Keeper of the Home » Good stewardship

Get Outdoors and Get in That Sunshine!

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:00:01 +0000

Guest Post by Kait Curran Palmer

Summer is upon most of the Northern Hemisphere at this point--minus the cloud-covered and still-chilly Pacific Northwest--but for the rest of you lovely people you are kicking off your flip flops and getting to have a grand ole time basking in the warmth of long and sun-filled days.

No bitterness here as I sit wearing flannels and a fleece.

None at all...

Seattle drudgery aside, as the kids are out of school and it is the season for “fun in the sun,” I thought I would share some of my favorite outdoor activities with you.

I have to admit I’m a huge Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) fan, and not just because my husband works there. When the CEO Sally Jewel was asked who REI’s competitors are, she replied, “First I define competitors as things that keep people indoors, or keep people from enjoying lifelong outdoor activities. So, competitors include the couch, computers, television, certainly video games […] How many of us grew up camping, participating in Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, playing in the woods, building a tree fort, or digging a swimming pool in the backyard?”

I think she makes a great point, and issues a challenge for us to get off our hineys and take a hike.

Now, I understand not everyone may be a Backpacker Jane willing to forgo toilet paper in favor of leaves whilst chewing a twig of a walnut tree, but I do think everyone has it in them to enjoy God’s beautiful creation. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy the Great Outdoors during the summer months.

One if by Land

Eat dinner on the patio. Experiment with making a kite from paper and sticks then go try to fly it. Pack up a picnic and find a local trail or park to hike around in. If you’re the kind who’s always looking for an opportunity to learn (or teach), check out a local plant/bird/bug guide book from the library and have a competition to see who can spot the most species.

Get out your bike and take a spin with your kids. Build a cardboard fort in your backyard and have a camp out--with or without the kids! Go berry picking and eat the sun-warmed fruit right off the bush (if its pesticide free, of course). The point is to get OUT.

I know for me that when I’m sitting at my desk at work, I’m ready and willing to lace up my boots and hit a trail after work. Come 5:30, though, propping my feet up and watching a movie sounds so much more appealing than lacing up my trail runners. I’ve gotten to where I will call my husband and tell him I want to go on a hike after work, so please make me go even when I gripe and say I don’t want to. He usually has to put up with my begrudging and complaining, but by the time I’m in the middle of the dappled green woods listening to a small creek run downhill, I wonder how a movie ever sounded good compared to this.

If you’re bored to death with your neighborhood park and wondering where else to go, here are a few online resources to search for things to do:

http://www.rei.com/family-adventure

or for an interactive map of family-friendly activities

...by Sea (or lake, or river, or pond…)

Most places are at least semi-near a body of water. Whether it’s an ocean to surf in, a bay to kayak, a lake to canoe or a creek to fish, water and summer just go hand in hand. If you live near the ocean, explore tide pools at low tide. Take a fishing pole and drop a line in a river, listening to the quiet music of nature.

Renting a paddle boat is usually pretty inexpensive and a great way to explore the shores of a lake while still keeping your kids safe and dry. If you want a team-building exercise (or marital-fight-inducer, either way you look at it), try a tandem kayak. Guaranteed to test your mettle and force you to work together...but at least you’re outside, right?

While there aren’t as many online resources for water activities, Google is always a good way to find what’s near you.

http://waterplayusa.com/

Volunteer

No matter where you may live there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer in a field that interests you. Grab a trash bag and join a trail cleanup, offer to walk dogs at a local shelter, help plant native species in an estuary...point is there are lots of options. We are charged to be good stewards of the environment and caretakers of God’s magnificent creation. Spending a few hours picking up trash in a river valley is a way to show your kids a concrete example of that stewardship.

http://www.handsonnetwork.org/
http://www.volunteermatch.org/
http://www.serve.gov/

I found it hard to find one overarching website for Canada, but it seems there are a lot of province-based websites dedicated to volunteerism. Try a search in your specific area to learn how you can volunteer.

Now that you are armed with the resources to find things to do in the long school-less days ahead, get out there and have some fun!

What are your favorite things to do outdoors? How do you motivate yourself when you know you need to get outside and do something?

