Friendcycle

I have a large cone of pink fluffy yarn which needs a good home. It's *very* fine - single ply and what I'd guess was laceweight. It would make a lovely fine shawl if someone were feeling that way inclined. I've no idea what fibre it is, but I'm guessing acrylic. But a fairly nice acrylic.

Any takers?

Zero Waste Update

Well, I think the zero waste project happened just at the right time. I'm not at all sure that the wagons are going to make it through our road. My chickeny friends husband works on the bin wagons and he says that it's dreadful. He's working 12 hour days just to get the bare essential done. However, they are still trying their best, so I'll try putting our previously full bin out on Tuesday and see what happens.

Bad news on the bottled milk front. Looks like they've switched to plastic cartons too. So there's absolutely no point in switching to deliveries. Boo. Hiss. It would seem that the only solution is buying a goat, and much as I'd love to, I am very aware of how impossible that would be. I have come to realise that it's actually comparitively easy to go zero waste for a fortnight, but that there are other things which are more problematical - I have waste bins with non-burnable things in.  I don't empty these every week anyway, but on a longer scale, I need to address their use completely. Things to do in the future:

Soap/Shampoo/Bathroom Thingummies

I am going to use up what we already have and recycle the containers.  I will then invest in some nice essential oils and have a go at making shampoo bars, soap and shower gels myself.  By using the right kinds of essential oils and homegrown herbs I can make nice smelling things without grungy parabens and which address some of our health needs (tea-tree oil & rosemary for anti-dandruff etc.).  I don't have a shortage of jars and tubs in which to store these things.

Cleaning Products

I have too many icky things which I squirt on surfaces.  I am going to use up what I have and then buy white vinegar, lemons and baking soda in large amounts.  This will be easier to do when I am out of rented accommodation and no longer needing to clean using products that someone else requires (bleach etc.)

Meat

I need to use the local butcher more.  As soon as we move and I rediscover all my plastic tubs, I shall make a once a week voyage to the butcher in the next village.  We're eating less meat anyway, but they also do nice cheese, so I can stock up on that as well...

Unwanted Stuff

I am very aware that we have lotsandlotsandlots of stuff.  We have enough furniture to furnish two large houses, for example.  We will need to find good homes for things.  I envision the phrase "Friendcycle" appearing a lot in the subject lines of future posts :-)  Whilst there is a lot of stuff that we do want to keep, we will have excess which needs to be homed well.  As Telynor will attest, our garages have just about everything that anyone could want, so if you have a current lack in your house, let us know and if we have a spare, we shall earmark it for you.  Time is likely to be in short supply for us, so if you can pick things up we would be very happy about it.  But right now, most stuff is in storage, so have a think and we'll let you know if we have a spare one that you could have (ie. Fleetfootmike saying, "J. has grown out  of his bed.  As soon as we sell his current one, we will buy a new one."  My response: "Don't buy one!!!  Have one!!!  We've got four spares!!!").

Right, I need to do the washing up and sing bits of Talis Kimberley's forthcoming "The Hearth and the Hive" to myself.  I'll be much happier when it's released in February and I can buy and listen to a copy instead of humming it to myself!!!