Any ideas for getting greener??

[theegghunter]

Had heard somewhere that beekeeping wasn't a cheap hobby.... sorry about the solar panels!! Makes you want to run in and get an extension cord with a heat lamp attached to put on the solar panel!! lol

Love, love, love the craigslist thing. Here in Indiana we have a thing called hoosiertopics where I have found lots of farm animals and misc. I take hand me down clothing from friends. My animals aren't really concerned in what I have on!! lol
BF does all the shopping that we need. He passes right by the stores on the way home from his job, so I rarely see the inside of a store, or a "town" for that matter, and that is fine by me!! Dollar General and Dollar Tree are two of our favorites!! Love coupons too! Anything and everything we can do to save a couple of coins is fine by me! I don't mind working hard to get it done either, (as long as my body holds out, have a spinal injury that impeds sometimes!)

 

[theegghunter]

Forgot to add that I sign up for ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING on the freebie sites on the web! If I can't use it, I usually fix up baskets for the kids birthdays and such with the shampoos, soaps, or what-nots that I have received! They love the variety and I love the fact that I can give them something they can use and I am not out money that I don't have!!

 

[Tiramisu]

Are you a member on self sufficient? It is the sister site to BYC http://www.sufficientself.com/forum/ - also links on the bottom of the page. Most of the stuff on this forum can help you too

and you can find more info on ways to be 'green' save money.

 

[debilorrah]

I am not a big "going green" fan myself. However, I have found that most cost saving efforts are also green. Check out BYC's sister site www.sufficientself.com You will find thousands of ways to be sufficient AND green.

 

[Mattemma]

I have compost piles all over the yard.
I have a worm compost bin.
I use garbage cans to collect rain from the gutters.
I replace lawn with edible plants.
I keep the AC off more often than on.

I don't have bees but read into it and saw that top bar hives are pretty easy to make.

I try to shop once a week.We buy local and in season.

I am a tree cutter/planter. I am the one who makes the calls on removing trees and shurbs if they are diseased or located more than 6 feet or less from the home. Currently dh is trying to save a tree RIGHT NEXT to the house.Ditto on 5 tall shrubs. I love the plants too,but one has to consider the foundation and water in the crawl resulting from these plants.Cut one down plant 2 in a BETTER location that give food,or that will help heat/cool the home.

Solar panels are getting cheaper.One option for a basic is a solar panel that will just heat up water.Dh's family had that(in their country)and it was the neatest thing.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

In addition to Craigslist, there is also Freecycle. Plus, you may be able to barter something that you have, like goat's milk or eggs, for something you want, like some honey.

I also grow a lot of different herbs for hot and iced teas. I think spearmint iced tea is really refreshing when it's hot out and it grows like a weed. There are lots of others. They are easy to air dry.

No matter where I've lived, I've always tried to plant things that would provide food for years to come. Every year, I would add some type of berry or tree. A lot of things like rhubarb, strawberries or raspberries, can be thinned out of other people's plots. If you don't have friends, neighbors or relatives with them, I often see them on Craigslist, too.

In addition to veggies that can be eaten fresh or canned, you could also grow some dried beans. You just leave them on the vines until they mature and dry, then harvest them and hull them. Dried beans can make great meatless meals, even if you just want to buy the bags at the store. Just combine them with some type of grain or bread, to complete the protein. You can also add some meat for flavor, but don't need to add as much as you would need to, for an adequate protein level in a meal.

Lots of great ideas in all these posts!