What Keeps You From Living A Sustainable Life?

I try piece by piece to make my life more in line with nature. But that sounds so cliche', and defining a sustainable lifestyle is not totally cut and dry. There are variations, nuances, and debates as to what a truly natural lifestyle is...

but by your own definition (which I'd love if you'd share too) what is the thing that most keeps you from being able to fully partake, live, and love a sustainable, earth aligned life?

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For me there are many more things I would like to do to be light footed on this planet. Not because I think the earth won't ever recover from our mistakes but because it feels right, it is something I can pass on to the people who will be born long after I die. Less pollution for their bodies, less disease for all living things. I can pass on cleaner water and fresher air.

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Here is my list::::

• I would like to be off electricity, off grid (aka i want solar panels or a complete non electric set up).
• I would like to have classes on identifying all native plants in my area.
• I would like to learn to hunt for protein foods (aka, less grocery dependence).

Here is what keeps me from having accomplished these goals::::

• MONEY .... solar panels cost big bucks
• money.... no seems to teach this shit for free
• Money..... ditto from above

Tell me your lists and thoughts, what is your biggest obstacle? If it's money, tell me your second biggest too!

DIY: White Trash Jungle Jean Shorts

Yesterday when I was working around the cabin I ripped the knee of yet another freakin' pair of organic jeans! Luckily I got them for a nominal price off e-bay, so I had no problem turning the ailing denim into a pair of short shorts! In fact, I was kinda waiting for something like this to happen so I could try out my idea....
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MATERIALS NEEDED:

• old jeans
• scissors
• string, ribbon, hemp, cord or something similar
• hammer & nail w/ small piece of wood (OR) an awl

STEP 1: I took a pair of shorts that already fit me so I could get a basic measurement for the length of my new jean shorts... only with denim it's better to cut a lil' extra first cause you can always cut more off later after trying them on.
I added an extra 2 inches (plus) when I cut the length, cause I wanted to be able to roll them up.

STEP 2: I then took my side seams and cut them completely open. Since the jeans were a little loose on me, i cut out an extra quarter inch to help them tighten up (once I laced them back together.)

STEP 3: Since I don't yet own an AWL, I decided to use a hammer and nail with a piece of wood to punch holes up the side seams. These holes are going to be used to lace up the sides of the shorts like a corset.

STEP 4: For laces I used chemical free brain tanned buckskin, in order to make the ends easy to lace with I put a tiny bit of oil on the edge and then burned it. This makes the brain tanned buckskin harden and can be used as it's own needle.

I laced evenly up the sides using the holes punches with the hammer and nail....

Once I laced from bottom to top, I simply tied a knot at the top, then did the other side of the shorts exactly the same way.

Best CheCk It BeFoRe Ya Wreck It!

These jean shorts are the best kind of rock -n- roll jungle safari trash style!!! And with those laces, it's adjustable! :)))

FINISHED SASS & TRASH SHORTS :::::::

YAY!!!! Now time to go back to work, and I hope these don't rip like the jeans did...

XOXOXoox

Man In a Mini House

I met this guy, let's call him "Mikey", living in the tiniest of all tiny spaces eva' ... and even though he was not necessarily keen on his tiny house situation I found the basics of his survival to be poetic and just plain cool.
His temporary home in the 'shed' house can't be more then 6 feet by 12 feet... (give or take 2 feet on each side cause i didn't measure) with no running water or real electric source, just an extension cord for a basic thing or two. Mikey washes his hands in the creek below his tiny abode, the creek he has made into a rock landscaped personal oasis for himself.
When he tried running a heater inside the house, the uncovered eaves had invited all types of insects and birds into the roof - so wasps and ladybugs began squeezing out the ceiling cracks, and he'd wake up to a wasp resting on his pillow. He chose not to spray them though cause of the birds making their nests in there too. Instead he makes a fire at night to warm up to outside.
Mikey is a naturalist, private kind of guy - just him and his really sweet dog. I really enjoyed warming by the fire and petting the dog, the dog liked sitting on my feet and putting it's tail dangerously close to the fire. I liked dreaming of tiny house living.

Normally I'd talk about how much people LOVE their tiny eco savvy homes, but Mikey does not like it... there is still so much potential in that simple structure, which was built for "jus' $900" ... i could see a wood stove being put underneath, walling in the bottom to have two tiny stories in the space, the bottom being for heat and cooking, the top for resting. With all the free supplies you can get on craigslist these days, building this kind of tiny structure, or just finishing up an existing one like this could be done virtually for free.

Do any of ya'll have a favorite mini house?! What is the smallest space you'd be willing to live?

XoXo

Set Up Yo Crib For Free Using Craigslist!

Did ya ever notice on Craigslist (the ultimate free classifieds of the interwebs) there is a section where people give stuff away for free? Reminiscent of New York City garbage nights, you could fill an empty house up in one week by scouting the consumer overflow on the free section of craigslist in your city - for all your furnishings and hobbies! Including your moving boxes (cause there's so much free shit to pick up you might need some boxes)!

So, you might wanna get that Free Tv and then realize you have nowhere to put it.... but oh, here is a free black entertainment center to put it on. Of course, you need a lazy boy or couch to sit back and relax on while you watch your free TV and all those free old school VHS tapes. And a free dog or cat(maybe rabbit) to keep ya warm and loved, right??
You can blow dry your dog's fur after giving him a bath, and then go to bed on your free mattress propped up on your free wooden futon frame. When you wake up refreshed from your nap, you can start your gardening project with your free gardening tools, and build your compost pile and raised beds with some free tractor tires and free leaf mulch. Plus catch some rain water in your free 55 gallon drums. If gardening doesn't suit ya, cause it's freezing cold out, you can always start sewing on your free sewing machine!!! Or maybe learn some new recipes on your free electric stove and put ya leftovers in your free fridge.
Talk about saving big $$ on the common modern day luxuries and pastimes! And super eco not to have to rely on walmart and other big box stores to deliver the goods for you.


plus there is always next week... when more clothes, pianos, animals, furniture, Tv's, and services are offered for free! (Always beware of scammers and spammers on craigslist, and otherwise partake in the FREE LOADING!)

XoXo