Different Ways to Save Water

This came in the mail yesterday.

Water meters will be installed in our neighborhood this fall, to be be activated in 2010. [scary organ music plays as I look at the 25,000 gallon pool]

Since I have no idea how this will affect the budget, we're ramping up our conservation efforts now.

Everybody knows to turn off the water while brushing teeth, to take showers instead of baths, and so on. Here are some different ideas that you might want to try:

Don’t flush kleenex, smooshed bugs, or deceased aquarium fish. The outside trash will do just fine for all of these.

Instead of running the garbage disposal, put veggie peelings in the outside garbage or the compost bin.

Scrape plates instead of rinsing them before loading the dishwasher.

When you change the fishtank water, use the “old” water for the garden. Veggies and flowers love fishy-poo water.

At a restaurant, only ask for water if you’re actually going to drink it.

When you make (or buy) laundry soap or dishwasher soap, use the powdered form. The liquid version is the same thing, just with water added.

Put extra ice cubes in your houseplants instead of dumping them in the sink.

But don’t:
Put your pasta or veggie cooking water on your plants if you put salt in it. Salt is a plant killer!

Put a brick in your toilet tank for water displacement. Any particles that wear off the brick can mess up your plumbing. Use a milk jug filled with rocks or this cool controllable flush doohicky.

Is anybody else thirsty?

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!"

Wash your baseball cap in the dishwasher. Remove it before the drying cycle, stuff with a towel to hold its shape and let it dry on the counter or outside in the sun.

This Means War

Day 84. The enemy’s numbers are increasing. Our watermelon home base is overrun and they’re gaining in strength every day.


I’ve tried everything. Waterboarding has no effect on them.


In a bold flanking maneuver, they’ve come into the side of the planter box and fried the zucchini.


Desperate times call for desperate measures. I’m escalating to insecticidal soap and neem oil tomorrow.


They’re making me verrrry angry...

5 Ways to Make Extra Money

Don’t be shy about using your hobbies or interests to make money--everyone’s moaning about the economy, but people are still spending. A friend who has been doing calligraphy for years recently turned it into a successful business. Walk dogs, organize closets, mow lawns…you’d be surprised what people will pay for if you ask.


Can you program a cell phone or set up an iPod? You’re several steps ahead of most of the population. Bonus points if you can set up a wireless network (I had to bribe a friend with Rice Krispy Treats to get this done).

Scrapbookers—there are a zillion people out there who have photos, but no time or materials. If you already have the supplies, make the most of ‘em! Design some sample pages and ask friends for referrals. Or rent your Cricut or other equipment to trusted people for a few dollars a day.

Do you sew? Ask around and see how much places charge to hem pants and do other simple repairs. You can probably beat their prices, since you don’t have to pay for a store and advertising. Or match their prices and provide pickup/drop-off service (which is easy if your customers are your co-workers).


Babysit. If you know any parents, you know they need a date night. And they’d rather have someone they know watching their little Snookums than a random teenager who’ll be texting the whole time anyhow. (Photo credit: Reanna Lacy, another friend making money from her hobby.)

If you use a lot of a product, consider becoming a rep for that company (think Avon, etc). You can get your products at a lower price and possibly make money selling to friends. Investigate carefully, though—you don’t want to get involved in frequent meetings that chew up your time and gas money to attend.

There are tons of ideas out there and plenty of money to be made. So next time somebody says, “I wish I could get somebody to ________”, step up and line your pockets with some green!

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!"

Does the government owe you money? They just might. Check this federal website for a list of links, including States’ Unclaimed Property and HUD/FHA Mortgage Insurance Refunds.

Reader Questions--Answered

How long have you been veggie gardening?

This is my third year. For some reason, there wasn't a lot of time when Jackjack was a newborn. Last year, I tried winter crops for the first time and they managed OK (as you can see, the leaves are a little bug-eaten, but everything tasted good). This year will be my first continuous gardening year.


What was your biggest gardening surprise?

Harvesting my first batch of garlic. That was my first attempt at growing garlic and we had enough to last for the whole year. There were *no* vampires at our house!


Is it too late to start a garden?

Absolutely not! Zucchini, cucumbers, thyme and basil will all do fine. These are spaghetti squash and basil seedlings. Since it's a bit late in the season, getting plants from a nursery will be faster than starting from seed.


Why do you call your son Jackjack?

Remember the movie The Incredibles?



'Nuff said.

The World's Best Banana Bread

This is a big favorite at our house and a great way to use up overripe bananas. It's perfect with a glass of chocolate milk!

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1/4 cup applesauce or apple butter
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
3/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar
1 cup mashed bananas (2 or 3 medium bananas)
1 3/4 cups flour (I sneak wheat flour in and nobody notices)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

optional:
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup chocolate chips (yum!)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Smash the bananas until they’re broken up but not completely smooth. Some lumps are OK.


Add in the apple butter, eggs, milk, and brown sugar.


Blend with a hand mixer until everything is incorporated. Again, small lumps are OK.


In a separate bowl, sift the dry ingredients (or gently shake them through a strainer, which works the same).



The cookbooks all say you don’t have to sift your flour any more, but you know why I do?

Because these lumps are *not* OK.

Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture and mix gently with a spoon. When all the flour is mixed in, add any optional ingredients.

Spray your loaf pan with cooking spray, and pour in the batter. Bake at 350 until golden and a toothpick/piece of dry spaghetti comes out clean, about 60 minutes.

Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and cool to room temperature. OK, who am I kidding? As soon as it comes out of the pan, everybody in the house is going to grab a piece because it smells sooooo good.

Quick! Cut yourself off a piece and save it for breakfast tomorrow. Hide in the pantry and eat it if you have to.

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!"

Reuse an empty glass salad dressing bottle as a bud vase or for a small bouquet. Tie raffia around the screw threads and nobody will know.

Common Table Part I: Soil Born Farms

On July 11, I participated in a series of workshops and seminars called Common Table. Over the next few weeks, I’ll share some of the things I learned.

Soil Born Farms has been a part of Sacramento since 2000, and the American River Ranch location (where I visited) was established in 2008. Randy, one of the Farm Managers, gave us a tour of the farm area.



We got to see the chickens.


And the main building where part of the onion harvest is being cured.


Soil Born Farms is more than just a giant garden, though. They are working to create an urban food system that works with the community and provides local, organic food and education for everyone.

This year, they started a youth job program where teens help grow crops, distribute food to the needy, and restore native habitats along the river.


They also work in partnership with the Sacramento Food Bank and Alchemist to get food to the underserved. This takes several forms: direct donations to the food bank; subsidized farmers’ markets in economically depressed areas of town; and work-trade programs.


We learned much, much more, but I’ll save that for another day. After the tour, I headed out into the fields to lend a hand. Guess what needed to be done? Weeding! Lucky me. I spent an hour digging up this evil stuff called “Johnson grass” before it was time to go to the next class. I had dirt envy though—the soil by the river is just amazing.


A quick scritch for the farm doggie and I was on my way.


More about Common Table next Monday. Stay tuned!

Guest Garden Friday: Urban Eden Garden

This special feature on Brown Thumb Mama brings you to the gardens of my friends and neighbors.

Urban Eden Garden, Loomis, CA


Welcome to “Urban Eden Garden,” created by the youth of Loomis II Ward of the LDS Church. They are learning to garden with the goal of providing fresh produce for people in need.



The concept started with a group of teens and adult leaders who wanted to help provide fresh, healthy food to those in need. Many people living in lower income areas don't have access to grocery stores, fresh produce, or a place to grow their own food.



They started many plants from seeds, and learned (through a parent who has a dumpster business) that some stores throw away vegetable plants that need a little TLC. They rescued many of those plants, watered them, and gave them some love, and now they've turned into beautiful fruitful plants.



There are about 30 teens in the group, and they do all the work-planting, weeding, etc. Many of them bring friends to help as well!

Urban Eden Garden currently has 55 tomato plants (yowza!), corn, beans, onions, potatoes, melons, and peppers—and that will increase if more “rescue” plants come their way.



The produce will go to the Sacramento Food Bank, LDS Welfare programs, and other groups that feed those in need.



I was thrilled to learn about this fantastic garden and the teens that run it. What a rewarding project for them and for those in need. We'll revisit Urban Eden this fall and record their harvest tallies. Stay tuned!

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!"

Going on a long car trip? Give each kid a roll of coins (vary the denomination by age). Every time they say, “Are we there yet?” they forfeit a coin. At the end of the trip, they can keep what’s left!

Always More to Learn

This Saturday, a friend and I will be attending "Common Table", a group of tours and workshops around Sacramento. The goal is to raise awareness about local urban gardening and food programs, as well as to advocate for improved city, county and state food policies that enable more locally grown foods in urban locations.

There will be a class on composting, organic growing, and we'll watch the movie "FRESH" afterwards. We won't be at the fundraising dinner, since $100 a ticket is not part of the thrifty budget! But I'll take lots of pictures and notes and share what I've learned with you next week.

How to Earn Extra Money

You might laugh, but I’ve already started planning for Christmas. It takes a huge bite out of our budget, so we’re always looking for ways to earn extra money (I refuse to use credit cards to buy presents).

One of the easiest ways to earn a little extra money is by signing up with a survey company. I love MySurvey.com and have earned over $400 in the last few years by being on their panel.

Each survey earns you points, which you can redeem for gift cards or cash. The surveys are easy to complete, and you can see the points value before you start. Here are some of the surveys I’ve taken recently:
--Report on our business expenses
--Favorite TV shows

Another bonus is participating in product trials—you get points and free products, too! Here are some of the items we’ve sampled and reported on. I can’t say the names because of confidentiality, but these are major national brands.
--Shampoo
--Baby wipes (three different times!)
--All-purpose cleaner

Some things to remember: There are some fishy survey companies out there. You NEVER have to pay to join a legitimate survey company. Don’t give out your Social Security Number, bank account number, mother’s maiden name, etc.

Ready to give it a try? Click here to sign up for MySurvey.com. It’ll be a Merry Christmas for your wallet!

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!"

Reuse clean yogurt containers to make jumbo ice cubes for pitchers of lemonade or ice tea. Freeze a bit of fruit or a mint leaf in the ice for color and a hint of flavor.