We have had a small kitchen garden for the past several years, but this is our first year of really being aggressive with trying to raise our own food.  It is amazing how much practical knowledge in the life skills department have been lost over the past several generations, and though we both know a little, Storey’s Guide to Country Living has rapidly become indispensable.  Did you know that planting onions and carrots together prevents pests in both, or do you know which side of the garden is best for planting your corn?  Storey’s Guide has a little bit of everything from gardening to keeping livestock to canning and freezing.  It is a compilation of the things our grandmothers knew how to do that we don’t.  I have not read it cover to cover, but rather once section at a time, as needed.  This makes a great reference book.  I am thinking about getting a 2nd copy just to keep in the tool shed.  Enjoy!

Saving electricity, gas, or water might not come immediately to mind when cutting back on expenses, but you might have more control over these ‘necessary’ bills than what you think. We all know the usual advice, like checking door and window seals, replacing filters, watching the thermostat, and unplugging unused appliances. Hopefully, you’ll find some more hints in this list which will help you see a difference in your usage! (more…)