Kait Curran Palmer has far too much outdoor equipment in her closet but tries to make good use of it by getting out-of-doors with her Mountain Man husband and precocious dog. When she is not romping around outside she is usually reading or writing about finding the adventures in an everyday life at Your Morning Cup.

The quote from Sally Jewell was taken from http://ethix.org/2009/01/01/when-customers-and-shareholders-align/

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Simplicity and Freedom

Emily McClements — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:00:54 +0000

Written by Emily McClements, Contributing Writer

It’s been a little over a year that I have really been pursuing this “frugally green” lifestyle. I still feel very new to it, there is so much I still want to learn about, changes I want to make, and areas that I want to grow in.

But, in other ways, it feels like I have always been on this journey. Now, it’s sometimes hard for me to remember what it was like to wash my hair with conventional shampoo and conditioner, or to use paper towels for cleaning and paper napkins at every meal.

As I reflect on the changes I have made, I realize just how far I have come in a relatively short amount of time. But one of the biggest changes in my life is something that is unseen, imperceptible to those who view my life from the outside looking in. That change is the freedom I have found in pursuing a simpler, more natural, “greener” lifestyle.

Freedom from Materialism

I used to be someone who liked to have nice things, and thought that it mattered. The idea that we are what we have – the kind of car we drive, the size of the house we live in, the clothes and shoes we wear, and even the handbag we carry - is so pervasive in our culture, that we almost don’t realize that it’s there.

In this materialistic culture, our things define us. As I pursue simplicity in my life, I am changing the way that I define my own life and the lives of others.

Instead of looking at the nice things I have, I am trying to define my life by the way that I am loving others, being a good steward of the earth, and glorifying God with my life. Instead of being defined by what I have, I have found freedom in choosing to be defined by what I do.

Freedom from Advertising

I used to be one of those girls who was always looking for the next best thing. I would flip through magazines or watch TV and want to try all the things I would see ads for. The new hair product that would tame my frizzy hair, the newest shoes or purse or jewelry of the season that would make me look well dressed and pulled together, or the latest gadget or product for my home.

I wasted a lot of time, effort and money on things that I thought would make my life better, make me more attractive, make my home more organized.

Some of the freedom from advertising I have found comes from not allowing as much into our home - we watch much less TV than we used to, and I have canceled all of my magazine subscriptions. But, the freedom from advertising I have found has also come from the changes I have made in the products that I use.

Since I started no ‘pooing, I no longer have the need for all different types of hair products. Making my own cleaning products keeps me from wanting to try the newest cleaners that promise to make my bathroom sparkle.

Because I have simplified my life and my home, I just no longer have the desire to find the next best thing. Advertising does not have the pull over me that it used to. Instead of believing the advertisements, I have found freedom in choosing simple products that I know are good for my family and our environment.

Image by JustSomeDust

Freedom from Keeping Up with the Joneses

I also used to be one of those girls that thought that everyone cared what I was wearing, how I looked, and how I acted all the time. I am definitely a people pleaser, and I always wanted to make sure that people liked me.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I still care whether people like me or not, I really don’t want anyone to dislike me, but I have learned how much the world does not revolve around me. And at the same time, I am learning how the actions I take, and choices I make, have an impact outside of myself and my little world.

Now more than caring what others think of me, I am trying to care more about the impact that my actions and choices have on other people and on the world around me. I strive to make choices that are based on my values and view of the world, and not based on what others say is valuable, or what others’ view of me might be. Instead of keeping up with the Joneses, I have found freedom in being conscious of the effects of my actions.

Freedom from Stuff

I used to have stuff just for the sake of having stuff, and we as a family still have more stuff than we really need. Of course, there are basic things we need to live, but don’t we all really have much more than enough stuff? Doesn’t having too much stuff just mean that we need more stuff - to use or enjoy, or organize and store, the stuff?

As we have moved toward living more simply, we have learned that we don’t need all of the stuff that we thought we did. I am always trying to move items from our home into the giveaway and garage sale boxes in our basement. And having less stuff frees me to pursue relationships and other things that I enjoy doing.

I loved Stephanie’s post about learning to live with less, where she says, "Stuff requires time and effort that I'd rather spend elsewhere." Instead of having too much stuff, I have found freedom in learning to be content with what I already have.

