Tracey Allen's Blog, page 10

How and Why to Make Your Own Homemade Cloth Napkins - Simplify and Save

First, let me say I don't use paper towels in the kitchen but cloth ones and love the fact I eliminate waste in my compost or garbage as result.  All my paper towels are not white so no hot water washes are required or bleach - both of which I never use.  Cold water washes and no bleach in our house. 

This made the move to cloth napkins much easier.  We were buying paper napkins and I really can't even explain why we started using so many - three of us using three a day, at least or a good pack or more a month.  This isn't a big cost around $3-4 mth or $36-$48/year, but it is a cost and I also was needed to add it to the shopping list....of which I'm trying to reduce, and reduce and then reduce some more.  Since we are trying hard to move to a sustainable lifestyle i.e. provide as much for ourselves as possible, I decided that I would look into making my own cloth napkins. 

Off to Fabricville to see what they had.  Well for $2.00 I bought 1 metre (roughtly 6.5 feet or 2 yards) of fabric and each makes 20 nine inches by nine inch napkins and 4 slighly smaller ones.  So 24 napkins for $2.00 plus some labour on my part or .09 cents a napkin.  I use cold water washes and can easily put them in a wash as needed since 24 is more than enough for 3 people using one napkin a day. 

Cost Comparison: Total cost per year paper napkins $36-40 (at least)/year compared to $2 (material cost) for the year plus they will likely last a few years so say $1/year. 

How to make them?
Simply buy a meter of fabric or less if you like, and cut into pieces that you would like your napkins to be - be sure to add in a little margin 5/8 of an inch maybe to allow for sewing the edges...and nothing says you need to sew the edges...it just makes for a nicer looking napkin.  You can also re-use material that is cotton. See picture above.  The fabric should be a good fabric to take in grease etc while when washed it rinses out.  A good fabric to use is cotton but others can be used too, just consider you want it to absorb dirt.  

Don't want to make them?
Often if you go to second hand stores they will carry linens and you will find some well priced cloth napkins ready to use.  They cost a little more per napkin but saves you time while still saving you money in the long run...and the environment.  Finally, you can buy them however you will likely find the initial investment will match your first year of paper napkin costs.

Why cloth napkins?
- save money
- save on environmental impacts (not polluting and using up valuable resources)
- reusable, save on trips to the store
- they work better and one will do
- reduces waste
- feel nice on the face
- durable

Next on the paper removal list...hummm....

Sustainable Living - Moving Toward a Prepared and Frugal Future

Sustainable Living - Moving Toward a Prepared and Frugal Future

 (York, PEI) December  14th, 2012 – Tracey Allen, author of The Sustainable Table: Take Back Your Plate will be holding a sustainable living learning session on Saturday, January 19th at 9:30am to 11:30am at Ss. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church, 26 Lower Malpeque Rd.  The session will focus on several components of sustainable living including; ways to save money in the key areas housing, energy, transportation and food, inexpensive meal planning, and an open session for discussion and sharing of ideas.

Allen says, “There is a real need to re-focus, re-think, or re-learn the back to basics living or sustainable living to meet the current economic challenges that Islanders face in increased fuel, energy, food costs and increased taxes to name a few.  The session will offer ways I've used to reduce expenses or researched for an upcoming book with handouts plus an open session to share additional ideas.”  

Tentative Agenda:  

9:30am to 10:30am Ways to Save Money: Housing, transportation, energy, etc.- The handout will have a collection of ways to save or provide alternative revenue on the major household expenses. 
 
10:30am to 11:00am Inexpensive Meal Planning – The handout will have a week of meals with recipes included that will help to reduce your grocery bill.

11:00am to 11:30am Open discussion, sharing ideas, asking questions.

The cost for the two hour session is $10 per person and includes coffee/tea with take away handouts on content.  It is an
opportunity learn and share thoughts on sustainable living. To register call  892-6430 or email tallenpei@gmail.com  or Register Online

What's for Dinner - Gluten-free, Lactose-free, Paleo Mushroom Burgers & Salad Yum

I would have taken a picture of it but I was just too hungry.  And the recipe is sort of not exact since I didn't think to measure I just added.  But boy did it all taste great.  The salad dressing is delicious, easy, simple and more exact. 

Mushroom burgers are born from my buying too many on sale lol. If you are worried about getting your protein - this burger will be great since the almonds will give that to you and the flax will provide some Omegas.

