Using Greywater in Your Off-the-Grid Household

by Dixie Somers

Off-the-grid living has become a trend among individuals who find the unending demands of modern life unfulfilling and inefficient. These individuals have chosen to create households that don’t require connection to normal community utilities and systems. Developing an independent home system involves a learning curve in regard to energy systems, water delivery and waste removal and treatment. One way to conserve resources is to reuse greywater. Below is some essential information on using the greywater that an off the grid home normally generates as part of everyday living.

Understanding Greywater

Greywater can be thought of as the gently used water left from primary water use, such as bathing, washing dishes, or laundry activities. The average person generates about 40 gallons of greywater per day. This water generally contains some contaminants, such as dirt, hair oil, grease, food particles or cleaning chemicals, but these contaminants are sufficiently negligible to allow the water to be used for other types of activities where potable water is not necessary.

Greywater is different from wastewater from the toilet, which is called “blackwater” and is not used for other purposes due to its toxicity. Greywater use is essentially using minimally contaminated water a second time, for operations where entirely pure water is not needed. Many communities allow the use of greywater for specific types of activities that are considered safe for this type of water. It can help to conserve water in areas of limited water resources.

Safe Use of Greywater

A number of intensive studies have found that greywater can be safely used for such purposes as irrigation of lawns and plants and cleaning of outdoor equipment. Most plants do fine with greywater, though tougher, drought-tolerant plants like rosemary, lavender, and petunias will work best when watered with it. If you regularly water plants with greywater, it’s best to occasionally flush them with rainwater or tap water to wash residue off.

Greywater can also be used for flushing toilets inside the home. The easiest way to do this is with the bucket method—simply dumping the greywater directly into the toilet to flush it. However, you can also install a system that combines a sink with the toilet, so that you can wash your hands (turning the water into greywater) that goes directly into the toilet and helps it flush.

Other uses, such as heat reclamation, are being developed that will be another use for greywater that will increase efficiency in off the grid homes: basically, greywater that is still hot, such as used bathwater, can have its heat recovered and reused as energy in the home before it goes down the drain. These systems may be expensive, but they can be up to 60% efficient, which can be especially useful in an off-grid home.

Wastewater Treatment Systems

The secondary use of greywater requires careful separation of household waste systems into blackwater and greywater treatment. The greywater from sinks, dishwashers and washing machines can be processed through a system like Econocycle and sent to a tank for settling, clarification and aeration. Water used from the system is generally utilized as a drip or flood system, not by spraying, which would be more likely to spread contamination. Blackwater is sent to a separate tank for composting. An emergency discharge mechanism into the septic tank or sewer system is generally required in case the greywater system fails. These systems must be carefully monitored to ensure efficient and safe operation.

Living off the grid creates a number of challenges that must be managed for successful everyday operation. It requires learning new ways of finding, developing and using resources. However, once these new operations are mastered, they become an ordinary part of your day-to-day routine. Knowledgeable use of greywater adds to the efficiency of your independent home system, and can help you save both water and energy over time. Keep these tips in mind as you plan ways that you can reuse your water for the benefit of your household.

***

Dixie Somers is a freelance writer and blogger for business, home, and family niches. Dixie lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and is the proud mother of three beautiful girls and wife to a wonderful husband.

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How To Grow Turmeric Indoors (The Secret Is In The Watering)

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For centuries, people have used turmeric as a medicinal herb and a cooking spice. Today, herbalists recommend turmeric and turmeric tea blends to aid in the relief of inflammatory conditions, aches, pains and gastrointestinal problems.

One of the active components in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin is obtained from the dried rhizome of the turmeric plant, and it has been found to reduce inflammation and stiffness related to arthritis and joint pain.

The good news is that it is possible to grow turmeric at home ─ indoors or outdoors ─ so that you can harvest the root yourself! If you would love to have a constant, fresh supply of turmeric root, then this is the way to go!

Since cold weather is soon approaching, let’s focus on growing turmeric indoors.

1. Attain turmeric root

Turmeric doesn’t propagate seeds and is grown from rhizomes (root cuttings). Therefore, all you need is one turmeric root, which you can buy at a local nursery or online.

2. Break up the rhizome

Break larger rhizome into smaller pieces. Make sure each piece has a bud or two on it.

3. Use a large pot

Start off with a pot large enough to grow a nice root system. The larger the pot, the larger the root will grow. This, of course, will depend on how much indoor space you have. Make sure your pots have drainage holes so that the soil will drain well. Fill your pot with slightly moistened, rich, organic soil.

4. Planting

Plant the rhizomes two inches beneath the soil, making sure that the buds are facing up. Turmeric prefers sunlight but will grow under artificial grow lights.

5. Water

Turmeric grows better when it is kept moist, especially in hot climates. Water it about every two days, and spray it with a mist bottle between waterings. When the weather is cold, you will not need to water it as often. You always want the soil to be moist, but never soggy!

6. Fertilize:

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Fertilize your turmeric plant twice a month. You can use organic fertilizer or make your own compost.

When Is Harvest Time?

One downside to growing turmeric is it takes about 8-10 months to mature. Furthermore, it is best to harvest the root in one entire piece.

It is best to maintain several plants, started at different times of the year so that you have a continuous supply of turmeric root.

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After the 8-10 months, when you feel that the roots are large enough, it is time to dig them up.

Save a few pieces of the rhizome for re-potting. Change the soil, though, as the original plant more than likely depleted all the nutrients.

To process turmeric:

• Boil the rhizomes for about 45 minutes.
• Let them dry on a drying rack, in a cool, dry place for about one week.
• After the rhizomes are completely dry, peel them. You might want to wear gloves, as the dried root will turn your hands orange.
• After peeling, grind up the root into a fine powder to use as a spice or as a tea.

Fresh-Brewed, Turmeric Root Tea Recipe

What you will need

• For each cup of water, you will need two teaspoons of freshly grated turmeric root or two-thirds teaspoon of fresh-ground turmeric root.
• Raw honey.
• A wedge of fresh lemon.
• 1 teaspoon of flaxseed oil or coconut oil ─ or black pepper ─ to aid in the absorption of curcumin.

Preparation

• Bring the water to boil in a small pot.
• After the water is boiling, reduce to a simmer and blend in the turmeric root.
• Continue to simmer for 10 minutes. If you are using ground turmeric, simmer for an extra 5 minutes.
• Mix well, and then strain the turmeric from the tea.
• Add a wedge of lemon and honey to taste.
• Add the flaxseed oil, coconut oil or black pepper to aid in the absorption of curcumin.

Tumeric root tea is great for reducing aches and pains due to inflammation. It is suggested that you drink at least one to two cups of turmeric tea per day. However, there is not a standard amount for precise dosing.

Enjoy!

*This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or cure any particular health condition. Please consult with a qualified health professional first.

Have you ever grown turmeric indoors? Share your harvest tips in the section below:

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The Best Immune-Building Soup Recipe … Ever?

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Let’s face it: Sometimes it’s just too difficult to remember to eat all the right things. When cold or flu season hits, however, I like to make up a double batch of this immune-building soup. I make a batch large enough for two or three suppers (or lunches), and then freeze the other half for later. There are lots of different ways to make immune-building soups, but this is my favorite recipe.

You will need:

• 10 average-sized garlic cloves
• 4 medium-sized tomatoes
• 2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 small onions
• ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ a teaspoon sugar
• ¼ cup freshly minced parsley

This recipe serves six; adjust as needed.

