Frugal living « Transition Brockville

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Tag : Frugal living (137)

Starting your own canning club

Mother Earth News / Sarah Marshall / September 2018

The first week of the month used to feel weighted by bills, worries about everyday tasks, and to-do lists — leaving few thoughts about the future and more regrets about paying for the past. For the last few years, however, the first Wednesday of every month has instead brought anticipation and excitement. Our organizer Brooke Weeber (also this book’s illustrator) couldn’t have imagined the feelings her canning club would inspire when she reached out to a small group of friends to see if we wanted to meet up and exchange canned goods. Over time, the Portland Preservation Society has grown into much more than the canned food exchange she initiated — it is a reminder for all of us to spread creativity, joy, and delicious food.

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Evaluating the best options for energy-efficient cooking

Mother Earth News / Jennifer Tuohy / 16 December 2014

While cooking is not among the top five of your home’s ‘energy-hungry routines,’ if it’s something you do every day then there are many small steps, and a few big ones you can take to decrease its impact on your energy use. Your method of cooking is the root of how much energy you use, so to help you cook wisely, here is a rundown of some of the best options for sautéing sustainably.

Whenever you read about options for energy efficient cooking, the question of gas versus electricity always comes up. The difference in energy use is actually pretty negligible, especially now that induction cooking is bringing electricity up to par with the speed of gas.

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Make Your Own Laundry Soap redux

Transition Brockville / 10 January 2020

Our laundry soap workshop was a big success!

Transition Brockville / 20 November 2019

Shown here are some of the participants of our October 27 workshop, grating soap and bagging some borax and washing soda to make their own soap at home. Virginia Glover gave an excellent demonstration of how to make the soap, one she’s used now for many years. A repeat workshop will be offered January 26, 2:00 – 4:00 pm at the Brockville Public Library. Sign up at the library or write to info@transitionbrockville.com.

Make Your Own Laundry Soap on October 27

Transition Brockville / 21 October 2019

Would you like to wash your clothes with soap that’s safe for the environment? Well, now you can make your own soap and know just what’s in it.

Transition Brockville is hosting a free workshop on making your own liquid laundry soap, at the Brockville Public Library on Sunday, October 27, 2-4 p.m.

Virginia Glover, a longtime Transition Brockville member, will demonstrate how to make the soap from simple, tried-and-true ingredients. This safe soap won’t harm the environment. It’s effective too – even takes elderberry stain out of white cloth!

All you need to bring is a grater to grate soap, a one-cup measure, and a two-litre plastic jug in which to take home your share of the soap. You will also receive enough ingredients to make your own batch of soap at home.

In addition, the library, Transition’s partner for many years, is providing recipes for some household cleaners, also made from simple, safe ingredients.

Refreshments will be provided; a freewill donation to Transition Brockville is welcome.

To register for this free workshop, participants need to sign up at the library’s circulation desk, or call the library at 613-342-3936, or write to info@transitionbrockville.com.

How to make natural cleaners

Mother Earth News / Alice Alvrez / February 2018

Keeping your home clean can actually be a pretty toxic experience if you use the typical chemical concoctions that are sold as cleaners these days.

Ingredients like ammonia and bleach are extremely harsh, and the fumes linger in your home long after you’ve done your cleaning. Many less pronounceable substances are mixed in for good measure (like maybe some dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride or trisodium nitrilotriacetate), even though many have been linked to increased cancer rates. Not only do they affect the air quality in your home, these substances end up in the water supply. You can imagine what that will do to the environment.

All you really need around the house is vinegar, baking soda and salt. You can get vinegar at the grocery store in large jugs, and a bulk store should carry baking soda and salt in larger quantities. These three natural ingredients can create a variety of cleaning products that will keep your home clean without the noxious mess.

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