While pursuing a simpler lifestyle, my paradigm has shifted in how I live my life, what is important to me, and what I spend my time and energy on. Now, I am free to pursue more ways of simpler living, more ways of being green and frugal.

As my wonderful father always says, “The best things in life are not things at all.” The freedom that is found in simple living allows us to focus on those things (that aren’t really things) that are most important to us in our lives.

How have you found freedom in living simply?

Emily is a blessed wife and mama to two little ones. She is passionate about caring for God’s creation and people by being a good steward of the resources He has provided. As part of her journey towards living more “frugally green” she blogs about the things she is learning and the changes she is making at Live Renewed.

Photo by misskelly

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simplicity in a busy season

Celebrating Earth Day: A Christian Perspective on Stewardship of the Environment

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 10:00:26 +0000

Today I want to celebrate Earth Day by sharing just a bit about why I, as a Christian, care about the environment and choose to put time, money and effort towards practicing mindful stewardship of God's glorious creation.

Here are some of the main reasons that our family has made environmental stewardship a priority as we seek to honor the Lord in all that we do:

1. The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it (Ps 24:1)

Although we have graciously been given this earth to live in and have dominion over, it is not ours. It is His.

When I live and act in a way that shows disregard to that which God has created, I am not honoring Him. It would be unthinkable to be invited to Buckingham Palace to dine with the Queen, and leave a trail of rubbish in my wake. Dirty tissues on the bathroom counter, muddy footprints in the entry, garbage from my purse on the coffee table. We wouldn't dare.

Yet, we think nothing of weekly tossing bulging bags of trash into landfills that dot the countryside and mountains. We use products that seep toxic chemical waste into His pristine rivers, lakes and oceans. Why is it any different?

I love this Abraham Kuyper quote:

"There is not a square inch

in the whole domain of our human existence

over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all,

does not cry: 'Mine!'"

When we begin to view the earth as one of the domains over which Christ sovereignly declares "Mine!", it becomes much harder to ignore the effects of our (often thoughtless) everyday actions, doesn't it?

Image by tibchris

2. Dominion should not equal destruction.

“Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry around the ground.” Genesis 1:28

Multiply. Fill. Govern. Reign.

We have been entrusted with a high and sacred calling to govern over the earth and all that is in it. What a responsibility!

Sadly, we have taken this dominion mandate and used it as justification to do, well, whatever we want. In order to satiate the appetite of our society to have more and have it cheaper and faster, we greedily use up precious natural resources, fill the air, water and soil with dangerous toxic chemicals, raise animals in cruel and harmful ways, consume and then toss our "stuff" into landfills where it will sit for hundreds of years (or longer)...

The word "dominion" means to exercise control. I firmly believe that this earth and its resources have been given to us to have authority over and to use for the benefit of the human race. But rather than taking this as permission to do as we like, we ought to view this authority as a great privelege.

The longer I study natural living, nutrition, the human body, gardening and how things grow... the more in awe I am of our indescribably kind and intelligent Creator. He has given us the most intricate, beautiful world that I could ever imagine.

In my own life, beginning to understand and appreciate His creation has spurred on a much deeper love and respect for God himself. I increasingly long to be more mindful with all that He has graciously given me to steward, and this earth is one of those things.

3. We have a multi-generational vision.

Not one of us knows when the Lord will return. It could be tomorrow. It could be 800 years from now.

I long for Christ to return. Yet should he tarry, what will be left for future generations?

As a family, we have a vision for raising up godly offspring that will serve the Lord and will who will in turn raise up more godly men and women to continue serving the Lord for as long as we should remain on this earth.

Image by Arwen Abendstern

I want my children and grandchildren and grandchildren's children to have an earth that is still inhabitable. One where they can enjoy the good health, bountiful food and the wonders of creation.

This is possible, but it requires something of our generation. To think beyond ourselves. To consider what will remain and endure past our lifetimes. What legacy will we leave for our children and all the generations to follow?

"In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations."

(taken from the Seventh Generation website and the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy)

I celebrate Earth Day, not just because I am some hippie, tree-hugger who wants to save the whales. Indeed, I do want to save the trees and the whales and the rivers and the icecaps and the rainforests and the topsoil.

