Times are changing and our lives have become so complicated. The price of everything is going up, up, up. The air we breathe, and the water we drink has become toxic. The foods we eat have become so genetically modified that they can’t even be classified as food anymore, but rather a substance to consume. Our minds have become poisoned by the media, and our world is no longer safe and is filled with litter. It is up to us parents to protect and educate our children. Goodbye Mayberry, Hello chaos. I keep telling my son that if we don’t take care of Mother Earth, that we’re going to end up like the people in the movie “wall-E” and be living on a spaceship with our faces glued to a computer screen. The only problem with that is that he thinks that sounds pretty cool and doesn’t really find it much of a threat.
I want my children to grow up safe, healthy, educated and strong. Who know what lies ahead for them in the future. That’s why I think it’s so important for them to learn the basics early, because in the future, it might be necessary for their survival. That’s why in 2012, we at the Funny Farm are adopting a new way of life, a simple life.
What do we have in the works? Sustainable living and urban homesteading. Although working full time while attempting to achieve this way of life will present some challenges, I feel I am up to the challenge, and feel it’s important not only for the well being and health of my family, but also for my mental health. The disorganization and chaos of our current lifestyle is making this momma crazy.
So what does Simple Living mean for me?
1. Getting rid of the puppy…..Just kidding…LOL
2. A well stocked pantry
3. Growing and harvesting some of our own food: for example having a garden and orchard
4. Raising chickens: For eggs/compost
5. Canning and preserving
6. De-cluttering, organizing, and simplifying our surroundings.
7. Composting and recycling
8. Reducing waste, and “waist”…..lol: example: cloth diapering, buying in bulk and eliminating junk mail.
9. Running a more energy efficient home: Turning down the thermostat, line drying some of the laundry, using energy efficient light bulbs, reducing water consumption, washing laundry in cold water and only doing full loads, and only running full loads in the dishwasher as well.
10. Ridding the home of toxic materials: using eco friendly detergents, using baking soda and vinegar for cleaning. Not using pesticides, instead using eco-friendly choices like Epsom salts for flea control.
11. Eating whole foods and eliminating processed foods: in other words, If you can’t spell it, don’t eat it….lol
Now I know this doesn’t seem simple, and this does seem like a very long and overwhelming list, but just like anything worth achieving, it takes time and work. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Also, here at the Funny Farm, we have already been doing some of this for a while, for example, the cloth diapering, eco friendly detergents, home-made cleaning products, line drying, and energy saving light bulbs. We have gotten a little lax in the compost and recycling department. And we’ve been extremely lazy in the food department. We eat too much junk, and waste too much food.
Over the next weeks, I will be going over each of the items on this list in detail, not only to let you know what we’re doing and how we’re doing it, but also to help keep myself on track and keep myself accountable. Now, if the Mayans were correct and the world comes to an end on December 21 of this year, then all my efforts will have been in vain...LOL Otherwise, should the world continue, here at the farm, we’ll be well prepared for anything that heads out way.
So until next time……
Happy Farming!
No comments:
Post a Comment