1. In a large soup pot, add 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Turn the heat on medium. Add 10 average-sized minced garlic cloves and two thinly sliced small onions. (Red, white, or yellow — your choice.) Sauté for about 15 to 20 minutes or until the onions are very soft.
2. Chop about 4 medium-sized tomatoes and add them to the pot. Now add 2 cups of vegetable or chicken broth, 1 cup of tomato sauce, ¼ teaspoon of salt and pepper, about 1 teaspoon of dried thyme and ½ a teaspoon of sugar.
3. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in ¼ cup of freshly minced parsley (dried will do if you don’t have fresh on hand) and simmer for another 5 minutes. Serve hot.

I hope you enjoy this garlic/tomato immune boosting soup as much as my family does.

Do you have your own favorite recipe? Share it in the section below:

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Why You Should Carry Cash In A Credit Card Society

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The use of plastic currency is very common in today’s world. In fact, stores that don’t accept debit and credit cards are becoming anomalies.

However, a little cash stash should always be included in everyone’s everyday carry supplies. There are many reasons why cash money could become important, ranging from purely convenience to absolute necessity.

When might cash matter? Aside from the idea that practicing a cash-only personal finance is a great way to keep from spending more than you can afford, cash can bail you out of sticky situations.

Off-grid establishments still exist. From a remote country gas station to a rustic hiking hostel to a roadside farm stand, you never know when you might need a little cash money to pay for what you want. Encountering a place which lacks the capability to accept plastic payment is still not that uncommon, particularly in rural areas.

Imagine the serendipity of being out for a drive and happening upon a delightful little mom-and-pop diner with the smells of your favorite food wafting from the kitchen—only to discover that they accept cash only and you have none. Sure, you could make the drive to the nearest ATM, some 10 miles of winding country road each way, but you probably would not.

Sometimes even when establishments do accept plastic, it is nice to have a little cash on hand. Paper money can make splitting the check or paying your share of the tip easier, and it is convenient to have a few dollars in your wallet when all you want is a soda or pack of gum.

Bad Stuff Happens

Having cash makes it easier to buy direct from individuals. Transactions such as getting a great deal on a vintage bureau on Craigslist or scooping up a baby stroller at a garage sale are easier with cash for everyone involved. You also might want to avail yourself of a chance to get in on a friend’s bulk purchase by buying just one pair out of a dozen gloves or a small bag of artisan flour out of a 50-pound sack. It also would be a shame to pass up a purchase of fresh delectable produce at a stand beside the road, or to miss an opportunity to donate a few dollars to a good cause because you did not have money handy to do so.

Having cash on hand also can be more than just a matter of convenience. Stuff happens. Stuff like forgetting your purse at a friend’s house—or your wallet in your other jacket pocket—and not realizing it until your gas tank is too low to go back for it. And stuff like searching for a store at midnight when you suddenly realize you are completely out of disposable diapers and finding that the only store open has a broken card machine until the repairperson arrives the next morning. And even stuff like rushing to a meeting and not having cash for a toll highway or parking area and ending up late because of detour.

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And those possible situations are just everyday occurrences. If a minor emergency were to happen, the need for cash could become even more important. In the event of something like a power outage, small stores without generators would be able to serve only cash customers. If the precipitating event continued, generators in larger places could eventually fail, as well.

In the event of a major disaster, cash will be vital, at least for a period of time. In a true catastrophe, it is possible that all representative currency could eventually become valueless. But in the interim, having cash could mean the difference between comfort and suffering, and could possibly contribute to your very survival.

The advice to always keep cash on hand is all well and good, but is not easy to do. Probably the biggest barriers to stashing cash are related to how difficult it is to avoid spending the money as fast as you get it. There is no magic bullet, but everyone can do it.

An Easy Way to Do It

As far as pocket money goes, for those little gotchas like emergency gas and unforeseen parking fees and middle-of-the-night baby necessities, it makes sense to keep the stash in your car. One way to do this is to keep a little covered dish—a recycled pint container such as the ones sour cream or cottage cheese come in—in your car. Tuck it away out of sight so thieves cannot see it. Start out by just dropping your coins into it every time you get change in the drive-through or coins back at a toll booth. Add a few bills here and there as you can spare them, never enough so you miss the money but sufficient to add up over time.

If the container-at-your-fingertips idea works for you, great. If, however, you cannot resist frequently dipping into your money dish, try hiding a little money in areas of your car that are less convenient to access. Most cars have places to stow items so that they are not accessible to the driver. Try tucking some money away in the trunk or under the back seat, and when you are faced with the choice of pulling over and digging out a stashed $10 bill versus dipping into your wallet, you will choose the latter.

Once you know you have a solid emergency stash in the back of the car, keep trying to keep a money container within reach. Eventually, you can make it work.

Building up a supply of money at home for true disasters works on the same principle. Start small and move up, with a $5 in a decorative cookie jar and $20 in an empty toothpaste box in the bathroom cabinet and another few bills tucked between the pages of an old book. Choose hiding spots in places you don’t look in often, and in places where would-be thieves may not find, either.

But where does this money come from to begin with if you are in the habit of using exclusively plastic and electronic transactions? You will need to be proactive about it, especially at first. You can get a little cash back every time you use a card at the grocery store, withdraw money from your account at an ATM, or develop a habit of doing more trading in cash.

There is no disputing the fact that we are quickly becoming a cashless society, and I am not suggesting that we can or should resist that trajectory. But I do maintain that everyone needs to have a little cash, on their person, in the car, or at home—and preferably all three—for convenience and emergencies.

Do you agree or disagree? Share your thoughts in the section below:

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Unique Tiny Home With Attached Greenhouse Deck and Pergola

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Raising Fiber Rabbits-Everything You Always Wanted To Know

What is soft, fluffy, makes very little noise and is a workhorse on the homestead? What is an easy pet to care for, even for smaller children and can be done by nearly any homesteader, including those in small areas? What will provide you crafting wool once a year, and cause you to smile when you see them?

Fiber rabbits.

There are a couple fiber rabbit breeds. The French Angora, the English Angora, the Satin Angora, and the German Angora. Many believe that the French Angora is great for beginners, because the guard hairs make up the coat instead of being more undercoat. This makes the fiber easier to really get to. Pound for pound, however, the German Angora produces the most wool each year.

How much wool does an angora rabbit produce each year? Anywhere from 8 ounces to over 4 pounds, depending on specific fiber rabbit breed. Angora rabbit wool price can be anywhere from $15-$45 a pound, making this a small money making venture.

See more information on types of fiber rabbits here.

Learning to raise fiber rabbits, such as French Angoras can bring you lots of wool for making hats, scarves, mittens and even blankets. Angora rabbit care is easy, but will need some extra steps over a meat or pet rabbit.

Fiber rabbits are primarily raised for their hair, and hair can get long or matted. Brushing it at the minimum of bi-weekly will help keep loose hair and mats off the rabbit. When the hair gets matted, their poop and urine can get stuck to it. It will also build up in the cage. Both cases can be very harmful to the rabbit and can be difficult to clean. Bathing the rabbit usually isn’t necessary, especially in cold weather. They can get very cold quickly, taking a long time to warm up. It’s better to keep the rabbit brushed and wash the wool as you clip it.

