Thought it would be a good idea to replace our starting page with what is actually happening here as well as what is planned to happen. You can still read more about our background and such on the side bar, and more pages are being added as we can find the time, so bear with us over the winter months. The list below came as a pleasant surprise, since I think we all kind of bemoan at times how little we feel we have accomplished. So it was nice for it to be obvious that so much has already been done. Beside the Category/Goal breakdown there is a status column showing things that are:
To these ends, the following is a list of sorts of things being done, in process and planned. |
Home >
more stuff to shake a stick at
| Category | Goal | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composting | Animal Manure Composting | In Process | Mixing and using Alpaca/Llama/Sheep Manure |
| Composting | Bokashi Methods | Planned | did some of our own approaches this summer with good results |
| Composting | Compost Tea | In Process | the plants really like this - good for indoor use |
| Composting | Recycle food, garden and green waste | In Process | This year worked really well |
| Composting | Vermicomposting | Planned | |
| Energy Conservation | Alternative Insulative Window Glazing | Planned | getting rid of our single panes windows in the Sanctuary will be a HUGE energy saver |
| Energy Conservation | Blinds and Essential Sun Blocking | In Process | working towards more passive approaches such as extended eaves and living screens |
| Energy Conservation | Convection Cooling | In Process | removed the Central Air 3 years ago - down to a single window AC unit upstairs |
| Energy Conservation | Conversion to fluorescent bulbs | Completed | one of the easiest things to do (only a few specialty outlets remain) |
| Energy Conservation | Convert Electric Providers to Renewables | Completed | until we generate our own this will be the best choice |
| Energy Conservation | Daylighting | In Process | the natural preference - personally, I don't care for artifical light |
| Energy Conservation | Dressing for the season | In Process | dressing in layers may be slightly averse to the bikini crowd |
| Energy Conservation | Energy Efficient Refrigerator | Completed | |
| Energy Conservation | Front Loading Washing Machine | Completed | using cold water too! |
| Energy Conservation | Geo Thermal Water Storage | Planned | |
| Energy Conservation | Green Roof Technology | Planned | Our flat roof is more than rated for this type of installation - designs are being considered |
| Energy Conservation | Hand Washing (Dishes) | In Process | speaks for itself |
| Energy Conservation | Hot Water switch to electric | In Process | Sources are renewable, upstairs location and insulation reduces heat loss |
| Energy Conservation | Hot Water Tank Insulation | In Process | |
| Energy Conservation | Hot Water Tank Pre-warmer | In Process | room temperature stored prestorage tank |
| Energy Conservation | Human Powered Appliances | In Process | Can Openers, Food Processor, but no Gilligan Island Blender |
| Energy Conservation | Less Grass | In Process | Reduction of lawns and increased usage to flowering/edible plant life is simply smarter use of our resources |
| Energy Conservation | Line Drying Clothes | Planned | prefer a solar closet for year round use |
| Energy Conservation | Living Screens | In Process | Perfect seasonal sun blockage - adding more each year |
| Energy Conservation | Masonry Heating | Planned | conversion of our central heater to masonry and radiant heat |
| Energy Conservation | Oil Lamps & Soy/Beeswax Candles | Planned | limited uses only |
| Energy Conservation | Powering Down | In Process | easiest way - been doing it for years |
| Energy Conservation | Relocated Water Heater (onto living area floor) | In Process | seems warmer than the basement! |
| Energy Conservation | Short Run Hot Water | In Process | Fifteen (15) feet to the farthest outlet, means less wasted energy |
| Energy Conservation | Solar Attic Fan | Planned | |
| Energy Conservation | Solar Heat Exchange | Planned | currently completeing sourceing issues |
| Energy Conservation | Solar Shower | Planned | a perfect ancillary usage with the other passive systems |
| Energy Conservation | Solar Tube Lighting | Planned | leaning towards the plastic bottle approach for higher efficiency |
| Energy Conservation | Wood Floors | In Process | |
| Energy Conservation | Wood Stove with Heat Recovery System/Integrated Masonry | Planned | screw the nostalgia, this is your best approach overall |
| Food Decisions | Buying in bulk | In Process | One of the reasons the freezer is helpful |
| Food Decisions | Fair Trade Concepts | In Process | KNOWING why you purchase products from different places is the difference |
| Food Decisions | Local Produce | In Process | every chance |
