Inspired by Suzy at Hip Mountain Mama, our one small change for January was quite successful. Our goal was to make our coffee on our wood stove instead of using the electric stove. Well, not only have we done that, but we have also been cooking lots of meals on top of the wood stove. We did this for over two years in our off grid mobile home, so why had we become lazy???? That is one reason we chose to live as we did off grid. We wanted to deny ourselves the temptation to spend money that we didn't need to spend and to not use our natural resources any more than was absolutely necessary. Well, in our new homestead which we affectionately call our "rustic cottage" we do have electricity. As a matter of fact the previous owner left a nearly new electric stove/oven. So, why on earth had we stopped using our perfectly wonderful wood stove top while the wood stove is being used to heat our home anyway? That is why living without makes simple living so much easier. When more conventional options are available, living simply and conservatively has to be more purposeful and with discipline.We have enjoyed cooking many of our meals on the wood stove. The little extra walk back and forth from the living room to the kitchen is good for me as well. We will continue doing this until our wood stove is no longer needed for heat. I forgot to mention that our electric bill was reduced $10.00 as well!
For February we are going to commit ourselves to buying our milk twice a week from Butterworks Farm. Currently we are only getting up to the farm once per week. At about 8 miles away, we need to do this twice per week. Not only is the organic raw milk much better for us, but we will no longer need to buy conventional milk which means no more plastic gallon containers. We need to make this our new habit.
Warm wishes, Tonya
That is absolutely great! Our electric bill is about $97, but $10 is amazing. A friend told me she unplugged eveything and her electric bill is only around $20/month. I'm going to try to do the unplugged thing for my March small change. I've been starting to mentally prepare for it.
ReplyDelete:)Lisa
Are you able to do any baking on our woodstove top?
ReplyDeleteone thing that I've been doing lately is heating leftovers on the woodstove. You've inspired me to try my tea water too.
ReplyDeleteit is so good to support small farmers whenever possible...they get so little for their milk from the commercial diary companies. so it will also insure open green space too if you support your local diary farm this way. great change!
I love how you live your life with such deliberate thoughtfulness. Off the grid - that would be amazing. And milk in glass bottles. Now I'm truly thrilled. Sadly, we cannot buy milk anywhere here in glass bottles. We do buy organic but it comes in plastic. I've been looking at our shopping lately and there is so much plastic - even with all the free range and organic produce we buy. Maybe I need to start wrinting some persuasive letters. Good luck with your milky month
ReplyDeleteAmazing. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! We used to cook on our woodstove in NC - but they're not very common here in ND - not very many trees...
ReplyDeleteCan you share some tips on the actual cooking process and what you cook? We have two woodstoves...I'd love to give it a try! :)
ReplyDeleteJust curious -- are you needing to go to the farm more often because you are unable to store a week's worth of milk in your refrigerator? Perhaps so with your family size -- our family of 5 uses 5 of the 1/2 gallon jars you have pictured each week. Depending on what else we have in the fridge, some weeks they barely fit! But they certainly remain good for a week and even a little more, if freshness is your concern.
ReplyDeleteThis week we are running low! We are on our last jar and milk run day isn't until Friday! Our farm is about 40 minutes away, so we take turns with several other families getting the milk. This week is our turn! The kids love to help fill the jars from the tank. :o)
So awesome that you reduced your bill and are enjoying cooking on the wood stove!! Your Feb change sounds great! i am so glad to have you a part of this Tonya!!
ReplyDeleteSuzy
Great to save a bit, every little bit counts:-) Doesn't food tast better this way, I know when I cook on the fire the flavor and texture of food is better.
ReplyDeleteawesome! both the cooking with the woodstove and reducing the elec bill! and the milk! i wish we lived closer to a farm for fresh milk. or maybe we do? but right now we are getting wic (women infant children) and we can get maine milk (not organic) without hormones or antibiotics in it and it is for free. so while we need to save money we will continue to get the free milk but...someday soon (this summer) when i work again we will buy raw milk because it is so much tastier than anything you can buy elsewhere...ok, long comment is now ending. keep up your awesome work!! xo, pennie
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