| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| cowgirlandboys |
Posted - Apr 01 2009 : 10:30:34 PM
I would love if the latest book from MJ would include an emphasis on frugal/simple living. Many of the things she already suggests are frugal (and many things that are good for the Earth are cheap!) but especially in this economic "hiccup" when people are actually listening to us frugallites for a change, it would be great to tell folks how to be Earth-friendly and frugal. So much of what we do that is good for the Earth costs money and I think that scares folks off from being more involved in organics and other types of healthy living. It can be done on the cheap! Making your own laundry soap, not using chemicals on your garden, making your Christmas presents-- all of these farmgirl ideas are also shared by the frugal community.
Happy Trails!
Rachael
Farmgirl Sister #535 |
| 24 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Tammyb |
Posted - Apr 15 2009 : 4:28:24 PM
Kristine,
I e-mailed you also.
Thanks for sharing.
I would love to see the next Mary Jane book cover this topic.
Tammyb#541 |
| JojoNH |
Posted - Apr 15 2009 : 2:34:16 PM
You are right about our Grandmothers having " a few tricks in their apron pockets". I do miss my Nana, I spent all my free time with her and my Grandpa. Learned so much and find that I draw from those times more and more these days.
A great Frugal Focus would be " What Grandma did" now that would be a great read for all!
Joanna
JojoNH
http://www.CountryCents.com
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com |
| CalliMakeDo |
Posted - Apr 15 2009 : 1:20:45 PM
I would love to read more about how our Farm Girl Grandmother's made do. I have a blog called "Make it Do." I have been thinking a lot about my grandmother who grew up on a ranch in Lyman Wyoming during the 1930's. My family is trying to get creative as hard times hit. I find myself looking back for a bit of wisdom from my Grandmother. Our grandmothers had a lot of old tricks in their apron pockets.
Use it up, Wear it out, Make it Do or do without. http://makeitdo.wordpress.com/ |
| lacisne88 |
Posted - Apr 03 2009 : 09:53:59 AM
That's very true Rachael. A lot of "organic" and "green" things that are good for the planet scare people off because they are a little spendier than the cheaper stuff. It would be a great resource to come up with something that catalogs how to be green for less. :)
Chelsey
Farmgirl Sister #283
http://farmgirlpleasures.blogspot.com/
http://aminiatureworld.blogspot.com/ |
| Jami |
Posted - Apr 03 2009 : 07:33:26 AM
Wow, Sherri, lucky you in meeting Carla Emery! The story you tell about how you came to know her and how she first sold chapter subscriptions were the same as how Carla explained her journey in her book. I found it so interesting that she was so passionate about her book that she drug her kids all over, slept in cars, etc. Amazing! I just hope she had a chance to know how much of a splash she has made in the big pond.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 03 2009 : 07:06:37 AM
Did you know Mary Jane started a section on the forum called "Nifty Thrifty" as a way to help us collect all our handy tips in one place and to keep each other inspired?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| Especially For You |
Posted - Apr 03 2009 : 06:34:31 AM
Kristine - I e-mailed you too. Thanks
Blessings,
Tina Farmgirl Sister #455 |
| KD Earthwork |
Posted - Apr 02 2009 : 9:57:01 PM
I love hearing about everyone supporting simple living.Helps me in keeping my priorities straight.I agree I'll also read whatever Mary Jane decides to share next.
Katie |
| NikkiBeaumont |
Posted - Apr 02 2009 : 9:01:40 PM
I got out my copy of Carla's Encyclopedia and started looking through it. I haven't cracked it open since I bought it 11 years ago right before I made a disastrous move to a farm in South Alabama. Wow! She was a really neat and knowledgeable lady! I especially liked the part at the back of the book where she talks about the history of the making of her book. What an amazing amount of energy she had! It wore me out just reading it!
You know, I am going to be interested in anything that Maryjane writes next because she is the kind of woman that I admire and am interested in emulating. I have always been drawn to stories and histories of strong and independent women who are real, compassionate and honest. I feel, after reading their stories, that the whole world has opened up with possibilities and opportunities.
Farmgirl Sister #554 |
| mikesgirl |
Posted - Apr 02 2009 : 7:28:42 PM
Kristine - I e-mailed you too. Thanks!
Farmgirl Sister #98
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| vintagediva1 |
Posted - Apr 02 2009 : 4:53:33 PM
Kristine, I would love copies. I'm emailing you
Michele
www.2vintagedivas.etsy.com
Love that good ole vintage junk |
| herbquilter |
Posted - Apr 02 2009 : 2:46:51 PM
I have been teaching these skills to the community and in the library systems.
Anyone who would like to have a copy of my handouts for Frugal Feasting & Stress-Less in a Down Turning Ecomony, just email me and I'm happy to share.
Blessings,
Kristine ~ Mother of Many, MRET & Wellness Coach
http://herbalmommasda.blogspot.com/
Farmgirl Sister #97
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| NikkiBeaumont |
Posted - Apr 02 2009 : 1:16:24 PM
Sherri, that is so cool about meeting Carla Emery! I'm sorry that she passed away. I didn't know that. I have the 9th Edition of her book, so she really went far, didn't she! |
| cowgirlandboys |
Posted - Apr 02 2009 : 12:36:50 PM
Another great book for simple living/frugal living is Shelter for the Spirit by Victoria Moran. It is all about loving where you are when you are, making your house a home (despite all its imperfections), living with less so that yo can do less of the stuff you don't want to do, etc. I highly recommend it.
Happy Trails!