| Food Decisions | Organic Only | Planned | currently do some, always need to expand |
| Food Decisions | Reducing "food miles" | In Process | shopping with neighbors and no impulse trips |
| Food & Garden | Companion Planting | In Process | Each year gets a little better |
| Food & Garden | Grow/Consume 90% of Harvest | In Process | currently limited to only peppers, onions, potatoes |
| Food & Garden | Intensive Growing Methods | In Process | focus on container gardening |
| Food & Garden | Polyculture/intercropping | In Process | |
| Food & Garden | Reduce chemical fertilizers and monthly feeding regimes | In Process | Nature doesn't need to work that hard - if it does, it doesn't belong there |
| Food & Garden | Seed Saving | In Process | Wildflower and Heritage Vegetables |
| Food Preservation | Bread Making | Planned | need to get back to this (no pun intended) |
| Food Preservation | Brewing/Fermenting | Not In Scope | currently have neighbors and relations practicing this for us |
| Food Preservation | Canning | In Process | won't be much this year, last year was a nice run though |
| Food Preservation | Cheese, Butter & Yogurt | Planned | working with farm affiliates now |
| Food Preservation | Drying/Dehydrating | Planned | Working on a Solar Dehydrator design over the winter |
| Food Preservation | Freezing | In Process | next best invention after the root cellar |
| Food Preservation | Root Cellar | In Process | started small with basic items - building a larger storage area over the winter months |
| Food Preservation | Scratch Making | Planned | it will be awhile until the kitchen area is redone |
| Heathy Soil/Planting Methods | Integral Pest Management | Planned | moving to organics management |
| Heathy Soil/Planting Methods | Polyculture | Planned | a more intensive form of companion planting |
| Heathy Soil/Planting Methods | Remineralization | Planned | god knows we need it around here |
| Heathy Soil/Planting Methods | Self Irrigating Planters (SIPs) | In Process | |
| Heathy Soil/Planting Methods | Square Inch Planting | Planned | a step up from the Square Foot planting but similar in using EVERY SQUARE INCH |
| Heathy Soil/Planting Methods | Successive Sowing | Planned | when we move to more land management |
| Home Economy | Front Porch Farm Stand | Planned | sell your surplus |
| Home Economy | Hand Crafts and other low impact manufactured goods | In Process | basket hangers, garden boxes and dog biscuits |
| Local Activism & Community | Adopt a Senior - sorta | In Process | there are probably many seniors around you that would benefit from an extra hand every now and then, offer one |
| Local Activism & Community | Advocate Transparency and Accountability in local Government | In Process | sadly, this may never be completed - but we will get there |
| Local Activism & Community | Educational Outreach | In Process | it is either ignorance or arrogance that reduces our chance for change - by getting the information out, the rest speaks for itself |
| Local Activism & Community | Good Neighbor | In Process | this is a job that is never completed |
| Local Activism & Community | Information Dissemination | In Process | this will be expanded as workshops are developed in 2012 |
| Local Activism & Community | Participate in Local Government | In Process | Elected Borough Councl 2010 |
| Local Activism & Community | Promote the Creative Class Paradigm | In Process | the more creative thinkers we have in a community the better |
| Local Activism & Community | Provide support for local non-profits | In Process | Small non-profits always benefit from more hands and leaders in the fray (than less) |
| Local Activism & Community | Save an Historical Building | Completed | there will be others, but for now worked to save a 105 yr old building from dismantling |
| Local Activism & Community | Support a Neighborhood Watch (not a Neo-Fascist Movement) | In Process | There is a difference in watching OUT for your neighbors rather than WATCHING THEM. Best to avoid it from the start. |
| Mini Farm - Beekeeping | Integrated House/Hive | Planned | People Friendly Italian Bee Strain |
| Mini Farm - Beekeeping | Unfiltered, Unheated, Hand Extraction | Planned | |
| Mini Farm - Livestock | Chickens (eggs/manure) | Planned | |
| Mini Farm - Livestock | Ducks (eggs/manure) | Planned | |
| Mini Farm - Livestock | Dwarf Rabbits (manure) | Planned | |
| Mini Farm - Livestock | Pygmy Goats (milk/manure) | Not In Scope | maybe but not right now |
| Recycling and Repurpose | Cardboard, Aluminum and Plastic | In Process | |
| Recycling and Repurpose | Repurposed over 70% of building materials | Completed | the deconstruction of parts of the church class rooms provided reusable wood studs. Other scrap was stored and cut for wood stove burning. |
| Recycling and Repurpose | Reuse Packing Material | In Process | All boxes and packing material are reused whenever possible |