But not just for the sake of saving them, and not just for the sake of humankind. I want to save them because they are an expression of my glorious God and an important part of His loving provision for His people.

Is this the most important thing for me to focus on as a Christian? No, not at all. There are so many other critically important parts of the Christian life, but that doesn't detract from the fact that this aspect of life is also important and worthy of our thought and effort.

If I am to eat, drink and do all that I do to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31), then it only follows that my lifestyle and actions should also have the goal of bringing glory to God in the ways that they impact His creation.

How important is it to you that you are carefully stewarding the environment? Why do you feel that way?

Image by powi

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29 Ways to Reduce Waste in Your Home (and Save Money While You’re At It)

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:00:49 +0000

Image by rezlab

1. Cloth diaper your baby.

2. Buy in bulk whenever possible.

3. Shop with an eye for packaging, and try to buy only products with minimal or recyclable packaging.

4. Compost your kitchen scraps. (Or try worm composting for those in small abodes)

5. Switch to mama cloth (or reusable feminine products).

6. Go paperless in your kitchen.

7. Eat whole foods, not packaged ones.

8. Make your own simple cleaning supplies, or buy ones that are concentrated.

9. Use reusable shopping bags and produce bags.

Image by andrewarchy

10. Buy used whenever possible (especially children's items).

11. Have less stuff (and learn to love it)!

12. Buy reusable water bottles (for your kids, too), rather than buying water in plastic bottles.

13. Learn to creatively re-purpose things you don't need anymore.

14. Before recycling household paper, turn it into note-sized paper for grocery lists, to-do's, etc.

15. When something is broken, try to repair it before buying a replacement.

16. If you must use disposables, try sustainable and earth-friendly varieties.

17. Bring your own travel mug to your local coffee shop (and when you're planning to sit and sip, ask for a mug rather than a paper cup).

18. Use rechargeable batteries.

19. Use a battery operated razor (or at least use razors with replaceable heads, rather than disposables).

Image by Steve Snodgrass

20. Choose to have your bills and bank statements sent to you online, instead of by mail.

21. Breastfeed your baby.

22. Have your printer ink cartridges refilled instead of purchasing new ones.

23. Consider your current recycling habits and see if there's anything else you could add to what you're already doing.

24. If you need an item for a short time only, see if you can borrow it from someone.

25. Get a reusable coffee filter to replace your paper filters.

26. Use loose leaf teas with a french press instead of tea bags.

27. Save and reuse all gift bags and tissue paper from gifts that you receive.

28. Make your own baby food.

29. Give away or sell things you don't need.

Is there one thing on this list that you think you could add to what you're already doing? And by all means, please add to my list!

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Reducing Waste with Earth-Friendly Disposables

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:00:11 +0000

Does it seem just a little bit contradictory to suggest that you can reduce waste by choosing to use disposables?

Most of the conversation so far this month on the topic of reducing waste has centered around choosing products that can be used over and over (Cutting Down on Waste in the Kitchen, Homemade Cloth Diaper Pattern and Reducing Waste by Choosing Cloth Diapers).

There are times, though, when the convenience of a disposable is ideal. On trips or at celebrations like birthdays or other large parties. For those wanting to choose products that are simple, sustainable and that play a role in stewarding the earth well, it's important to know that there are other options out there.

Disposable convenience that won't sit in a landfill.

Last summer, we attended the wedding of a Christian couple, who are very conscious of the consumer choices that they make. To serve their guests at the dinner reception, they opted for unbleached, sustainably produced and compostable plates, napkins and cutlery. It was so fitting and beautiful to me that their desire to honor the Lord in all their choices came through even in the way that they served their wedding dinner.

I regretted that I didn't find out the name of the products that they used, and so I was thrilled when I was asked to review a local company, Saakori, that is doing the same thing!

These plates are made of fallen palm leaves. They are simply pressed into shape in a heated press, without the use of any chemicals. When you're finished with them, they can be put in the compost pile.

And the end result? Earth-friendly, sustainable, yet disposable plates and bowls that are so gorgeous and unique looking I hated to have to discard of mine after using them!

