It's a wholesome life, although not always what I envisioned. But it's worth the effort when I look back at the alternative.....city life, hustle and bustle.
Ways to "Live off the land", share your ideas
Yep, it's hard to not get excited and want to try it all over again when we see springtime. I noticed daffodyls starting to bloom yesterday. That always gets me.
Something keeps drawing me back to the plant section at Lowe's..............................could it be those broccoli and lettuce plants ? I go in there for construction supplies....... and there's this magnetic force that causes me to drift over to the garden area..................... Hmmmmm. (scratching head)
And I've noticed, the brighter the sunshine and warmer the temperature, the stronger the magnetic pull. Very interesting. hehe
It's almost time for me to leave for work. Gotta go by Lowe's this morning to pick up plants...........uh, I mean construction supplies.... to take to the guys out on the job. Later. Have a great day, all! PeggieK
Peggy
lol on the plants and construction supplys
We here have our priorities yah now lololol :)
yes it is a driving force that drives us to those areas at lowes :) im guilty of it too
daffodyls are my fav
what type of construction are you doing ? is it you job or some home repair you doing. i hope i didn't miss it in an earlier thread if you mentioned it .:) prior.
Just found out that the cabinets we build are earth friendly. We use no particle board, which has harmful glues in it. So much for cheap factory cabinets.
Bernie
I am a concrete contractor. I do all the estimating, sales, bookwork, etc. Get all supplies ordered and to the jobs when needed, tote gallons of Gatorade.
The finishing crews do all the bobcat work, set forms and use their strength and skill to make it look good.
We specialize in removal and replacement of residential driveways.
It's peculiar to see a concrete company owner and operated by a woman, but there is a small niche for me.
Way to go, Peggy!
Peggie
What happens to the old concrete?
There are areas of land just outside the Tulsa area that have long been useless because of the steep and jagged hills and valleys. Too steep and rocky for cattle or farming, too uneven to build anything on.
Developers usually buy those areas for next to nothing, allow everyone in the construction trades to dispose of any concrete, rock or dirt, until it is full enough to cover with topsoil, (Usually for years) ..........and then develop it whenever the engineers deem it satisfactory enough. Of course, making a nice profit eventually.
We've got one of those "construction debris only" landfills about 15 miles up the road from us. I wondered why it was it there. I'd sure love to have a truckload of a torn out driveway or sidewalk dumped off at our place.
Some counties here are requiring recycling of concrete. They are grinding it up & adding it to asphalt for roads.
We are going to tear up the old floor & foundation of our barn & also a silo this spring. I am going to have it hauled to a recycle place.
Bernie
We don't have any such program here but there are surely lots of places that need filling in. Flat land is very hard to come by.
Speaking of recycling. Do any of you have a neat idea or two for repurposing tin cans. My DH is on a diet and is eating mostly tuna and canned veggies. He empties about 4 tuna cans a day and twice that many veggie cans. I hate to just throw them away. Surely there is something that can be done with the cans.
Wash them out & remove labels. Smash them flat & then take them to a scrap yard & get paid for them.
Here they are recycled. All things, plastic jugs, papers. bottles, cans are recycled.
Pop cans are taken to the scrap guys for $.
Even old tires & appliances are recycled here now.
Tell them representatives of yours to get with the program!
Bernie
Heard on the news out of Louisville a couple of nights ago that aluminum cans are going for 90 cents a pound! The report said the scrap dealers will buy any non-magnatized metal.
Do you know if tin cans are magnetized?
Yes, most are steel. A few aren't... just take a magnet, even a fridge magnet to them.
Careful on the tuna . Not to get off subject. but is he eating the kind in water or oil ? To much tuna is not a good thing
if he is looking for omega 3 you can do CLA capsules ( compound linolic acid ) just thought :)
ok back to subject sorry lol
The one thing i do miss in CA is the recycling programs . They were great. They gave you three bins one for glass, cans and paper. Just put it out with your day of collection . I loved it .
wow you can get paid for them cans ? !
