Friday, March 20, 2020

Stewarding Our Resources and Making Things Last

  Colton is home again!  We are all so glad he's back and in good health.  Thank you to everyone who prayed for his safe and speedy return.

  In my last post I wrote that God will always provide for His children, and we need to trust in Him during this crazy time.  Because of Him, we can have peace instead of the fear and hysteria that the world seems to have succumbed to.  Remember, we can't live by bread alone.

  With that said, we still have work to do as keepers at home.


"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness."
Proverbs 31:27

  My friend, Patsi, from A Working Pantry said something in one of her comments the other day that really stuck with me.  She said that sometimes answered prayers come in the form of hard work on our part.  I think that is so true.  We have to be willing to put in some work.  God saved Noah and his family from the flood, but Noah still had to build the ark!


Busy Bees


  I would say these times call for an increased sense of diligence as we steward our resources to care for our homes and loved ones.  I personally believe that there will be lean times ahead for many, and what we have been seeing is just the beginning.  Because of this, I am already more mindful of what we use and how I do things.  We have a good supply right now, but my goal is to stretch it and make it last until this is all over, and we don't know when that will be.  Hopefully soon.

  One thing Colton and I are both doing right now is working hard in the garden every morning and evening.  It's no longer just a hobby that supplements our grocery shopping, it's what will feed us and others if the shelves remain empty.  I'm carefully choosing what to plant based on what we eat and what will be easiest to preserve.  For example, I only have half a row of lettuce planted for fresh salads, but I have 16 tomato plants, as well as several peppers and fresh herbs, because these can be canned and turned into various tomato based meals.  Green beans will also be planted in the coming days for canning and freezing.  We have a row of yellow squash and a row of zucchini, which will be very versatile and used to bulk up meals.  I'm planning on doing a staggered planting of okra (planting one row and then waiting a few weeks to plant another row, etc.), as this can tolerate the Texas heat that we have already started experiencing.  Okra and squash can both be frozen.  I'm also planting things a little closer together to optimize space.

  Along the same lines, I am checking on my chickens throughout the day, making sure they are safe and have plenty of water.  We let them free range in the afternoons, so I need to make sure dogs and other predators stay away.  There is also no slacking when it comes to gathering their eggs and putting them into cartons right away for the refrigerator.  I stocked up on their feed on Tuesday, along with extra dog and cat food, and I'm glad I didn't wait any longer.  This was the section of chick starter at Tractor Supply!



  I hunted around and found a few bags off to the side and snatched up two of them.  

  In the kitchen, I have been extra mindful about eliminating waste.  I have started measuring out my dish detergent when I wash dishes.  One half teaspoon in the dish pan gets the job done just as well as my usual liberal squirts.  For the dishwasher, I am making sure I have a full load before I run it.  I store most things in glass, but when I do use a plastic Ziploc bag for something, it gets washed and reused unless it held raw meat.  Larger trash items get crushed before going into the trash can, or they are set outside to be taken to our dump (we burn our trash here on the ranch), and food packaging is rinsed before being thrown away to eliminate smells.  This is so I can really fill up a trash bag before it gets tossed.  On that note, when I sweep the floor, dirt gets thrown outside, not into the trash can.  As far as eliminating food waste, there is so much that can be done in that area that I am saving that topic for my next post.

  In the laundry room, the same concepts apply.  I carefully measure out how much detergent I am using, and filling the measuring cup to the first line has never failed to get a normal load of laundry clean.  I use a little more for really dirty things.  I am also making sure I have a full load before I run the washer.   I do not use dryer sheets, but if you do, I would suggest cutting them in half or seeing if you can use them more than once.  Or if you are able to find them, invest in wool dryer balls.  Also, clothes can be worn more than once if they are not that dirty!  The clothes I wear after a shower in the evening go right back on the hanger because I only wear them for a few hours and they don't get dirty.  In addition to reducing the amount of laundry, it also extends the life of my clothes.  I've also started wearing an apron while I work for added protection.  The same goes for bathroom towels in that they go right back up on the peg to dry and be used again.  Since all we do is dry our clean selves off after a shower, they are not dirty.