Though I usually use my regular plates and mugs, I used Saakori plates to serve the members of the church caregroup that we host in our home. Everyone agreed that it was such a great idea and they commented on how sturdy the plates were as well.

Tanuja of Saakori was also kind enough to send me some of her mesh, reusable produce bags, another fantastic way to decrease waste by avoiding plastic produce bags.

I already enjoy using mesh produce bags from my Moukisac, but thought that these bags were wonderful as well. They have a slightly larger and softer style mesh than my other ones, and I'm not sure that I have a preference between the two.

I've noticed that when I use either mesh bag, my produce seems to stay fresher for longer, and I just love getting through the cash register without a wad of plastic bags!

Disposables for me?

On the whole, I prefer to buy and use only products that can be reused. I know that most of you feel the same way.

There are, in my opinion, the odd times where a sustainable disposable option just might be a good fit. I often cringe when I go to church gatherings or other places where disposable dishes and cups are used, including styrofoam, the worst offender of all. Yet I understand the practicality of why disposables are the preferred options for these events.

The cost is higher, naturally. Products like these aren't mass produced in the same way as the paper and styrofoam plates that you find in the grocery store. They can be purchased in bulk or wholesale by special order, which definitely helps to make them more affordable.

It would thrill me to no end to see churches, businesses and other organizations begin to use more sustainable products like these, and what a difference it could make to the amount of chemicals used and trash put out for each picnic, party or gathering held.

Am I dreaming? Maybe. But we each play a part by the choices that we make as consumers and the products that we support.

Are you a fan of disposable items? Would it be worth it to you to purchase products like these instead of conventional paper plates, cups, etc.?

Most images are taken from the Saakori website.

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Reducing Waste by Using Cloth Diapers

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:00:34 +0000

Image by mhofstrangd

Post by Contributing Writer Sherrie Cook

For years prior to 1961, parents used cloth diapers on their children because there was no other option. Since the 60’s, paper diapers have grown with such popularity that many moms now choose them because they, too, think there is no other option.

Ten years ago I began my own personal search for a cloth diapering alternative in our modern world. I hit so many brick walls that I began to wonder if the reason was perhaps because there was something wrong with cloth diapering. Were these diapers unsanitary? Maybe all the extra laundry was too much work. Could it be that moms had finally grown weary of diaper dunking?

It didn’t take me long to decide that diapering babies using cloth must now be an archaic, extinct notion. The days of plastic pants and safety pins had been replaced with the quality and functionality of disposables. We, as a nation, had obviously arrived in diaper utopia.

However, I couldn’t help but wonder…what cost would we now pay for such luxury? It quickly became apparent to me after a few trips to the grocery store. Upon bringing my Tigger & Pooh stamped paper diapers home, I realized exactly the price to be paid – too much!

Just as that package of diapers was walking through my front door, I found myself exchanging it for a garbage bag full of its soiled predecessors. Essentially, I was throwing away my money. How much was I actually wasting? You might be surprised to learn – cloth vs. disposable diapers: a good estimate.

Twenty-two years ago it was estimated that over the course of a single year, 18 billion paper diapers were sold and used in the United States alone.1 For a family with a child in diapers, the diapering portion makes up approximately 50% of their entire household trash content.1 What a waste!

And that waste is willing to stick around for a while, too. It has been predicted that it could take 250 to 500 years for a single disposable diaper to decompose.2 That’s not the legacy I want to leave for my great, great, great grandchildren – ick!

Image by zenac

Steps to switching to cloth diapers for less waste:

1. Research your cloth options. The hardest part can be getting started. Visit forums where moms flock to talk about cloth. I love the Diaper Jungle and Stephanie’s cloth diapering section in her forum!

2. Learn how to wash cloth diapers. (It’s not as hard as you think, I promise.)

3. Pick 1 or 2 diapers to try and let the fun begin! If you can sew, consider making your own diapers. (CAUTION: some moms claim they have developed a cloth diaper addiction.)

4. Enjoy the ride to reducing waste by using cloth diapers regularly.

For those who cloth diaper, what was it that brought you to that decision? For those who don't, what holds you back?

