$0 Ideas (Create a SS Tip Sheet/Pamphlet)

[The YardFarmers]

Hi Friends,

Love reading your posts, suggestions, and support. I am thinking about creating some sort of tip sheet or pamphlet for people interested in learning more about becoming SS, maybe to pass out at the Farmers Market or include with CSA baskets. I am wanting to encourage others to start and to give real suggestions.

The tip sheet could maybe be organized along the line of ........
1. SS ideas that you can do that cost $0
2. Low cost (< $25) SS ideas/projects
3. Projects for <$100
4. Projects for <$500
5. $500 and up SS projects
6. Encouragement, inspiration, real like people

Please share your ideas. I'll post each category separately. I'll compile the ideas for each category, and if you would like a copy for yourself or to make your own tip sheets, send me an email. Thanks in advance for all your ideas- and for helping to promote a SS way of life that we have forgotten about.


So for today,
what are some SS ideas, tips, or projects that cost $0?

YardFarmer Julie
www.TheYardFarmers.blogspot.com

 

[big brown horse]

Hey, this is a super idea!

Composting is free.
Collecting rain water is free.
Foraging for food is free.

Is this the kind of stuff you are talking about?

 

[The YardFarmers]

Yes.

Turn down water heater to 120 degrees.
Learn to cook everything at home; don't eat out.
Drink water, pocket the savings for another SS project.

Doable get started ideas for this first part which will allow some dollars to get freed up and then on to other bigger projects.

 

[big brown horse]

Oh, ok I get it.

Navy showers!

Things way under $25
Make your own:
laundry detergent
shampoo
liquid hand soap
soap
bread (sourdough starter too)
cloth napkins
dishwasher detergent

 

[dragonlaurel]

Use rags instead of paper towels. Make rag rugs or quilts in you have plenty of material.

Girls- make your own cloth feminine hygiene products and save lots of $$$ each year.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/sanitarypads.htm

 

[Occamstazer]

BBH, do you have the homemade shampoo recipe? I do the laundry detergent, but the shampoo I haven't tried yet.


Dragonlaurel, menstrual cups are far less hassle than washing pads, imo.
Sigh...I know, I'm a Diva cup evangelist

 

[dragonlaurel]

I am very sensitive to latex, so I would have to be careful which kind I tried. Dont feel like having an allergic reaction down there
The silicone cups sound good but I don't have the money right now.

I have some extra material already, that should work great. Hormones are a bit wacked, so I am going too many days to want to keep buying disposable stuff. Not exactly green either.

 

[tortoise]

$0:

Make a budget
Save the change from when you pay cash and put it in a piggy bank
Make a plan to pay off debt
Eliminate one unnecessary expense - one thing you can SURVIVE without
Hang clothes out to dry
Use yard waste to mulch


$25:

Cloth napkins
Cloth paper towels / rags
Cloth baby wipes
Learn a skill: knitting, crocheting, quilting, rag rugs, building a fire, cooking over fire, change your oil, etc

$100

Raise rabbits for meat/wool/sales

 

[sylvie]

Solar pop/ beer can heater and rocket stoves are cheap and a hit with the guys and adventurous ladies. The topics are discussed on here.
Hard to put a price on those, but I built my pop can heater for $3 because I had scrounged all the materials except the paint. Definitely under $100 if starting from scratch.

In fact, why not provide a link to this site on the pamphlet?

 

[big brown horse]

Shampoo and laundry detergent thread: http://sufficientself.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1223

Last summer many of us tried the "no-poo" method . I washed my hair with baking soda and water. I rinsed it with diluted acv (without the mother) with a touch of essential oils. I loved it and my hairdresser (and best friend...Hey!) told me my hair was in very healthy shape. My color stayed true for much longer too.

There is a whole website/forum dedicated to "no-poo" if you can believe it or not.

I'm going to do it again this summer, it was just too cold to pour a premix of baking soda and water onto my head. It runs down your back etc. BURRR!