After an electric bill showing we used 4,000 kWh in 1 month I decided it was time for a change. I searched Goggle for ways to save. One word kept reappearing, homesteading. I've read many homesteading blogs over the last 3 weeks. And I have been INSPIRED. So started my new "project", using a clothes line. Not only will it help save on our electric bill but it is also one small step into becoming more self sustaining.
If I knew using a clothes line would have been so self gratifying I would've done this a long time ago. There is just something amazing about doing things the way my great great grandma did.
Gigi was an AMAZING woman. I was fortunate enough to spend 15 years getting to know her. And while I was hanging up clothes on the line and taking them off I kept thinking how she was smiling down at me saying "that's my girl." If she were here today though she would be using a dryer. But at the same time she would be telling me my generation is too lazy and dependent on modern things. I love that woman! She's one of those do as I say not as I do. HA!
Back to the clothes line. I have given myself a challenge, 30 days without using the dryer. I did end up having to use it for 5 minutes today when the sun started setting and the last load of clothes on the line wasn't dry. 5 minutes is much better than 5 hours though. You see, on any given weekend I do about 6 loads of laundry. And normally end up running the dryer more than I should because I forget to take the clothes out of the dryer when it goes off. Which then would require me to run it again to get out the wrinkles. I know nobody else does this though. Normally my clothes would also pile up on the couch for days needing to be folded and the hanging clothes would hang out in the laundry room until being worn. NOT today though. Clothes were folded as soon as coming off the line and put away and the hanging clothes all made it to their respectable closets after coming off the line. Amazing how that works.
Now, I'm hoping I keep up this enthusiasm for a long time. Even during these Houston summers we have. Check back in 30 days to see how my challenge went. We also have several "others" projects in the works that will lead us to be even more self sustaining, vegetable garden, herb garden, laying hens, composting, and a catfish pond. I will also post about these things as they progress.
This is all we currently have for a garden. We have about another 4" to raise on these 2 beds. Only 2 beds for 2 acres? Normally every plant I touch dies, so I decided I would start small and work up to something bigger. I did, however decide tonight that I would plant some peas in front of our porch so they can grow up the lattice. I'll have a separate post all about our garden another day.
2 comments:
I love it.... Some days, I fold the clothes as I take them down, but then, I am not a full time worker-away from home person.
I do the same, but I do when the wind is not blowing, put his shirts in the dryer with damp cloth and dryer sheet, to remove wrinkles.
Another saving... dryer sheets.. not costly but every penny saved is a penny earned.
To make it easier to take the clothes down, have Anthony hold the basket as your take the clothes down. lol
Try washing the heavier things first thing in the morning, so that they may have a much longer time to get dry. I admire your efforts. I too would like to have a small line, one of the old fashioned round one's that turn. But no space where we are now. We have a patio garden, and not a blade of grass exists. Just landscaping..Love you, Pam
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