When raising fiber rabbits, you will want to collect their hair fiber, or give them a hair cut at least once a year. We have found the best time is late Spring, before it gets too hot. To cut the fiber, you will simply take a very sharp scissors and follow along the rabbit’s body line. Don’t cut too close, or you risk cutting the rabbit. Sometimes, it’s helpful to have a second person hold the rabbit and cover their eyes when you are doing this. That will help to calm the rabbit and keep them more still.

Keeping nails trimmed on a fiber rabbit is the same as any pet rabbit. If nails get too long, they can get stuck on the cages, risking getting ripped off the hocks. Rabbits can bleed profusely if that happens. When trimming, carefully clip just the tip a bit at a time. This is usually the “curve” in the nail. If you nip the hock when trimming, apply gentle pressure to help stop bleeding. Adding plantain, or yarrow in a gauze pad will also aid in stopping the bleeding.

Increase your herd naturally! Read the post here for more information.

Food requirements for fiber rabbits will be the same as other rabbits. High quality feed, timothy hay weekly for added fiber and a small treat once in a while will keep your rabbit happy. Treats like apple or carrot slices should be kept to a minimum to keep the rabbit’s blood sugar in check. If blood sugar gets too high, they will get sick. Fresh water daily in a clean crock or bottle is also crucial to their health.

Toys such as wooden chew toys, or small stuffed animals can provide plenty of entertainment. They need the wooden toys to keep their teeth ground down, and many fiber rabbits like to “cuddle” with the small stuffed toys. Surprisingly, they do not chew up the toys, either. Our rabbits always seemed to have a favorite teddy bear they played with, and even mothered.

Getting the fiber rabbits off the wire cages is important to keeping their hocks healthy. Due to their large size, time resting on something solid will prevent sore hocks. A plastic resting board sold in farm supply stores is great, but a piece of old carpet, or even a scrap of wood will suffice. Rabbits will chew on the wood, so make sure it’s non treated.

For more information on how to prevent or treat sore hocks, read the post here.

As you can see, taking care of fiber rabbits isn’t difficult at all. They are fun, friendly, and can be a great source of yarn for the knitter/crafter in your family.

Have you ever raised fiber rabbits? What breed did you raise?

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12 Surprising Health Benefits Of Apples You Probably Didn’t Know

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We’ve all heard “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but just how much truth is there to the old adage?

First, let’s look at the origin of that popular saying. According to Caroline Taggart, author of An Apple a Day: Old-Fashioned Proverbs and Why They Still Work, the saying originated in Wales with a slightly different wording. ‘‘Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread” was the similar statement first recorded in the 1860s. During the 19th century, the adage changed to “an apple a day sends the doctor away,” and then it morphed again in the 20th century into the phrase we know today.

Although the saying may have originated in modern times, the health benefits of apples have been known since ancient times. Apples were part of traditional Ayurvedic medicine in Southern Asia, dating back some 1,500 years, and historians believe that the Ancient Anglo-Saxons and Romans prized apples for their nutritional benefits.

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Apples are a good source of natural fiber, are low in calories and are a great source of Vitamin C. Here are 12 health benefits of apples.

1. Dental care. When you bite and chew an apple, you stimulate saliva production in your mouth, lowering the levels of bacteria there and reducing the chance for tooth decay.

2. Brain power. Apple consumption can boost levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain, aiding your cognitive function.

3. Nerve protection. The high fiber content and antioxidants found in fruits like apples may help protect against nerve disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease, which affects the central nervous system.

4. Reduced risk for certain cancers. Cancer researchers recommend a high fiber intake to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. In addition, apple peel contains compounds called triterpenoids that may help limit the growth of cancer cells in the colon, liver and breast.

5. Lower risk of diabetes. The soluble fiber found in apples helps regulate blood sugar swings and may help protect against the onset of type 2 diabetes.

6. Lower cholesterol. That same high quantity of soluble fiber in apples helps your intestines and lowers your “bad” cholesterol levels. Lower cholesterol is good for your heart and aids in the prevention of other health issues, such as gallstones.

7. Heart health. The fiber in apples also helps your arteries stay stronger and clearer of plaque, which can build up and lead to coronary disease.

8. Digestion. Dietary fiber, such as the healthy kind found in apples, aids the body’s digestive and elimination processes, helping the colon and bowls to work effectively.

9. Weight control. Foods that are high in fiber but low in calories – like apples — help you feel fuller longer, which can aid in weight reduction.

10. Detoxification. You can help your liver do what it is supposed to do – cleanse your body of toxins – by eating fiber- and nutrient-rich apples

11. Immunity boost. The antioxidant called quercetin that is found in red apples can aid your immune system, helping you fight off infection, especially when you are stressed.

12. Eye health. People who have a diet rich in certain fruits – including apples – are less likely to develop cataracts as they age.

So, will an apple a day really keep the doctor away? There are no guarantees when it comes to health. However, a diet that includes delicious, inexpensive, portable and versatile apples certainly can’t hurt.

What would you add to our list? Share your tips in the section below:

Sources

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/history-behind-an-apple-a-day/2013/09/24/aac3e79c-1f0e-11e3-94a2-6c66b668ea55_story.html?utm_term=.d5a36f2fe361

http://usapple.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Health-Benefits-Research-Summary_Feb2016-2.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC442131/

http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/medicalcenter/healthtips/apples.html

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14 Reasons Wood Stoves Are A Homestead Must-Have

When people conjure up images in their heads of an old-fashioned homestead, a wood-fired cookstove in the kitchen is often part of that mental picture. If you don’t have one of these iconic appliances in your homestead kitchen, here are some good reasons why you might want to consider the expense and hassle of installing one.

1. The most obvious reason is that they are an ideal power-out alternative. If you live off-grid, chances are you already embrace the idea of a wood cookstove and probably use one regularly. But those of us who are normally connected to the commercial electric grid know it is not a foolproof connection. Loss of power, from brief accidental outages to a catastrophic event, can make people wish they had an alternative source for heat and cooking. Occasional spikes in fuel prices can also increase the appeal of simple wood fuel.

2. Wood cookstoves increase self-sufficiency. If you have a wood cookstove and your own woodlot, you can stay warm and eat hot food, no matter what. Even when the price of oil skyrockets or the propane truck cannot fill your tank until next week, you don’t have to worry about the basics. High fuel prices affect the cost of running chainsaws and other wood processing equipment, but you can do it by hand if you have to—unlike other heat and cooking fuels, which you cannot acquire on your own.

3. You can cook and bake with them! We’re talking about wood cookstoves, so you might think that’s obvious—but I get this question a lot: “Can you really cook/ bake on that?” I open the oven door and show them—look, it’s an oven! With racks and everything! “But how do you…?” It does take a learning curve to regulate the heat, for sure. And it’s less precise than turning a knob or setting an electronic panel.

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Even in winter, I do not rely on mine exclusively. But I keep a fire going in it most of the season, and I love being able to just heat up a casserole or roast winter squash—or any number of other uses that don’t require a precise oven temperature—for no more cost than a few extra sticks of wood.

4. Wood is a renewable resource. When fossil fuels are gone, they’re gone for good. When a tree is harvested, new ones grow.

5. Wood cookstoves can save energy by way of zoned heating. In most homes and homesteads, people spend a lot of their time in the kitchen, where a wood cookstove can provide a warm comfortable spot without turning up the thermostat to heat the whole house.