We had neighbors that drank beer like a ton a week. I could have made out good LOL :)
He is eating tuna is spring water. He has lost 24lbs in 4 weeks. He did this same diet many years ago and lost 70lbs in 3 months. He eats eggs at breakfast and he eats chicken but the bulk of what he eats is tuna with either green beans or tomatoes. He likes those flavored tomatoes. He also eats a bit of regular mayo once in a while with his tuna. He also enjoys a salad with grilled chicken once or twice a week. He is a diabetic so he doesn't eat sugar. I am cooking a pork roast in the crock pot right now and I am cooking it outside so DH won't have to smell it. But Knock and I have to eat. My DD is also on a diet. They are a team in the Biggest Loser contest being done in our county. They have lost 33lbs together. I think they are in 2nd place. The winning team splits $500.
Hey that sounds great Cajun
I know one of our DGers did that in in her state of LA . Minishnuz. she did great !!!
wow that is alot of weight to loose . I love tuna with tomatos .
that pork sounds good too
I guess i was just thinking of mercury but that is a "who know s " you can read one survey or study and then another that says differnet.
You'll have to keep us up on his progress
Those surveys are like political polls. They can be made to say whatever is wanted said by the pollsters/surveyors. LOL
DH is up to 27 1/2 lbs now but he has hit a snag. He overdid the treadmill and stationary bike and stressed his foot and leg. Now he has an infection in it and is on antibiotics and bed rest. He has to weigh in this evening so we will see how it has affected his diet. Please keep him in your prayers. He had 6 surgeries on his left foot in 1 year that included 2 toes and part of his foot being amputated so his lymph system is less than optimal in that foot. It causes problems from time to time and he has to be careful with it.
My seeds have not done so well. The broccoli is still leggy even though I put the tray out in the old van window every nice day. I don't think the soil I used is right for seedlings. What do you guys use?
I have 2 cucumbers and 1 canteloupe doing okay. I have 1 squash up but it doesn't look too healthy. I am going to plant some more in the cups that didn't come up. Don't know if they'll do any better but not trying won't get me any plants either. LOL
This yr i used Jiffy seems ok so far so good. Its the only one i could find. Many recommend it here on DG.
are you using a light set up or a sunny window
You mentioned an old van window ? you may want to go get some cheap shop flourescent lights and fixtures. Just to let you know melons don't transplant very well, and neither do cucs
what are you using for your soil mix ? is it potting or seed starter mix. if it is potting then yes that is not what you need.
sorry to hear of your DH infection ouch.
sounds like he is doing really well . Yeah. for him . Your always in our prayers . :)
:)
Cajun
Excuse the diversion from the subject of the thread but I just wanted to say that frozen veggies or fresh better than the cans --and no unfavorable impact on the diet. Cans are sprayed on the inside with plastics and more and more info coming out about the problem with exposures to the substances from breakdown of plastics. All kinds of plastic out there. Look for the "triangular" recycling symbol on plastics if there is a number 7 in the center it is the worst. "1" is the best (but not better than none). Since your hubby has health problems already - thought you might want to know this. One of the dieticians at the hospital brought in the info today from one of their professional alerts - but I don't have it here at home.
Thanks for the tip. Are they only sprayed if they are a different color or can the plastics be clear?
You know, I don't know. I think it is likely is that most/all cans are treated with the epoxy resins to prevent the rust.
But, what bothered me is how much I use and don't even think about it. Zip loc bags, saran wrap, tupperware, water bottles, (sippy cups for kids!) all can have polycarbonate (a number 7) it is a hard plastic (compact discs, eyeglass lenses, etc) Trouble is when in contact with food or water..the PBA leaches out.
