Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op

Simple living routines: morning and evening

2015-05-04T13:58:00.000+10:00

by Rose @ greening the rose Creative commons by Alondra Olivas Routines serve us well when we use them as a framework to deal with the essentials of the day, week or month so that the remaining time is free for us to pursue our simple living activities and away from home work/activities. The rhythm of our lives means certain chores are going to be done over and over: food is

Making the most of seasonal produce

2015-04-28T17:31:00.000+10:00

By Jenny Part 1 Our household doesn't grow much food – our small garden has a very prolific lemon tree, which I love, lots of herbs (parsley, mint, oregano, thyme and rosemary), rhubarb and silver beet. In summer, we add basil and salad greens and chillies to the mix, but my husband doesn't like growing tomatoes. This year we grew pumpkins successfully. Our neighbour has a loquat tree

Vintage bunting from an old lace curtain

2015-04-22T19:52:00.000+10:00

by Nanna Chel @ Going Grey and Slightly Green Have you ever replaced your lace curtains that had become worn out or torn and wished you could re-use the parts of the curtain that were still in good condition? Well, here is an idea! Make some lace bunting as everything 'vintage' is very popular at the moment and it is quick and easy to make. Firstly, have a look at the patterns on your

Fruit and vegetable shopping bags

2015-04-17T08:42:00.000+10:00

Hand or machine sewn with two seams Fruit and vegetable shopping bags are lightweight, practical and kind to the environment. Use these bags when you buy fruit and vegetables, put in your produce and take home and put into the fridge. No changing bags and no rubbish or plastic bag pollution. To make a bag, use a lightweight breathable fabric, such as old curtains, wide lace,

Homemade Mineral Make Up

2015-04-11T17:57:00.001+10:00

by AlisonS The corporate world and our social lives generally dictate that to fit in, women must cover their purported imperfections and mask their natural looks with make up. The liquid foundations used in the past went on like paste and blocked pores. They contained a long list of chemicals and no one really knew much about them. The skin is the largest organ in the body and what we put

How to make a watersaving olla

2015-04-06T07:00:00.000+10:00

by Nanna Chel @ Going Grey and Slightly Green I first heard about Ollas when I was reading Tania's blog a while back and was quite intrigued by them and keen to make some. Tania had a link to The Suburban Farm where there is an easy step-by-step tutorial for making an Olla which apparently is pronounced oh-yah but I watched a couple of YouTube videos and the presenters seem to pronounce it more

Clothing and textiles in the simple living home (Part 2)

2015-03-31T08:19:00.000+10:00

by Sherri @ Little Home in the Country Using thrift shops, freecycle and clothing swaps as your main sources for family clothing and home textiles, you can provide the bulk of your family’s needs at little to no cost. The keys to efficiently and successfully using these resources are as follows: 1. Know what you need by keeping an updated list in your wallet or purse at all times. This

Clothing and textiles in the simple living home (Part 1)

2015-03-30T14:50:00.003+10:00

by Sherri @ Little Home in the Country We all need clothes and outerwear to protect us from the elements, and every home should be stocked with a variety of textiles to help us keep our houses clean and comfortable. The cost of buying new clothing and textiles is staggering, so it makes good sense for any home manager to find thriftier solutions to meet these essential home and family needs.

Ethical clothing

2015-03-28T20:27:00.000+10:00

by Rose @ greening the rose When I was a child in the 1960s most of Australia's clothing was made in Australia. As of my 60th birthday Australia produces about 5 percent of its clothing. As a kid my wardrobe consisted of a school uniform, a couple of outfits for play, a good outfit for Sundays and not a whole lot else; my parents wardrobes were similarly lean. Warm clothes were hand knitted, a

How to Enlarge a T-Shirt

2015-03-25T10:41:00.003+10:00

by Nanna Chel of Going Grey and Slightly Green