simple living

I love the idea of simple living:

composting (check)

growing some of our own food (check, although I think we can do better)

eating fresh produce and buying local (check)

being conscious of not being wasteful (check)

having one car (we have a long way to go - two cars and a truck)

reusing and sprucing up old furniture (check)

use some of my fabric stash on sewing projects (check)

After we moved in, I discovered that our property consisted of rock-hard dirt.  

I remember jumping on the shovel with all of my weight, and the shovel went nowhere.

I was pretty depressed because this yard needed a lot of work (it still does!)

Steve built me a couple of raised beds and I have been building a few, too.

He also did some research and bought me a composter for my birthday.

Now I will tell you, at the time, he was at some meeting at church
(with a bunch of women)
and they were shocked that he would buy something like that for my birthday.

He told them that was what I wanted.

They think I am weird.

But, never having been one for fancy jewelry or clothes, 

I was thrilled, I tell you, thrilled!

So, to get some yummy soil, I cook mine.

All it takes is adding crushed leaves, or a bag of sawdust
(one advantage of having a carpenter as a husband)
plus saving scraps of fruit, vegetables, and tea and coffee grounds.

Dump.

Spin.

Wait.

Yum!

Yes, my soil is rapidly improving.  

I can now easily get a shovel into the dirt.

And, plants are actually growing!

I just recently found a type of sifter that will separate the good compost from the still composting chunks.  This simple screen was $$$.

I know dear Steve has some wood and screening somewhere to make one for me.

Yes, that is what I need!

Here's to simple living!

Take care,

Denise