| Author |
Across the Fence:  What a farmgirl can do....  |
|
|
Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 05 2009 : 11:13:37 PM
|
In these tough times, lets all put our minds to thinking on what we can do to help our families and our communities to get through the recession, and even keep "good frugal habits" during richer times. Being raised by grandparents and great auntie who lived and worked hard through the great depression, I feel like I should be able to deal with this 
Just my first thoughts are...
Grow a garden
plant a row for the food bank, they sure are going to need it
save seeds for next year
Bake my own bread
bake bread for neighbors just for fun and the joy of community
re-purpose old clothing into new things to use and wear
walk as much as possible instead of driving
do as much work on my place as possible
learn to make my own time more productive
spend more family time, less idle time
find ways to help the community as a whole
volunteer to do just about anything that needs done 
What can you think of? just getting some farmgirl thoughts going here 
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Mud Hen Queen
MJ's Heirloom Maven's Librarian
|
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2009 : 05:47:55 AM
|
Well, to help the family, my 2 DDs and a Gd will be probably moving back here for awhile. I think that is going to be a common thing aroung the country now. With people out of work and no prospects, they will be having to share expenses.
I will have to double up on the gardens this spring to replenish the pantry. Usually I don't have to can but every other year. But with hubby home I have gone through the jars. I'd much rather do that though.
Also cut out the eating out. Eat at home! I think we'd all be so much healthier.
Kris
Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. Maori proverb |
 |
|
|
crafter
True Blue Farmgirl
2313 Posts
lori
Fort Atkinson
Wisconsin
USA
2313 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2009 : 06:43:16 AM
|
I'm going to build my own chicken coop- once it warms up- this morning it was 4 degrees- I can have up to 6 chickens in the city where I live. I'm hoping to have a larger garden this year. We have already cut eating out as much. I plan my menus for every 2 weeks- and try to shop accordingly.
We have a food basket for the food pantry at work that I try to help with each pay period. At church I help organize a free meal each Wednesday to any one who needs or wants it, we have been going through the closets and taking clothes and household items to St. Vinnie's. Any other ideas out there- I would love to hear and try. The budget will continue to tighten- we all need to share and help where we can!!
Lori
Have a Country Day |
|
|
|
ruralfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
4309 Posts
Rene'
Prosser
WA
USA
4309 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2009 : 07:32:23 AM
|
For me it has been fun to find a new purpose for used things, between recycling and re-using we are saving on our garbage bill, we have also lowered the thermometer in the house to 67, at first it was cold, but when we were able to pay a much reduced power bill it seemed to be good... We have also "upped" the Organics and gotten rid of the "junk food" and are paying less in groceries... It all adds up... My concern is that folks will think that buying cheap "food" will save money, but studies are showing that when you eat cheap... you eat more because of the lack of nutrients you are getting... I remember my grandpa talking about how rare it was when he was growing up to get "penny candy"... So I don’t think we even have candy for a penny anymore. But the point was "sweet treats" were a rarity... SO we are focusing on "clean foods" and saving in the process.
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
http://farmchicksfarm.blogspot.com/
Circumstances made us FRIENDS; MaryJane's has made us SISTERS :) |
|
|
|
harmonyfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
785 Posts
Debbie
Southeastern
Ohio
USA
785 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2009 : 08:34:12 AM
|
What a great topic....
I'm putting in a bigger garden and learning to forage more. Buying more local food. Also thinking about getting some Turkeys and pigs.
I'm hostessing a Farmgirl Party this weekend so we can do mending and help each other alter some of our clothes to wear again. We're making brownies to send to Irag and just hanging out. I'll tell them about this. It's very motivating to see what others are doing... Thanks..
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
|
|
|
Ingrid
True Blue Farmgirl
432 Posts
Ingrid
BC
Canada
432 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2009 : 09:04:07 AM
|
I'm planting a bigger garden have been looking for a second hand dehydrater - most of the time they are hardly used at all, we have lots of fruit trees, already baking bread, granola bars that kind of stuff for school lunches, only going to buy new underwear but everything else made or thrift, not purchase anymore craft stuff - going to use what I have or treat myself to thrift only - open my small at home shop more on the weekends and try to have regular hours. I sell my crafty stuff and in the summer sell my produce when I have too much. Walk or bike more instead of drive. I still work full time but will be laid off after the summer as the business is closing. May be sooner depends on how quickly the stock sells off. So frugality started at the first of the year when I found out.
Great suggestions from everyone. Remember, if we are self sufficient and have a good support system - farmgirsl, we can survive any recession.
