tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49650939991424346632009-11-09T18:33:19.796+10:00A co-operative of bloggers writing about how they live simple, green, frugal lives. There is a lot of helpful information here to help readers live well on less.Rhonda Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175785349529109084rhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.auBlogger346125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-2230884049778895012009-11-09T09:22:00.008+10:002009-11-09T13:00:44.265+10:002009-11-09T13:00:44.265+10:00

Posted by Thomas, from A Growing TraditionSince Meyer lemon trees can bloom throughout the year, it is possible to have fruits ripening alongside clusters of new blossoms. I've always had a fascination with citrus trees. Maybe it's because one of my earliest childhood memories revolve around wandering the streets of Chinatown during Chinese New Year and seeing miniature mandarin orange trees

Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303344546714641616noreply@blogger.com1http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/11/grow-your-own-citrus-meyer-lemons.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-61644940847375296372009-11-08T10:39:00.007+10:002009-11-08T10:53:28.574+10:002009-11-08T10:53:28.574+10:00

By EilleenConsumption RebellionHello everyone,I had posted this earlier in the week in my personal blog, and one of my readers commented that not many people knew about this initiative so I thought I'd post it here too.Note that this initiative is in addition to the various State and Territory initiatives out there (the ones that give us free eco-friendly lightbulbs etc).If you: live in Australia

Eilleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234465657790552289noreply@blogger.com3http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/11/get-government-to-help-make-your-house.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-63961125246482044782009-11-07T00:01:00.001+10:002009-11-07T04:29:36.302+10:002009-11-07T04:29:36.302+10:00

Just this past week we had a break in the rains long enough I could get the garlic planted. In my garden journal, this signals the beginning of the 2010 gardening season. What usually coincides with the annual garlic planting is that the soil is starting to cool and go dormant. Late fall also is when we start bedding our various types of livestock in order to capture as much manure as we can for

Throwback at Trapper Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418370592659531735noreply@blogger.com8http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/11/overlooked-resource.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-78765540057825743742009-11-06T12:11:00.003+10:002009-11-06T14:07:55.597+10:002009-11-06T14:07:55.597+10:00

Posted by BelFrom Spiral GardenContinued from Our House Cow Journey Part OneWe've learned so much in the almost two months we've had a house cow! Some of the main lessons are:* it's not easy* it's not cheap* nothing ever stays the sameIf I knew what a challenge a house cow would be, would I do it again? YES! The milk is fantastic, the manure is abundant, and the cows are really a joy to work

Belhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15269898358066713252noreply@blogger.com7http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/11/our-house-cow-journey-part-2.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-48344659697449173702009-11-05T22:02:00.003+10:002009-11-05T22:20:25.063+10:002009-11-05T22:20:25.063+10:00

By Notes From The Frugal TrenchesI've noticed two things during this season, firstly people begin to notice how tired they are and secondly people begin to spend money because they are tired. Not only is this a more expensive time of year for people generally due to the holidays, but there is a financial cost to busyness and tiredness that I began to see when I actively started budgeting and

Notes From The Frugal Trencheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047687598677272569noreply@blogger.com9http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/11/when-youre-weary.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-4220816331534987922009-11-03T16:38:00.002+10:002009-11-03T20:18:08.464+10:002009-11-03T20:18:08.464+10:00

written by Gavin from The Greening of Gavin. It has been about 2½ years since I first seriously started gardening.  It was about the same time that I had been watching a UK BBC2 show called, 'It's not easy being green', which is a story about the Strawbridge family who give up their semi-detached house in the city and move to Cornwall.  They buy a dilapidated old farm on about 3 acres and start

Gavinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08995214671079288985noreply@blogger.com24http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/11/watching-my-veggie-patch-grow.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-82710611804340539072009-11-02T06:02:00.001+10:002009-11-02T06:02:00.450+10:002009-11-02T06:02:00.450+10:00

by Amy of Progressive PioneerWhy would you want to have a dinner co-op? Here's why we do it:We love food, good food, but I don't always have hours to spend in the kitchen.I want to try new recipes, but often find myself falling back on the same old standbys.We like saving money.And we wanted to become better friends with our neighbors.We appreciate that cooking one meal for many uses less

Amy of Progressive Pioneerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04889061477690157608noreply@blogger.com8http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/11/starting-dinner-co-op.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-55152456744993864122009-11-01T18:56:00.005+10:002009-11-01T19:11:37.437+10:002009-11-01T19:11:37.437+10:00

My Community at Workby Melinda Briana Epler,One Green GenerationSometimes on my walk to work, I look around me and realize how different I am than everyone else, with my no poo hair, my BS deodorant, my thrift store threads, my clean green home, my very values-driven work, and my constant worry about the impact we're all having on our planet's future. It's difficult on a number of fronts: not

Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11208873906357613465noreply@blogger.com5http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/11/do-you-have-good-support-network.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-28578209208105111742009-10-31T02:56:00.009+10:002009-10-31T15:47:27.730+10:002009-10-31T15:47:27.730+10:00

by FrancescaFuoriBorgoCan we be simple, green and frugal, but also festive? ~ We make our own costumes. This is a skeleton costume I made for my son some years ago, from a long-sleeved T-shirt, an old pair of yoga pants, and various scraps of white fabric. We studied up on human anatomy a little, turning our costume-making into a fun science project ~This question occurs to me today, as Halloween

Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01316361078052416731noreply@blogger.com18http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/10/simple-green-frugal-and-festive.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-75593327196677254432009-10-30T08:41:00.004+10:002009-10-30T22:27:47.468+10:002009-10-30T22:27:47.468+10:00

by KateLiving the Frugal LifeDietary related illnesses are much in the media these days, being notably epidemic in the US and other industrial nations. Many of us want to eat a more healthy diet. Many of us are also feeling the need to cut costs wherever we can. So I thought I would put together a little list of my own "superfoods" that cost very little but provide excellent nutrition. Here

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.com17http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/10/eat-healthy-with-cheap-and-wholesome.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-12483041400533272142009-10-29T08:03:00.008+10:002009-10-29T09:45:21.612+10:002009-10-29T09:45:21.612+10:00

by Sadge, at Firesign FarmReally! I know the photo doesn't look like normal planting weather. I woke up this morning to a dusting of snow. Autumn's definitely here, and winter is just around the corner. The snow melted away by mid-day, but it reminded me I need to get back out in the garden soon. It's time to plant my garlic and shallots. They grow best like tulip bulbs - planted in the fall,

Sadgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01953324909028095434noreply@blogger.com6http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/10/time-to-plant.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-63563768218821274082009-10-28T00:18:00.000+10:002009-10-29T01:16:10.437+10:002009-10-29T01:16:10.437+10:00

written by: Chiot's RunI've been trying to simplify my life in order to save money and to use fewer resources. This year I've really been focusing on buying used items. When you buy a used item you're keeping it out of a landfill and extending it's useful life. You're also cutting the amount of manufacturing and limiting the pollution that stems from making a new item. Most used items also

Chiot's Runhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086153621579437021noreply@blogger.com19http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/10/used-or-new.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-72038855554477170302009-10-27T08:00:00.001+10:002009-10-27T22:30:12.621+10:002009-10-27T22:30:12.621+10:00

Posted by Thomas, from A Growing TraditionWhen our family moved to our new home in late July, I was a bit disappointed that we had missed out on being able to grow many of the traditional summer crops that seem to dominate seed catalogs these days. While other gardeners were tending to their tomato, cucumber and melon plants, I was breaking ground, raising fence and sowing my fall garden.

Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303344546714641616noreply@blogger.com15http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/10/five-fall-crops-worth-mentioning.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-75516185782210373662009-10-26T19:42:00.007+10:002009-10-26T20:10:20.991+10:002009-10-26T20:10:20.991+10:00

by EilleenConsumption RebellionHello everyone!With only 8 weeks till Christmas, it seems to me that talk everywhere is starting to turn towards gift ideas. There seems to be one major difference with the talk this year (at least in my part of the world). It seems to me that more and more people are starting to think more mindfully of presents and wanting to avoid over-consumption.Whether its

Eilleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234465657790552289noreply@blogger.com33http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/10/wanted-simple-green-and-frugal.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-52752520838874627322009-10-25T00:01:00.002+10:002009-10-26T02:48:39.257+10:002009-10-26T02:48:39.257+10:00

by Throwback at Trapper CreekNot one for planting much in the way of exotic fruits, when Hardy Kiwi's became available about 20 years ago, I dove in head first. I loved the taste of the fuzzy kiwi, but the crop was hit or miss in my climate, the tender plants preferring the warmer temperatures of California. However, the Hardy Kiwi plants can withstand winter time temperatures down to -25F.I

Throwback at Trapper Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418370592659531735noreply@blogger.com18http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/10/hardy-kiwi-in-garden.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-43627391948185205882009-10-24T21:56:00.001+10:002009-10-24T21:58:12.907+10:002009-10-24T21:58:12.907+10:00

by Lynn at Viggie's VeggiesThe growing season is well over in Wisconsin. As someone who just finished her first growing season and recently made the decision to urban homestead, I find the whole thing very frustrating. I want to be out there preparing all the new and expanded garden beds for spring.Depressed about the change in seasons, I turned to planning next years garden layout and picking

Viggie's Veggieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16551557977257919705vigilant20@gmail.com4http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/10/indoor-gardening.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-434470640143826372009-10-23T21:00:00.000+10:002009-10-24T05:48:08.236+10:002009-10-24T05:48:08.236+10:00

