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To: CottonBall
I have a drop spindle, and have a friend who has a wheel. She has turned some of my wool into beautiful yarn. So far, I haven't mastered anything, too much that I am trying to learn all at once!!

I have some pretty significant health issues, we don't have the strength that we had in our 20's, we have no farming or livestock experience, and we sure as heck aren't rich. But we are doing this anyway, because we believe it to be the right thing for us and our children at this time, for a myriad of reasons.

Like I have said before, anyone can do what we are doing; you just have to DO IT!!

If you really want it, you'll get there, even if you can't get your dream location or your dream property.

190 posted on 01/11/2013 12:15:17 PM PST by teenyelliott (www.billyjoesfoodfarm.com OR www.facebook.com/BillyJoesFoodFarm)
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To: teenyelliott
12 Low-Tech Tools You'll Always Use

They're guaranteed to save you money, no matter how fast technology advances.

White vinegar. Household cleaner, laundry aid, window/mirror cleaner, vinegar is easy on the environment and so versatile. Oh, and you can cook with it, pickle with it, run it through your washing machine or coffee maker to clean out the gunk…the list goes on. The best part: You can buy a gallon of this multipurpose wonder for about $4 at any grocery or convenience store.

Baking soda. This humble household staple can be a bug bite poultice, tub cleanser, teeth cleaner, coffee mug whitener/cleaner, and refrigerator scent sucker, and it costs less than $1 a box—or you can go big so you'll always have it on hand and buy a 13.5-pound bag!

Wooden clothespins. Use them for anything and everything: line-drying clothes, hanging photographs or your child's latest artwork, closing snack bags, or even—in a pinch—as a paper clip. You'll pay about $5 for a sleeve of 24 at your supermarket.

Clothesline. Ever smell fresh line-dried towels? Mmmmm. A 50-foot length of sturdy rope will cost you around $5 and save you bundles—as much as $228 per year if you line-dry all your loads and clean 15 loads every two weeks, the way the average American family does (you can calculate exact savings based on your own laundry habits here).

Hot water bottle. Its damp heat makes it a perfect electricity-free bed warmer, muscle relaxer, or cramp remedy. Buy a sturdy one made of real rubber and it'll last you for decades. Available for $15 from Vermont Country Store.

Interchangeable-head screwdriver. Mine is a Buck Brothers with a bright orange handle. It packs two different-size flathead and Phillips head screwdrivers in a compact head-and-handle package, and in a pinch, it doubles as a lever. Oh, and when the bits are out, they say you can use the steel housing as a ¼" nut driver. (And there are those times when you just need a nut driver.) These usually run you less than $5!

Castile soap. Don't let the high upfront cost of castile soap ($7 for an 8-ounce bottle of our favorite brand, Dr. Bronner's) turn you off. You can use it for everything—and we do mean everything: as a shampoo, household cleaner, dish soap (all without adding phosphates to the environment), laundry detergent, and even pet shampoo. Smells good, too.

Bungee cords. From strapping down things on your car or bike to strapping down furled sails on a boat or tying your bedroll to your backpack when camping, these stretchy curvy-ended workhorses have saved many of us from having to pay to replace expensive stuff. They're handy around the house, too, and they've even made the transition to being a popular strap for swim goggles.

Read the entire article at http://www.rodale.com/easy-ways-save-money

192 posted on 01/11/2013 12:22:03 PM PST by teenyelliott (www.billyjoesfoodfarm.com OR www.facebook.com/BillyJoesFoodFarm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 190 | View Replies ]

To: teenyelliott
12 Low-Tech Tools You'll Always Use

They're guaranteed to save you money, no matter how fast technology advances.

White vinegar. Household cleaner, laundry aid, window/mirror cleaner, vinegar is easy on the environment and so versatile. Oh, and you can cook with it, pickle with it, run it through your washing machine or coffee maker to clean out the gunk…the list goes on. The best part: You can buy a gallon of this multipurpose wonder for about $4 at any grocery or convenience store.

Baking soda. This humble household staple can be a bug bite poultice, tub cleanser, teeth cleaner, coffee mug whitener/cleaner, and refrigerator scent sucker, and it costs less than $1 a box—or you can go big so you'll always have it on hand and buy a 13.5-pound bag!

Wooden clothespins. Use them for anything and everything: line-drying clothes, hanging photographs or your child's latest artwork, closing snack bags, or even—in a pinch—as a paper clip. You'll pay about $5 for a sleeve of 24 at your supermarket.

Clothesline. Ever smell fresh line-dried towels? Mmmmm. A 50-foot length of sturdy rope will cost you around $5 and save you bundles—as much as $228 per year if you line-dry all your loads and clean 15 loads every two weeks, the way the average American family does (you can calculate exact savings based on your own laundry habits here).

Hot water bottle. Its damp heat makes it a perfect electricity-free bed warmer, muscle relaxer, or cramp remedy. Buy a sturdy one made of real rubber and it'll last you for decades. Available for $15 from Vermont Country Store.

Interchangeable-head screwdriver. Mine is a Buck Brothers with a bright orange handle. It packs two different-size flathead and Phillips head screwdrivers in a compact head-and-handle package, and in a pinch, it doubles as a lever. Oh, and when the bits are out, they say you can use the steel housing as a ¼" nut driver. (And there are those times when you just need a nut driver.) These usually run you less than $5!

Castile soap. Don't let the high upfront cost of castile soap ($7 for an 8-ounce bottle of our favorite brand, Dr. Bronner's) turn you off. You can use it for everything—and we do mean everything: as a shampoo, household cleaner, dish soap (all without adding phosphates to the environment), laundry detergent, and even pet shampoo. Smells good, too.

Bungee cords. From strapping down things on your car or bike to strapping down furled sails on a boat or tying your bedroll to your backpack when camping, these stretchy curvy-ended workhorses have saved many of us from having to pay to replace expensive stuff. They're handy around the house, too, and they've even made the transition to being a popular strap for swim goggles.

Read the entire article at http://www.rodale.com/easy-ways-save-money

195 posted on 01/11/2013 12:35:29 PM PST by teenyelliott (www.billyjoesfoodfarm.com OR www.facebook.com/BillyJoesFoodFarm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 190 | View Replies ]

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