clatteramy’s Recent Comments

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  Broadening the subject further...

  We've been wrassling with a burning dilemma of our own. Let's expand from trash fire to yard waste fire to...field burning. We have around 100 acres of fields that we transformed from cattle pasture to native warm-season grass prairies through a governement conservation program. We are required to burn one field a year (approximately 30 acres). That option is becoming less and less palatable, and when our government contract is up, we're left with a choice: do we continue burning, which is a more natural choice historically for managing prairies, or do we burn fuel and mow with a tractor?

  Decisions, decisions...On Umbra on burning yard waste posted 2 years, 9 months ago 12 Responses

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  Homemade, Butterflies, Music!

  We usually make our gifts each year, often out of materials we have on hand. We've done a lot of renovating over the years, so one year we painted leftover ceramic tiles and added a felt bottom for coasters; another year we used leftover paint on leftover Homasote to make bulletin boards; and so on. This year, since people are so busy during the holidays or often succumb to whatever bug is going around, we thought we'd make a meal a week in December to give people a respite from cooking. We have to cook for ourselves anyway and we use all organic ingredients, so why not make extras for the rest of the family?!

  Since that doesn't give anyone a link to something they can actually buy, give this place a go: Monarch Watch. You can purchase a Monarch butterfly waystation kit or a cool Monarch t-shirt which promotes the conservation of Monarch butterflies.

  Another idea we had was to put together a basket of goodies that would encourage energy efficiency. Since more and more people are learning about global warming and wondering what they can do, a sampler of things like compact flourescent bulbs and a copy of "An Inconvenient Truth" tucked in a locally-made Amish basket or reusable cloth grocery bag would gently get loved ones on the right path.

  And finally, instead of the eco-friendly digital music download service, you could give the gift of music from independent musicians who are trying to make a difference. I myself am in a couple of eco-minded music groups, and there are tons of them out there in many genres who offer eco-friendly CD packaging and organic cotton t-shirts. What teenager doesn't want to be the first to "discover" a cool new band?!On We need your presents posted 2 years, 12 months ago 17 Responses

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  Line drying woes

  I've doggedly tried line-drying for years, even in spite of my less-than-adequate clothes line that sags to the ground when I hang a hanky on it then eventually snaps. I keep knotting it back up and trying again. But more disturbing than the frayed line is the fact that during the hot, humid Missouri summers our clothes never seem to dry, and often acquire a lovely mildew scent. If the moisture eventually does get sucked out of them, they take on a peculiar cardboard appearance. Our towels can practically walk themselves back into the bathroom.

  We use Ecover fabric softener in the washer which works nicely when we dry everything in the dryer. But for now, I feel like a moron because I can't do something as simple as get my clothes to dry in the sun. I'm not sure why I felt compelled to share that with the rest of the world.On Umbra on dryer sheets posted 3 years ago 11 Responses