Simple-scaping

Our family lives on a very low income because of our desire to work towards a family centered, low impact, homesteading lifestyle. We are not against earning a lot of money. For us, however, it is not our first priority. We do not believe in supporting big business and thus make very few purchases. We also carefully choose what we do purchase by considering the impact that purchase will have on the environment.

The first step on our journey was to eliminate as many bills as possible. To that end, we bought an old mobile home (vintage 1984), and put it on 3 1/2 acres that we lease in northeastern Vermont. We moved to Vermont from Massachusetts.

Below are some simple, inexpenive, and environmentally friendly ideas that I have been making around our homestead to spruce up our yard a bit.

Here is the trailer hitch end of our mobile home. Mike built a box around the hitch. We added lattice for the sides. On top our thirteen year old son made us some birch edges. I filled a freebie sap bucket with some plantings.

Here is a picture of a bench I made today. I took two birch logs and dug some holes about 4 to 5 inches for them to rest in. I found some lumber we had for the top of the bench. I have not nailed it down yet, however, as I am going to keep my eyes out for a weathered barn board that is wider.

Finally, I use rocks as I find them for borders and walkways.