For Mothers Day this year, my daughter gave me a sign for our greenhouse. She made it from the lid of an old Whisky cask and painted it by hand. I think homemade gifts are the best and I’ll definitely treasure this one. Thank you H, I love it … Xxx
Over the past few decades, U.S. dairy farmers have been able to reduce their environmental impact by 60%; and dairy farmers continue to strive to be leaders in sustainability. Even while doubling milk production, the number of dairy cows in the U.S. has decreased from 25.6 million cows in 1950 to only 9.4 million today. Doing more with less is a philosophy that has enabled dairy farmers to reduce their environmental “hoofprint” and drive real change in the industry and environment.
Cows are part of the world’s ecological system and dairy farmers have harnessed this biological advantage. The “waste” that cows create is necessary for good soil health. Healthy soil holds more water and provides a richer life for the microbial life of the soil. The manure goes back onto the soil to regrow the grass and other crops that cows eat. The planet needs cows as much as cows need the planet
It should be noted that the methane cows emit stays in the atmosphere for about six years; this means in every year that new methane molecules are added, they’re offset by the expiration of molecules produced in years prior. As long as the number of cows doesn’t drastically increase, this cycle has a net-neutral effect. By contrast, emissions from cars last in the atmosphere over 100 years. So, every idling car is adding emissions that will last for a century.
…Art is a limitless expressive tool of freewill. Therefore, its visual thoughts can serve to remind us that the limitation of one’s imagination is a limitation to one’s growth. And art devoid of optimistic imagination is art with limitations…
Tied-off fringe to finish this rug off! A quick and easy day project. How fun to recycle old shirts and use some of my early handspun with my current handspun. Feels poetic in some way that I can’t place my finger on.
“From the ISU Program Components marking chart, available on their website - COMPOSITION: Purpose (idea, concept, vision, mood); pattern/ice coverage; multidimensional use of space and design of movements; phrase and form (movements & parts of the program to match the musical phrasing); ORIGINALITY OF THE COMPOSITION. So now, tell me again how a program recycled four times should be getting 10s in this category?”
Glass, paper, metal and even plastics are valuable materials. Sending them to landfill ends their lifecycles was too early. When you have the possibility, recycle. Even though creating less waste in the first place is even better, it might not always be possible to avoid some trash. So whenever possible, split your trash and put it in the right bin.
A hack I learned from a more seasoned urban homesteader: saving the juices from canned/packaged foods for later use in soups and other recipes. This container has my meat juices in it (it’s frozen which is why there are layers). I have one for vegetable juices as well, haven’t started one for fruits. As you can see, I’ve just added the broth from these chicken Vienna sausages. I know they’re terrible processed garbage, but they’re also cheap protein that never goes bad, and I’m on a very tight budget.
Anyway, the homesteader in question makes a point to buy vegetables canned in water and fruits canned in juice rather than syrup (she lives alone and no longer has the energy or physical ability to garden). She’s a vegetarian, but buys canned veggie meats and uses the juices from those to make surprisingly delicious vegetarian gravies. Canned veggie water gets used as soup stock, and canned fruit juices get made into interesting variations of fruit punch. Personally I think it’s way better than dumping it down the drain.
Made a spaghetti squash yesterday and decided to save the seeds. Whether I decide to try and sprout them or toast them and eat them is still up for grabs.
This used to be a simple piece of wood I found in the bulk trash. I ground it and then burned in this drawing by hand with a soldering iron. Now this useless piece of wood turned into a new cutting board. Why buying new stuff when you can make it yourself?