  In the bathroom, one of the ways I am able to stretch my shampoo usage is by just using enough to clean my scalp and hair at the roots.  The rest of my hair gets cleaned as I rinse it.  For brushing my teeth, I use a homemade tooth powder, but if you use conventional toothpaste, just pay attention to how much you are using each time.  If you run out, you can use baking soda, or alternate using baking soda with your toothpaste now to make it last longer.  Baking soda or arrowroot powder can also be used as a natural deodorant in a pinch.  Now, I am hesitant to mention this next thing, but as toilet paper seems to be such a hot commodity and also very hard to find, I think it is worth sharing.  After John was born, my midwife and doctor both handed me a squirt bottle and gave me strict instructions not to use toilet paper while I was healing.  At first I thought, you've got to be kidding me!  But I did what they said and after doing so realized something very obvious: water gets you cleaner than paper.  So I have brought out my squirt bottle for rinsing and have made up a stack of flannel wipes for drying.  The toilet paper we have is saved for, well, the dirty jobs.  I am really sorry if that is more than you wanted to know, but these are strange times!  

  For cleaning, I really haven't changed anything yet, as a little goes a long way with the homemade products I use.  If you are used to using commercial products and can't find them in the stores or are running low, try to look for some natural alternatives.  I typically use baking soda, vinegar, citric acid, and essential oils for cleaning, and nothing beats good old fashioned soap and water.  I have some reusable cleaning cloths that I made a while back and I need to dig them out again, as I've been using disposables for convenience lately. 

  Some of the things I have mentioned I already do or should have been doing anyway.  Others are due to special circumstances and will look a bit extreme to most people.  Each person will have to choose what is best for their family, but I hope these examples will at least give some ideas.  We need to get creative when we can't get to the store or when what we normally use is unavailable.  If you have any ideas for stretching things or making things last, please share in the comments!  Every little thing is important and may be very helpful during this time of scarcity.


"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much..."
~Luke 16:10a


    

13 comments:

  1. We are stocked... and I have shared what I have stocked with 2 of our kids and a neighbor. We all ask each other if any one needs anything. We only have two young families both Amish. They cracked jokes about being surrounded by the elderly. I make my own laundry soap and gave my daughter 5 gals of it. She also used it to clean her entire house.
    I did get in 2 shower liners to duct tape together to make long enough to close off the hall at the bedroom if one of us gets sick. That way we can still go to the basement pantry but the sick one keeps their cooties to the bedroom, bathroom and laundry room. Glad we insisted on putting in 2 bathrooms

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    1. Chef Owings, that is wonderful that you have a network of people who are looking out for each other. I think people are going to need that sense of community now more than ever. Well done on being stocked and helping your family and neighbors.

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  2. Kelsey, thank you for the mention! Your TP substitute plan is the very same thing I told my husband today would be what we would do. I need to get busy and stitch up some flannel squares. You shared some excellent ideas and ways to be better stewards of what we have, I'm going to make a list of them and make sure I'm doing as many of them as I can. We are planting our garden too and expanding it in a big way. Love the scripture reference!

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    1. Thank you, Patsi! It definitely takes a different mindset. I'm glad we can all learn from each other.

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  3. You made so many good points in this post. So many things to think about as we move forward. Great post!

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    1. Thank you, Brenda! I'm glad it was helpful.

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  4. Kelsey first I'm glad that your husband is home once more! I'm so glad that he didn't get sick. All good points in your post. My husband has never gardened, having lived in city all his days but he amused me this morning when he began to look at stock tanks to use as raised bed planters...He might just finally creep aboard! In the meantime, I had planned a small garden bed of most frequently purchased summer items and will continue with my modest plans. My son is planting a much larger garden and I know he will share with us if he's successful. Like Juls (Chef Owings) we are passing things back and forth amongst our local family. Diapers outgrown by one baby are sent to another, excess foods change hands, I share from my grocery stores and get food in return, so it's all been rather pleasant thus far.

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    1. Thank you, Terri. We are glad to have Colton home.
      We went to the nursery to pick up a few things the other day, and the lady who works there said they have had so many people buying plants who have never gardened before. I think all of this has really been an eye-opener for many!
      I'm glad you are able to help and share with other family members. In times like these, that is so important and appreciated.

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  5. Thank you so much for sharing. Your ideas are great, and not the least bit extreme to me. Bonnie in central WI.

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    1. Thank you for the encouragement, Bonnie!

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  6. Dear Kelsey!

    It is beautiful to find your blogspot! Your work is very detailed, and full of thoughtfulness!

    You are living a wonderful story! Thank you for all your diligence!

    Rachel

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    1. Hi Rachel, it's good to see you here! Thank you for visiting and leaving such a lovely comment.

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  7. Exactly right Kelsey. Imagine the work Noah had to do. All while being ridiculed. We need to remember that. The two of you have been doing so much! You have my admiration! xxx

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