Mushroom Burgers
2 cups mushrooms
1/4 cup almonds or walnuts will likely work too
3 Tbsp ground flax
3 Tbsp nutritional yeast (for your vitamin B12 dose)
a good handful of spinach or parsley
2 cloves of garlic
2-3 Tbsp oil
salt to taste

Directions:
1. Put in a food processor and blend well.  Make into patties and bake in the toaster oven or in a pan on your stove top.  Serve. hubb had his in a gluten-free hamburger bun from my book Easy Gluten-free Lunches and Snacks: Simple Cookbook while I had my al a carte with some homemade pickles on the side.  Note: They freeze well.

Salad Dressing
1/4 cup lemon juice (juice of two lemons)
1/2 cup olive oil
2-3 cloves of garlic minced
1 tsp salt or to taste
2 Tbsp maple syrup

Mix and enjoy - but it in the fridge if there are left overs.

Sustainable Living Day in January on PEI

I'm considering organizing a Sustainable Living Day in PEI sometime in January and would like your input on what you would like to brainstorm on, learn, contribute, network, share, co-op on etc.

Here is a short survey.I hope if you are interested you will fill out.  Deadline is December 13th....just a few days.

Some ideas (simplify and save):
- making soup and other foods from scratch
- reducing paper products (making napkins, toiletries etc.)
- ways to reduce your electricity usage room by room
- sprouting your food (beans, seeds etc.)
- small start gardening indoors
- solar/wind overview
- raising chickens in your backyard
- honey bees for me
- making your own soap
- tapping maple trees
and more.

 

Using Your Gifts to Make Christmas - Simplify and Save

Some the best gifts received or given have been homemade.  We all have our talents and what better way to show your love to family and friends then to give sometime made personally for them.  Here are a few ideas to get you started and a few resources to help too.

Talent: Making things from scratch - you aren't afraid of a little challenge.

1) Consider making soap - all natural, inexpensive and toxin or chemical free.  Here is a great video I found on the topic that can help you along.  How to Make Soap from Scratch - Cold Pressed. If you like the idea of soap and don't want to make it then check out The Great Canadian Soap Company.

2) Working with wood -  One Christmas after making bookcases I used the left over wood boards to create footstool checkerboards....and I'm limited in my wood talent.  Here is a video on how to build a checkerboard. Other wood making ideas check out youtube video on making a toy car or Mother Earths articles Toys to Build for the Young and Young at Heart If you just want to order some nice wooden toys try The Toy Factory.

3) Like to Sew - easy or not so easy - Again one Christmas I made casserole oven mitts check out DIY here Other simple ideas are table runners, napkins, or cloth hankys or tissues.

4) Cooking ideas - chocolate of any kind is always welcomed :-) Fudge, chocolates (melt chocolate chips and mix with nuts to create candy), or unique flour mixes i.e for gluten-free gifts on your list.  Check out Easy Gluten-free Lunches and Snacks: Simple Cookbook for a one flour mix for all baking and give the book too.

5) Writing Talent - write a poem in a empty card, a short story or compile a number of jokes, if it came from you with your talent they will love it.

Start thinking about your talent and how you can bring joy to someone's Christmas this year by giving from the heart.

Great Gifts for Christmas - Simplify and Save

Some the best gifts received or given have been homemade.  We all have our talents and what better way to show your love to family and friends then to give sometime made personally for them.  Here are a few ideas to get you started and a few resources to help too.

Talent: Making things from scratch - you aren't afraid of a little challenge.

1) Consider making soap - all natural, inexpensive and toxin or chemical free.  Here is a great video I found on the topic that can help you along.  How to Make Soap from Scratch - Cold Pressed. If you like the idea of soap and don't want to make it then check out The Great Canadian Soap Company.

2) Working with wood -  One Christmas after making bookcases I used the left over wood boards to create footstool checkerboards....and I'm limited in my wood talent.  Here is a video on how to build a checkerboard. Other wood making ideas check out youtube video on making a toy car or Mother Earths articles Toys to Build for the Young and Young at Heart If you just want to order some nice wooden toys try The Toy Factory.

3) Like to Sew - easy or not so easy - Again one Christmas I made casserole oven mitts check out DIY here Other simple ideas are table runners, napkins, or cloth hankys or tissues.

4) Cooking ideas - chocolate of any kind is always welcomed :-) Fudge, chocolates (melt chocolate chips and mix with nuts to create candy), or unique flour mixes i.e for gluten-free gifts on your list.  Check out Easy Gluten-free Lunches and Snacks: Simple Cookbook for a one flour mix for all baking and give the book too.

