Thursday

Shades of Green

I thought we were on to something new when we decided to become more self-sufficient. It turns out I didn't come up with the idea of an urban farm. There is a website, a book, an entire movement of Urban Homesteaders.

There's even an article about it in USA Today.

(I also did not come up with idea of Mom blogging. It turns out there are 10,000,000 other Mom blogs out there. One day, I will have an original idea. You heard it here first!)

I bought this used book off Amazon (The Urban Homestead)and decided immediately that we weren't real Urban Homesteaders. 

Because seriously? These people do not mess around.

Plus, I need a Chick Fil A nearby. 

So, there's that.

But I learned some cool tips for making garlic sprout, so I can plant it. I'm learning how to set up a compost pile. I learned that people pay good money for rabbit poop for their compost pile and a whole slew of other disgusting facts that you wouldn't believe


I also discovered that I don't have what it takes to become a real Urban Homesteader. Because there are extremes, people. (Did you know that some die-hard Urban Homesteaders conserve the water from their roof and reuse it?)

But, I can say that: 

Our garden is thriving.


Our bunny is flourishing.


(I had to brag on my hubby's hutch-building ability! Look what he made from mostly scrap wood. It even has shingles!)

Our boots are muddy.




Our urban homestead is growing.

We reuse, repurpose and recycle in small ways. But I'm learning there are many shades of green. 

On the one end, you have someone like me, who proudly saves (and resuses) plastic bags from the WalMarts. And then you have the other end of the spectrum...Did you know there are people who have composting toilets? (I'll let you use your imagination).

What shade of green are you?

36 comments:

mountain mama said...

yeah! good for you!!!! keep up the "green" work!

Smockity Frocks said...

Ewwww on the composting toilets.

I'm going to draw the line at reusing the dookie.

Shawna said...

That is, hands down, the CLEANEST rabbit hutch I have EVER seen!

Kathryn said...

I took the test & it said i'm "kiwi green" one step down from emerald!

We also do reuse etc. I try, but i'm not hard core.

Haven't gotten to baking the bread yet, but it is on my list for this week. I want to try & make squaw bread.

Andrea said...

I think I'm way more toward your end of the green spectrum. I try. But I kind of admire the super-green folks--that takes dedication!

KWolfAK said...

Coming from AZ, I had no idea how many shades of green there were until we started our drive to Alaska!

Amanda said...

Light green...but working on it!!

Jennifer said...

Probably that green in the crayon box that looks green but when you color with it, it's yellow! I hate that! Seriously, though, I try. I haul our recycling to town because they will pick up our trash once a week but not our recycling. And I'm hauling more recycling each week than they are hauling trash! Like I have time for that. I deserve a medal. Or a Chik-Fil-A somewhere in this state. Oregon has NO Chik-Fil-A so you probably don't want to move here. But we have lots of green. Trees and people. And some of them are really green unlike me who just looks green but is really yellow. .....I'll stop now.

Unknown said...

Great hutch by the way!! I am green like you, on the lighter end - but it's a start! I guess I would call it a mint green - LOL!

Unknown said...

That looks like a very upmarket rabbit hutch!

Jenny said...

I have a traditional compost bin at home and a "Can-O-Worms" bin in my classroom. The "Can-O-Worms" is much nicer and does not have flies or smell at all! (You just have to get past the worm part! I do however have 20 student volunteers to take care of that for me!)

I also loved the book Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano. It is great for those of us not ready for composting toilets. = )

Kim H. said...

Here's what I say -- all it takes is a lot of people doing small things to make a BIG difference. :)

And as for the composting toilet -- well, the girl who hosts scrapbook crops that I go to has one. I've used it and it's not bad. It doesn't smell. It vents itself. Except stuff sorta just sits in there, so I don't know if I could handle that day-in and day-out.

But for her little studio set-up, it works. It was economical and offers a nice alternative to going back and forth to the house.

Emily said...

A little green: I make homemade cleaners, and babyfood. We recycled in CA, but OK doesn't pick it up for you which makes it significantly harder! :)

I read the other day about "family cloth" which is basically reusable cloth toilet paper. I'm sooo not that green. I like me some cottonelle, thanks.

Roan said...

My shade of green is similar to the shade of yours!! I also recycle Walmart/Kroger bags---we use them to throw away the kitty litter! I also have purchased two of those reusuable shopping bags, and I have gotten 2 more free. But, I keep forgetting to take them to the store! That is my green goal for this week! Take the reusable shopping bags to the grocery store Friday! I need to go put them into the car right now! Where I can see them!

Pam said...

Love, love, love this post! We are ready to start our own compost heap so the timing is perfect. I also have the itch to start baking my own bread and needed some good (easy) recipes. Thanks.

Bailey's Leaf said...

About a mid-way green here. I do reusable bags, as I hate the plastic ones anyhow.

Kitty poop? Use little brown lunch sacks. That way, your kitty poop has some sort of chance of breaking down!

