For those wanting to be more self sufficient...

[gritsar]

horsechick-
I'm kinda short on time this morning, so I can't list a bunch of sites; but have you tried www.skystreamenergy.com ?
I'll try and post some more later.

Edited to add: www.MotherEarthNews.com

 

[Henrietta23]

Quote:
I will check with my DH. We don't have it here but he's researched it for a class he teaches.

 

[RubberChickenLubber]

Here's what we did for the first 3 months for our babies for wipes.

Got bounty select-a-size, cut the roll in half. Pulled out the cardboard tube. The roll would now feed from the center. Put it in a container (tupperware has a great one with a flip top), and just added enough water to wet the towels. I never added any baby wash.

This is great for younger babies. You'd have to have larger towels for older ones.

 

[horsechick]

Hi,
Thanks Grit and Hen, Looking forward to more info when ever you got the time.
I have been to the incentive page and I guess the next step would be to contact them for the particulars, I am sure they should be able to give more information as well, help in getting started anyways.
The link to an actual wind"mill" was great, its sometimes hard to find them for residential use.
Since there are more out there its getting better in finding information but sometimes feels over whleming with all the information.
I do know we are in a "windy" area, and looking at Ohio airstream maps we should have some good wind power available.
(Not to mention we are in the middle of 120+ acres of cornfield and it gets EXTREMELY windy here even if it is calm in other areas.) So no trees or anything to block potential streams.
Thanks a MILLION for the info.
Take care,
Angela

 

[AussieSharon]

Ok these aren't exactly self sufficient things but they save my family $

Check and see if you have a salvage grocery store in your town. I've shopped at them for years and save a ton. Often the items are half price or less and it's something simple like a rip in the wrapper or they are discontinued items from other stores. My salvage store has better produce than my local grocery, most everything is still in date on cans etc and I can often fill a grocery cart and come out only having paid $40 to $50.

I have cut my weekly grocery bill in half by shopping at the salvage grocery.

 

[Henrietta23]

Quote:
I will check with my DH. We don't have it here but he's researched it for a class he teaches.

Okay, he's home, I asked. He never did the research! Arrrgghh. Sorry! I know we saw them last summer driving from here to Chillicothe OH.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
Self-sufficient, by definition, has to do with providing for your own needs without outside aid or assistance. I would argue that if one saves money through the choices they make, they ARE working toward self-sufficiency. It's just a different kind of self-sufficiency.

Because, as PatandChickens pointed out, if we simply chase after lots of commercial products by replicating them ourselves by the use of other commercial products, we aren't *really* being self-sufficient. Why? Because it's probably not possible to really be self-sufficient. No one ever has, and we probably shouldn't ever be.

So, each of us does what we can to strive toward a GREATER self-sufficiency. I'm enjoying all of the suggestions and think each one has brought some wonderful discussions to this thread.

 

[ruth]

I'm going to really have to start looking at alternative energy sources and spending. Just got our first month's electric bill - $663.00 that's on top of our first month's propane bill $1,600. (2 electric units - 1 propane unit) We bought an old plantation home last month that we knew would need lots of work and insulation and old windows fixed - BUT we had NO idea our heating bill for one month would top $2,000. I'm sitting here in shock. I thought my husband was joking when he said the electric bill was over $600. Our home in Covington which is a new state-of-the art energy efficient home had a total utility bill each month which averaged $200 (for 7,500 sq ft) and that was with running all three Florida heat pumps 24/7 and burning every one of the hundreds of lights. I'm in such shock - we are going to the movies - gotta get outta here. It wouldn't be sooooo bad if I hadn't frozen my behind off this entire month - never could get the place warm. Next winter I'll just go on a cruise for 1 month - it will be cheaper and everything, including food, would be covered and I would be waited on hand and foot. Carnival take me away. Now does that classify as self-sufficient?

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
Ouch, Ruth! That's a lot of money! We are looking into solar power. Living in So. Cal, we usually have a pretty good supply of sunshine and think this is our best option, especially since I'm sure the 5 neighbors within a hundred feet of our property wouldn't much like a big wind turbine in the back yard.

As for the cruise, that'd be a tough one to argue. Maybe you could offer to help build the ship, drive the ship, grow the food for the ship, draw the water for the pool that you (of course) helped to build. Then, you'll have to grow the cotton and weave your bedding, raise some sheep, shear them and weave the carpeting. Then of course, once you get on the ship, you'll have to cook the food you grew on pans that you forged yourself. Ah, forget it. After all that, you'd REALLY need that cruise!

 

[tiki244]

I made a batch of the laundry soap last night and I am doing some laundry now. Great recipe!!1 it will save a lot of money.

I am wondering how thick it is supposed to be, because this morning I looked and it is pretty thick. I am just wondering if I did something wrong or if it is supposed to be that way.

It is pretty cold where I have it on the floor its probably 40-50 degrees

thanks
Kris