6. Wood cookstoves also can save energy by heating water for free. Some models have a water tank attached to the stove, but it’s easy enough to set a kettle of water on top to heat. Free hot water is great anytime for countless applications around the house and barn, and particularly valuable when no other way to heat water is available.

7. You can use cookstoves for free humidification. Anyone who lives in a cold climate knows that many heat systems dry out the air indoors. A teakettle kept simmering on the cookstove all day does more than keep water for tea and hot chocolate ready at a moment’s notice—it helps add much-needed humidity to the air.

8. You can hang clothes next to cookstoves for drying. I’ve rigged a homemade rack using a wire hanger and a heavy-duty magnet, which I used to hang wet mittens and hats from the end of my warming oven. I follow safety precautions, of course, and you should, too. When I was a kid growing up off-grid, safety sometimes was foregone in favor of desperation—I remember the smell of singed wool socks someone laid on the surface of the kitchen woodstove in an attempt for a quick dry.

9. Wood cookstoves add home value. Installing a wood cookstove requires money and space. But because they are such a beautiful and valuable addition to a homestead, there’s a good chance you can recoup your investment if you would ever sell the place.

10. Some people say food tastes better when cooked or baked using a wood-fired stove. I don’t know if that’s exactly true, but I do know that nobody ever turns their nose up at the homestyle baked beans and steamed brown bread my cookstove turns out.

11. Wood fires smell great, as long as you burn good clean fires with quality wood. And as long as you like that kind of smell. If you would like something a little less rustic than wood smoke, a little dab of scented oil in a container in the upper warming oven is cheaper and safer than candles. And if you prefer expensive perfume to natural smells, you probably don’t live on a homestead anyway.

12. You can melt butter on them. Okay, don’t laugh, but one of the things I miss the most during summer when I use my modern gas range instead of my wood cookstove is the ability to plop a couple tablespoonfuls of hard butter into a little metal cup and set it in the warming oven to melt. No worries about forgetting it and having it burn, and melting a little extra means I always have it handy for brushing bread or pies. But it’s not just butter. It’s convenient to regulate how fast foods heat up by moving them around on the cooktop—directly over the firebox for the most heat, and on the far back corner for less—and to keep them warm in the upper oven or top shelf.

13. They make natural gathering places. People gravitate towards a wood cookstove. The metal bar across the front of mine makes people want to lean on it, even on a hot summer day when there hasn’t been a fire in it for weeks.

14. Cookstoves are an instant toaster. At least, some are. I frown on the idea of setting food directly on the clean metal surface of my relatively new Amish cookstove, but people with older stoves aren’t always so picky. A lot of us grew with wood cookstove surfaces that handled toast, wool socks, and whatever else came along without anyone batting an eye.

My wood cookstove plays a central role in the lives of those on my homestead. It is a primary heat source for all but the coldest weather, adds great comfort and convenience, and is one of the smartest and treasured investments ever.

What would you add to our list? Share your thoughts in the section below:

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Growing Your Own Survival Garden

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Foraging For Mushrooms Safely-How To Make A Spore Print

As the weather turns from bitter cold to warm, wet Spring, there will be lots of growth in fields, forests and your backyard. Many will be delicious edibles, mushrooms to be foraged for and just waiting to be enjoyed.

I love hunting for morels and pheasant back mushrooms especially. They are a family favorite with light flavor and great texture. So, how do you begin foraging for mushrooms?

First, keep in mind that safety needs to be a top priority when foraging for mushrooms. It’s easy to mis-identify a species and find one that isn’t edible. As matter of fact, it’s thought that there are over 1,600 identified species of fungi and even more that are NOT currently identified. To make sure you are finding a truly edible mushroom, it’s best to make sure you have a full color field guide or a mushroom foraging book with you or someone experienced in foraging for mushrooms.

If you need a guide, you can check out some of these resources from my affiliate partner:

• Mushrooming With Confidence
• Mushrooming without Fear: The Beginner’s Guide to Collecting Safe and Delicious Mushrooms
• All That the Rain Promises and More: A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms

To see what else you need to take along with you when foraging, read the post here.

Some things to remember when starting out foraging for mushrooms:

• Identity is everything! If you can’t positively id the mushroom, take a picture of the cap, gills, and stems and come back later to retrieve it, if necessary.
• To help keep the spores spread, use a mesh bag when collecting. If that’s not possible, try collecting your specimens in a paper bag.
• You can collect your specimens by either plucking directly from the spot, or by using a field knife. Either way is perfectly fine.
• Keep track of where you find your mushrooms by writing it down in a notebook. This will help you check back it that area for later specimens.
• Many experienced mushroom foragers will NOT reveal where they find theirs. BUT, they will often be happy to help you in the areas you want to search for a more positive identification.
• Learning how to identify the cap, stem, and gills is a great way to start. When those things are identified, and you still aren’t sure, taking a spore print will aid in positive identification.
• **NEVER EAT A MUSHROOM YOU CAN’T POSITIVELY IDENTIFY**

Check out how to find morel mushrooms here.

Checking with your field guide is a MUST when you are foraging for mushrooms. There will be some species that you will need to cut open to check the insides as well to make sure they are safe to consume. If you still can’t decide, a good determining factor will be in the color of the spore print.

To take a mushroom home for a spore print, you will need a mature mushroom. Young mushrooms and those with something covering their gills are not likely to drop spores for a print. To get your mushroom spore print:

1. After collection, carefully remove the stem and set the cap, face down onto a piece of paper. Try using both black and white papers if you can to see darker and lighter spore prints. If possible, use a glass slide for best results.
2. Cover the cap with a glass bowl or cup to keep the any air movement from blowing spores away.
3. Allow to stay in place for at least 4-6 hours, or better yet, leave overnight. Some species can take longer to leave a print.
4. Carefully remove the cap from the paper or glass. You want to be sure to not disturb the print, to see the pattern of the gill’s print and color.

The COLOR of the print is what is used to compare with field guides and keys. Some mycologists have tried to standardize the color interpretations, but have had little success. Some color differences range from subtle, like white to creamy and are more difficult to identify. Others, such as pink or brown prints are easily used to help identify the mushroom.

Check out how to forage for pheasant back mushrooms here.

For mushrooms like morels and false morels, and those belonging to Ascomycetes, the spore print may also have prints around the mushroom as well as underneath it. This is due to the species’ tiny spore jets that forcibly eject the spores. With practice, you’ll be able to see, collect and even learn how to save the beautiful spore prints from your mushrooms.

As you learn to forage for mushrooms, you’ll discover a wide variety of edible, delicious species. Just make sure to use safety and caution and remember the golden rule, “When in doubt, DON’T”. Be sure to pin this for later when you are heading out to go foraging for mushrooms!

the post first appeared on thehomesteadinghippy.com See it here

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How To Treat Gunshot Wounds When There’s No Doctor

Image source: Pixabay.com

Accidents happen; that’s a basic fact of life that we have to deal with. We have a huge medical infrastructure to deal with those accidents. Even so, the action that is taken immediately, at the time and scene of the accident, can be the most important part of treating the patient and ensuring their survival.

This is even more critical in situations where medical services may not be available. I don’t care if you’re talking about a post-disaster scenario, a hunting trip or hiking in the mountains, people can get hurt. In any of these situations, and many more, you’re unlikely to find a hospital emergency room, ambulance or even an EMT standing there, ready and waiting for you.