1Lehrburger, Carl. 1988. Diapers in the Waste Stream: A review of waste management and public policy issues. 1988. Sheffield, MA: self-published.

2Link, Ann. Disposable nappies: a case study in waste prevention. April 2003. Women's Environmental Network.

Sherrie is a wife, mother, peer counselor, speaker and author. She enjoys helping fellow moms in their quest for a simple, God-centered home for their natural living families. She notes her (hopefully) helpful hints at The Proverbial Woman.

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Upcoming: Four Families are Going to Get a Real Food Makeover!

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:00:05 +0000

Image by Nina Matthews Photography

**Update- I have had a huge response- thank you so much everyone! I won't be accepting any more email applications for this, but will be choosing from those who have already contacted me!**

Is your family trying to make healthy changes towards real, whole foods and in need of some direction? Do you know that changes need to be made but you're unsure of what to do first or where to start?

This April, I am planning to take the different scenarios and circumstances of 4 different families. I want to help each of them by offering very practical, tangible suggestions to keep them moving on the road towards greater health and stewardship of their bodies by improving what they eat!

I will spend a bit of time getting to know each family through email and will then offer suggestions in areas like:

Changing their shopping habits
Choosing a few specific foods to get rid of or add to how they currently eat
Knowing which would be the most beneficial next steps that the could make
Ideas for menu planning and types of meals to include
Any other tips I have that might help to make these changes stick!

Each week in April I will share about one family, giving you some background so that you can understand who they are and where their health and eating habits are currently at. Then I will share my suggestions for them- nothing fancy and long-winded, just simple, practical and hopefully helpful ideas!

My goal is to not only help these specific families, but to offer all of you some direction and suggestions for wherever you might be at in your real foods journey. By reading my recommendations for others in similar situations, you may glean some takeaway ideas for your own family, and I pray that will be the case!

If your family is interested in being considered as one of the four families to receive a Real Food Makeover, please email me and include in your subject "Real Food Makeover". Due to time constraints and the need to keep my family first, I will only be contacting those families that I have selected to be featured on my blog, but thank you to everyone in advance for putting yourself out there by applying and for pursuing more ways that you can serve your family and honor the Lord!

What types of suggestions and tips would be most helpful to your own family in your journey towards real, nourishing, whole foods?

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Cutting Down on Waste in the Kitchen: Tossing the Paper

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:00:58 +0000

Photo credit: Sklathill

This is our second contributing writer's post, from Beth Corcoran. I asked her to write on a topic related to cutting down on waste, which is one of the themes this month at Keeper of the Home. I love Beth's easy-going and relaxed approach to using cloth in her kitchen.

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The kitchen is probably my favorite room in my house. I spend a lot of time in there every day. After all, with four kids, I have a lot of meals to cook, meals to eat, dishes to wash, and tables and chairs to wipe down. But one day a few years ago, I realized that food was not the only thing being consumed in my kitchen. With all that cooking and eating and washing and wiping, we were also using up a whole bunch of disposable paper goods!

To me, it just seemed to make sense to get away from using disposable paper goods because it would save a lot of money. (Have you seen how much paper towels cost?!) But eventually it struck me odd that our family used and threw away that much trash when there is a perfectly reasonable and easy way to avoid it—using cloth instead of paper. So, a couple of years ago, our family made the “conversion” to have a paperless kitchen. It was a process. I didn’t switch everything over in one day, but once I saw how easy it was, I was eager to adopt more non-consumable alternatives to paper.

There are many ways to cut down on waste in the kitchen. Here are two of my favorite!

Use Cloth Dishrags Instead of Paper Towels.

My husband I both grew up in families where the weekly grocery shopping trip included buying a huge package of paper towels. And if you have grown up in a Western culture, chances are that you did, too! So, I thought that when we switched to cloth dish rags for washing dishes and wiping everything down, that I would find it very inconvenient. And I was sure that I would hear protests from my husband, as well. But I found out that using cloth rags is actually very easy as long as you have a good system for keeping up with them.

Our dishrags have come from all over. Some are old wash cloths from the bathrooms. Others are our daughter’s old (and well cleaned!) cloth wipes from when we used cloth diapers. I have also knit and crocheted a whole bunch of dish rags in fun colors and designs. It just spruces up the dish washing experience.