No composting toilet, though. Heck, we tent camp and I bring my own camp toilet. I do not go into outhouses. That's where I draw the line. Funny thing is that my daughter was fine with the outhouses until she saw my fine set-up!

Trying to be greener!

Nikki said...

You crack me up:)

I have a friend who always says, "Progress...not perfection."

So...we are making progress. I am certain we will never reach perfection in the area of being green. But, I do hope we never stop making progress:)

I am a very light green:)

Melissa ~ Mom to 6 said...

hahaha Green has always been my favorite color and I'd say I'm heading towards a gorgeous shade of dark forest. I also have that book - I was LUCKY and got an autographed copy *ahem* I do know that they'll sign books if you buy directly from them so it's not like I got that lucky. Still, they are awesome people! As far as urban homesteaders, yeah, there are a TON of us out here and we all do our part - whatever that means to each of us. I have a great friend that I helped butcher a pig with - now SHE is a true pioneer and all around amazing person. But from my life a year ago to my life today, it's amazing and what I've accomplished. So, no, you didn't originate the idea but we're so glad you're here!

bridget {bake at 350} said...

I'm probably mint, a LIGHT mint! :)

LOVE that hutch! He did a great job!

Stephanie said...

So my question is...

Did you buy 100 Red Wiggler Worms like it suggests for the plastic trash can compost bin???

I love the idea...not sure I want to buy the worms though.

We are light green...actually, it kindof makes me sick to think about the amount of diapers we have put into a landfill somewhere. If I'd have been thinking or known the future, I'd of just bought cloth from the very begining. Oh the money we would have saved too. Anyway...

We are getting greener with time.

grannyann said...

I didn't catch the reason you needed a Chick Fil A. Your hutch is great, he did a magnificent job. I reuse my plastic bags as liners in my small trash cans. I have 5 tomato plants again this year. My daughter has a great garden.

Michaela said...

You have a Cute Mom Blog :)My cousin is you neighbor & that is how I found your blog. I am trying to become more and more green every day :)I recycle in a non recycling town, garden, trying to take my family back to the simple things and I would like to start a compost (not in my toliet though).

Penny said...

I'm scared to even google composting toilet. Lol!!

Tiffany said...

I'm certainly a much lighter shade of green than those who have composting toilets. I'm happy to see that my deposit disappears with the turn of a knob. lol! Sorry, that's probably tmi...

Anonymous said...

I'm challenging myself to stop using (or at least drastically) paper towels. And then go to cloth napkins vs paper. Baby steps! Hey, awesome bunny hutch! Your hubby is VERY talented. Keep on keepin' on, girl! I'm envious of your garden! You go girl!

Maddy said...

You're not wrong there. We do our 'little' bit here and there. Some weeks are better than others but this week I hope to finally install an outside washing line which will hopefully reduce our carbon footprint from the 3 - 7 loads of laundry every day.
Cheers

Unknown said...

I'm buying finger towels to use as napkins instead of paper napkins.

Shanna said...

Love, love, love this post!

Patti said...

We are "on a budget" green meaning if it saves $$ we'll go green.
We do reuse & recycle - 3 cheers for rummage sales!
Even did cloth diapers when the kiddos were small.
Composting & gardening but I haven't yet figured out how to make my own cleaners for less $ than the generic store brands so not that green yet.

Yea Mommy blogs!

Anonymous said...

Um...I recycle and make my own bread? Stuff just doesn't grown in the good ole Nevada desert! But..I want that rabbit hutch!

Beth@Not a Bow in Sight said...

I'm definitely closer to your end of the spectrum...DEFINITELY...

Lisa Nelsen-Woods said...

I'm dark green but I didn't get that way overnight. It took years and lots of baby steps. I lean towards the stuff that allows me to save money too.

We're big on not wasting things like food and I'm big on fixing things or finding a creative reuse for things before they hit the trash/recycling bin. I clean with a spray bottle full of vinegar (cheap!), I ditched most disposables (paper plates, napkins, paper towels, etc.) EXCEPT TP (no, no, no!), I made a compost bin out of trash can. I cut my electricty use by 32% last year by changing habits and cheap DIY projects. I blog about my projects on Condo Blues. I like to get green guilt trips so I don't give them on the blog. :)

Lisa Nelsen-Woods said...

I meant to say I don't like to get green guilt trips so I don't give them on my blog. Oops.

I like your bunny hutch!

Jenn @ Beautiful Calling said...

We do what we can but are in no way extreme and though I admire it - I don't see us every being there.

Cute bunny!

Tara @ Feels Like Home said...

Wow! I've never heard of urban homesteading before, but this is totally my husband and I! So cool! Thanks for hooking me up with some great resources! :)

Jenni R. said...

I know this is a late comment (love your blog BTW). I've been thinking about this every so often and finally blogged it out. http://sharedfromwayoverhere.blogspot.com/2009/05/blog-we-are-that-family-has-gotten-me.html

Thanks for having me get my thoughts down before I move from such a green environment here in Germany.