Active shooter situations, as well, warrant the need for quick first-aid. One of the things that has helped to reduce the number of deaths in some active shooter situations, even with the shooters creating more casualties, is a major difference in police response. Law enforcement agencies are training the officers on the street in trauma care, especially for gunshot wounds, and providing them with an IFAK (Individual First-Aid Kit). This allows officers arriving on the scene to pick one casualty, provide them with emergency treatment, and transport them to an emergency room in their cruiser.

You or I can do the same, with just a little bit of knowledge and a basic IFAK. Please note that this is different than the type of first-aid kits we can find at the corner pharmacy, as it is intended specifically for treating major trauma cases, especially gunshot wounds.

Patient Assessment

Treatment of any wound starts out by assessing the condition of the patient. This shouldn’t take more than a second or two, with your eyes roving over their body, while you ask them basic questions (like their name) to ensure that they are lucid. The current acronym for this is SMARCHR, which stands for:

• S – Security and safety – Ensure that the victim is where they won’t be in danger of being shot again
• M – Massive hemorrhage – Look for massive bleeding, as this is the greatest danger. An adult who has lost two liters of blood probably will not recover. So you have to stop it before then.
• A – Airway – Are they able to breathe? If they can talk, they can breathe.
• R – Respiration – How are they breathing? Get a good idea of how fast and deep they are breathing, so that you have a baseline to see any change.
• C – Circulation – How high is their pulse (not an exact number, just an idea)? How is their skin tone and temperature? Are they clammy, damp, dry, ashen, blue? If you can feel their pulse at the wrist, they have a systolic blood pressure of 80-90. This is good enough. If you can’t feel it there, but can feel it at the carotid artery (the neck) it is 60-70. At this point, they are at risk of losing too much blood.
• H – Hypothermia – Are they at risk of losing too much body heat, due to ambient temperature and wet clothing?
• R – Recovery Position – After treating the patient, roll them on their side, so that if they vomit, they won’t gag on it.

Treating the Wound

Basically, wounds fall into two different categories and have to be treated differently, depending on which category they are in. These categories are: in the limbs or in the body and head.

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In either case, any gunshot wound consists of two parts: the permanent cavity made by the passage of the bullet (the hole) and the temporary cavity. This temporary cavity is flesh around the temporary cavity, which was damaged by the passing of the bullet. It can include broken bones — even those that weren’t touched by the bullet. Generally speaking, most of this flesh is damaged enough that the cells will die off and need to be replaced.

Keep in mind that in many cases the bullet will pass through the body, leaving both an entrance and exit wound. In such cases, the exit wound will be larger than the entrance one, as the bullet deforms while it is passing through the body, even if it is not a hollow point.

Treating Wounds in the Extremities

Wounds in the arms and legs can cause extensive bleeding, especially if an artery was ruptured by the bullet. If you see pulsing blood coming out of the bullet hole, an artery has been ruptured. In that case, you most likely need to apply a tourniquet, especially if a lot of blood is spurting out of the wound.

Using Tourniquets

Before going on, let me say one important thing about tourniquets. I have heard different opinions about tourniquets over the years. Some people talk about them from the viewpoint of doing the least amount of damage to the wounded extremity, so that it might be saved. But if you are forced to apply a tourniquet, the patient’s life is in danger. Losing a limb is bad, but it is not as bad as losing a life. Your goal is to save their life, even if that means at the cost of them losing a limb.

The idea behind a tourniquet is to crush the artery against the bone, sealing it off. This means that the tourniquet is going to have to be very tight. That will hurt and the patient will complain. Don’t loosen it for them and don’t leave them alone where they could loosen it themselves. That could cause them to bleed out.

Not all tourniquets are created equal and many poor-quality tourniquets or makeshift tourniquets are unable to effectively accomplish their job. The best ones on the market are the SOF Tactical Tourniquet and the Combat Application Tourniquet; both developed by former military medics for use by the military. They are more expensive than others, but also more effective.

Some say to place the tourniquet two to four inches above the wound. This is fine if the laceration in the artery is straight through. But you have no way of knowing if it is or not. If you place the tourniquet too close to the wound, all you will do is force an internal bleed. So put the tourniquet as high on the limb as you can.

Treating the Wound

Whether you need to apply a tourniquet or not, you still need to treat the wound. There are several steps involved in this:

• Clean the wound, flushing it out with clean water, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
• Apply an antibiotic cream to help prevent infection.
• Apply a clotting agent (optional). Any clotting agent has to be held in place to function. They work by creating heat, which cauterizes the wound. This means that it will hurt a lot, so the patient may need to be held down.
• If there is a gash, where the skin is separated, the skin around the wound needs to be pulled closed and secured in place, with the edges touching, by using either SteriStrips or butterfly closures.
• Cover the wound with a bandage to soak up blood and protect it. This can be done with gauze, sanitary napkins or clean cloth, depending on what you have available. The best is an Israeli Bandage, which combines a gauze dressing with a pressure bandage.
• Apply pressure to the wound, either through the use of a pressure bandage or your hand. Pressure will help to reduce the bleeding.
• Transport the patient to medical care.

Treating an Abdominal Wound

Abdominal wounds are much more serious than those in the extremities, even though they may not look as bad. The problem is that there are very few places that a bullet can pass through the body, without hitting organs and causing serious problems. Small caliber rounds or 5.56mm rifle round (which tumble when they hit) are worse for this, as they can ricochet in the body, causing more damage.

There is a high chance of internal bleeding in any abdominal wound. Not only that, but if the bullet passes through the lower abdomen, it is likely to puncture the intestines several times. This will release bacteria into the body cavity, which can cause serious infections.

It is nearly impossible to treat abdominal wounds in the field, because they generally require surgery to find the extent of the damage and repair it. Therefore, your top priority in these cases is to get the patient to a hospital emergency room, as quickly as possible.

Your first-aid treatment is going to be limited to controlling the external bleeding and protecting the wound from anything that might cause infection. Don’t try to repair anything, even if the intestines are sticking out of a hole in the body. Rather, cover them to protect them and move the patient, getting them to competent medical care.

Treating a Chest Wound

Chest wounds can penetrate the lungs, which can be serious. But even more serious than this, is that the puncture of the chest cavity and lungs can create a condition where air is being drawn into the chest through the wound, but isn’t able to escape. This can collapse the lungs, preventing the patient from breathing. Allowed to progress far enough, and the patient will die from asphyxiation.

There are several ways of treating this, depending on what you have available to you and how serious the patient’s condition is. If the patient is having trouble breathing and the veins in their neck are distended, they are having trouble taking in enough air, because the chest cavity is partially filled with air and there is a flap of flesh covering the inside of the hole, preventing that air from escaping.

In that case, the air pressure has to be relieved. You can do this easily by sticking your finger in the hole and moving the flesh aside. You will hear air escaping from the chest, as the lungs inflate.

If there is a sucking chest wound, where air is passing in and out of the wound, you will need to apply a chest seal. The two best chest seals are the Hyfin and the Asherman. If you don’t have one of these available, you can improvise one from a piece of plastic sheeting (think plastic bag) and tape. Cut a piece three or four inches square and tape it to the chest, over the wound, on three sides, leaving the fourth side open for air to escape through.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is provided for information only and not intended to replace the knowledge of a medical professional. The information in this article is all readily available from military emergency medical training manuals. If you have any doubts about anything herein, please check with competent medical authority before trying these methods.