I have a whole bunch of them, and I try to have enough so that I can use several per day and not have to constantly wash them or be tempted to reach for a paper towel. I keep them all in a pretty little basket under the kitchen sink. When I need a new rag, I just reach for the basket instead of the paper towel roll. So there is no extra effort needed.

When I am finished with a rag, I put it in a bowl that I keep on top of my dryer. All the dirty kitchen cloth items go in that bowl. Whenever I do a load of laundry, I just toss the contents of that bowl in the washer, too. (Note: This is okay for me to do because I use gentle, natural cleaners that won’t hurt my clothes. But if you use harsher chemicals or anything with bleach in it to clean your kitchen, you’re going to want to wash your rags separately!) It is really easy to keep up with cleaning my rags, and as a mother of four, I always have enough laundry to do, so I’ve never had to worry about the rags sitting for long periods of time and mildewing.

As a side note, I do still keep a roll of paper towels out for guests that come over—especially those who come over to babysit. A lot of people still feel insecure about using rags to clean up instead of paper towels, and I want to make them feel welcome. But, they are the only ones that use that roll of paper towels, so it takes us months to finish the roll. But I have felt that I didn’t want to sacrifice hospitality just to prove that we could go completely paperless in our kitchen.

Photo credit: evilmidori

Use Cloth Napkins.

Again, this was something that I never grew up around as a child. For us, cloth napkins were for fancy restaurants and Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. But someone gave us a set of cloth napkins as a wedding gift, and that’s what got the ball rolling. Whenever we were first married, I would lay out the cloth napkins whenever I would make a nice meal. All other nights, we would just use paper napkins.

But it was a lot of fun using the cloth napkins, so I ventured out and bought some more. I am ashamed to say, but I probably paid way too much for some fancy cloth napkins. But as our family has grown, I’ve started to understand that we don’t all need matching fancy napkins to have a good meal. Now, I am always on the lookout for good napkin deals. I buy them on clearance, after holidays, at the Salvation Army, or wherever I can find a good deal.

I have lots of different patterns for our every day napkins, and I do have some nicer matching sets that I save for guests and holidays. We keep them all in a drawer next to the table, and when my kids set the table, they always compete to get their favorite patterns. I think it makes for a memorable family tradition. And when dinner is over, my five year old son’s job is to clear off all the napkins and put them in the bowl on top of the dryer. It’s as easy as that!

And I love cloth napkins because, not only does it cut down on trash and wasted money, but it adds color and love to our family table.

I am the mother of four children—two girls and two boys, ages 7, 6, 5, and 2 ½. While not homeschooling or chauffeuring the kids to their activities, I enjoy all kinds of craft projects and learning how to be a better steward of all that the Lord has given me. My blog is stewardshipnotconvenience.blogspot.com.

What ways do you try to cut down on waste in your kitchen?

Our Sponsors:

Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

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It’s (About) Time for a Change

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:00:16 +0000

Photo credit robyn michelle-lee lifestyle photography

There's a change coming. It's been coming for a long time and I'm sorry that it's taken me so long.

I need to apologize to you all. For the past two years, I have been a member of the BlogHer ad network. I need to state right away that there is nothing wrong with BlogHer or with any other blogger who is a member of their network. Not in the slightest. They're fantastic ladies, a great ad network and I found them wonderful to work with.

The problem is with me.

I knew that 90% of the ads didn't really sit right with me. Yes, I opted out of some of the ones that were particularly not something that I wanted on my blog. But I also let a lot of other ads run anyways, even though they were something that I would never buy myself and would not actually want to promote.

Funny thing is, allowing the ads to be up on my site is pretty much condoning them, isn't it? Ouch.

I've known for a long time that I needed to leave the ad network and branch out on my own. Truth is, I was scared to. It takes a lot of hard work to run your own ads, and there is a significantly greater degree of risk involved.

This past month, however, God really convicted me that what I was doing was absolutely not serving my readership and was undermining the integrity of my blog and the topics and products that I share about.

Remember, stewardship applies to all areas of life and that would include the way that I am stewarding the awesome privelege of writing this blog and sharing the things that I am learning with so many other women. It is a great responsibility and in this area, I have not been faithful.

