortunately I don’t have bear... Even without a fence, and with a 30’ brushpile rabbit sanctuary about 100’ from the garden, I have gotten by without too much damage... Well, except for the deer punching hoof holes in ripe watermelons and eating them along with some cantaloupe. Actually spotlighting for deer over watermelon bait might be a good tactic if TSHTF.
I seem to have missed this: >>>Been fabricating a drip/soak trellis system for the beans/cukes/peas. Did something similar to what Red devil has done<<< Sounds like something I would do...
>>>I think the 458 mag would be my only answer if THAT were to present itself!<<<
Just noticed this.....
LOL, If that buffalo gun doesn’t stop him, you’re in trouble...
That 458 mag hits like a sledge hammer.
Well, you may have some warm bear throws for the cold winters...
Will you join me in prayer for good results for Freeper Shirley’s daughter, she is going through a second round of cancer tests and her husband is already going through slow healing to a leg injury.
They have small children.
END TIMES PRAYER WARRIOR PRAYER REQUEST:
Will you join me in prayer for good results for Freeper Shirley’s daughter, she is going through a second round of cancer tests and her husband is already going through slow healing to a leg injury.
They have small children.
thx thx
I join in prayer for Freeper Shirley’s daughter!
THX THX.
Prayers up.
Great list. Thank you.
I’m adding my prayers to your.
Thx Thx.
For your prayers.
Prayers added to yours.
I was just talking about ordering some of those. Hubby wondered if you have to leave the band on, I see you don’t.
I’ve been having surgery and health problems, so my garden is being ignored a bit. Putting out HUGE zucchini, tho. lol
thanks for the ping, praying
>>>Great list. Thank you.<<<
You are welcome - it is one of the best worksheets I have seen. (Of course I include some of those ‘feel good’ items too - like vacuum packing jars with M&Ms and stuff like that)
90% of my preparation items are used regularly - that way I always have freshest and we are all used to eating them. Plus learning to do things and making things is much easier before it becomes an emergency, plus, the whole family learns as we go along too - just in case...
>>>I was just talking about ordering some of those. Hubby wondered if you have to leave the band on, I see you don’t.<<<
Right... not only don’t have to leave them on, but it is much better not to. (Ever tried to get into a jar with a rusted on band? Not fun...) I use the same 4 dozen bands over and over - all year long - All of the rest of them have been washed and oiled, sealed and stored in 5 gallon buckets - someday they may be needed, like if we should have to load canned goods up in the trailer for a move or something, it would be more secure if they were banded for that, otherwise they just sit in waiting...
>>>I’ve been having surgery and health problems, so my garden is being ignored a bit.<<<
Sorry to hear that, hope things are now on the mend...
Checked my zucchini this morning, and picked a bunch of huge ones too, I just didn’t get around to checking them like I should - looks like I will be spending some time making zucchini relish - will cut it up tonight and give it an overnight lime soak and then finish the relish tomorrow morning.
THANKS THANKS.
A-G, HOW’S YOUR NIECE?
Yes, Abba, Father God, please be with FReeper Shirley, her hubby, and their kids, meet all their needs, and help them to seek You in the midst of trial, I request this in the Name of Jesus Christ, Your only Son, AMEN.
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