This article first appeared on offthegridnews.com See it here

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Forgotten Foods The Pioneers Ate Midwinter

In our modern kitchens, we hardly feel the passing of the seasons. We have the luxury of New Zealand apples, Chilean grapes and Hawaiian pineapple, all cheap and plentiful even in January.

For our ancestors, winter meals were a very different thing. They were limited to whatever they could store, hunt or harvest. Those same food traditions survive in our modern cooking, in wintertime “comfort foods.” Foods heavy with flour, fat and salt.

Salted Meat

Even with modern refrigeration, salt-preserved meats still make their way onto our modern tables. That’s because they’re more than just practical, they’re delicious.

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Some people will tell you that all you need is salt to preserve a whole pig without refrigeration. While that is technically true, there’s an art to preserving it well. Each cut has its own flavors, brought out by time-honored preservation techniques.

The pioneers would have known how to make the best use of each and every part because it was knowledge passed down through every family.

Beyond charcuterie, there are plenty of other ways to preserve meat without refrigeration.

Grains & Dry Goods

If left whole and not ground, wheat berries will last for decades, and have the added bonus that they can either be planted in a pinch or ground into flour at home.

Other dry goods, like dried beans, oats and rice, are great staple winter foods used by the pioneers, as well. Though you might not be happy about it, you can survive the winter on beans and rice alone.

The pioneers would have had dried beans and grains on hand to get them through not only this winter, but possibly the next winter, too. Crop failures are not uncommon, and if next summer’s grain crop never comes in, keeping two years worth on hand may just save your life.

Root Cellar Fruit & Vegetables

Modern fruit and vegetable varieties are a bit different than their heirloom counterparts. The pioneers had specific storage varieties of just about every fruit and vegetable. True, some kept longer than others. The best storage grapes will keep about on month, while the very best storage apple variety, Newton Pippin, will keep for over a year.

Many other apple varieties will keep for five-plus months, more than enough to get you through the winter.

Lacto-Fermented Vegetables

Now that people know about the benefits of probiotics in your diet, fermented foods are making a comeback. Historically, lacto-fermentation was a practical way of keeping vegetables fresh for six months or more. A crock of sauerkraut bubbling away in the basement or root cellar would have kept until springtime, adding much-needed nutrition and variety to heavy winter meals.

Just about any vegetable can be lacto-fermented at home with just a bit of salt and patience.

Nuts

If left in their shells and kept in a cool, dry place, most nuts will keep through the winter and into the following spring. The pioneers didn’t just keep the nuts we know and love today.

The Little House on the Prairie books record that the pioneers foraged beechnuts in the fall in great number, and processed them using the same thresher that they used for oats, beans and grain. With three times the protein in acorns, and none of the tannin, beech nuts were a smart choice for winter.

Even today, most of the wild nut varieties foraged by our ancestors are still available and plentiful.

Hard Cheese & Eggs

While we think of cheese and eggs as highly perishable today, the pioneers managed to keep them for extended periods. Unwashed eggs keep at room temperature for weeks, and they’ll keep longer if waxed or stored in ashes.

Hard cheeses were once waxed to keep them shelf stable in a root cellar all winter long.

Lard

Cows don’t produce nearly as much cream in the winter. Hay isn’t as rich as summer forage, and the composition and flavor of the milk changes. True, you can still make some butter, but wintertime is by and large the time for making use of lard from fall processed pigs.

Properly rendered lard doesn’t taste like pork. It has a clean, neutral flavor and snow white color. It’s perfect for making pie crusts and biscuits, and for frying homemade doughnuts.

Even more importantly, it’s a source of much-needed calories and comfort. While lard may not be as appealing in July, it’s a welcome friend in January.

Liquor

Like it or not, liquor is a practical way of preserving food and calories. Cider (fresh sweet cider) as we know it today was almost unheard of. In as little as 24 hours, sweet cider begins to ferment into hard cider. Once fully fermented, it’s only about half as strong as wine.

Beyond direct fermentation, settlers would make something known as “gentleman’s jam” in a crock in the root cellar. Layering in fruit, covering with sugar and then submerging in spirits, summer fruits were preserved all winter long.

A single large crock would begin with the early summer fruits like strawberries, and then layer in summer and fall fruits A few months to condition, and by midwinter the flavors had combined into a sweet, albeit highly alcoholic, treat.

What foods would you add to our story? Share your thoughts in the section below:

This article first appeared on offthegridnews.com See it here

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12 Fun Tire Swing Ideas to Make Your Backyard Better Than The Playpark

When I was little, my grandparents had a huge garden which connected straight to a forest. On one of the trees near the house, they had a tire swing, and I can honestly say that it was one of the things I looked forward to most when visiting their house. Aside from valuable family time of course.

Tire swings are a great addition to any garden, whether they're for kids as a fun thing to play on or for adults as a unique and calming seat. Because they are suspended, you don't even need too much space to make one, just some form of sturdy branch or beam that you can hang it from.

There are far more ways of customizing a simple tire swing than I ever thought, meaning that you can really make it your own, and make it perfect for your own garden and vibe.

Unique and Fun Tire Swing Ideas

1. Simple One Rope Tire Swing

This technique looks like the simplest way of hanging a tire swing that I have ever seen. There is no tricky screwing or puncturing involved, you simply need a bit of rope work and a sturdy branch.

If you're not too confident with your handyman skills, this simple one rope tire swing would be just perfect, and very risk-free. I love that they have decided to spray paint the tire in this DIY, and think it brings new life to it, transforming it from something old and used into something new and fun.

2. Horse Tire Swing

I am absolutely gutted I didn't know about this horse tire swing DIY when I was younger, although my parents probably am glad I didn't, as I would have begged and begged for one.

It's a lot of fun, and I can imagine that it would be loved by kids of a large range of ages. Of course, because of the design, it will take a little longer to construct than a plain tire swing would, but the end result would be worth it, and your kids would be exceptionally grateful. You could go the extra mile and use spray paints to jazz it up a bit, I bet you could even turn it into a magical, colorful unicorn.

3. Horizontal Tire Swing

Although most tend to have the tire hanging vertically, there is a lot to be said for tire swings which use the tire horizontally. They are arguably safer, as kids can sit fully in them without the need to hold on tightly, and would be really great for younger kids.

This DIY requires a bit of elbow grease and work, but the result looks incredibly sturdy and is bound to last many years. The length of the chain can also be adjusted to fit wherever you wish to hang the swing. One of my favorite things to do as a kid on a tire swing was to wind it up and sit on it screaming with excitement as it spun out, and this swing looks like it would be perfect for that.

4. Double Level Tire Swing

This double level tire swing looks like something that your kid would see at the play-park and instantly run right towards. If you have more than one kid this would be an amazing way for them to be able to play with the swing together, making it more fun for them and avoiding arguments as it's a win-win.

It may look like an adventurous DIY, but in reality, it isn't too different to other tire swings other than the fact that you have to do everything twice. Your kids would definitely want to show this off to their friends, and you'll probably have their parents asking for tips on how to replicate it.

5. Animal Tire Swing

You could get so creative when taking inspiration from this painted animal tire swing. The ladybird is really cute, and your kids would feel like they are flying through the air on the back of the insect.

There are so many different things you could try out, and because it is simply painted on you could even change it every now and again at a very low cost. As if your kid wasn't going to be happy enough when they see their new tire swing, imagine the looks on their faces when they see that it looks just like their favorite animal.

