Inspiration

" I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms..." .. Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Beginning Thoughts on Plumbing

I have been considering options regarding plumbing for my tiny home. There are lots of options for running water lines from traditional Copper on to the more modern PEX. While researching the options, I came across this ingenious little item.  Known as the Clear J Trap, it is a semi-transparent (there are other options ranging from black to clear) J-Trap that opens at the bottom! How awesome is that?

DIY: Home Made Laundry Soap

I have this intense desire to nest and when it comes to my home, I am super-duper organized. I love to clean and I love to learn new tips and tricks. I believe in having  a home, not just a house with walls and a roof. One of the things I really enjoy doing is making things from scratch and getting back to basics. I am also a teacher, so I get screwed and live on poverty wages my income is limited. If I can save money, all the better!

Last night I made my entire year's worth of laundry soap. It is very easy, just a little time consuming as it is done in two steps. I learned this and modified the recipe from here. Think you might like to try? Here is how I did it...

Investing in Cast Iron Cookware

Lately I have been reading up about pots and pans. Odd, I know, but I need to get new pans and I found out some disturbing information about pans that have non-stick coatings and those made of aluminum. Evidently studies have shown that non-stick coatings convert to gasses and leach chemicals into food. I have long stayed away from aluminum because of its link to Alzheimer's and Dementia. So in my quest to find the perfect choice of cookware I discovered a blog that had a Junk Up Your Kitchen Challenge.

Loveable Loo - The Composting Toilet

There are many things that I think about as I plan and create my tiny homestead. One of the most common questions I get is plumbing related. I explain how I will have a gravity fed water system with a supplemental pump for water pressure, how we will harvest rainwater and use grey water to water the gardens, but the one question that is most popular is how my toilet facilities work.

Kitchen Spices, Tiny House Style

In my pantry I have many, many spices. I have spent a good deal of money acquiring all the different spices that allow me to be a diverse and creative cook and parting with them would be a sad affair indeed. However, living in a tiny house does not have to mean Goulash, soups, or stews every night for dinner. However storing large jars of spices just will not be practical. I do not want to sacrifice the spice variety or the precious storage space so I searched for the perfect compromise. After poking around on Pinterest and the web, I think I found a clever and practical solution. I will continue to cook great and tasty meals in the cozy comfort of my hand-built paradise.

What?? No Toilet Paper??

Team Over vs Team Under

Sustainability. I hear this word thrown around a ton, but I am not convinced that people really can define just what sustainability is, let alone living a lifestyle that supports long-term sustainability. There are so many aspects of everyday life that have to be considered before sustainability can be a reality. I came across a post some time ago on another blog I follow that talked about Family Cloth. The blog was written by a lovely young lady who is into holistic health and sustainable living. I find it to be a real eye opener. What she blogged about on this particular day has resonated with me and made me consider an aspect of sustainability that I hadn't even considered before.