| Simpler Living | Bartering | In Process | |
| Simpler Living | Computer Upgrades | In Process | look into Linux based system and recharge your 3yr old computer |
| Simpler Living | Day of Rest | In Process | turn off, tune out - there will ALWAYS be something to do |
| Simpler Living | Early Riser | In Process | Huge Productivity Gain |
| Simpler Living | Flex Hours | Not In Scope | for those commuting - stay later and save yourself the frustration. For the Power Commuters re-evaluate the benefits |
| Simpler Living | Home Herbal Remedies | In Process | looking for more but only when needed |
| Simpler Living | Homemade Soaps | In Process | |
| Simpler Living | Home Schooling | Not In Scope | no children under feet here but a practice that needs to be brougt in focus given the state of education these past few decades |
| Simpler Living | Limited to No Makeup - Natural | In Process | |
| Simpler Living | Limit TV, no cable | In Process | here it is Netflix and the Net - best part is there are no commercials telling me how much better my life would be if I bought something ELSE |
| Simpler Living | Local Socials | Planned | local entertainment needs to be developed |
| Simpler Living | Mend or Repair | In Process | it is easier than many think |
| Simpler Living | Natural Health Practices | In Process | lots of great books to read |
| Simpler Living | Salvage & Thrift Stores | In Process | bargains galore - we have friends that seem to do it competitively |
| Simpler Living | Vice Reduction | In Process | sad truth is our vices cost us money, drama, family and our health - less is more |
| Simpler Living | Window Herb Garden | In Process | working to help others have this |
| Skills, Crafts and Self-Sufficiency | Auto & Bike Repair | In Process | it is the simple stuff that ends up costing the most if others do it - learn and save |
| Skills, Crafts and Self-Sufficiency | Basic Electricial Skills | In Process | taking my time with this but everyone should understand basics of safe switch/outlet services |
| Skills, Crafts and Self-Sufficiency | Carpentry | In Process | tools, tools, tools |
| Skills, Crafts and Self-Sufficiency | Computer Skills | In Process | |
| Skills, Crafts and Self-Sufficiency | Online Sales | In Process | selling supplies, surplus, and consigned goods over the Internet |
| Skills, Crafts and Self-Sufficiency | Online Trade & Service | In Process | many services can be done completely over the Internet - no commuting and flex hours - consider graphic arts, web design, even call centers support telecommuting (skip that last one) |
| Skills, Crafts and Self-Sufficiency | Sewing & Fibre Craft | In Process | limited to sewing but moving more into binding, and net making. Rug makers, crochet, kniting are all in scope |
| Skills, Crafts and Self-Sufficiency | Survival Skills | In Process | most any military field guide - grab the SAS handbook and jump out an airplane with a pocket knife! |
| Transporation | Alternate Fuel Source (BioDiesel) | Planned | looking at a few likely prospects - probably 2013 project |
| Transporation | High Economy Vehicle | Planned | my 77 Pickup is the antithesis of everything being done |
| Transportation | Car Pooling | In Process | Almost always when shopping, or when work related |
| Transportation | No Impulse Driving | In Process | milk and sugar are allowed if not for better planning |
| Transportation | Public Transportation | N/A | We don't have it - but if you do, please use it when possible |
| Transportation | Walking & Biking | In Process | always could use more of this |
| Water Conservation | Bottom Water Bed Irrigation | Planned | our approaches to SIPs provide much of this - larger areas better use this approach |
| Water Conservation | Claypot Irrigation | Planned | expanding our rain barrels into smaller reserve feeders |
| Water Conservation | Food Not Grass | In Process | raised beds, wildflowers, and alternative landscaping |
| Water Conservation | Grey Water Reuse (Irrigation) | Planned | working out some designs that complement our regional best practices |
| Water Conservation | Landscaping/Garden watering with Rain Barel | In Process | |
| Water Conservation | Low Flush Toilets | Planned | currently using the BRICK and YELLOW MELLOW method |
| Water Conservation | Native Drought Resistant Plants | In Process | looking to expand our Wildlife Garden |
| Water Conservation | Native Wildlife Garden - Certified | Completed | looking to expand best practices into other areas on the property |
| Water Conservation | Rain Water Barrels | In Process | 100% Garden Watering |
| Water Conservation | Rain Water Harvest | Planned | combination water capture and landscaping feature for potable water, geothermal storage/recovery and native plantlife |
| Water Conservation | Toilet Lid Sink | Not In Scope | Curious solution to sink water reuse |
Showing 122 items