6. No-Chain Tire Swing

A lot of my aunts and uncles have really young kids, and I know that they would feel safer having them play on this tire swing which is hung with chords instead of chains.

Not only does it look safer, it also looks somewhat more simple to make, with simple looping removing the need for tricky knots or screws. I am sure you could use this technique to hang a tire vertically or horizontally dependant on your preferences.

7. Alternative Tire Swing

If you are looking for a totally different type of tire swing for your backyard then this could just do the trick. Not only is this a cheaper alternative, but it is also a really nice option for someone who doesn't have enough space for a more traditional form of a tire swing.

It looks incredibly simple to make, with not too many confusing materials or tools, and it looks a bit like the swing on a flying fox to me, which was one of my favorite things to play on when I was little.

8. Indoor Stylish Tire Swing

Okay, this isn't for the backyard, but it's just such a cool idea and looks so good that I couldn't leave it out. I would have absolutely loved this indoor tire swing when I was younger, and to be perfectly honest I would probably still love it now. I wouldn't exactly play on it anymore, but just the look of it is something so interesting and cool.

You could paint this any color you wanted, and use different ropes or chains to fit the style you want. That being said, I think the white looks really cool, especially compared to the usual black of a tire, and the thick and almost messy rope is a really stylish touch.

9. Nest Style Tire Swing

This nest style tire swing is the ultimate way of making a tire swing safe for smaller kids who would otherwise fall right through the middle of the tire. I was definitely one of those kids.

The instructions for this DIY are in German, but they can easily be translated online if you can't get the general idea from the photos. Not only would this form of tire swing be fun and safe for kids, but it would also be a really comfy swinging chair for adults. I can imagine sitting on this with a book on a summery day, lightly swinging, which would be highly pleasant.

10. Painted Tire Swing

It is more the pattern on this painted tire swing that caught my eye as opposed to the making of the swing itself, unsurprisingly.

Turning the process of making a tire swing into a fun, crafty experience for the whole family is something that is really appealing to me. Kids would enjoy planning out what they wanted to paint onto their new swing, or more so have fun not planning and throwing every color they can on it. Once they're finished, they will be proud to see their creation hung in the backyard, and showing it off to all their friends before you know it.

11. Seat Tire Swing

I think this is a really cool alternative to the average tire swing and would enable kids to lie back and relax in it. You could adjust the size of it to fit your kids by using different sizes of tires, making sure that it is a perfect size for them and therefore most comfortable.

Minus the cutting which might be a bit tricky dependant on the thickness of your tire, this seat tire swing looks pretty simple to recreate. You could even make one of these and have it alongside a regular styled tire swing so that you have a bit of variety, and all your kids' needs from chill to play will be covered.

12. Rope Covered Tire Swing

If you live somewhere hot then it is a really good idea to mimic this rope covered tire swing, especially if the swing won't always be in the shade. That way you can save your little ones from getting their skin scorched, and make it look pretty at the same time.

It will be really important to have a look around for decent quality, soft rope when making this DIY, as there would be nothing worse than attempting to play on a scratchy and uncomfortable tire. I would love to try making this using different colors of rope, crossing them over or making patterns.

Concluding 12 Fun Tire Swing Ideas

A tire swing would be a positive and fun addition to any backyard in my opinion. Of course, you can buy ready-made ones, but why do that when you can make and customize your own for a lower price? Whether you have a tree to hang one from or you have to erect a support beam, it really isn't too tricky, and there are so many options for different styles and sizes.

I love anything bright and colorful, especially out in the yard, so I think I would be decorating my tire swing, whether it be like an animal or a simple solid color. The idea of having a tire swing inside has also really appealed to me, and I think it would be such a cool addition to a kids' bedroom.

Do you have fond memories of playing on tire swings growing up? Would you prefer to stick to the traditional style for your own backyard or are you feeling the urge to try something new?

This article first appeared on morningchores.com Original Article

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Famed Doomsday Clock Moves Closer To Midnight; ‘Nuclear Situation Dire’

The world is only two and a half minutes away from doomsday. The editors of The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists on Thursday moved the hands of their famed Doomsday Clock 30 seconds closer to Armageddon.

“It is two and a half minutes to midnight, the Clock is ticking, global danger looms,” a Bulletin press release reads.

The Doomsday Clock is intended to reflect how far the members of the Bulletin’s Science & Security Board think the world is from total catastrophe.

“In 2017, world leaders failed to respond effectively to the looming threats of nuclear war and climate change, making the world security situation more dangerous than it was a year ago—and as dangerous as it has been since World War II,” a statement from the Board reads.

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“To call the world nuclear situation dire is to understate the danger—and its immediacy,” the Board members wrote.

The board cited North Korea’s nuclear weapons program; tensions between Pakistan and India, disputes between the United States and China, and tensions between the U.S. and Russia as reasons for the increased danger. It also singled out statements made by President Trump, although he wasn’t mentioned by name.

Danger of Technological Change

The Atomic Scientists assert that technological change is as great a threat as nuclear weapons or climate change.

“Technological change is disrupting democracies around the world as states seek and exploit opportunities to use information technologies as weapons, among them internet-based deception campaigns aimed at undermining elections and popular confidence in institutions essential to free thought and global security,” the Board warned.

It was moved 30 seconds closer to midnight, to two and a half minutes, last year.

The Doomsday Clock was created in 1947 to express the dangers from nuclear war.

The Clock has been maintained and updated every year by The Bulletin’s Science and Security Board. The Board’s membership includes 15 winners of the Nobel Prize. You can see the Doomsday Clock in the upper left-hand corner of The Bulletin’s webpage.

What is your reaction? Share it in the section below:

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30 Great Ways to Upcycle Old Clothes and Still Feel Sassy

I am a crafter through and through. A good chunk of my spending money goes to new culinary tools and fun craft stuff that my daughters and I can do.

My mother, on the other hand, loves clothes. Twice a year, she goes through her closet and pretty much provides me with a new wardrobe.

Naturally, her style is a little different from mine so I want to tweak some of the outfits a little and here are some ways to upcycle outfits for myself, kids, or even the men in our life.

Ways to Upcycle Old Clothes

1. Bleach It

Taking a black pair of leggings and a bleach pen and have a little fun. You can choose to do quite a bit, from the style of these pants to taking a stamp and adding a bleaching effect that makes lines, the pen is your oyster- have fun with it!

I may, or may not, be doing this later this week!

2. Winter Sweater Dress

Ten years ago, my husband bought me a sweater for Christmas and minus this year he has every year since. Several of them were sweater dresses and I love them. Sometimes, though, I am passed down a sweater that I don't really like.

Up until now, it has gone in the Goodwill pile. But no more! The fact that I can take two sweaters and make them into a cute sweater dress that I can wear all winter long- I love it. For the full tutorial, check out the renegade seamstress' post on eHow.

3. Men's T-shirt to Girl's Dress

I love this. I have loved it since my girls were little. Add some tulle to the inside of the bottom part and you have a beautiful, fluffy dress that most little girls would love to wear.

To be honest, I might even be able to make this for my daughter who is ten using a shirt her father wears. To some extent, age may surprise you a bit. If you want to try it for yourself head over to Life is Beautiful and try the project out for yourself.

4. T-shirt with a Bow

If you are not very skilled with a sewing machine, this one is for you. It simply takes the ability to use scissors. Simple enough.

