101 simple tips to be selfsufficientish

[Peggy Sue]

69. Pick something you use lots of- or are addicted to ( for me it's chocolate). Think about how the transport, manufacture and packaging affects to environment and see if you can't cut down/give up as a result. If you use alot it will be a big impact. It really is a bit of independance when you find you don't need it.

[rag_grrl_nz]

10. Make (and use) a "no-tech" solar oven.

nev

How do you do that?

[rag_grrl_nz]

Ahem...

70. Reuse envelopes and the back of paper from the printer etc
71. Try to buy 2nd hand
72. Reduce exessive consumption of "stuff"
73. Use reusable menstrual prods (no, not you blokes!)
74. Use cloth nappies
75. Use Wee rags (yes, girls again)
76. Use washable cleaning cloths/rags
77. Use / make home made cleaning prods

[red]

78 save water, and heating costs... share a bath......

[glenniedragon]

79. Discover your local community, you'll find local 'underground' movements (LETS groups, WI, Allotment sociteties, PTA,Smallholding groups, gardening clubs) you'll be amazed whats out there and what can be achieved through barter. Be it information exchange or physical help cleaning your guttering

kind thoughts
Deb

[hedgewizard]

80. If you have to go out to work, scavenge everybody's compostable rubbish at the end of lunch, and make a worm bin at home to turn it into the bestest compost in the world.

[Annpan]

81. Switch off your TV (at the plug), and do something else

82. Hand in your Gym membership and walk for an hour twice a week instead.

83. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle an item within your own home, before you think about putting it in the council recycling bin.

[Wombat]

10. Make (and use) a "no-tech" solar oven.

nev

How do you do that?

Hey RGNZ!

There are a couple of my articles on the main site about making solar ovens. But also try www.solarcooking.org !

Nev

[Silver Ether]

84 ... Go to the local furniture/curtain shop that has fabric samples on display .... and ask for them when they are finished with ... they can be turned into alsorts of household pretties .... cushions, small curtains/blind, table runners, reusable shopping bags ... the list is endless .. quite often they are huge ... also some of them have leather samples ...

[Masco&Bongo]

85. At work, scrouge people's "rubbish" to reuse - e.g. newspapers, plastic cups, bottles etc. They probably won't recycle them, you can!
(Newspaper - Turn into paper pots, animal bedding, compost)

[rag_grrl_nz]

10. Make (and use) a "no-tech" solar oven.

nev

How do you do that?

Hey RGNZ!

There are a couple of my articles on the main site about making solar ovens. But also try www.solarcooking.org !

Nev

Thanks Nev!

[the.fee.fairy]

85. At work, scrouge people's "rubbish" to reuse - e.g. newspapers, plastic cups, bottles etc. They probably won't recycle them, you can!
(Newspaper - Turn into paper pots, animal bedding, compost)

One thing - if you're going to use newspaper for rat bedding, freeze it for an hour or so before giving it to them to kill any lice eggs it might have picked up! I learnt that hard way about that.

[Annpan]

this topic has been fermenting for a while... come on guys

86. Make your own wine (yummy!)

87. Consider heating your house or cooking using biofuel (ie. wood)- better for the environment and often free

[Clara]

88. Grow medicinal herbs and make your own tinctures, oils and herbal teas.

[Thomzo]

89. Get to know your neighbours and share things with them. Bulk buy between you to save money and possibly packaging. Share a lift or the school run to save money and reduce pollution.

Zoe