Nearly every person has these plastics in bloodstream. Low levels are in house dust, air, water They (the scientists) say that BPA also mimics estrogen - it activates the same receptors in the body as estrogen.
missingrosie, can you get your hands on that article? That just scare the heck out of me......sheesh
yes I have it. It is a special feature NUTRITION ACTION HEALTH LETTER APRIL 2008 --Hard questions about a hard plastic by David schardt
THE ABCs OF BPA
To clarify the above post (I got called away and didn't finish ) not all the plastics I used as example have the same risk etc. look at the numbers. Some (the 7's for sure) the recyclers don't even take I don't think.
anyway, google the nutrition action health letter. I think they don't put it on line until after the month it is published.
Anyway;, again, not the purpose of this thread. I apologize. I just wanted to talk about the can aspect since I knew Cajun's hubby was eating more from them than he normally would.
I for one am certainly glad you chose to share this information!!! I'll look for that newsletter. Thanks again for sharing. I swear anymore, first its the drugs in the water, contaminated beef and chicken, spinach and now a problem with canned goods? sheesh
Can you provide a site, I can get into BNET, but cannot find the article. Thanks
This message was edited Apr 1, 2008 1:35 PM
I will certainly start looking at the numbers. We use lots of plastic things. Is celophane plastic?
cajun - if you mean like handiwrap /saran wrap - yes I think that product a number 4
Some number 7's don't contrain polycarbonate but most do.
Don't wash in the dishwasher - detergent could break down the plastic.
Doc - try this internet address - it does take some reading to get informed because (for instance) not 100% of '7's' are polycarbonate but anything that IS polycarbonate has a 7.
nutritionaction.org/bpa
Sorry, google does not recognize that website.........sigh
I use our mason canning jars for almost everything i store. We also use them for drinking ! it sure is fun for the kids. They don't break as easy as one might think. When dropped on a rug, wood flooring or laminent flooring.
Just be careful of your teeth sometimes LOL
But yes i too still use good ol fashion tupperware with alot of things
also using my frozen foods i still use plastic containers and vac and seal things that i freeze.
I hope my vac and seal
i just went and looked at my plastics
New Rubbermaid with the black lids are a 7 !
the blue rubbermaid is a 2
old old old old tupperware from 12 -15 yrs ago LoL no number .
plastic grocery bags are a 2
tupperware sippy cups a 4
and some new tupperware bowls for kids are a 3
well not to bad i guess. We don't use them all that much
but i was told about our bottled drinking water its from a municipal source ! uhg. I can't win. yikes
glad you posted that letter, great tips.
at least we can recycle the grocery bags
THey hate me at the grocery. I ask for paper and i bring my own cloth bags if i m not getting alot of stufff, LOL
Yes, it is so confusing. But remember the 1-7 is for recyclers (businesses) and so in general NOT for looking at the bisphenol A (BPA) but as a rule of thumb ...it is what I look at 100% correct or not.
Some studies also say no harm...others say yes...blah blah.. but some feel that the second studies disputing the first were special interest. This spring the NIEHS and EPA should come out with something and the FDA is looking. The 'kiddie' aspect tho is one that even the most cynical post warnings. As I understand it, the standards for BPA were set maybe 30 years ago (safety levels) by the FDA....so.. But it is in the bloodstream of nearly every person in the USA.
Kudos on the use of the mason jars! SMART GAL! / GUY?? (SMILE)
I knew it! (Gal!)
I've been reading all of your ideas and they all sound great. I have only a small garden but I've always wanted to homestead and have checked out as much as I could but I need a lot of learning and information as to how to get started and the best place to start. My perfict way of life would be to live off the land, not to far from a town, I can very easly live without electric items, and raise live stock. I love to work so a hard days work isn't a problem. I have very little money, only $.1000.00 per month, but with the right set up, that's plenty. I would be willing to share with someone. I need ideas, and help. I'm very open to anyone that can help me.
Chuck
Welcome aboard, Chuck! Lots of people here to help and offer ideas and suggestions!
First of all. check out this link http://www.pathtofreedom.com/urbanhomestead/index.shtml and then give us some info about what you've got going on, what kind of place you have now, etc..
Robin