Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Those closest to me know that I desire to live on a self sustaining homestead. While our current home allows us to take some of the steps in that direction, it won't allow us complete self sufficiency.

 

One homesteading skill we are mastering while here is limiting, and hopefully eliminating waste. The less trash we have the less we have to find a way to dispose of it and the better it is for the environment. What do we do?
 

 

 

REDUCE

No one time use items (diapers, paper plates, napkins, trash bags)

Rechargeable batteries (about 75% of them)

Cloth shopping bags (about 50% of what we need)

Buy more whole foods with less packaging

 

REUSE

All paper/cardboard is shredded to line cages

Feed animals kitchen scraps

Compost animal waste, egg crates, dirty hay (we even have a worm bin!)

Compost used for potting and fertilizing

Crochet plastic bags in to garden knee mats and reusable shopping bags

Milk jugs are filled with laundry detergent I sell

All strings, rubber bands, paper clips, etc. are saved for reuse

Plastic produce containers are washed and saved to share home grown produce
Most plastic containers turn into seedling containers

Juice jugs become watering cans

Our rabbits eat out of old crockpot insert and sleep in a large dog crate

My potting table is made from an old door

An extra dresser became animal feed and supply storage
Old kids boots become planters

Turn as much as possible into craft projects

 

RECYCLE

most metals

all glass that hasn't been repurposed or reused

some plastics I haven't found a way to repurpose

 

We currently fill our trash can about once per week. For a family of 7 that's not to bad. My current goal is only produce one bag every 2 weeks, ultimately no trash. Our recycling is at one paper sack a week, I'd also like to cut that in half.

 

Not only is practicing the 3 Rs good for the environment and homesteading plans, it's also good on the pocketbook. I've filled many needs and wants with repurposed items so I didn't have to spend money on something. Also, with less trash out put, a smaller trash can is needed which saves money EVERY MONTH!