www.freecycle.org/

www.reallyreallyfree.org/

These two websites may just change your life! 

I've been awfully busy and have been meaning to write several blogs...but just HAD to get these websites on My Frugal Life.  Go check them out and follow some of the links...Really Really Free Market has some good ones that go into the Gift Economy.  Here is My favorite part of the site, because it happens to be just exactly how I feel...

Because there is enough for everyone

Because sharing is more fulfilling than owning

Because corporations would rather see landfills overflow that anyone get anything for free

Because scarcity is a myth constructed to keep us at the mercy of the economy

Because a sunny day outside is better than anything money can buy

Because "free trade" is a contradiction in terms

Because no one should have to do without food, shelter, entertainment, and community

Because life should be a picnic, but it only will be if we make it happen

There's more but you get the idea...go to the site and read all about it!

0 Comments | Post Feedback

Oh, I'm in LOVE!!! 

With the Electric Mantis...

This week I tilled my front yard in preparation for that tasty garden.  I brought home not only a 10 speed bike for additional transport and exercise, but also the greatest tiller in the world. 

The Mantis Folded down small enough that my Mother put it into the trunk of her little car.  It may be small but when it comes to power that little Mantis is Not lacking...But the best part was the lack of Noise, Smoke and Fumes.

It was Unbelievable, by far and away the Best experience I have ever had tilling.  Heck my normally snoopy neighbors didn't even know what I was doing.  It was pretty amusing afterwards when my tilled up front yard was the cause of abundant rubber-necking

It is so easy to use that a person could till a large garden by themselves...but it was nice to have someone to hold the electrical cord so that the person operating the tiller didn't have to watch for it. 

Then when done tilling the Mantis is so easy to clean, being as light weight as it is we could lift it up to get the underside soil free.

What a difference the lack of a big gas powered motor is!  We didn't even have to buy fuel...

Oh Yesss, I Love Green machines...

0 Comments | Post Feedback

I Love to Cook!  And one of the things that I love to cook is Sourdough of any kind, did you know that you could make your own starter?  Or just how yummy and tender Sourdough Pancakes are???  Give the recipes below a try, I promise you it's worth the effort.  Oh, and the starter can also be used in bread machines...Enjoy!

Sourdough Starter:

2 cups warm water

2 cups flour

1 cake yeast (1pkg)

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water and then add flour.  Beat until smooth, cover loosely for 48 hours.  Keep some and give some away.

Sourdough Bread:

1 cup Starter

1/2 cup oil

11/2 cup warm water or milk

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

Mix in 3 cups flour, then mix by hand another 3 cups or mix in all 6 cups by hand.  Knead 5-6 minutes.  Place in a large oiled bowl, oil top of bread, cover and let rise all day or overnight. 

8 to 12 hours later make into 2-3 loaves, or French bread or Cinnamon Rolls.  Let these rise, covered for 8-12 hours.  Bake bread at 325 on bottom rack 40-50 minutes.  Bake cinnamon rolls at 375 for 12-15 minutes.

Alaska Sourdough Pancakes: (No Starter needed)

1 pkg dry yeast

2 cups flour

2 cups warm water

2 eggs

1 tsp baking soda

1 Tbsp sugar

2 Tbsp melted margarine

Using a glass mixing bowl and wooden spoon only, mix yeast, flour and warm water, beat well.  Let stand in warm place overnight or for 8 hours.

Add eggs, baking soda, salt and sugar.  Beat well, then add melted margarine.  Bake on hot griddle or in frying pan until lightly brown.

0 Comments | Post Feedback

I Adore Juliette de Bairachi Levy's work, for those who do not know who she is, she is the Grand Lady of Herbology...at least to me that is.  Juliette has traveled the world living and studying with the Nomadic peoples...Gypsies, Bedouin Arabs, and the American and Mexican Indians.  Ah, what a life to have led!  She has passed down the wisdoms of these peoples in her books.