5) Writing Talent - write a poem in a empty card, a short story or compile a number of jokes, if it came from you with your talent they will love it.

Start thinking about your talent and how you can bring joy to someone's Christmas this year by giving from the heart.

Gluten-free Cooking Class - Saturday January 19th

Tonight is the second cooking class I'll be hosting focused on helping people learn how to make wraps, pita, taco shells, and crackers using one simple recipe. 
Two weeks ago 12 of us had great fun and I expect nothing less tonight!

Next class will be Saturday, January 19th 1:00pm to 2:30pm.

Register Now

Gluten-free Cooking Class - Saturday January 12th

Tonight is the second cooking class I'll be hosting focused on helping people learn how to make wraps, pita, taco shells, and crackers using one simple recipe. 
Two weeks ago 12 of us had great fun and I expect nothing less tonight!

Next class will be Saturday, January 12th 1:00pm to 2:30pm.

Register Now

Gluten-free Cooking Class

Tonight is the second cooking class I'll be hosting focused on helping people learn how to make wraps, pita, taco shells, and crackers using one simple recipe. 
Two weeks ago 12 of us had great fun and I expect nothing less tonight!

Next class will be in January, date to be determine.

World Cafe - Sustainable Living for Home

Last night we held the first World Cafe - Sustainable Living for Home and it was fun, thought provoking and I hope helpful to those attending.  This blog is my attempt to summarize what we discussed in the hopes that it might help a few more people on their way to sustainable living. 

Working in groups of 4 people we sat in a cafe like setting with coffee, green tea and water provided...and a few candies too.  The night was focused on two questions which then seemed to make the conversations take flight.  

First a big thank you to Sherry Pelkey who was the host of Sharendipity Cafe - Creating possiblities in conversation.

Question #1 - What does sustainable living mean to me and why is it important in my life?

Question #2 - What actions can we take to move our lives towards sustainable living?  

There was also 'Ah Ha's' board to post to and a 'resources' board to post.  What was clear from the start was everyone in attendance was at different stages of sustainable living and that we all wanted to do more....as you are always changing and working toward what is sustainable for your situation....which of course changes too depending on whether you are just married or getting ready for retirement...or somewhere in between.

So what does sustainable living mean to those attending? Here is a partial list: trying to live and use things renewable, live independent; not rely on oil, large income, or on others (government maybe). If you were cut off from the world could live happliy.  Own fewer things makes for a happier life (less stuff), keep it simple, no waste, less stress.  We need key things for living; shelter, food/water, Maslow Theory. Nature is important to our lives and we should spend more time outdoors, growing food, learn different skills, and hanging clothes out on the line.  We need to go back to go forward and 'living with meaning within our means.'  There was mention of technologies being sustainble, the chains of a mortgage, wanting more free time, pride vs values, if money was no object what would we be doing?, buying smarter not cheaper, globalization and lowest common denominator, and more. 

Actions:
- continue to strive toward sustainability, work less - play more, land and gold vs money - sustainable retirement, community kitchen, community garden, sharing what you 'do' i.e soap making, save water - shower together, doing more slow cooker meals, review housing choices like strawbale, passive solar, earthship, tiny houses, a PEI local company making small houses - Lumber Shacks.

- less lawn and more garden, make your own wine, beer, soap, food, etc. indoor gardens (sprouting), e-reader or used books, used clothing swap, bartering, buy form local producers, shop with 'meaning', buy what you need not what you want, wait 24 hours to buy.

Reasons to strive toward a more sustainable life included: economic climate, environmental concern, and goal of being mortgage free. Discussion ensued on innovative ways to create our own food source i.e window gardens  and how difficult it is to move from a 'consumer' lifestyle to a sustainable one.

Future - in the planning stages, thinking of having another meeting focused on a topic i.e How to be mortgage free? How to go solar? etc.  Dates being considered January 14th or January 15th.

Resources (we don't endorse the companies just passing on information):

Housing
strawbale , passive solar , earthship , tiny houses , a PEI local
company making small houses - Lumber Shacks

Food
window gardens

Books mentioned at the meeting: (Check out our local library www.library.pe.ca/ )
- Your Money or Your Life
- The End of Economic Growth by Richard Heinberg (not at the library...will drop my copy down when I finish reading it)
- Who's your city? : how the creative economy is making where to live the most important decision of your life
- Wealthy Barber
- Smile is Beautiful
- Small is Possible

John Getson an attendee has offered to create a website where we can post resources and upcoming events. Thank you John and Shannon has offered to teach a soap making class. Thank you Shannon.