Rachael
Farmgirl Sister #535 |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 02 2009 : 11:09:37 AM
Hi Laurianne!
You are so right- just knowing that there are others like us out there is very comforting. In fact that is one of the things that drew me to this site in the first place!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| LauriP |
Posted - Apr 02 2009 : 10:19:30 AM
"Countryside Living and Small Stock Journal" has always dealt with the focus of frugal living -- it's one that (oops -- my sub. ran out &I have to renew!!) -- I've been reading for years. They have "articles" written by actual small farmers & Ranchers..guided by their love of the land, and the desire to be as self-reliant as possible.
Tho Tom & I are still tied to his job, we are making the switch from such a consumer oriented lifestyle in the city, to back to a basics oriented lifestyle. Make your own things..grow your own food. I am still wanting to get the book by Carla Emery, but right now it's not in the works.
We are looking at buying a new tiller (avoiding the Mall) 'cause we had our other one stolen...an' we're getting the gardens ready for planting this next week...
Mother Earth News has always been focused on Frugal Living too -- their a good resourse for building green, and you can get some ideas for building just about anything from their bookshelf -- matter of fact, one of their underground homes was a plan I highlighted during a speech in my Architecture class at Uconn -- I doubt if any of the people in the class actually gave a hoot, but the Proff. was very interested!!
There are lots of links with each of these magazines that are worth a look -- just knowing that you're not the only one yearning to seperate yourself from the Materialstic (sp) garbage out there makes it all worth the time & Effort.
>> Laurianne << |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 02 2009 : 10:19:15 AM
That is too bad that she passed away! She sounds like she as a very wonderful lady and very proactive!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| mikesgirl |
Posted - Apr 02 2009 : 09:50:39 AM
Jami - I have two of Carla's Encyclopedias. Well, really parts of three. Way, way, way back she was at the local fair (before anyone knew who she was), selling her book, one chapter at a time. She had her kids there and was handing out flyers about what she was doing. It was before any of the self-sufficiency stuff was popular or available. She had flyers printed up with some recipes and info on them and was, in essence, selling a subscription to her book. You made payments and she sent chapters as they were completed. I don't think she had two nickels to rub together at the time and she and the kids were sleeping in the car at night while on the road. Even then, the subject really interested me and I spent a lot of time talking to her. I didn't have the money then to commit to the book, but I always remembered her. Fast forward 10 years - her book was published by Bantam and became available in bookstores. In the meantime, she had self-published it and was selling it locally in Idaho and by mail. I bought one at the bookstore and thoroughly consumed it. Read it daily for years. Fast forward again, I was at the Renewable Energy Fair in John Day OR, and who was the keynote speaker but Carla Emery. She also had a booth set up selling the latest edition of her book, so I bought another one, this one signed and had another long talk with her - regarding Alzheimer's and aluminum. She was touring the country and giving the same speech she gave at the fair to groups of people and would go wherever anyone could get a group of 10 or 12 together and agree to host her in your home overnight after the speech. I was really interested in doing that and signed up for her to come to our cabin while I was in Montana. We had a couple of great phone conversations after that and set a tentative date for the talk in Montana. It was up to me to find a group, but I knew that wouldn't be a problem. Then, sadly, I received a call from her husband a couple of months later that she had passed away while on the road. I was so sorry to hear that. She was a wonderful person, a great teacher, and a passionate advocate for self-sufficiency and our Earth. I feel privledged to have had an acquaintence with her and I cherish her books.
Farmgirl Sister #98
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| mikesgirl |
Posted - Apr 02 2009 : 09:40:01 AM
Nikki - All my favorite books have ripply pages from the bath water!!
Farmgirl Sister #98
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| Jami |
Posted - Apr 02 2009 : 07:32:52 AM
Me too, thanks Sherri.
I feel that all of MJ's books are about simple living and frugality in essence. I can understand yearning for more from her though.
Another great book on frugality and simplicity is the Encyclopedia of Country Living. I don't think you can get any simpler and homespun than Carla's book. I found the book at Costco for $17 and it's as big as any encyclopedia (remember those?) I've seen.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 02 2009 : 07:12:01 AM
I hadn't heard of that book! Sounds like a good one that I will have to check out!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| NikkiBeaumont |
Posted - Apr 02 2009 : 06:26:41 AM
Hey, Sherri! That is so funny about you having to tape your SLG book back together. I also loved mine to pieces and it may have gotten wet in the bathtub, too. Ha! |
| mikesgirl |
Posted - Apr 02 2009 : 04:24:22 AM
That would be great! I would definately buy a book like that. I also have the Simple Living Guide and I still refer to it. In fact I had to tape up the edges I have used it so often.
Farmgirl Sister #98
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| NikkiBeaumont |
Posted - Apr 02 2009 : 04:14:59 AM
I would like that, too! The first book that I read about simple living/voluntary simplicity was The Simple Living Guide by Janet Luhrs which was published in 1997. It was such a revelation! I felt like I was suddenly given permission to be myself. I realized that I didn't have to try to live like everyone else seemed to be living.
Quite literally, I felt like a gigantic burden had been lifted from me after I read that book. There were alternatives. I had options. There really could be more to life than slavery to a mortgage and a car payment and a 9 to 5 job. My life has been different ever since.
So, yes, I do think that MaryJane could do well to focus a book on simple living. So many people live the way they live because they never stopped to question whether there was another way. It never occurred to them. Someone needs to get the message out that life does not need to be the way the media/advertisers says it should be. Each of us has a choice. |