Ingrid
Give thanks to yourself everyday for all the wonderful things you do! |
|
|
|
graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2009 : 3:50:04 PM
|
All of the above, plus - thinking ahead to christmas and what I can make this summer for gifts
- using the library more
- putting my brain to work figuring how to harness more farmgirl power in town to get things done
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" |
|
|
|
farmmommy
True Blue Farmgirl
500 Posts
Kelley
Texas
USA
500 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2009 : 4:35:44 PM
|
| I have also already made the vow to do more "Homemade from scratch cooking"...we have never eaten out..but now that hubby has new job...bag lunches aren't ideal in his work situation, so he has had to eat out just about 5 days a week for lunch....I don't know how some people have afforded it....the prices are ridiculous!!! and for what??? a bunch of nasty, greasy CRAP!!! Sorry...lol...hope I didn't offend anyone...I also decided to go with bigger garden...and AM ABSOLUTELY GOING TO START CANNING!!!!! Even if I have to check out every book at the library and just do a whole bunch of trial and error!! It's a promise I have made to myself!! I'm already hanging 90% of my clothes out to dry...as a matter of fact, I hung out 5 loads today!! Yes girls, I admit it....I have a tendency to let my laundry pile up sometimes....but eventhough we got a HE washer last year, I just now realized that it has a "Quick Wash" cycle!!!!!! 25 minutes, and it's ready to be hung out to dry....teehee....that's how I got 5 loads done so quickly!! And I KNOW that cycle is saving me water and energy!! And I've also been taking less trips to town...these are just a few things I've been doing...Kelley |
|
|
|
soapmommy60543
True Blue Farmgirl
2197 Posts
Ann
Oswego
IL
USA
2197 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2009 : 4:49:11 PM
|
We're doubling our garden space this year, too. That seems to be a common theme just about everywhere these days. Last year was the first year in a while that I did NOT can - too busy with homeschool, finishing my degree, scouts and well, life in general. Not this year! I'm already on hubby's back about trellising our tomato jungle so we can get a better yield (ie not have them all rot on the ground because no one can reach them - the only good part about that is that they have been self-seeding and self-fertilizing).
Ann in Oswego
http://suburbanprairiehouse.wordpress.com
Times may be tough, but farmgirls are tougher!
Craft Fasting since October 21, 2008 |
|
|
|
Lainey
True Blue Farmgirl
2401 Posts
Elaine
Waco
Kentucky
USA
2401 Posts |
Posted - Feb 07 2009 : 07:51:53 AM
|
This is a good topic Annika, makes one think what can be done to help ourselves and others.
Our garden will be larger this year as well. My hubby loves to bake bread so we've been thinking of doing it more often. (Sometimes he's a better farmgirl than me.) My husband and I have been talking about maybe getting some hens, but as we are getting new neighbors on the land beside us we'll have to feel them out. We want to get some new guinea fowls as well, but they tend to roam a bit too not to mention their, ummm, chatter. ;-) I'm hoping our peafowl won't bug them too much.
This weekend or next we are planning to go through our clothes and are going to sort out what we wear and what's just hanging up waiting for us to lose weight to get back into. We are going to take what we don't wear to Goodwill. There is no use for us holding on to something that we may never get back into it when someone could be using it. We do this once a year at least, but some things we have kept holding onto for whatever reason. It's time for those things to go.
This summer and fall we are going to the Farmer's Market here and the roadside stands more often for what we don't grow more. I hate to admit it but some of our fruits have went to waste in the past few years. It was more than we could use, store, or even give away. We are going to find a place or something to do with the extra. At least the birds, bees, and hornets made use of it.
Farmgirl Sister #25
http://countrygirldreams.blogspot.com/
An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.' |
|
|
|
kpaints
True Blue Farmgirl
1564 Posts
karen
cheney
wa
1564 Posts |
Posted - Feb 07 2009 : 08:05:50 AM
|
Everyone's plans sound so wonderful. I too have been working on all of this. I just bought the 'materials' to make laundry soap for my daughter, I already have natural soaps here. When I run out of mine I will make some for me. I have a deer problem here so I quit the vegt. garden several years ago. I made two raised beds for flowers and I am going to move a lot of those plants and put in some vegts this year. I laid wire mesh around these beds to keep the deer out and it works so...... And I am going to put vegts in pots. I live alone so I don't need much. I am thrifting, not unusual for me, but with a different eye. Used sheets have many uses. So I am reclaiming lots of things.
Find your joy and live it. http://cheneybaglady.blogspot.com/http://www.kpaints.etsy.com |
|
|
| |
Across the Fence: What a farmgirl can do.... |
|
What a farmgirl can do....
