HAPPINESS is a Suburbian Homestead

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

The ultimate exercise in recycling comes in shopping at garage and yard sales. I wonder how many things would end up in the landfill if yard-sale shoppers didn't save them. Plus, getting a $40 shirt for 50 cents is great. We use the money saved to travel and see our Mother Earth firsthand.

We're always looking for our favorite two words, free and cheap, for our home improvement and garden projects. We're lucky to have a friend in the construction cleanup business who's able to snag many items his crew is ready to pitch. We've gotten doors, bathroom cabinets, trim, wood, sinks, etc.—just by asking. Of course, these are scratch-and-dent, but we don't care: If it's free, it's for me. Using these less-than-perfect things also helps reduce the landfill. If you're willing to look, many of these items are in construction-site trash bins free for the asking.

I'm fond of my flower gardens and like the natural look in my landscaping. We use free-flowing curves for a beautiful look as well as ease of mowing. (My husband demands this!) I like using rocks in the garden: We place them in the beds, use them to decorate walls and rock-scapes and make paths. If you haven't figured it out by now, I've found a free source for rocks. Any time I pass a construction site, look out, here I come to haul away rocks. My oldest son swears he's going to get a hernia one of these days, but I tell him a little work never hurt anyone.

Even I have toughened up a bit. Cutting and hauling firewood is hard work, folks. But hey! Are any of you out there paying for exercise classes? Save your money and get some exercise that will pay you. Our fireplace insert helps reduce our heating bills, especially since we've always been able to get all the firewood we need—absolutely free—if we'll cut it and take it away.

When I first considered quitting my job and staying home, I was afraid we wouldn't have enough money. Now we're actually doing better because I have time for moneysaving projects.

Our Earth-friendly measures have saved us a lot financially, but even more importantly, they remind us how each act affects the circle of life. I've found that living lightly on our planet doesn't have much to do with where you live but with how you live. Everything we do requires a decision. We've decided while we're here we must respect and protect the Earth, not just for our children, but for their children and on down the line. It doesn't take much: a few extra hours a week, a little more planning, some creativity. We all can do our part wherever we are. And if each of us, wherever we live and whatever we do, will love our Mother, how wonderful this planet will be for her future inhabitants.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print