By Frugal TrenchesI've shared here before that the quest to be simple, green & frugal has been a real journey for me. I've shared that I was very hard on myself initially, feeling I had to accomplish it all in a short period of time and feeling I'd fallen short because there was simply no way to accomplish it all, unless anyone wants to give me an acre or two ;)But lately I've been thinking about

Notes From The Frugal Trencheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047687598677272569noreply@blogger.com7http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/10/learning-to-be-green.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-10378044642536720652009-10-21T20:29:00.000+10:002009-10-21T20:29:22.291+10:002009-10-21T20:29:22.291+10:00

by Gavin from The Greening of Gavin I don't often get political or promote environmental activism on the Simple Green Frugal Co-op, and usually leave my opinions to my own blog, The Greening of Gavin.  However as the UN Climate Change talks at Copenhagen are now only 44 days away, and it is my belief that these talks may be humanity's last chance to come to a global binding agreement to reduce

Gavinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08995214671079288985noreply@blogger.com10http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/10/anyone-for-habitable-planet.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-11941027398297071762009-10-20T05:44:00.003+10:002009-10-20T06:08:06.313+10:002009-10-20T06:08:06.313+10:00

by Rhonda JeanHello everyone! I'm here today to introduce you to our two new writers - Lynn and Amy. Lynn's personal blog is viggiesveggies and Amy writes hers at Progressive Pioneer Both these women are living well and truly in the spirit of the co-op's values and I am happy to introduce them to you. Lynn's first post here will be this Saturday and Amy will follow up on Monday, 2

Rhonda Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175785349529109084rhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au3http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/10/two-new-writers.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-51551963915528279342009-10-19T07:03:00.000+10:002009-10-19T14:34:58.543+10:002009-10-19T14:34:58.543+10:00

by FrancescaFuoriBorgo Our little northern Italian village is set in the midst of dense forests, and we’ve always tried to teach our young family to be aware and mindful when they walk through the woods. Not only to appreciate how rich and complex an environment it is, and how important it is to respect it, but also how, if they’re patient and keep their eyes open, they can find any number of

Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01316361078052416731noreply@blogger.com15http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/10/from-our-woods.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-23022759449482670792009-10-18T23:59:00.006+10:002009-10-19T07:45:41.599+10:002009-10-19T07:45:41.599+10:00

by Melinda Briana EplerOne Green GenerationWhen I bring my lunch to work, or I tell people what we had for dinner last night, people are often impressed with my roasted vegetables. "How do you do that?" I'm often asked. Yes, I remember before my husband went to cooking school, I had no idea how to roast veggies, and it sounded really difficult!Well I'm here to tell any of you who don't know how

Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11208873906357613465noreply@blogger.com14http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-to-roast-vegetables-simply.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-59245201102089302962009-10-17T06:52:00.000+10:002009-10-17T06:53:04.505+10:002009-10-17T06:53:04.505+10:00

by KateLiving The Frugal LifeI don't know where I first heard about the 50 Things project. But I liked the sound of it immediately. The idea is to get rid of stuff, not just your everyday recycling, but things that either have some value to someone else, or are simply taking up space because you haven't found the motivation to get rid of them up till now. It doesn't matter whether you donate it

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.com22http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/10/50-things-project.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-52169395586351637812009-10-16T11:02:00.022+10:002009-10-17T05:07:31.228+10:002009-10-17T05:07:31.228+10:00

by Sadge, at Firesign FarmEarlier this year when posting here about my pepper pantry, I mentioned that I would be growing extra jalapenos this summer to replenish my chipotle (che-POAT-lee) supply. I promised I would post instructions for putting together a make-shift smoker, and turning jalapeno peppers into chipotles.Start with ripe jalapeno peppers, ideally those that have turned completely

Sadgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01953324909028095434noreply@blogger.com10http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/10/smoking-chipotle-peppers.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-11150977338955352372009-10-14T22:33:00.007+10:002009-10-16T13:49:55.829+10:002009-10-16T13:49:55.829+10:00

Posted by Thomas from A Growing TraditionThis past Sunday night, we experienced our first light frost - a slight taste of the wintry weather to come. Our neighbor found it on the windshield of his car Monday morning and any hope that I may have had for Indian summer is now gone. It's time to wind down much of the garden and winterize the rest. Luckily, all of my veggies were under row cover

Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303344546714641616noreply@blogger.com25http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/10/fall-project-building-mini-hoop-houses.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965093999142434663.post-26171702573979326872009-10-13T13:22:00.002+10:002009-10-13T13:32:14.743+10:002009-10-13T13:32:14.743+10:00

By Eilleen(x-posted from my blog: Consumption Rebellion)Hello everyone,Earlier this month, a reader from my personal blog asked me how I managed to stop using credit cards. I answered him at the time, but I thought I'd also share my answer here...Firstly, a bit about me: I tend to be more "future-focussed" - I love planning and thinking up goals for myself. Sometimes in the journey to achieve

Eilleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234465657790552289noreply@blogger.com12http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-i-broke-my-dependance-on-credit.html