Grover's Are Going Green!!!

Dat Right.  (that is how my grandson Noah says it)  We have taken more serious steps lately, at doing more to live our lives with less waste, and be more pro active with our "living green."  We have always recycled.  I even won an award given by our city for recycling properly and actively.   I still get teased about that by my sister in law Glenda.   I have been composting seriously for about 1 year now.  Not much goes into the garbage.  The scraps go into the heap, the chickens eat any produce that we don't.  I try to not purchase plastics that I don't need.   And when I do, I reuse them somehow.  I use all of those plastic salad tubs that things like spinach come in, to organize and store fabric in my sewing room.  It keeps it clean, and is also see through for easy access.  I have been making my own laundry detergent for awhile.  It is easy and makes a bunch.  And most importantly, it works quite well.  Today, I made my own liquid soap.  It was my second attempt.  The first recipe I tried did not thicken.  I wanted to use Mrs. Meyers Basil Soap, but could not find it in bar form anywhere.  But if you use a good quality soap, you should have a nice liquid soap in the end.  Here is what I used.
1 bar high quality soap ( I used Yardley, Aloe and Cucumber )
10 cups of water
1 T glycerin

 I used a large pot, heated the water to a medium high, and then got to work grating the soap.  You need only ONE cup of the soap curls, not the whole bar.  I saved the rest in a jar for later.  I grated the soap onto a sheet of waxed paper, and then used that to pour into measuring cup, and then into pot of hot water. Add 1 T of liquid glycerin.  Stir a bit til melted.  Takes only a few minutes.  Shut off heat, and let cool completely.

When it is cooled, it will have solidified some, and look very thick, like this.

I took a wire whisk and blended it, and even added about 1/4 cup water to thin a little bit.  I used a funnel to pour into an empty water bottle to store.  I had one empty pump bottle and filled this up, and will store the rest until I need it.

This made about 1/2 gallon of liquid refill.  Plenty for us.   So for the cost of one bar of soap, 1.79 cents at Walgreens, and some liquid glycerin (already had some) you can make enough liquid soap to last for many months.
I am also trying to use less baggies, and paper products in our house.  I seldom ever use paper plates, because, well, I do not like them.  Summer time bbq's aside, I really don't even buy them.  I can't imagine ever being able to live without using paper towels and paper napkins, but I try to use them infrequently.  The other day we had our "Knitty Bitties" group and we always bring a sak lunch and eat together.   I made my sandwich, and wrapped it in waxed paper.  Packed my crackers in a mason jar.  Lined my Longaberger basket with my cloth napkin, and an apple with some nut butter.  (plastic package of nut butter, NOT GREEN)

We use energy efficient lightbulbs.  Try to conserve on water usage.  Composte and use composted earth in garden.  I use chicken poo as fertilizer for my veggies and flowers.  I put it into the composte bin to break down and speed the decomposition of food scraps and yard waste.  If I use it directly on flowers or veggies, I make a tea.  I scoopa da poopa right into a bucket, then add water and stir to a perfect fertilizer!
So what kinds of things are you doing to leave a smaller footprint on Mother Earth?
Now, before I post these next pictures, I have to preface this by saying that my husband and kids ALWAYS say that I keep our house cold enough to hang meat!  I say....I like the fresh air!!!  Well yesterday we had a cold rain all day.  Noah was sick, so I kept my windows shut to keep him comfortable.  But when he went home, open they went!!!  I love to listen to the rain.  And I was perfectly cozy in a pair of sweats!!  Greg got home and changed to go out and collect firewood for a fire, saying, "YOU CAN SEE  YOUR BREATH IN HERE!"  I just laughed.  And may have called him a sissy.
He came out like this!!!

A thermal underneath a sweatshirt.  A fur lined flap cap, tightly secured at the chin.  And a head lamp for finding his way outside to get wood in the dark!  I was in hysterics!!!  Come on...REALLY?

Isn't he cute?  He got the fire roaring, and I slid into the best seat in the house.  The big easy chair right smack dab in front of the fire.  Ahhhhhh, nice!!

I did not have Noah today.  He is very sick with flu.  Poor baby.  I did go bring supplies earlier and sit with him while Erika ran to the market for some things.  He is so sick.  Sure hope he feels better soon.  And I hope we don't get it!!!! 
I am enjoying this nice chilly weather we are having.  Even though I am preparing for Spring, we didn't get nearly enough winter, and I will enjoy whatever we get.
Have a great evening.
XO  Kris