Tag: self-sustainability

  • How to Catch and Use Rainwater

    How to Catch and Use Rainwater

    To make sure that you always have the water you need for your garden and for other uses around the home, you will want to learn how to capture and make use of rainwater. Fortunately, the process is very simple. If you want to catch rainwater, the easiest way to do this is to utilize rain barrels. You can find these barrels online, and most of the 50-gallon options are under $100. In a pinch, you could use just about any barrel or container, if you are sure it will not leak, for the collection of water.

    You can set up the barrel so that it catches the rain that comes from your gutters and downspouts. You can also use tarps and create a guide that will funnel the water into the barrel. Even though rainwater tends to be relatively clean, you will still need to filter the water and make it potable if you hope to drink it.

    You can store the water and then use it for the garden during those times when it does not rain as much. This way, you are not wasting water that you need elsewhere. In addition, you can drink the water if needed. You will want to make it safe to drink, though. One of the easiest ways to do this is to boil the water, as it can kill the germs and bacteria it might contain.

    Other ways that you can use the water you store include cleaning and washing, providing water for livestock, and more. Just make sure you do not leave standing water uncovered and accessible. It has the potential to become a breeding ground for mosquitos, which can carry disease.

    If you do not already have containers to catch water when it rains, get them now. Even if you are living in the suburbs, you will find that saving some water that you can use for your plants and garden will help to cut your water bills.

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  • Thriving 23-Year-Old Permaculture Food Forest (Video)

    Thriving 23-Year-Old Permaculture Food Forest (Video)

    I recently had the pleasure of watching this amazing video on a 23-year-old food forest that Robert and Robyn Guyton have grown in the small town of Riverton on New Zealand’s South Island.

    This is the ultimate goal of permaculture, to create your own natural, sustainable ecosystem that you can live off of, but that thrives and grows on its own.

    It takes many years and a lot of patience to cultivate something like this, but hearing the couple talk about their relationship with their food forest and watching the blossoms, insects, and hearing and seeing the birds and other creatures that thrive in this amazing little ecosystem is incredibly inspiring.

    I think what makes this food forest particularly successful is their knowledge of and respect for the native species of birds, insects, and animals, and their willingness to serve and give back to the local ecosystem as well as benefit from it on their own.

    In a stressful and crazy world, take some time to appreciate the beauty of nature and set some goals of your own for your own little self-sustainable sanctuary one day. Enjoy!

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  • 8 Simple Ways to Earn Money From Homesteading

    8 Simple Ways to Earn Money From Homesteading

    Homesteading is sustainable, self-sufficient and rewarding. But it’s also not free! Unfortunately, in our modern economy, there’s so much more involved in running a homestead than simply working the land and feeding your family. Especially if you are a new homesteader, costs can pile up and it can really help to find a way to not just save money by homesteading, but earn money back on your hard work and labor.

    Even if you are an urban homesteader, there are still many creative ways you can earn money from homesteading! Here is a list of some of the easiest ways to bring prophet to your homestead project.

    1. Eggs: this is classic of course, but if you’ve got prolific layers, you can probably make a nice return on your investment into raising chickens by selling farm fresh eggs. You can sell to friends, at your farmer’s market or even through local buy/sell groups on Facebook

    2. Chickens: If you have quite a few chickens, you can sell them at various stages. As chicks, as laying hens, or even full-grown broilers.

    3. Preserves: if you like to can or make preserves, why not bring some to the farmer’s market?

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    4. Sell young: Whenever your goats, pigs, rabbits, or cows have babies, you can sell them! You can keep your milking animals in fresh milk every year and make some money on the side this way!

    5. Honey/Beeswax: Beekeeping is a wonderful way to help the environment and make some extra money. You can sell raw honey, which is a coveted health food, or make and sell candles with the beeswax!

    6. Fresh or dried herbs: herbs are typically easy and cheap to grow and require minimal care and overhead. They’re easy to harvest and process and you can sell fresh or dried bunches.

    7. Seedlings: starting seedlings in 2″ pots in the springtime to sell as seedlings is a great way to earn some extra money, especially if they are organic and heirloom

    8. Rent land: if you have extra land you are not using, you can rent out parts of it for hay, pasture or farming

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