As I sat this morning drinking my coffee and reading the inventive blogs on here, I thought to myself..."I wonder what the price of coffee is going to be".  I know what to do...but do other people have a clue?  So many plants have traveled around the world along with people, plants that we (well, most of us) now consider weeds, and Dandelions are one of these.

This is what Juliette says of the Dandelion in her book Common Herbs for Natural Health...

Dandelion Coffee is made from the roots, which should be collected at the end of the year for this purpose.  After careful cleaning, they are oven-dried at a low temperature for several hours, until they emit a pleasant roasted aroma.  They are then ground to a fine powder.  A little coffee may be mixed in with the dandelion root to improve the scent and flavor.  Also, roasted Chicory root can be added, a teaspoon to every twelve teaspoons of dandelion coffee.

You may be saying at this time Ewwwicky, but it is actually pretty good, and well just what did you think the pioneers were brewing in their coffeepots while on the trail?  And to me the best thing about Dandelions is that they are Extremely good for you...That's Right, They Are Good For You! 

And, trust me on this...after a short time of consuming them you Feel Great Too!

My Grandma use to cook the greens in spring, and make Dandelion Wine...Good for what Ails you...they are considered to be a spring tonic herb.  Here is what Juliette says about the health effects...

Use, internal:  For all disorders of liver and bile (especially jaundice).  A diet of the greens improves
the enamel of the teeth.  Helps in diabetes, obesity, over-sleepiness.  It is blood cleansing, blood tonic, lymph cleansing.

Use, external:  the white juice for application to warts, old sores, blisters, and pimples.  American Indians use the split stem, for applying by rubbing, to bee stings.

Dose: A half dozen or so of the leaves, eaten daily.  Being rather bitter, they should be mixed with some milder salad herb such as lettuce.

So, you see maybe it's time for Americans to be re-thinking weeds...Think about it while drinking your coffee.

3 Comments | Post Feedback

I wrote Tasty Front Yard earlier in the month and so this is a post comment...I have already started on my front yard garden.  Since the weather here is still a bit dampish for tilling, I have put a few tarps down on the grass so that it will die down and make tilling easier.

I have some of my little plants in egg cartons, staying warm and sitting in a well lit place in my kitchen...some of the bigger ones I will soon transplant into cut off milk cartons.  And last night I made some rooting hormone solution from some of the willow that grows out front.

I've decided that I want lots of rosemary and lavender bushes...So I went to the market in town (Florence) and bought some of those organic herb cuttings that are suppose to be for gourmet cooks.  Since I was just trying this out to see if it would work I only got a few different kinds...the mint started quite easily in water, and the rosemary starts are in a pot in the kitchen and look very promising. 

The lavender I will get cuttings of when I go into the valley to get the tiller...with the rooting hormone solution they should start pretty quickly.  I will also take cuttings of the butterfly bushes at my Mother's to attract the many butterflies and hummingbirds that live here.

Hmmm, I think that I will head to the market...one can Never have enough rosemary!

0 Comments | Post Feedback

I've read that there is a new trend in landscaping, turning your front yard into a garden.  This makes sense to me as grass takes so much effort and resources to maintain...whereas with a garden you get a bigger return.

 For me it was like a ray of light coming from above when I read this...my front yard is the size of a postage stamp, I don't have a mower and it's like pulling teeth to get the property caretaker to come mow it. 

 There is a chain link fence all the way around it to grow climbers on...it will be beautiful too having scarlet runner beans with their red flowers on the fence.

 The soil is great, rich and easy to work...and my Mother has a little bitty tiller, just right for my little bitty yard!  I'll have to bring it over from the valley, but with the tiller size transporting it will be a snap.

 I spend a lot of time out front in summer, with the creek flowing all the way around the yard it's quite pleasant...and watching my garden grow will certainly add to the experience.

 I can see it now in my mind's eye...full of herbs, with a lettuce patch and beans hanging on the fence. 

Yep, I think I'm gonna eat my front yard!

0 Comments | Post Feedback