Can I just say that I'm sorry? Sorry for not putting my responsibility to be honest and integral with my readers above my desire to keep bringing in a reliable source of income. Sorry for exposing you to ads for things that I would never personally recommend to you.

All that is changing on March 1st. I am now running entirely private ads. The only things that you will see on my site from now on are either paid ads that I have personally chosen to run, or affiliate ads and links for companies that I believe in and would buy from (or do buy from) myself.

My criteria for accepting advertisements will now be for companies and products that fit well within the parameters of what my blog is about: natural and sustainable living products, real/traditional foods, books on Christian living or real food or natural living, small family-run businesses, homemaking helps, etc.

I am so excited to kick my first month off with advertisers like:

ListPlanIt (fabulous organization pages that I use all the time)
HopeInk Scripture Art (encouraging and inspirational and hanging in my own home)
Moukisac (a 6-in-1 reusable bag system that I have and love!)
It Starts at Home (a new book from Moody Publishers, intended to help parents learn to disciple their children)
Vintage Remedies (the fabulous reference book on herbs and natural remedies that I recently reviewed)
Your ad here (only one left- do you want it? Email me at stephanie (at) keeperofthehome (dot) org)

That's much more like it, isn't it? Phew... I feel so relieved.

The wonderful bonus? I have already seen God's hand of blessing as I've made this move, confirming that it was indeed the right thing to do. He is so full of abounding grace and kindness.

Thank you, everyone, for your continued support of this little corner of the blogosphere. You make it so worthwhile.

Our Sponsors:

Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

You might also enjoy:

Living Simply Saturday: A Change of Pace

How I Plan to Keep Blog Time in Check

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:00:31 +0000

Image by DeclanTM

Based on my recent announcement that I'm going to be scaling back a little on my blogging efforts, and the absolutely enormous (and incredibly encouraging) response that I received, I thought I would just share a few thoughts on how I am working to keep blog work minimal while I continue to keep up my blog:

Write shorter posts- If I notice that I post is getting too long and I can't finish it as I'd like to within the time that I have available, I will either just ditch part of the post OR turn it into a multiple part series. Either way, I can finish up more quickly and call it done.
Write more stream-of-consciousness posts- Posts that are very information/research/link heavy tend to take several hours to write, edit and format. I will be doing these posts less frequently and will work on them a little at a time. Instead, I will be writing more posts that are just from my life and personal experience. These tend to be faster and easier to write, and still allow me to focus on subjects that I am really passionate about!
Give myself more strict time guidelines- I am setting a time each afternoon when I will be finished with blog work, whether the kids are up or not. Even if they're not up, I will stop work so that I can focus on other things that need to be done for my family or home. I think that I will start using a timer to accomplish this, because I need that tangible signal that my time is done! Anyone know of a good, online timer?
Try the Moms' 30 Minute Blog Challenge- I saw this at Steady Mom a while back and thought what a great idea... how on earth would I write and publish a post in 30 minutes??? I still sort of wonder, but I'm going to try. If I can write posts in 30 minutes that would be a great help in allowing me to continue blogging!
Worry less about including lots of images- I will still include images in my posts, but I won't worry so much if a post only has 1 image and doesn't look quite as "professional"
Try some different types of posts- I was inspired by Kimi's video post. What a fun idea and a great way to answer some questions or talk about a subject without taking a long time to write up a thorough post. I will also try doing some posts that are more image based and have less words. It's editing the writing that usually takes the most time, but images are a bit easier. (It's when I try to include both a lot of writing AND images that I get really bogged down!)
Stay strict on my "no blogging on the weekends" rule- And I think I will try to add that rule to the evenings as well. It really, really helps me to keep things more simple and manageable when I keep my blog time restricted to only certain times or the day or week.

For all those who agreed that they need to cut back on blogging and focus more on their families and other primary responsibilities, what are some of the ways that you will achieve this?

Guess what? I completed this post in 30 minutes for the Moms' Blog Challenge! Well, maybe it took about 34 minutes, but not bad for a first try!

Our Sponsors:

Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

You might also enjoy:

Living Simply Saturdays: Keeping the toy mess in check