I love the fact that the ribbon allows you to scrunch up one side. Plus the colors are so cute together and the bow makes it extra girly. To see the full tutorial, check out the Wobisobi blogger page.

5. Embroidery Design

Picture from play-patch.com

I told you in advance that I love to spend money on crafty things. Almost five years ago I bought an embroidery machine. This design was one of the first things I made with it. I loved the “Stud Muffin looking for my Cupcake” design and had to have it.

If you know that you are going to upcycle stuff a lot, or live in the south and like to have almost everything monogrammed, then spending the money on an embroidery machine is well worth it. I bought mine used for $400 and don't regret the purchase at all.

6. Mismatch It All Together

Photo from Andy's Summer Designs Etsy.

This is a lot of what I did when I first got into refashioning clothes. I did this more with little girl dresses. I would make a simple circle skirt for the bottom and use a cheaply bought new or possibly older (but now too short) t-shirt and add the bottom.

You can use fabric picked up from the store, which I did a lot and would customize to what the little girl liked, or clothes you already have lying around like Andy Summer did in the picture above.

7. Stretch out the Tank Top

I had to laugh a bit when I saw this one. For one reason, this is a tutorial from a Girl and her Glue Gun that you will probably always want to keep a sweater vest over anyways because the back looks a bit funny in my opinion.

Second, because I had to do this last year for a student of mine.

We had a competition that was a week away and we purchased him an extra large chef coat when he probably needed a two XL. So I did exactly what she shows in her tutorial, only with a chef coat.

It works in a pinch or if you, like her, don't want to throw something away.

8. Sweater with Buttons

This is probably the best tutorial I have found for any post, ever. She makes it so simple for those of us who know how to sew but don't know the proper terminology and stuff like that. I am self-taught, and this makes total sense to me.

Plus it's super cuter, she says it's super soft and she got the original sweater for super cheap. Isn't that super? Sorry, I had to! The amazingly awesome tutorial can be found over at Sew Unique in CO.

9. Everyday Lounge Pants

I love the story behind these pants, her original purchase was for plain black pants that her husband called quitters because the people who wear them, in his opinion, have quit taking care of themselves. So she dawned them up and added the cute pocket and ribbon up top.

The fact that she went as far as to make them cute means that she's the opposite of a quitter- and still gets to be comfortable, right?

To see the full tutorial, check out H is for Handmade.

10. Cricut/Silhouette/Vinyl

I love, love, love my Cricut.

This is not something I purchased, surprisingly. My mother-in-law “upgraded” to a different brand (Brother, I think) and gave me her Cricut. It is not one of the newer ones, but still does a lot of fun stuff though I am looking forward to purchasing my own upgrade to an Air two next month.

Even with the older one, I have made T-shirts for my FCCLA organization last year. Many of the kids didn't purchase a shirt because I told them that we were making our own but they were disappointed and many ordered some after they learned that it looked just as good as professionals' and they got to pick their colors.

I chose the tutorial by Perisalou because it's different and who don't want to deck out their shoes? So cute!

11. Shorts without a Pattern

To this day I don't know how I figured this out on my own but I did. Simply use a pair of pants or shorts that you love and use this as your pattern. I have used this for my girls and myself and it saves so much money.

It's fairly simple and straightforward, but if you need help, Craftaholics Anonymous is here to get you started. Heck, they even show you how to add pockets. That's important!

12. It's in the Details

This is fairly simple to make as well and I love the little details. My favorite thing about the big sweater turned leggings sweater was the buttons. Likewise, I love the glitter on here as well; though, when I make it I plan to add multi-colored sequins.

The fairly simple tutorial can be found at Dream a Little Bigger.

13. Add a Pop of Color

How cute is this dress? The opposite of bleaching, the tulip brand paint has so many great ideas, from outlines of hearts to a black T-shirt with the silver sky to show a city skyline. They are all so creative and fun, if you want a paint idea, definitely visit the I Love to Create page!

14. Galaxy Shirt

You should have known this one was coming. What makes it super cool is that you are combining two of the techniques we've talked about already in this post. One, you are using paint to add color to the black shirt. Two, you are taking color away by adding bleach in the form of spray paint or blotching.

This summer I plan to do this with my daughters and then have a stargazing night!

The full tutorial can be found at eHow.

15. Sharpie and Alcohol

I'm excited about this one because I have done it before and can tell you that yes- this truly works. The idea was shown here, though we took it a step further.

We used toilet paper tubes and colored in our Mickey Mouses, and then dropped the alcohol on the shirts to go down the cardboard tubes. The girls had so much fun and my oldest daughter wore hers until it had holes and I forced her to stop wearing it!

16. Ugly Christmas Sweater

Okay, I get it. Ugly Christmas sweaters are not really supposed to be ugly. I'm not entirely sure how this is made but it was created by Refashion Nation. The snowman and polka dots are super cute and the buttons going down are- you guessed it- my favorite!

No matter what though, refashioning a sweater and turning it into a cute ugly sweater should be a piece of cake!

17. Sweater to Cardigan

Before I begin- I will teach you all something really cool. In the south, there are stores called Dirt Cheap popping up everywhere. That is where this sweater began its life. Or at least somewhere similar. Do you want to know how I know? Because the American Eagle tag has a black line through it.

If you can get to one of these stores- I highly recommend it. The stores purchase the leftovers by the semi-truck full and send the savings back to you. Typically they chose stores worth noticing- Target, American Eagle, Gap, etc… You have to dig a bit but it's worth it!

Okay, back to the task at hand. This tutorial is great. The post can be found at Cheri's I am Momma, Hear Me Roar site but it is a guest post by Delia from Delia Creates. At the time, Delia was pregnant so she needed some of her sweaters to by cardigans in order to wear them over her baby bump.

No matter if you have a baby bump or not, check this tutorial out- trust me!

18. Add Lace to Lengthen

There are so many of us out there who do not like short t-shirts or sweaters. Lace is one way to lengthen them, and it's super easy to find out what length you want and gets lace in that size, then sew it into the shirt. She doesn't sew the end, instead opts to end it on the side where the seam is so it is not as noticeable.

I like that we get to see the before and after. For the full details, check out Inspiration & Realization.

19. Heart Patches

When looking up ideas for this post, I keep coming across how to make elbow patches. I guess it is a simple, cute way to upcycle your sweater or long sleeve t-shirt and make it just a hint cuter. It also allows you to do as the model did here and change up the color of your pants without people questioning why they don't match.

Listotic has thirty-three different ideas on their site. So if I don't give you enough inspiration, they might be able to help as well!

20. Onesie to T-shirt

My first thought here was an extension of the clothing's life- for whatever reason you chose. Maybe you really like the onesie, maybe you are trying to save money, maybe both. But then I thought about two-year-olds and potty training. When you are potty training, it's important to not have to unbutton those snaps and that is is the perfect reason to make a onesie a T-shirt. Plus I like the addition of the ruffles and extra flowers that ruffles and stuff did. Props!

Conclusion to Ways to Upcycle Old Clothes

No matter your reasoning for refashioning your clothes- I hope you have come up with some great ideas. If you want to expand that a bit further, check out our post on how to recycle old T-shirts specifically, and use the clothes for things like purses and pillows.

Either way, get out the thread and needle and have some fun! I can't wait to see what you create.

This article first appeared on morningchores.com Original Article

The post 30 Great Ways to Upcycle Old Clothes and Still Feel Sassy appeared first on Homesteading Alliance.

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